The Syracuse Orange have secured the commitment of a key target on the recruitment front, with ESPN college football insider Pete Thamel reporting that three-star defensive back Jalen Welch has expressed his commitment to the ACC program.
“Big get for Syracuse. Jalen Welch is viewed internally as one of the top players they’ve recruited in Fran Brown’s tenure,” Thamel shared via a social media post on X, formerly Twitter.
Welch also took to social media to let everyone know where he’s taking his talents in college.
“Thank you to all coaches, family, and friends for this amazing recruiting process!!! I am 1000% committed to Syracuse University,” Welch wrote in his post on X.
The Loganville, Georgia-native Welch is ranked No. 52 in Georgia for the 2027 class by 247Sports.
At the moment, Syracuse football has a total of 18 commits for 2027, all of whom are three-stars. Welch is one of four 2027 defensive backs who have committed to the Orange, who are looking to turn things around following a poor 2025 campaign. Last season, Syracuse football took several steps back, winning just three games after collecting 10 in 2024 — Brown’s first season as the program’s head coach.
Welch enters the picture for Syracuse following a recent decommitment from a defensive piece, with linebacker Ian McDuffie changing his mind to go to Central Florida on Tuesday. His commitment to the Orange also came just four days after his official visit with the school.
Other schools that placed offers for Welch were the Iowa State Cyclones, West Virginia Mountaineers, Kansas State Wildcats, and North Carolina Tar Heels.
The Syracuse Orange have secured the commitment of a key target on the recruitment front, with ESPN college football insider Pete Thamel reporting that three-star defensive back Jalen Welch has expressed his commitment to the ACC program. “Big get for Syracuse.
