Rapper Toosii Leaves Syracuse for LSU Football

After a public fallout with Syracuse coach, the 26-year-old musician is now on the LSU roster.

Mar. 27, 2026 at 3:52pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Rapper Toosii, whose real name is Nau'Jour Grainger, has left his hometown Syracuse football program to join the LSU team. Grainger had initially committed to Syracuse, citing a return to his hometown as the primary motivation, but things quickly turned sour between him and head coach Fran Brown. After the Syracuse debacle, Grainger has now unexpectedly appeared on the LSU roster as a wide receiver.

Why it matters

Grainger's decision to leave Syracuse for LSU is an unusual move, as the 26-year-old rapper is pursuing a college football career later in life than most players. His public fallout with Syracuse's coaching staff also highlights the challenges that some student-athletes can face when navigating the recruiting process and transitioning to a new program.

The details

Grainger, who returned kicks and played wide receiver in high school, visited NC State and Duke while also receiving a scholarship offer from Sacramento State. He eventually committed to Syracuse, but things quickly turned ugly between Grainger and the coaching staff. Syracuse head coach Fran Brown publicly categorized Grainger as a walk-on, which seemed to embarrass the rapper. Grainger then abruptly left the Syracuse program, and has now surfaced on the LSU roster as a wide receiver.

  • In August 2025, Grainger announced he was pausing his music career to pursue his football dreams.
  • On December 1, 2025, Grainger committed to Syracuse, citing a return to his hometown as the primary motivation.
  • In January 2026, Grainger publicly criticized Syracuse coach Fran Brown in a TikTok video.
  • This week, Grainger has been seen catching passes in practice and is listed on the LSU website as a wide receiver with number 89.

The players

Toosii

A 26-year-old rapper from Syracuse, New York, whose real name is Nau'Jour Grainger.

Fran Brown

The head football coach at Syracuse University who publicly categorized Grainger as a walk-on, leading to a public fallout between the two.

LSU

The Louisiana State University football program that Grainger has now joined after leaving Syracuse.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“No coach, that ain't what happened. I told you I wasn't coming there no more, and you feel like you wanted to break the news first before I told people what school I was going to. (Brown) is a bozo for that.”

— Toosii

What’s next

It remains to be seen whether Grainger will be able to earn significant playing time at LSU, given the team's deep receiving corps. However, his decision to pursue a college football career at this stage of his life is an admirable one.

The takeaway

Grainger's journey from Syracuse to LSU highlights the challenges and unpredictability that can come with the college football recruiting process, especially for non-traditional student-athletes. His public fallout with the Syracuse coaching staff also serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of clear communication and managing expectations during the recruitment phase.