We’d gotten so used to seeing Wake Forest in the thick of things it was odd when they suddenly weren’t. Will it last? Not if their new freshmen can help it.

Wake Forest
Signed: Sam Fink (St. Louis Scott Gallagher Metro), Andrew Malkiewicz, Ted Mullin (Triangle FC), Sean Okoli (Sounders FC), Matt Pacifici (North Meck SC), Sean Wilkinson ( Marin FC Blue)   
Skinny: The Demon Deacons took a step back last season and experienced a rare absence from the NCAA Tournament. The down year didn’t seem to affect recruiting too much, though. Mullin is No. 8 in the Top 100 and is a clever midfielder with great control and a lot of good experience. He’s joined by Okoli, No. 40 on the Top 100, a game-breaking attacker who has played with the U.S. Youth National Team program. Fink is one of the program’s incoming defenders and is ranked No. 16 in the Heartland Region.

USF(m)
Signed: Dallas Jaye (IMG Academy), Wesley Charpie (Clearwater Academy), Lucas Baldin (Huixguilucan, Mexico)
Skinny: The Knights will not be lacking for experience this season as they bring in a group mostly consisting of college transfers and international prospects. Of the three aforementioned players who arrive without college experience, Jaye is a gifted prospect. He’s No. 47 in our Top 100, and is a goalkeeper who could grow into the starter. Charpie and Baldin are midfielders with different skill sets, but each could be strong contributors nonetheless.

Cal State Fullerton
Signed: Ian Ramos (Inter FC), Dyllan Stevens (LA Galaxy), Mark Vasquez (LA Galaxy), Adam Zepeda (LA Galaxy)   
Skinny: Cal State Fullerton kept a small class, but it does feature Zepeda, our No. 73 prospect. Zepeda is a goalkeeper with excellent shot-saving ability who has great athleticism. With more work, he could become a star. His teammates, Stevens and Vasquez also join the squad, along with Ramos, an attacker with good size who is physically ready for the college level.

Syracuse
Signed: Brandon Albert (Albany Blackwatch), Lars Muller (Bradenburg, Germany), Jide Oluyedun (Shattuck St. Mary’s), Nick Perea (Weston FC), Trevor Alexander (Oakwood SC), Grant Chong (Derby County Wolves), Andrew Coughlin (Empire SA), Tyler Hilliard (Concorde Fire), Connor Jacobson (South Central SC), Chris Makowski, Jordan Murrell (Toronto FC), Hugh Pringle (Concorde Fire), Matt Stith (Matchfit Chelsea), Skylar Thomas (Ajax)
Skinny: The Orange failed to win a Big East Red Conference game last season, so they’ve pulled out all stops to turn things around. With a long list of newcomers, Syracuse will have a lot to choose from next season.

Jacobson, a goalkeeper, is No. 3 in the Northeast Region and is one of four keepers possibly joining the team – Stith, Coughlin and Boerger are the others. The international imports include striker Lars Muller, and Ontario’s Jordan Muller and Thomas. How many of these newbies will see the field is anyone’s guess, but Syracuse has certainly created a big pool.