Brendan Smith

With National Signing Day rapidly approaching, college coaches around the country are putting the finishing touches on their recruiting classes. At Syracuse University, things are no different. For head coach Dino Babers, that recruiting class may not include prized target Mychale Salahuddin. According to both Rivals and other sources, Pittsburgh appears to be the favorite to land the former USC commit. Salahuddin, a 4-star running back from Washington D.C., decommitted from USC on December 17 and has since taken official visits to both Syracuse and Pittsburgh.

Salahuddin, in an interview with Rivals’s Adam Friedman, announced he will not be scheduling any more official visits before National Signing Day, but does have an in-home visit scheduled with Pittsburgh. This being the only in-home visit currently scheduled, Pitt has emerged as the overwhelming favorite to sign the star recruit.

The Orange are expected to bring four running backs in the recruiting class with Abdul Adams having to sit out since he has transferred from Oklahoma. Joining Adams, who is already enrolled in Syracuse, will be Akeem Dixon (3-star), Jarveon Howard (3-star), and Jawhar Jordan (3-star). With Adams sitting out the 2018 season, it remains likely that incumbent starter Donate Strickland will once again find himself manning the backfield for the Orange in 2018. Strickland gained just 482 yards (3.8 YPC) and scored four touchdowns in ten games during the 2017 season. He did not see time in the team’s final two games due to injury.

Also returning for the Orange is Moe Neal, who gained 488 yards on the ground and 170 receiving yards in 2017. It is likely that Adams, who has two remaining years of eligibility, will have the inside track on the starting job in 2018, barring any injury or other unforeseen circumstances.

Syracuse already impressed in the early signing period, ending the 72 hour window with their first top 50 class in over a decade.

With National Signing Day just days away, keep an eye on Student Union for all your recruiting news.