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SouthLake Christian (Huntersville, N.C.) Academy running back Robert Washington after making a verbal commitment to Syracuse on Saturday at a church in Dallas, N.C. (Phillip Gardner | Special to Syracuse.com)

Syracuse, N.Y. — For about 15 minutes, it appeared that Syracuse football had lost the recruiting battle for Robert Washington.

Bleacher Report published a pre-recorded video interview with Washington, a four-star SouthLake Christian (Huntersville, N.C.) Academy running back, around 2:45 p.m. in which he detailed a verbal commitment to Florida.

Washington said neither coaching staff knew of his plans ahead of time. In addition to Florida, the Orange beat out other finalists Alabama, Michigan, TCU and North Carolina for Washington's commitment. It's the biggest recruiting coup for the program in recent memory.

The 5-foot-11, 215-pound Washington is ranked as high as the No. 8 running back in the Class of 2016 by ESPN, and held offers from more than 40 schools. Notre Dame, Ohio State, LSU and USC were among the other high-level programs on Washington's offer sheet.

He rushed for 2,233 yards and 27 touchdowns as a junior, according to MaxPreps.com, and led SouthLake Christian to its second straight N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association Division II state championship. As a sophomore, he ran for 2,512 yards and 28 touchdowns as the leading second-year rusher in the nation, per MaxPreps.com.

Washington becomes the third pledge in the Orange's Class of 2016, joining Massachusetts offensive tackle Cam DeGeorge and New Jersey wide receiver Sadiq Palmer. His commitment is non-binding until he signs financial aid paperwork to enroll early in January.

If he stays with Syracuse, Washington would join a backfield that currently features only redshirt juniors Devante McFarlane and George Morris II with sophomore Erv Philips being moved to hybrid back. Syracuse is also set to add Class of 2015 signees Dontae Strickland, Jordan Fredericks and Tyrone Perkins this summer. Strickland is still working to qualify academically.

Washington's commitment marks a potential end point in a recruiting process that started before he reached high school.

He was offered by Ole Miss as an eighth grader and verbally committed to Mississippi State as a freshman at SouthLake Christian. But when MSU wide receivers coach Tim Brewster left to coach tight ends at Florida State after that season, Washington opened his recruitment back up.

More scholarship offers poured in as Washington camped at and visited programs across the country. Syracuse offered Washington about two years ago, still in the handful of first schools to extend an offer.

Orange linebackers coach Clark Lea was the first on staff to contact Washington, stopping by for a visit about two years ago. Since then, director of recruiting Eric White and running backs coach DeAndre Smith have been regular points of contact. Washington also visited SU for the Orange's 38-20 loss to then-No. 1 Florida State last year.

He plans on transferring to East Gaston (Mt. Holly, N.C.) High School, the public high school in his district, before the end of this academic year, he told Syracuse.com on Thursday. That will allow him to graduate early and get to campus for spring practice next year.

Syracuse.com will have video of Washington's announcement up as soon as possible

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