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ACC Program Lands 4-Star WR Over Conference Rivals on Saturday

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By J.C. Shelton | Last updated May 10, 2025 7:15 PM ET

Class of 2026 four-star wide receiver Amare Gough is headed to the ACC after announcing his commitment on Saturday.

Gough (6-foot-1, 175 pounds) plays for Thomas Jefferson High School in Richmond, Virginia. He posted 39 catches for 839 yards with 12 touchdowns while adding 90 rushing yards and a touchdown on the ground as a junior in 2024.

Entering his senior season, Gough is rated as the No. 34 receiver and the No. 9 player in the state (247Sports) with 14 scholarship offers to date.

Multiple ACC programs were pushing for a commitment from the highly-touted wideout, including Syracuse, Virginia, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest.

Second-year head coach Fran Brown and the Orange, battling conference opposition, ultimately landed Gough, bolstering their promising 2026 recruiting class.

Syrcause currently holds the nation's No. 9 class with 16 commits already in the fold. The Orange haven't posted a top-10 class since 2008.

100% COMMITTED!!!!@CuseFootball @M_White03 @Coach_Gattis @CoachDRedd @FranBrownCuse @AlexKellyCuse @VANextLevel @MrBanks434 @VikingsTj @WillVapreps @CRF4Dan @CBS6SportsSean pic.twitter.com/JW95SXFYMR
— Amare’(Rabbit) Gough 4⭐️ (@AmareGough) May 10, 2025

Gough adds to a group headlined by four-star EDGE Jarius Rodgers out of Fleming Island High School in Orange Park, Florida. He is rated as the No. 25 player at the position.

Syracuse is expected to host Gough for an official visit on May 30. He also previously scheduled visits to Virginia (June 5), Maryland (June 13) and Virginia Tech (June 20).

The Orange have also been active in the transfer portal by adding 16 players following a stellar 10-3 year, the first 10-win season for the program since 2018.

It's still very early in Brown's first head coaching stint, but the surge on the recruiting trail in both the high school and transfer ranks should be a breath of fresh air for Syracuse faithful.

The Orange will open the 2025 season against Tennessee in Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Aug 30.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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