It’s time to start preparing for the 2026 Syracuse Orange football season. We’re going through the roster to take a look at each Syracuse player as we get to know a lot of new faces for Year 3 of the Fran Brown Era.
Up next is…
Name: Kordae Houston
Position: Defensive line
Year: Freshman
Height: 6’4”
Weight: 285 lbs.
Hometown: Dallas, TX
High School/Previous College: South Oak Cliff High School
2025 stats: Had 68 tackles (40 solo, 28 assisted), 23 tackles for loss, and seven sacks in 16 games his high school
senior year; finished with 54 tackles (30 solo, 24 assisted), 10 tackles for loss, one interception, and one fumble recovery in 13 games his HS junior year. All stats according to MaxPreps.
2026 projections: Houston brings promise as a run-stopper and a bulldozer who can break down the pocket up the middle. That said, he’ll likely need time to develop. He got plenty of interest from Power Four schools across the country, which is noteworthy, and Syracuse’s defensive depth at the line of scrimmage will always be tested. Given the current depth chart, he’ll appear in the New Hampshire game, but I project a redshirt year, given the number of older players on the roster.
How’d he get here?: Committed to the Orange in June 2025 over offers from Miami (FL), LSU, Texas A&M, Vanderbilt, Kansas State, Houston, Pittsburgh, Georgia Tech, Arizona State, California, and several other schools.
What’d recruiting sites say?: Three stars on 247Sports, ESPN, and On3
Social Media:
X: @KordaeM
Interesting nugget o’interest: Houston is the latest graduate of a school known for its past football talent. Other familiar names who are alumni of South Oak Cliff include SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings, former Dallas Cowboys safety Michael Downs, former St. Louis Cardinals running back Wayne Morris, and Houston Texans cornerback Ja’Marcus Ingram.
Let’s get a look at ya: Tape from Houston’s final high school season:
