Syracuse Priority Target Confidential: DL Kanye Varner

An inside look at the recruitment of a versatile defensive lineman.

Mike McAllister | May 28, 2021

Syracuse Priority Target Confidential: DL Kanye Varner /

Kanye Varner is one of the top defensive linemen in the Peach State. With multiple upperclassmen on the roster, Syracuse needs an influx of young talent that are able to contribute early in their career. Where does Syracuse stand in its recruitment of Varner? Who is the Orange's biggest competition? That and more in our breakdown here.

Player: Kanye Varner

Position: Defensive Line

School: Jonesboro High School (GA)

Height/Weight: 6-3, 270

Other Notable Offers: Arkansas, Kansas State, UCF

Official Visits Scheduled: Kansas State (June 11th), Syracuse (June 25th).

Scouting Report: Varner is an athletic, versatile defensive lineman who can play inside or outside in the Orange's 3-3-5 system. He has enough strength to play tackle, but it is his quickness, athleticism and explosiveness at his size that makes him difficult for offensive linemen to block. That makes him productive on the edge as well.

Recruitment: Syracuse is one of the top options for Varner. He has an official visit scheduled for June 25th where he will get a closer look at the program. The Orange is batting primarily Arkansas and Kansas State for his services. Varner has an official visit scheduled to Kansas State for the weekend of the 11th and is expected to visit Arkansas next month as well. Those visits will play a big role in where his recruitment goes this summer.

Why Varner is Important: You can never have enough athleticism along the defensive line, including athletic players who are versatile enough to move inside or out. That is exactly what Varner brings to the table. As Syracuse looks to transform its roster to fit the 3-3-5, players like Varner and DJ Jackson are crucial recruiting battles.

Published May 28, 2021

MIKE MCALLISTER

Title: Publisher All Syracuse Education: Roberts Wesleyan College Location: Syracuse, New York Expertise: Syracuse basketball, football and recruiting. EXPERIENCE Mike McAllister has been covering Syracuse basketball, football and recruiting for more than a decade. Mike's career started with his own free blog as a way to vent following sporting events. Shortly thereafter, a network of basketball sites called Coast 2 Coast Hoops asked him to run their Syracuse site. That site was called Nation of Orange, and Mike quickly established it as a go-to for Syracuse fans. After running Nation of Orange for several months, a position with the Syracuse site on the Scout network became available. After one year as the recruiting expert with Cuse Nation, he was named the publisher. Mike oversaw the transition from Scout to 247Sports, and ran the site on that network for years. Presented with the opportunity to join one of the biggest names in the sports journalism industry, Sports Illustrated, Mike jumped at the chance. All Syracuse was started from scratch by Mike and the Fan Nation team. It has now become a staple for Orange fans of various sports. Mike has broken news on recruiting, Syracuse basketball and football team information and has established himself as the top recruiting inside in the market. He has appeared on local radio shows, television broadcasts, national radio shows and much more. Mr. McAllister has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting and Information Management from Roberts Wesleyan College.