St. Anthony's running back Xavier Bala commits to Syracuse

Xavier Bala, a four-star running back from St. Anthony’s, has made his long-awaited college decision.

Bala announced his commitment to Syracuse University via his Instagram account on Saturday morning.

“They were my first offer, and they stuck with me the whole way,” Bala said. “I trust Fran Brown’s vision for me and their plan for how I’m going to turn out at Syracuse.”

Bala had 20 FBS offers, including some of the top schools in the country, such as Ohio State and Alabama.

Syracuse was the first to notice, offering him after the conclusion of his freshman year on June 14, 2024.

“It’s a great fit for him,” St. Anthony’s coach Joe Minucci said. “Coach Brown really targeted Xavier. He wanted to get him up there, and I’m sure they are excited.”

The 6-foot, 220-pound junior finished last season with 1,318 yards and 26 touchdowns on 254 carries. Bala won Newsday’s Rich Reichert Award, given to the top Catholic school football player on Long Island. As a sophomore, he totaled 1,009 rushing yards and eight touchdowns, helping the Friars reach the CHSFL AAA title game.

“He’s been dedicated,” Minucci said. “The last two years he’s done amazing things. He’s going to go down in history here as one of the all-time greats at that position. I can’t wait to see what he does. We’re super happy for him.”

Bala, a Baldwin native, is ranked the No. 28 running back in the nation for the class of 2027, according to ESPN.

His eyes now turn to his final season on Long Island with St. Anthony’s.

“I’m feeling really good now. I feel relieved I’m locked in on one school,” Bala said. “This year is exciting. We’re going for a state championship. During the season, that’s all I’ll be thinking about.”