Rapper Toosii Signs with Syracuse Football
Najuul “Toosi” Grainger, a 25-year-old rapper known for his significant online presence, has made quite an unusual football recruiting announcement. With around 3.9 million monthly listeners on Spotify, he declared that he’s committing to Syracuse for the 2026 season, which he shared in a recent post.
Grainger, who graduated from Rolesville High School in North Carolina in 2018, previously played as a wide receiver and even returned kicks. After expressing his intent to return to football last August, he received a scholarship offer from Sacramento State and visited both Duke and North Carolina during his recruitment process.
His hit single “Favorite Song” went viral on TikTok this year, even making it to number 5 on the Hot 100 chart and achieving double platinum status.
He took a moment to reflect on his decision to return to football, emphasizing the importance of dreams. “To every child who has ever had a dream, please make it a reality,” he stated. He also expressed gratitude, saying, “I’d like to thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for giving me the strength to pursue what I believed in even though many people told me I couldn’t.” Grainger noted he was born in Syracuse and felt a strong connection to return home, mentioning a coach he has faith in.
Looking back, Grainger hinted in August that his journey was about “chasing history,” aiming to be the first multi-platinum artist to rejoin a Division I school to play football.
Anticipating his arrival on the team in 2026, he shared a video of himself catching passes at the North Carolina State facility, urging everyone to “mark my words.”
Syracuse is certainly embracing this unique situation, especially after a challenging end to their 2025 season. They began strong with a 3-1 record, including a notable victory against Clemson, but things took a downturn after their starting quarterback suffered an injury, resulting in a heartbreaking eight-game losing streak to finish the year.
The season culminated in a dismal 70-7 defeat against Notre Dame, where they quickly found themselves in a deep hole, with multiple turnovers that contributed to their woes.
