2027 OL commit 'enjoyed' recent visit to Syracuse

2027 Jacksonville (FL) First Coast offensive lineman Marcus Small was back in Central New York over the weekend, and the Syracuse commit continues to enjoy his time with the Orange.

Small is a three-star recruit according to 247Sports, and is the 96th ranked player in Florida and the No. 966 overall prospect in his class. He has been committed to the Orange since October after he selected the Orange over offers from Louisville, UCF and Wake Forest, among others.

“I think Syracuse is a great program,” Small said to The Juice Online. "What really stands out to me is the coaching staff, the way they develop players, and how genuine they’ve been with me and my family throughout the process. I feel like it’s a place where I can grow on and off the field.”

Small discusses his recent SU visit

While Small has been on the Syracuse campus several times throughout his recruitment, this past visit was important to him because he had a chance to continue to build his bond with Syracuse’s new offensive line coach, Juan Castillo. The two had previously met for the first time in January during SU’s Junior Day.

Small said he came away impressed with the breadth of experience that Castillo has in his 40+ years of coaching in the NFL and college ranks.

"The top highlights from my last visit were being around the coaches and players, getting a better feel for the program, and seeing more of how everything operates day-to-day,” Small said. "I also enjoyed being able to spend more time around the offensive line group and building those relationships.”

Small will be back on campus in June

Small will next be on campus for his official visit on June 5. Ahead of that visit, the coaching staff, which includes general Manager Tommy Caporale, Fran Brown and Castillo had a very simple message for Small.

"The coaching staff has been telling me to keep working, stay locked in, and keep building,” Small said. "They’ve let me know they believe in me and see a lot of potential in what I can bring to the program.”

Small continues to be recruited by schools like Louisville, Rutgers and Florida State, among others, but continues to be 100 percent committed to the Orange.

"Syracuse is a school that stands out a lot to me,” Small said. "I’m still making sure I take everything in and handle the process the right way, but Syracuse has definitely made a strong impression on me. I’m just continuing to take things one step at a time, keep building relationships, and make sure I’m making the best decision for my future."

SUPPORT THE JUICE ONLINE

Got a Syracuse recruiting tip? E-mail Recruiting Analyst Charles Kang here.