Rap artist Toosii commits to Syracuse football as a wide receiver, pivoting from music career

Rap artist Toosii commits to Syracuse football as a wide receiver, pivoting from music careerToosii, a 25-year-old multi-platinum artist, announced Monday that he will be returning to his dream of playing college football for his hometown teamStory byRap artist Toosii commits to Syracuse football as a wide receiver, pivoting from music careerKari AndersonContributing writerWed, December 3, 2025 at 12:20 AM UTC·2 min read

Rap artist Toosii is set to make a major career swing, announcing on Monday that he will join Syracuse's football team next season. The Associated Press confirmed the commitment on Tuesday, though Syracuse has not yet announced the signing.

In a post on social media, Toosii said that Syracuse head coach Fran Brown demonstrated interest in him joining the Orange, his hometown team. Toosii, who will turn 26 before next season, was born and raised in Syracuse before moving to Raleigh, North Carolina, at age 12.

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"COMMITTED. For every kid who ever had a dream, make it reality," Toosii wrote in the post. "When Coach Fran called, I knew it was a sign from God. So with that being said, Cuse I'm coming home."

The rapper, whose real name is Na'jour Grainger, is listed as a wide receiver on Rivals, clocking in at 5-foot-9 and 165 pounds. Per Rivals, Toosii also received offers from Maryland and Sacramento State.

It is unclear whether Toosii received a football scholarship, or if he will play with the team as a walk-on.

Toosii appears set to wear No. 2 at the school, based on photos accompanying his commitment post. Per the AP, those photos were taken last weekend during Toosii's official visit to the school; during the visit, the rapper attended Syracuse's final game of the year, a 34-12 loss to Boston College.

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Toosii, who began releasing music in 2019, has multiple hits under his belt. His 2023 album, "Najour" was certified gold last year, and his multi-platinum hit "Favorite Song," which went viral on TikTok, peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Toosii opened for NBA YoungBoy at several stops on the rapper's tour this past fall, and has collaborated with Wiz Khalifa, Khalid and more.

Syracuse, meanwhile, is at something of a turning point after a 3-9 season. On Monday, the school announced that four assistant coaches — Ricky Brumfield, Joe Schaefer, Dale Williams and Robert Wright — will not return for the 2026 season.

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In a statement about the firings, Brown said that the season's results were "not reflective of the high standards" to which he held the program. Brown was hired by Syracuse in 2024, earning his first head coaching role after a defensive coaching positions at other schools.

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