Syracuse football: 2027 RB Xavier Bala commits to the Orange

St. Anthony's running back Xavier Bala visits Ohio Stadium on the day of the Ohio State Buckeyes football game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights on Nov. 22, 2025. | Lori Schmidt / Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images One of the best prospects in New York from the class of 2027 is

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What is the story about?

One of the best prospects in New York from the class of 2027 is staying in-state and heading to the Syracuse Orange.

Xavier Bala — a three-star back from Long Island City — is committing to the Orange, he announced on social media on Saturday. Bala picked Syracuse over offers from a laundry list of other Power Four schools, including Alabama, Illinois, Nebraska, Ohio State, Virginia, Wake Forest, and Boston College.

Bala is currently ranked as the fourth-best in-state 2027 prospect and No. 41 among

running backs nationwide, according to 247Sports. He’s a four-star per ESPN, while 247Sports and On3 have him as a three-star.

In his junior year, Bala finished with over 250 carries for 1,312 yards and 24 touchdowns with St. Anthony’s High School, just outside of Melville, NY.

Bala is the second 2027 RB recruit to commit to the Orange, joining Sa’Nir Brooks. Syracuse’s 2027 recruiting class is now up to 11 recruits, ranking No. 23 overall per 247Sports and No. 37 overall according to On3.

Looking to 2028, Syracuse appears to have also given an offer to interior offensive lineman TJ Brandon. The Douglasville, GA native is currently unranked per 247Sports, but Brandon has received offers from Ole Miss, North Carolina, Florida State, Wake Forest, and Georgia Tech.