Jun 13, 2026 5:48 AM
Coach Fran Brown and university officials undoubtedly will be closely monitoring the cases of quarterback Charlie Foulke IV and cornerback Masiia Acrey.
Two high school football players committed to the Syracuse Class of 2027 are facing numerous criminal charges, including felony aggravated assault stemming from an alleged incident in Philadelphia earlier this spring, according to police records.
Quarterback Charlie Foulke IV and cornerback Masiia Acrey are accused of assaulting two people in Philadelphia on April 12, though charges were not filed until May 27.
JaSyracuse.com was the first to report the story Friday night and filled in some details of the cases against Foulke and Acrey.
Exactly what happened?
Per the report, a man and a woman were waiting for a rideshare vehicle at 2:25 a.m. on April 12 when they were approached by three young men. Following a “verbal dispute,” the suspects pinned the man against the vehicle and “repeatedly punched and kicked him,” Philadelphia police told Syracuse.com.
The woman tried to intervene and was knocked to the ground before the suspects ran off.
According to information provided by police to Syracuse.com, both the man and woman suffered “significant injuries” and were hospitalized.
Who are Foulke and Acrey?
Foulke is a 6-foot-1. 170-pound quarterback from Voorhees, N.J. He played his junior season with Acrey at St. Joseph’s Prep, where former Syracuse quarterback Kyle McCord played in high school.
Foulke intends to compete in the 2026 season at Glassboro High School in New Jersey. According to the 247Sports composite, he is a three-star recruit and the No. 76 quarterback in the class, but he had offers from schools in the Big Ten, the Southeastern Conference and others in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Acrey, a 5-10, 175-pound cornerback, is rated by the composite as a three-star prospect and the No. 87 player at his position. He also had multiple power-conference offers, including from national champion Indiana.
Foulke was the PIAA 6A Player of the Year in 2024. Acrey received first-team All-Philadelphia Catholic League recognition in 2025.
What are the details?
According to police records, Foulke was arrested on May 26 and is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on July 10 at Philadelphia Municipal Court.
Acrey was taken into custody on June 4, with his preliminary hearing set for June 22.
Their official visits to Syracuse were taken between the two arrest dates. Foulke had committed on April 11 – the day before his arrest. Acrey committed May 10.
Per police reports, both players have been charged with:
Aggravated assault - attempts to cause severe bodily injury or causes injury
with extreme indifference
Conspiracy
Simple assault
Recklessly endangering another person
Harassment
A third area athlete, Jalen Millevoix, also was charged in the case. He has no affiliation with Syracuse.
Acrey’s lawyer, Fortunato Perri Jr., issued a statement to Syracuse.com.
“My client was the victim of an unprovoked attack,” Perri said. “We expect to have all charges resolved in his favor when we have an opportunity to present his case in court.”
What does Syracuse do next?
That depends on developments in the case.
Syracuse.com reported Friday that university officials discussed the situation with Foulke and Acrey and still consider them to be members of the recruiting class, citing an unidentified source.
Still, as more details come out, or if the case heads toward a trial, Syracuse could decide to move on from the players and remove them from the 2027 class.
A verbal commitment is not binding for a player; they flip their commitments often. Nor is a school required to honor its offer. Coach Fran Brown could pull the offer at any time until the players put pen to paper during the national signing period.
These charges are serious and could impact their ability to play in high school in the 2026 season. If they go to trial and are convicted, they will not be available to play college football.
Brown, his staff and university leadership must take that into consideration. And from a practical football standpoint – that certainly is less important than the futures of these young men and the recovery of the alleged victims – Brown might reach a point at which he needs to replace them.
The Orange have 16 verbal commitments for the 2027 class. Foulke is the only quarterback, and Jamel Griffin of Opelika, Ala., is the only other cornerback currently in the class.
Brown and university officials undoubtedly will be keeping track of the case as it proceeds through the court system.
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