Syracuse has been looking for some recruiting momentum ever since hitting a wall this summer. That could be coming soon in the way of junior college tight end Trey Dunkelberger.
Dunkelberger is a 3-star tight end at Pierce Community College in Woodland Hills, California. The former Akron commit has been gathering more interest and offers throughout the year, and now he’s at a point where an upcoming visit could end his recruitment on a high note.
“I’m thinking if everything goes well, I might commit to Syracuse on my visit,” Dunkelberger told ACCSports.com.
Dunkelberger has an official visit lined up with the Orange on Dec. 5. He picked up a Syracuse offer earlier in November, and he had a meeting with coach Joe Adam last week. He said having a Syracuse offer “feels great,” and there’s plenty he likes about the opportunity to play for the Orange.
“Definitely the coaches, that’s one of the biggest things,” he said. “With how close it is to home, that definitely helps out a lot, as well. The fans are great. Also, playing in the Carrier Dome looks amazing. All of that put together, I’m just really excited about it.”
The Syracuse coaching staff has sold Dunkelberger on how he fits within its offense. At 6-5, 240 pounds, he has the exact size the Orange are looking for at their tight end position. He also runs a sub-4.6 time in the 40-yard dash, which means he can add some explosiveness to an evolving offense.
Although a commitment seems imminent, it’s not a done deal. Dunkelberger is also considering Louisville and Purdue, who are the other two Power 5 teams that have extended him an offer. He said Louisville’s impressive debut season in the ACC and the atmosphere surrounding the program have him interested in the Cardinals.
It’s been a bit of a journey for Dunkelberger to get to this point. The Pennsylvania native enrolled in junior college after graduating high school with a low recruiting profile. Now, he’s in a position to transfer into big-time college football this spring, where he’ll have three years of eligibility remaining. It hasn’t been the ideal path, but he’s pleased with the opportunities that lie at the end of it.
“This year hasn’t been too great, but the offers are coming in, so that’s the best part about it,” he said. “I’m excited about that and getting to the next level after this next month or two.”