2026 recruiting class rankings: Where LSU fits after landing Lamar Brown

Significant commitments proceed to rotation successful and reshape the 2026 people rankings. Over the past week, 3 five-stars person announced their decisions, and 15 of the teams successful the existent apical 25 secured astatine slightest 1 ESPN 300 commitment.

LSU utilized different in-state triumph to assistance boost its ranking arsenic the Tigers were capable to fend disconnected Texas A&M to support section imaginable Lamar Brown astatine home. The No. 1-ranked enlistee is projected to the antiaircraft line, wherever helium tin usage his agility, flexibility and centrifugal to beryllium a disruptive presence. He brings added worth arsenic helium besides could excel connected the violative line.

After breaking into the rankings past week, Alabama is connected the emergence by adding aggregate four-star (or better) prospects. Five-star information Jireh Edwards was 1 of those pickups; helium gives the Tide a versatile antiaircraft backmost with his blend of size, velocity and physicality.

Oregon was a large mover contempt the nonaccomplishment of an ESPN 300 commitment. The Ducks are the lone squad with 3 five-star prospects successful their class, with OT Immanuel Iheanacho the latest addition. A monolithic and almighty beingness successful the trenches who could modulation astatine tackle oregon determination wrong and beryllium a speedy contributor astatine guard, helium joins chap five-stars TE Kendre' Harrison and information Jett Washington successful the class.

The database of undeclared ESPN 300 prospects continues to shrink, with lone 4 of 23 five-star prospects inactive uncommitted. That database volition apt beryllium chopped successful fractional earlier July comes to a close, truthful large changes are inactive to come.

Here's a look astatine our latest apical 25.

New this ranking: Louisville

Out: Minnesota

(Previous update: July 3)

1. USC Trojans

Previous ranking: 1

ESPN 300 commits: 18
Top violative prospect: OT Keenyi Pepe
Top antiaircraft prospect: CB Elbert Hill

No programme has much 2026 momentum than USC nether Lincoln Riley, particularly aft hiring wide manager Chad Bowden distant from Notre Dame. The Trojans person double-digit ESPN 300 commits, with respective joining the database since January. That includes 2 five-stars to commencement May successful Pepe and Hill, and a brace of four-star commits who flipped from Big Ten rival Oregon: in-state antiaircraft lineman Tomuhini Topui and backmost Jonas Williams. Topui is simply a physical, assertive antiaircraft tackle who could make into an interior pass-rushing headache for opposing offenses, and Williams is simply a existent dual-threat signal-caller.

USC besides made it a constituent to beef up successful the trenches. It pulled four-star antiaircraft tackle Jaimeon Winfield retired of Texas, landed in-state antiaircraft extremity Simote Katoanga and traveled to Utah to snag Corner Canyon violative lineman Esun Tafa. To further bolster the O-line, the Trojans landed Pepe retired of IMG Academy. He is immense astatine astir 6-foot-7 and 320 pounds, but is airy connected his feet arsenic good arsenic carnal and tin go a standout tackle. On the perimeter, they volition not person to hold for in-state defender R.J. Sermons arsenic the ESPN 300 CB reclassified to 2025 and volition articulation the Trojans this fall. For 2026, they pulled Elbert Hill, the top-ranked corner, retired of the Midwest. Hill possesses elite speed, having been measured astatine implicit 22 mph successful crippled play.

2. Georgia Bulldogs

Previous ranking: 2

ESPN 300 commits: 16
Top violative prospect: QB Jared Curtis
Top antiaircraft prospect: CB Justice Fitzpatrick

The Bulldogs person been a accordant staple among the apical 3 wide classes during Kirby Smart's tenure and look to beryllium a contender to bash truthful again successful 2026. A large measurement toward finishing adjacent the apical is bringing five-star backmost Curtis backmost into the mix. After a decommitment, the Bulldogs were capable to fend disconnected different suitors, astir notably Oregon, and springiness themselves a imaginable interaction QB for the future. Curtis mightiness request to set to a comparatively steep leap successful contention level, but helium has elite carnal tools, including a smooth, speedy merchandise and the quality to alteration limb angles.

With 3 of their apical 4 walk catchers from 2024 having moved connected and the 4th apt to permission aft this season, Georgia is bringing successful caller receiving targets with speed. Brady Marchese has been recorded hitting implicit 22 mph successful crippled play. After signing 2 ESPN 300 TEs successful their 2025 class, the Dawgs proceed to restock there, adding Lincoln Keyes, who with his large framework and bully assemblage power tin connection a wide drawback radius.

On defense, the Bulldogs person had 11 first-round NFL draught picks implicit the past 5 years and they proceed to infuse that portion with apical talent, including 2 of the apical DBs successful the state successful Fitzpatrick and Zechariah Fort. Fort is simply a information with bully scope who tin beryllium progressive successful tally support. Fitzpatrick is the younger member of erstwhile Alabama large DB Minkah Fitzpatrick; his blend of size and velocity gives him arsenic promising interaction potential.

3. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Previous ranking: 4

ESPN 300 commits: 17
Top violative prospect: TE Ian Premer
Top antiaircraft prospect: CB Khary Adams

Notre Dame started the twelvemonth disconnected dilatory connected the recruiting way but added respective cardinal ESPN 300 additions successful the outpouring and summertime months, including important antiaircraft additions. Rodney Dunham was 1 of the archetypal connected committee and is an borderline subordinate with a speedy archetypal step. The secondary volition payment from adding immoderate magnitude to that unit. Ayden Pouncey is simply a rangy information with a 6-foot-3 framework that could let him to turn into an extracurricular linebacker role. Khary Adams is 1 of the apical cornerback prospects successful the federation arsenic helium possesses an fantabulous blend of size (6-foot-2) and velocity (21.3 mph max speed).

On offense, ESPN 300 OT Gregory Patrick joined a people that already featured respective apical violative enactment prospects including top-10 tackle Tyler Merrill, who astatine 6-foot-7 and 335 pounds is simply a monolithic beingness with physicality and powerfulness successful the tally game. This radical collectively tin proceed the school's beardown estimation arsenic an violative enactment factory.

The Irish besides landed Thomas Davis Jr., whose begetter is erstwhile Panthers prima Thomas Davis, and four-star backmost Noah Grubbs, who already has shown awesome footwork and a dependable merchandise from the pocket. Their QB of the aboriginal volition payment from aggregate targets added successful this class, including TE Ian Premer. Among the wide receivers successful the radical is high-three prima Devin Fitzgerald, the lad of erstwhile NFL large Larry Fitzgerald. Like his father, helium is simply a good-sized people astatine astir 6-foot-2 and has shown to beryllium productive, with much than 50 receptions and 9 TDs arsenic a junior.

4. Texas A&M Aggies

Previous ranking: 3

ESPN 300 commits: 15
Top violative prospect: RB K.J. Edwards
Top antiaircraft prospect: ATH Brandon Arrington

Mike Elko has rapidly proved helium tin place and enlistee astatine a precocious level. He has worked fertile recruiting grounds extracurricular his location territory, including Georgia, Florida, California. He went retired westbound to onshore the nation's No. 1-ranked jock Brandon Arrington, whose velocity could let him to person an interaction connected either broadside of the ball, though helium projects to country successful College Station. He pulled retired Georgia ESPN 300 DLs Jordan Carter and Bryce Perry-Wright arsenic good arsenic landing chap four-star antiaircraft tackle Jermaine Kinsler retired of New Jersey.

The Aggies bolstered their rushing onslaught with a brace of in-state moving backs successful K.J. Edwards and Jonathan Hatton, who has an fantabulous blend of size (200 pounds) and velocity (he was measured hitting 21 mph connected film). Edwards has been precise productive successful precocious school, rushing for 1,700 yards successful each of his past 2 seasons.

Elko has besides been capable to unearth endowment from much improbable places, specified arsenic backmost Helaman Casuga retired of Utah. Casuga is not a big, carnal imaginable astatine astir 6 feet, but helium has a unrecorded limb and tin get the shot retired quickly. Victor Singleton, 1 of the apical prospects successful Ohio, was a bully flip from Illinois. He has clocked a 21-mph max velocity and has the benignant of quickness and fantabulous feet to thrive successful antheral sum astatine corner.

5. Alabama Crimson Tide

Previous rank: 9

ESPN 300 commits: 10
Top violative prospect: RB Ezavier Crowell
Top antiaircraft prospect: S Jireh Edwards

It took immoderate clip for Alabama's people to find its footing, but an progressive June brought the Tide into the premix among the apical classes successful the country. They kept 1 of the apical moving backs successful the people astatine location by landing Ezavier Crowell, an assertive runner who possesses bully powerfulness and vision.

The defence is benefitting from immoderate large pickups, including pulling respective ESPN 300 defenders retired of Georgia. Xavier Griffin has a lengthy and wide framework to make and tin get up tract and crook the edge. From the aforesaid precocious schoolhouse (Gainesville), the Tide snagged DE Jamarion Matthews, who has a stockier physique but tin besides crook good and get aft the quarterback.

They besides added a brace of top-10 CBs successful Jorden Edmonds, besides retired of the Peach State, and in-state Zyan Gibson, who has posted accordant mid-4.4 40s connected the campy circuit. The summertime occurrence continues into July arsenic the Tide added five-star Jireh Edwards to their secondary. At astir 6-foot-2 and much than 200 pounds with fantabulous investigating numbers, Edwards tin beryllium a carnal and versatile antiaircraft back.

6. Ohio State Buckeyes

Previous ranking: 5

ESPN 300 commits: 13
Top violative prospect: WR Chris Henry Jr.
Top antiaircraft prospect: S Blaine Bradford

Ryan Day has the luxury of gathering his 2026 people astir 1 of the astir coveted players successful the country: five-star receiver Henry, whose father, the precocious Chris Henry, was a prima receiver for West Virginia and the Cincinnati Bengals. Henry Jr. stands 6-6 and has a operation of magnitude and quickness seldom seen from precocious schoolhouse receivers.

The remainder of the Buckeyes' people has started to instrumentality signifier astir Henry. The squad has added a fistful of ESPN 300 prospects since March, including Bradford retired of Louisiana and linebacker Simeon Caldwell retired of Florida. C.J. Sanna is simply a imaginable we similar connected tape; helium is simply a big, carnal linebacker with fantabulous scope and is simply a spot of an underrated pickup for this talented class. In-state violative tackle Maxwell Riley is awesome changing absorption and finishes plays with the benignant of nastiness that volition endear him to fans successful Columbus.

7. Michigan Wolverines

Previous ranking: 7

ESPN 300 commits: 12
Top violative prospect: QB Brady Smigiel
Top antiaircraft prospect: DE Carter Meadows

The Wolverines signed the No. 1 QB for the 2025 rhythm successful Bryce Underwood and helium carries precocious expectations, but they proceed to adhd endowment to the presumption and landed ESPN 300 signal-caller Brady Smigiel. The onetime Florida State perpetrate is not lone an close passer, but helium besides plays with the assurance and swagger that volition beryllium needed battling with five-star Underwood.

After losing 2 DLs successful the archetypal circular of the NFL draft, Michigan added respective DLs to this class, including ESPN 300 DEs Titan Davis and McHale Blade. Four-star DE Tariq Boney is simply a subordinate to support an oculus on. He lacks perfect magnitude but tin beryllium a well-rounded technician and a speedy contributor. In summation to pulling Boney retired of the nation's capital, Michigan besides landed Carter Meadows, a rangy borderline defender who tin crook well.

After scoring from disconnected the beaten way with erstwhile standout TE Colston Loveland (Idaho), the Wolverines anticipation to onslaught large again from that aforesaid portion with Matt Ludwig retired of Montana. He is simply a versatile subordinate with bully shot skills who tin beryllium pugnacious aft the drawback and fights for yards.

8. Miami Hurricanes

Previous ranking: 8

ESPN 300 commits: 9
Top violative prospect: OT Jackson Cantwell
Top antiaircraft prospect: LB Jordan Campbell

Despite a rocky decorativeness to the 2024 season, the Hurricanes are trending successful the close direction. They're coming disconnected a 10-win season, erstwhile QB Cam Ward was the No. 1 prime successful the NFL draught and they've reeled successful 2 consecutive top-15 recruiting classes. Mario Cristobal's 2026 people is moving to lucifer oregon adjacent transcend those groups.

The Hurricanes are adding pieces to tract a ascendant violative line. They could suffer respective projected 2025 starters aft this play but are adding large men who tin measurement successful and task a agleam aboriginal successful the trenches. In summation to landing the top-rated interior OL successful the 2025 class, they person added respective OLs to their 2026 class, led by No. 1 tackle Jackson Cantwell. Much similar existent standout OT Francis Mauigoa, who was a five-star himself and a Year 1 starter, Cantwell could measurement successful astatine 1 of the tackle spots upon arriving successful South Florida. He is simply a monolithic beingness astatine astir 6-7 and 320 pounds and carries his size well. In summation to being powerful, helium possesses bully quickness and flexibility, and overmuch similar Mauigoa is being projected to beryllium a precocious NFL draught pick.

QB Dereon Coleman has country for maturation but has a speedy merchandise and accuracy. The Hurricanes flipped from Georgia a speedy receiving people retired of California successful Vance Spafford, who won the fastest-man contention past summertime astatine the UA Future 50 event. Four-star Miami autochthonal Jordan Campbell is 6-2, 220 pounds with the versatility to marque plays successful pursuit and the crook and powerfulness that portend a imaginable interaction walk rusher. He's a campaigner to instrumentality a leap with assemblage coaching.

9. Oregon Ducks

Previous ranking: 23

ESPN 300 commits: 9
Top violative prospect: TE Kendre' Harrison
Top antiaircraft prospect: S Jett Washington

Dan Lanning's tally of sustained excellence successful Eugene rolls connected with Oregon's 2026 class. Reeling successful five-star choky extremity Kendre' Harrison successful November acceptable the tone. The 6-6, 250-pound choky extremity is simply a dynamic two-sport jock with an exceptional drawback radius and is simply a nightmare for opposing defenses successful the reddish zone. The Ducks besides added a five-star imaginable to their defence with the big-framed and rangy Jett Washington. A fluid information with bully shot skills and the quality to triumph jump-ball battles, helium tin besides beryllium a carnal beingness successful the secondary. The Ducks added four-star antiaircraft backmost Xavier Lherisse, who clocked an awesome 1.62 10-yard dash and 4.49 40-yard dash astatine the Under Armour Miami camp. Four-star moving backmost Tradarian Ball adds explosiveness and fantabulous shot skills.

While the committedness of five-star DE Richard Wesley was short-lived, the Ducks inactive person a beardown antiaircraft enactment instauration wrong this class. They secured the apical in-state large antheral successful ESPN 300 DT Tony Cumberland, who has bully burst and power, and tin beryllium a disruptive presence. DE Dutch Horisk volition get from 1 of the apical programs successful California (St. John Bosco), wherever helium has been a multiyear starter who uses his hands well; arsenic a junior, helium had 9 TFLs and 4 sacks.

Oregon besides has bolstered its O-line unit. Leading that radical is five-star Immanuel Iheanacho, who is simply a monolithic beingness astatine astir 6-foot-7, 350 pounds and tin propulsion defenders around. The Ducks besides pulled a brace of OLs from erstwhile league foe Cal, successful ESPN 300 OG Tommy Tofi and Koloi Keli.

10. LSU Tigers

Previous ranking: 20

ESPN 300 commits: 10
Top violative prospect: WR Tristen Keys
Top antiaircraft prospect: DT Lamar Brown

The Tigers are pugnacious to bushed for in-state talent, and they built the instauration for 1 of the apical classes successful the state with homegrown recruits. A large illustration of that came erstwhile they fended disconnected respective apical suitors, including Texas A&M, and kept top-ranked imaginable Lamar Brown astatine home. Projected to the antiaircraft line, helium is an agile and flexible large antheral who besides could excel, if needed, arsenic an violative lineman.

From extracurricular the state, Tristen Keys from adjacent Mississippi delivered Brian Kelly and his unit their archetypal five-star of the 2026 cycle. As of now, the 6-3 Keys would beryllium the highest-rated receiver to marque it to Baton Rouge since Kayshon Boutte. Keys is simply a agelong strider with agelong arms who prioritizes winning and is simply a favourite of coaches and teammates alike.

LSU besides added wide receiver Jabari Mack (a beardown way runner) and violative tackle Brysten Martinez, a brace of in-state four-star recruits who bolster a people that present features much than fractional of the apical 10 players from Louisiana. That includes a brace of teammates from Edna Karr High: DT Richard Anderson, a stout beingness astatine much than 300 pounds with bully archetypal quickness, and Aiden Hall, a information with bully length, velocity and downhill physicality. Though overmuch of their recruiting occurrence is from wrong their superior recruiting footprint, the Tigers did spell retired westbound to onshore ESPN 300 CB Havon Finney Jr. A 2027 imaginable who reclassified into the 2026 class, helium has shown helium tin beryllium carnal successful property sum but besides brings fantabulous velocity to beryllium capable to tally with receivers.

11. Texas Longhorns

Previous ranking: 10

ESPN 300 commits: 10
Top violative prospect: QB Dia Bell
Top antiaircraft prospect: DE Richard Wesley

As Texas tackles the 2025 play led by 1 of the astir high-profile signings successful caller years successful backmost Arch Manning, the Longhorns proceed to physique for the aboriginal arsenic well, including different five-star QB. Dia Bell brings invaluable experience, having faced prime contention during his clip successful precocious school. He has shown bully accuracy and deep-ball touch, and arsenic a inferior threw for much than 2,500 yards and completed 70% of his passes.

The Horns besides added imaginable targets including ESPN 300 WRs Chris Stewart and Jermaine Bishop Jr. Stewart brings big-play speed, and Bishop is simply a quick, fluid people who tin make aft the catch. To support their caller violative weapons, they person besides landed immoderate apical in-state OLs, including top-10 OG Nicolas Robertson, a almighty large antheral with bully feet.

Texas deed the transportation portal hard to code needs on the antiaircraft enactment for this season, particularly interior DL, but determination are young pieces for that portion successful the 2026 class. One-time Oregon perpetrate Richard Wesley was a large adhd arsenic helium is explosive and almighty and could beryllium a versatile and interaction beingness successful the trenches. Dylan Berymon has been a standout connected the campy circuit the past 2 offseasons and seems to support rising to immoderate situation is thrown astatine him. Corey Wells is different 300-pounder who tin crook good and beryllium disruptive.

12. Florida State Seminoles

Previous ranking: 12

ESPN 300 commits: 11
Top violative prospect: TE Xavier Tiller
Top antiaircraft prospect: CB Chauncey Kennon

Mike Norvell cranked up the vigor connected Florida State's 2026 recruiting people this summer. Coming disconnected a 2-10 play that led to a unit overhaul, Norvell's caller commencement transportation is resonating with prospects. A cardinal in-state triumph was landing rangy top-five CB Chauncey Kennon retired of Booker HS successful Sarasota.

The Seminoles landed aggregate four-star commitments successful June, headlined by choky extremity Xavier Tiller, who checks successful astatine No. 84 connected the ESPN 300. A erstwhile Texas A&M commit, the 6-foot-5, 215-pound Tiller boasts an 80-inch wingspan, fluid question skills and the toughness to triumph contested catches.

Tiller isn't the lone notable walk catcher entering the premix for Florida State. Wide receiver Devin Carter, the lad of erstwhile Seminoles moving backmost Dexter Carter, is backmost successful the fold aft initially flipping to Auburn. He brings explosive short-area quickness and beardown bloodlines. Four-star Florida autochthonal Brandon Bennett adds different dynamic option.

Norvell besides landed a backmost who could 1 time get them the shot and necktie the people unneurotic by flipping Jaden O'Neal, who plays astatine Mustang High successful Oklahoma, from the in-state Sooners. The 6-foot-3 pouch passer ranks No. 166 wide with a bully frame, creaseless transportation and calm demeanor. If Florida State holds connected to O'Neal, helium would beryllium the program's highest-rated backmost signee since 2022.

13. Clemson Tigers

Previous ranking: 6

ESPN 300 commits: 11
Top violative prospect: OT Leo Delaney
Top antiaircraft prospect: S Kentavion Anderson

Clemson is coming disconnected a College Football Playoff appearance, but the Tigers are inactive chasing the heights of their mid-2010s occurrence nether Dabo Swinney, and their 2025 people ranked conscionable 37th successful the country. Their 2026 radical is looking much promising, particularly aft a red-hot March successful which Swinney landed 8 verbals, including 5 ESPN 300 commits.

Much of the endowment is presently concentrated connected offense. Naeem Burroughs is simply a burner successful the 100-meter dash who tin instrumentality the apical disconnected a defence and has a precocious shot IQ. Fellow receiver Connor Salmin is different big-play threat. With immoderate caller violative weapons, the Tigers are making definite they person the clip to get the shot downfield by loading up on the violative line. Delaney, Carter Scruggs, Grant Wise, Adam Guthrie and Chancellor Barclay springiness the Tigers aggregate ESPN 300 OLs to assistance reload a senior-heavy portion that is projected to suffer aggregate starters aft 2025.

They could 1 time support chap four-star Tait Reynolds, a dual-threat QB retired of Arizona who could propulsion to beryllium portion of the semipermanent solution to regenerate Cade Klubnik. While the instauration of the people is connected offense, Anderson is simply a cardinal in-state pickup connected the different broadside of the ball. With his framework (roughly 6-foot-2, 190 pounds) and range, helium tin beryllium a versatile back-end defender for the Tigers.

14. Florida Gators

Previous ranking: 15

ESPN 300 commits: 11
Top violative prospect: QB Will Griffin
Top antiaircraft prospect: DE JaReylan McCoy

Landing 1 of the apical defenders successful the state is the fastest mode to ascent the recruiting rankings, and that's precisely what Billy Napier did by securing five-star antiaircraft extremity JaReylan McCoy. Ranked No. 9 wide and the second-best defender successful the ESPN 300, McCoy would beryllium Florida's highest-rated antiaircraft signee successful much than a decade. The 6-foot-7, 260-pound Mississippi autochthonal brings elite length, explosive traits and a relentless centrifugal that was connected afloat show astatine the Under Armour All-America week successful January. Beating retired LSU and Texas for McCoy marks a large recruiting triumph for Napier, and McCoy has the imaginable to make into 1 of the SEC's astir feared antiaircraft linemen.

A precocious adjacent helped the Gators emergence successful the past cycle, but they've ascended overmuch earlier this clip astir with an progressive summer. In June they added a brace of dynamic walk catchers successful Marquez Daniel and Justin Williams, arsenic good arsenic Georgia moving backmost Carsyn Baker. An aboriginal but cardinal pickup was QB Will Griffin, who came connected committee successful June 2024. A big-bodied passer with a beardown limb and bully accuracy, helium could yet beryllium a bully modulation from existent QB DJ Lagway. Napier's unit has besides bolstered some lines of scrimmage with respective high-upside prospects ranked conscionable extracurricular the ESPN 300, adding captious extent arsenic Florida looks to reassert itself successful the SEC.

15. Penn State Nittany Lions

Previous ranking: 11

ESPN 300 commits: 6
Top violative prospect: WR Davion Brown
Top antiaircraft prospect: S Matt Sieg

The Nittany Lions jumped retired to a accelerated commencement fueled by beardown in-state recruiting and person kept that momentum going. Several of their apical commits are Pennsylvania natives, including four-star Harrisburg High School teammates Kevin Brown and Messiah Mickens. Brown is simply a big, flexible violative tackle, portion Mickens has been a productive prep moving back, which bodes good for a Penn State programme that indispensable yet regenerate Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton aft 2025.

James Franklin besides landed in-state jock David Davis Jr., who has clocked a 20.5 mph max velocity and has the screen skills to acceptable into the backmost extremity of a defence 1 day. While astir of the aboriginal commits are wrong Penn State's superior recruiting radius, the Nittany Lions besides landed strong-armed backmost Troy Huhn retired of California. He's a large assemblage with bully feet and brings bully upside. They besides went retired of authorities to onshore a imaginable big-play people successful Davion Brown. Out of Virginia, Brown possesses fantabulous speed, having been recorded astatine implicit 21 mph successful crippled play, and tin bash a bully occupation of precocious pointing the shot to triumph contested matchups.

16. North Carolina Tar Heels

Previous ranking: 14

ESPN 300 commits: 4
Top violative prospect: QB Travis Burgess
Top antiaircraft prospect: DT Trashawn Ruffin

Unsurprisingly fixed his ethos, Bill Belichick is gathering North Carolina's 2026 people from the wrong out. Zavion Griffin-Haynes was a cardinal in-state keep. The aggressive, lengthy borderline defender tin bolster the Heels' antiaircraft beforehand with the tools to beryllium a three-down player. Four-star North Carolina antiaircraft tackle Trashawn Ruffin flipped from Texas A&M, and the 300-pounder has plentifulness of earthy physicality to mold. Ruffin is 1 of respective interior linemen successful the class, and Belichick went to his erstwhile location basal successful Massachusetts to bring successful 335-pound defender Lenneil Hall.

The secondary has undergone immoderate changes during this recruiting cycle, but Marcellous Ryan retired of California remains and gives UNC a thin but fluid CB to develop. Crew Davis tin beryllium a versatile backmost with the powerfulness to tally betwixt the tackles, but helium besides possesses bully shot skills. As a junior, helium rushed for much than 1,300 yards and besides hauled successful much than 50 receptions.

In an effort to boost their passing attack, the Heels person added respective imaginable big-play pieces. Quarterback perpetrate Travis Burgess had a beardown showing astatine the Elite 11 finals and jumped into the ESPN 300 aft outpouring evaluations. He displayed dependable improvement including improved accuracy and besides has fantabulous mobility to make with his legs arsenic well. In July they added a brace of ESPN 300 WRs successful Keeyun Chapman and Carnell Warren, some of whom are large targets (roughly 6-foot-4) who tin tally well.

17. Tennessee Volunteers

Previous ranking: 19

ESPN 300 commits: 7
Top violative prospect: QB Faizon Brandon
Top antiaircraft prospect: LB Brayden Rouse

Faizon Brandon, a five-star quarterback, is the headliner here, and rightfully so. He's a strong, close passer who fits Tennessee's discourtesy perfectly. His committedness was large initially but seems adjacent much impactful aft the Vols' well-publicized divided with Nico Iamaleava.

In-state four-star receiver Tyreek King (Knoxville Catholic) pairs good alongside Brandon. He is simply a quick, fluid people who has clocked in-game speeds faster than 21 mph. TE Carson Sneed provides different receiving people from wrong the state's borders. He runs good but tin besides assistance the crushed crippled arsenic a tenacious blocker. Keep an oculus connected in-state violative tackle Gabriel Osenda, who is simply a monolithic beingness (6-7, 330 pounds) for the Vols to develop.

Tennessee's in-state occurrence extends to defence with DE Zach Groves. A defender with bully quickness and power, helium has amassed much than 50 TFLs heading into his elder season. The Vols besides bolstered their D-line by landing Dereon Albert retired of Mississippi. The 300-pound defender has been a UA Next campy standout 2 consecutive years and displays the tools to beryllium a tough, competitory and accordant beingness successful the trenches.

Brayden Rouse, retired of Georgia, could lend astatine TE but projects to linebacker, wherever helium brings bully scope and tin play good successful abstraction and beryllium effectual successful coverage.

18. Washington Huskies

Previous ranking: 21

ESPN 300 commits: 6
Top violative prospect: OT Kodi Greene
Top antiaircraft prospect: DE Derek Colman-Brusa

Jedd Fisch did an fantabulous occupation bringing successful endowment astatine Arizona and is present moving to retool Washington's roster and get the Huskies backmost into the playoff hunt. The Huskies won a cardinal recruiting conflict by pulling distant Greene, an ESPN 300 OL, from rival Oregon. He is simply a 300-pounder who moves precise good for his size with bully quickness and the one-time Washington nonmigratory tin beryllium a cardinal enactment successful the trenches. The Huskies went eastbound to onshore their QB successful Derek Zammit, a tough, astute subordinate with a smooth, speedy release. He should proceed to amended with the tools to make into a productive starter.

Washington landed respective commitments successful the secondary, including in-state Durr, who has bully size astatine astir 6 feet and is creaseless successful his movements. He could make astatine cornerback oregon safety.

19. BYU Cougars

Previous ranking: 22

ESPN 300 commits: 3
Top violative prospect: TE Brock Harris
Top antiaircraft prospect: DE Braxton Lindsey

Kalani Sitake's 2026 people has the imaginable to beryllium program-defining arsenic BYU builds connected the momentum of past year's 11-win season, which saw the Cougars ascent arsenic precocious arsenic No. 6 successful the College Football Playoff rankings. The Cougars presently clasp commitments from 2 top-100 ESPN 300 standouts -- choky extremity Brock Harris and backmost Ryder Lyons -- marking what could beryllium their astir highly rated duo of precocious schoolhouse signees successful the ESPN 300 epoch dating to 2006).

Harris, a 6-foot-7, 240-pound in-state product, has transformed from a jumbo wideout into 1 of the nation's premier choky ends, adding size portion retaining his fluid route-running and wide drawback radius. He besides brings toughness, having competed astatine the 2025 Under Armour All-America Game with a formed connected his hand. If each goes according to plan, Harris volition drawback plentifulness of passes from Lyons, a four-star backmost who won California's Gatorade Player of the Year grant this fall. Lyons' committedness represents a full-circle triumph for BYU. The Cougars offered him arsenic an eighth grader and held disconnected the likes of USC and Oregon to unafraid his commitment.

Another ESPN 300 prospect, two-way lineman Bott Mulitalo, committed successful March and could beryllium tasked with protecting Lyons down the road, adding to what has the makings of a historical haul successful Provo.

20. SMU Mustangs

Previous ranking: 13

ESPN 300 commits: 5
Top violative prospect: OT Evan Goodwin
Top antiaircraft prospect: LB Kenneth Goodwin

The Mustangs charged into the CFP past play and are showing signs they program to beryllium accordant contenders. Capitalizing connected the affluent endowment basal successful Texas, they person added respective in-state prospects, including ESPN 300 backmost Christian Rhodes. An explosive runner who has been recorded hitting amended than 21 mph successful crippled play, helium rushed for much than 1,200 yards arsenic a junior. To assistance wide moving lanes, the Mustangs person added respective violative linemen, including Evan Goodwin, a monolithic beingness astatine 6-foot-7 and 320 pounds, and in-state defender Drew Evers, a thickly built and beardown blocker who tin latch connected and power defenders.

High three-star Aljour Miles II is different bully in-state add, arsenic helium is simply a lengthy receiver with bully quickness and assemblage control. Another receiving people with big-play potential, Jakai Anderson, was pulled retired of Louisiana. Not rather arsenic large a target, helium brings a bully blend of velocity and elusiveness and could besides beryllium productive successful the instrumentality game. On defense, the summation of DE Hudson Woods is simply a large plus. Woods shows immoderate savvy arsenic a walk rusher, with progressive hands and bully bend. LB Kenneth Goodwin retired of California tin beryllium a carnal subordinate with the quality to unreserved the passer arsenic good arsenic marque plays successful coverage.

21. UCLA Bruins

Previous ranking: 17

ESPN 300 commits: 2
Top violative prospect: OT Micah Smith
Top antiaircraft prospect: DE Anthony Jones

The DeShaun Foster epoch got disconnected to a rocky start, but the Bruins are showing immoderate ascension. In recruiting, the erstwhile moving backmost knows the value of a bully O-line and pulled a brace of ESPN 300 OLs retired of Florida successful Micah Smith and Johnnie Jones. Known arsenic Champ, Smith was an Under Armour All-American arsenic a inferior and has shown helium tin play against apical contention and beryllium a well-rounded OT. Tight extremity Camden Jensen should assistance propel the tally crippled arsenic well, arsenic helium is simply a bully blocker.

The Bruins person added aggregate WRs successful this class, including in-state four-star Kenneth Moore. Onetime SMU perpetrate Yahya Gaad has a sturdy, muscular physique with a bully archetypal burst and is simply a DE who tin acceptable the borderline and beryllium pugnacious against the run.

22. Illinois Fighting Illini

Previous ranking: 16

ESPN 300 commits: 2
Top violative prospect: ATH Nasir Rankin
Top antiaircraft prospect: DE Kayden Bennett

Good recruiting starts astatine home, and an aboriginal precedence for the Fighting Illini was in-state jock Rankin. A two-sport prima who besides excels connected the hardwood, the ESPN 300 imaginable projects to wide receiver, wherever helium tin beryllium a playmaker with bully hands and the quality to marque defenders miss aft the catch. Also from in-state, large antheral Casey Thomann is 1 of the apical OL prospects successful Illinois, and three-star Tony Balanganayi is an absorbing large man. He projects to the antiaircraft line, wherever helium has shown helium tin beryllium disruptive, but with much wide could connection higher upside arsenic an OL.

From wrong the Big Ten footprint, four-star Cam Thomas (Ohio) is simply a defender with an outstanding archetypal measurement and could make into an borderline rusher with large upside. Parker Crim brings bully limb length, tin determination good and has shown helium tin beryllium explosive disconnected the ball. Tony Williams, retired of Florida, is simply a mediate linebacker with bully instincts and tin beryllium a carnal beingness betwixt the tackles.

23. Syracuse Orange

Previous ranking: 24

ESPN 300 commits: 2
Top violative prospect: WR Calvin Russell
Top antiaircraft prospect: DE Kamron Wilson

The Fran Brown epoch successful Syracuse surely isn't boring. He led the Orange to conscionable their 2nd 10-win play since 2001 down Ohio State transportation Kyle McCord, past landed a coagulated 2025 recruiting class. Now he's pushing for much endowment successful 2026. They amazed galore by beating respective apical programs, including Michigan, for ESPN 300 WR Calvin Russell, a lengthy but creaseless people who plans to besides play hoops with the Orange.

Four-star antiaircraft extremity Jarius Rodgers, besides retired of Florida, is among Brown's biggest gets truthful far. The 6-5 220-pounder has tremendous magnitude and an awesome way background. He has sizeable carnal tools and upside if Syracuse's coaching unit tin harness it. Wilson is different large propulsion retired of Florida; the borderline defender has bully archetypal quickness and tallied 17 sacks successful 2024.

OT Javeion Cooper has existent upside too. He has bully size (6-5, 300 pounds) yet plays with awesome equilibrium for idiosyncratic with his powerfulness and interaction explosiveness. The Orange besides person been progressive successful the mid-Atlantic, landing 3 receivers from Delaware. Among that radical is B.J. Garrett, a large people (6-3, 191 pounds) with bully hands who could make into a subordinate successful the mold of Oronde Gadsden, who had akin measurables coming retired successful the 2021 class.

24. Rutgers Scarlet Knights

Previous ranking: 18

ESPN 300 commits: 3
Top violative prospect: WR Dyzier Carter
Top antiaircraft prospect: ATH Wydeek Collier

The Scarlet Knights person added immoderate apical endowment to their wide receiver country with Carter and Elias Coke, some of whom person been long-time commits, having joined the people earlier the 2024 play started. Carter is simply a bully way runner with beardown hands and could beryllium a speedy contributor erstwhile arriving. Coke is simply a bully people astatine astir 6-2.

On defense, Joey Kopec is simply a two-way subordinate successful precocious school, contributing astatine RB and LB. He has bully scope and is effectual dropping into coverage. Wydeek Collier was a large riser successful the rankings aft the outpouring valuation play arsenic a lengthy, agile borderline defender with a precocious ceiling for development. Rinaldo Callaway III, retired of Georgia, is an absorbing summation to support an oculus on. A rangy borderline defender, helium is earthy and needs improvement but shows a bully ceiling for improvement and could turn into a disruptive walk rusher. Athlete Chris Hewitt projects to the secondary.

25. Louisville Cardinals

ESPN 300 commits: 2
Top violative prospect: QB Briggs Cherry
Top antiaircraft prospect: S Jaydin Broadnax

Jeff Brohm has raised Louisville's level with a 19-8 grounds and an quality successful the ACC title crippled 2 years ago. His 2026 people has the players to support the programme moving successful the close direction. ESPN 300 antiaircraft backmost Jaydin Broadnax, retired of Florida, is the biggest get truthful far. At astir 6-3, helium has large length, equilibrium and assemblage power for a corner. LB Karsten Busch is simply a bully summation from wrong the authorities who volition assistance connected defense. He possesses bully size and the quality to beryllium a physical, downhill beingness against the run. Sam Dawson is different in-state antiaircraft add. He is simply a DT with active, dense hands and bully powerfulness who tin assistance worldly the run.

Evan Hampton, a three-star moving back, rushed for 1,549 yards and 20 touchdowns arsenic a inferior astatine in-state Owensboro HS. He's an elusive, upright runner with the shot skills to impact the walk crippled and besides has a shot background; helium primitively committed to rival Kentucky arsenic a freshman earlier pursuing football. QB Briggs Cherry has performed good during in-person evaluations, including winning positional MVP during the UA New Orleans campy successful March, and the strong-armed passer has risen successful the rankings, proving to beryllium a cardinal January pickup.