Heralded Syracuse freshman two-sport standout Calvin Russell III is expected to make his debut for the Orange football team against UConn on Oct. 3, coach Fran Brown said.
Russell, a wide receiver who is recovering from a torn Achilles suffered in spring practice late March, is listed as doubtful and is not expected to play against Pittsburgh on Thursday night. The Orange then have a bye week before facing UConn.
Russell, a 6-foot-6, 190-pound recruit from Miami, Florida, was ranked No. 36 in the SC Next 2026 ESPN 300 -- making him ESPN's highest-rated football recruit in school history. He committed to Syracuse over Miami and Michigan in July 2025.
He appeared in one game during the 2025-26 basketball season and remained on the Orange's basketball roster through the program's ACC tournament run in March.
ESPN's Pete Thamel and Eli Lederman contributed to this report.
