With only eight days to go before National Signing Day, the Syracuse University football program might be losing ground rather than gaining it. The Orange lost one of the 24 players who had committed to Syracuse, and ratings services appear to show the current class of Syracuse recruits as being short on big-time talent.

The Syracuse recruiting class for 2012 is currently ranked 55th in the country in rankings from Scout.com. The Orange have nine three-star recruits, two four-star recruits and no five-star recruits thus far amongst the players who have committed to the school. Five-star recruits are the top, most sought-after players.

The Orange finished just 5-7 for the 2011 season, one year after winning the inaugural Pinstripe Bowl. Head coach Doug Marrone and his staff have one more week to convince star high school athletes that SU is the place for them to play football, and get an education.