Syracuse, N.Y. — Consider this the cherry on top of what has been an eventful day for Syracuse football.
The Orange received its first verbal commitment for the 2015 recruiting class on Wednesday night, and like last year, it comes from a prospect in its home state.
That would be Tyrone Perkins, a running back from Locust Valley (N.Y.) Friends Academy. CuseNation.com, a Syracuse football recruiting website, first reported the news, which came on the same day Syracuse unveiled new uniforms and announced a home-and-home series with LSU starting in 2015 at the Carrier Dome.
Perkins was not ranked by any of the major recruiting services at the time of his commitment, so it's unknown what other schools showed interest in him.
Late Wednesday, 247Sports' national recruiting director JC Shurburtt rated Perkins as a high three-star prospect.
Shurburtt called Perkins an "excellent pick-up," and said "the Orange may have gotten themselves a steal."
"Perkins is a great athlete and a natural running back with good feet and vision," Shurburtt wrote. According to his junior highlight tape on YouTube, Perkins rushed for more than 11 yards per carry.
Perkins also plays basketball.
Syracuse is in the market for running back prospects this recruiting cycle with Prince-Tyson Gulley, Adonis Ameen-Moore and other backs set to see their eligibility expire after the season.
It appears it has gotten an early start toward meeting that goal.