“Spring Recruiting Report: How 15 Schools Are Shaping the 2026 College Football Landscape”
Georgia would like to get back to the top of the recruit
College football’s latest on-campus recruiting period began on Monday, which means the nation’s top prospects will spend the next few months flocking to campuses for unofficial visits before official visits in the early summer.
Five-star Ohio State wide receiver Chris Henry Jr. will visit Miami, USC and Oregon this spring, but it will be difficult to flip from his pledge to the Buckeyes. However, 10 of ESPN’s 16 five-star recruits in the 2026 cycle remain uncommitted, including No. 1 quarterback Jared Curtis (No. 2 overall) and top offensive tackles Jackson Cantwell (No. 4) and Immanuel Iheanacho (No. 9). All told, 71 of ESPN’s top 100 prospects and 220 members of the ESPN Junior 300 have yet to settle on their next school as the busy part of the recruiting cycle opens.
As programs prepare to host key targets this spring, here are five programs that have started hottest on the 2026 recruiting trail and 10 more with important recruiting seasons ahead.
Oregon has placed an emphasis on defensive tackles this cycle. Between Topui and fellow four-star commits Tony Cumberland (No. 88 overall), Bott Mulitalo (No. 99) and Viliami Moala (No. 232), the Ducks already hold pledges from four of ESPN’s top 15 prospects at the position in the 2026 class.
Harrison has been the top-ranked member of Oregon’s 2026 class since November, and the nation’s top tight end told ESPN last month that he is no longer seriously engaging with other programs. Four-star running back pledge Tradarian Ball (No. 87 overall) projects as an explosive, all-purpose weapon, and four-star offensive tackle Kodi Greene (No. 38) — ESPN’s No. 5 offensive tackle prospect — is an important player at a key position for Oregon.
Than Lanning was close to a No. 1 class in 2025 and has started strong for 2026. Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
Top targets: The Ducks suffered a blow when four-star quarterback Jonas Williams flipped to USC late last month. Williams’ move, however, landed amid Oregon’s continued efforts with other quarterbacks, including five-stars Jared Curtis and Keisean Henderson and four-star Ryder Lyons. The Ducks could ultimately end up signing multiple passers for a second straight cycle.
Cantwell and Iheanacho are a pair of high priority targets expected on campus later this spring. The Ducks are also set to host No. 1 athlete Brandon Arrington (June 13, official visit) and No. 2 wide receiver Boobie Feaster (April 25, unofficial visit), and they remain involved with a cast of top-50 defenders including defensive end Anthony Jones, defensive tackle Deuce Gerald’s, linebacker Tyler Atkinson and defensive backs Elbert Hill and Jireh Edwards.
Most important visitor: Curtis, ESPN’s No. 2 overall prospect, is down to Oregon and Georgia and will take unofficial trips to see both programs this month before official visits in June. If the Ducks can land Curtis, a former Georgia commit, they’ll not only have a foundational prospect to build a class around in 2026, but also they’ll have the highest-rated quarterback pledge in program history.
USC Trojans
Commits: 11 (6 from ESPN Junior 300)
Top offensive pledge: Shahn Alston II (No. 93 overall)
Top defensive pledge: CB R.J. Sermons (No. 26 overall)
Early pledges: Commitments from Sermons and four-star recruit Brandon Lockhart (No. 77 overall) give USC pledges from two of ESPN’s top 10 cornerback prospects. Xavier Griffin, ESPN’s No. 3 outside linebacker and No. 27 overall recruit, is another cornerstone commit on defense alongside four-star defensive end Simote Katoanga (No. 174 overall), the most recent addition to Lincoln Riley’s class.
Riley put in the work in January to flip Williams (No. 149 overall) from Oregon and officially secured the commitment of ESPN’s No. 2 dual-threat passer on Feb. 21. Alston, who joined the Trojans’ class on Jan. 11, is ESPN’s No. 9 running back prospect.
Top targets: It should be noted that USC authored a similarly strong start in the 2025 cycle only to lose pledges from 10 ESPN 300 prospects along the way. For this class, the Trojans are aiming to build on their early momentum with the emphasis remaining on a series of top defensive targets.
USC has continued its efforts to flip Topui (Oregon commit) and his fellow ESPN Junior 300 defensive tackle Richard Anderson (LSU). The Trojans are also in the mix for top-65 defensive backs Elbert Hill, Jett Washington and Davon Benjamin, while Arrington — who is expected to play cornerback in college — is scheduled for an official visit on June 20. Feaster and No. 3 tight end Mark Bowman are also set for official visits in June.
Most important visitor: Hill, ESPN’s No. 1 cornerback prospect, visited the Trojans in January before Riley came to see him at home in Akron, Ohio, several days later. Hill told ESPN that he expects to return to USC this spring, and his commitment would bring five-star firepower to what is already one of the nation’s top defensive classes in the cycle.
Texas A&M Aggies
Commits: 9 commits (6 from ESPN Junior 300)
Top offensive pledge: WR Aaron Gregory (No. 53 overall)
Top defensive pledge: DE Jordan Carter (No. 30 overall)
Early pledges: Mike Elko and his staff have once again stocked up early on defensive talent in 2026. That process began last fall when the Aggies earned top-300 commitments from Carter, defensive tackle Trashawn Ruffin (No. 238 overall) and inside linebacker Samu Moala (No. 248). Defensive tackle Jermaine Kinsler, No. 167 in the ESPN Junior 300 and New Jersey’s No. 1 prospect in 2026, became the latest addition to that group with his commitment on Feb. 13.
Gregory, ESPN’s No. 9 wide receiver prospect, and four-star quarterback Helaman Casuga (No. 268 overall) have each been committed to Texas A&M since October.
Top targets: The Aggies are set to host a handful of five-star prospects on official visits later this spring led by Arrington, two-way lineman Lamar Brown, defensive end Jareylan McCoy, and No. 1 wide receiver Tristen Keys, who will also be on campus for an unofficial visit later this month. Four-star safeties Bralan Womack and Jireh Edwards are among those also expected to take unofficial trips to Texas A&M this spring, while the Aggies are still in contact with Iheanacho.
Most important visitor: Brown remains listed as an offensive lineman, but the nation’s No. 5 overall prospect recently told ESPN that he intends to play on the defensive line in college. While LSU has replaced Texas A&M as the leader in Brown’s recruitment in the new year, the Aggies will have a chance to turn the tide back in their direction during Brown’s official visit on June 13.
Auburn Tigers
Commits: 6 (5 from ESPN Junior 300)
Top offensive pledge: WR Devin Carter (No. 40 overall)
Top defensive pledge: DE Hezekiah Harris (No. 91 overall)
Early pledges: The Tigers, and Hugh Freeze, are in position to secure yet another standout wide receiver haul in the 2026 cycle. Auburn started 2025 with a commitment from four-star pass catcher Denairius Gray (No. 272 overall), then followed 10 days later with a pledge from Devin Carter, beating Alabama, Ohio State and LSU to the nation’s No. 40 overall recruit.
On defense, the Tigers most significant activity to date in the 2026 cycle unfolded last summer. In-state defenders Hezekiah Harris (No. 91 overall), JaMichael Garrett (No. 132) and Shadarius Toodle (No. 272) — all of whom committed on July 27, 2024 — remain as the trio of ESPN 300 prospects at the core of Auburn’s defensive class in 2026.
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Top targets: The Tigers are expected to continue targeting elite pass catching talent withKeys, No. 2 tight end Kaiden Prothro and in-state four-star wide receiver Cederian Morgan all scheduled to take official visits later this spring.
Four-star safeties Womack and Edwards will both take unofficial trips to Auburn ahead of their respective official visits in May and June. McCoy, the five-star defensive end and former LSU pledge, is another elite defender set for an official visit in June. Four-star running backs Ezavier Crowell and Derrek Cooper will be on campus for official visits later this spring, as well.
Most important visitor: The Tigers have added plenty of elite wide receiver talent under Freeze. But Prothro’s combination of tight end size and wide receiver speed is something Auburn’s offense is lacking, and the 6-foot-7, 210-pound pass-catcher would project as an intriguing option for Tigers quarterbacks like Jackson Arnold or Deuce Knight down the line.
LSU Tigers
Commits: 6 (5 from ESPN Junior 300)
Top offensive pledge: OT Brysten Martinez (No. 33 overall)
Top defensive pledge: S Aiden Hall (No. 119 overall)
Early pledges: Brian Kelly and the Tigers have been cooking on the in-state recruiting trail, entering March with pledges from six of the top 12 recruits from Louisiana in the 2026 cycle.
Four-star offensive tackle Brysten Martinez (No. 33 overall) committed to LSU on Feb. 13 and is the highest-rated prospect in that group. In-state defenders Aiden Hall (No. 119), Jakai Anderson (No. 162) and Richard Anderson (No. 182) each joined the Tigers’ class last summer and make up the program’s collection of top 300 pledges on defense. Four-star wide receiver Kenny Darby (No. 276) has committed to the Tigers since this past November.
Top targets: Five-star prospect Lamar Brown attends high school on the LSU campus, and the Tigers have emerged as clear frontrunners in his recruitment in 2025. McCoy, who decommitted from LSU last month, is set for an official visit with the program later this spring, as is Keys, another five-star. The Tigers remain in the mix for Iheanacho and Ekene Ogboko (March 20 unofficial visit), top-20 defenders Anthony Jones and Jake Kreul and Crowell, a four-star running back, among others.
LSU has also continued to pursue committed quarterbacks in the 2026 class. The Tigers were involved in flip efforts for Williams before his commitment to USC and have extended recent offers to Dia Bell (Texas commit), Keisean Henderson (Houston) and Jake Fette (Arizona State).
Most important visitor: Before Keys takes his official trip to LSU, he’ll make an unofficial visit to the Tigers on March 18. The Tigers lost out on No. 1 wide receiver Dakorien Moore in the 2025 cycle, and Keys is the kind of playmaker Kelly simply needs to start pulling to LSU.
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Georgia Bulldogs
Commits: 5 (3 from ESPN Junior 300)
Top offensive pledge: WR Vance Spafford (No. 95 overall)
Top defensive pledge: S Zechariah Fort (No. 45 overall)
Top targets: Between Jared Curtis, Jackson Cantwell, Immanuel Iheanacho and Tyler Atkinson, Georgia could be considered the frontrunner for four of the nation’s five highest-ranked uncommitted prospects in 2026. Expect the Bulldogs to host each on official visits later this spring and to contend heavily for their commitments.
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No. 1 athlete Brandon Arrington, four-star tight end Kaiden Prothro and four-star wide receiver Calvin Russell are among those expected to take unofficial visits to Georgia during the quiet period. Things could get interesting if the Bulldogs whiff on Curtis as the Bulldogs have been targeting a handful of quarterbacks in 2025 with Dia Bell (Texas commit), Keisean Henderson (Houston) and four-star, dual-threat passer Bowe Bentley among their recent offers.
Most important visitor: Curtis, Cantwell, Iheanacho and Atkinson are all top priorities for Georgia, but the Bulldogs could make significant strides during Arrington’s visit this month. One of the fastest prospects in the 2026 class, Arrington has held Texas A&M and Alabama among his leaders at different points over the past year, and Georgia will have a chance to swing Arrington’s recruitment this month.
Top targets: The Crimson Tide hosted five-star cornerback Elbert Hill on Monday and are expected to get top-50 defensive backs Justice Fitzpatrick — brother of former Crimson Tide defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick — and Jireh Edwards on campus for unofficial visits this month.
Kalen DeBoer’s inaugural recruiting class at Alabama didn’t pick up steam until last summer, and the Crimson Tide are positioned for another busy June for 2026. Brandon Arrington, Tristen Keys and No. 1 running back Derrek Cooper are among the five-star prospects scheduled for official visits to Alabama later this spring. Prothro, wide receiver Cederian Morgan and offensive tackle Ekene Obgoko are three more top-50 recruits who have already locked in official visits with the Crimson Tide.
Most important visitor: Alabama has landed a top-five running back in each of the past three recruiting cycles. The Crimson Tide could continue that trend with Cooper, who visits on June 6.
Ohio State Buckeyes
Commits: 4 (3 from ESPN Junior 300)
Top offensive pledge: WR Chris Henry Jr. (No. 1 overall)
Top defensive pledge: CB Jakob Weatherspoon (No. 165 overall)
Top targets: Hill, Ohio’s No. 1 prospect in 2026, has visited no program more than Ohio State, and the Buckeyes are battling Alabama, Oregon and USC, among others, for the nation’s top defensive back. Ohio State is also heavily involved in the recruitments of a pair of top-20 defenders between defensive end Jake Kreul and safety Jett Washington.
The departure of offensive line coach Justin Frye hasn’t deterred Cantwell from his interest in the Buckeyes. He’ll visit Ohio State on March 20 and could still schedule an official trip with the program in June. Running backs Savion Hiter and Jonathan Hatton Jr., safeties Bralan Womack and Blaine Bradford and wide receiver Jabari Mack are among the top-100 prospects set for late-spring official visits with the Buckeyes.
Most important visitor: Cantwell is a high-priority target for the Buckeyes, especially with Iheanacho looking elsewhere this spring. Oregon and Georgia have set the pace in Cantwell’s recruitment in 2025, but the Buckeyes could make up some ground and potentially secure a follow-up official visit during Cantwell’s visit this month.
Texas Longhorns
Commits: 3 (2 from ESPN Junior 300)
Top offensive pledge: QB-PP Dia Bell (No. 7 overall)
Top defensive pledge: N/A
Top targets: Texas secured its first No. 1 class in the ESPN recruiting rankings era (since 2006) in the 2025 cycle, and there’s plenty on the table for the Longhorns in the 2026 class this spring.
QB Dia Bell has been committed to Texas but other programs are pushing for him this spring. American Heritage High School
Texas was a late addition to the official visit slate for Prothro, who will take an unofficial trip to see the Longhorns on March 29. Four-star, in-state wide receiver Boobie Feaster is another key target who will visit on March 29, while the Longhorns have already secured late-spring officials with a list of top prospects including running backs Ezavier Crowell, Javian Osborne and K.J. Edwards, wide receiver Naeem Burroughs, tight end Mark Bowman, defensive end Jamarion Carlton and safety Blaine Bradford.
Most important visitor: Texas’ top-ranked 2025 class was built in part on elite skill position talent. Feaster — who reclassified from the 2027 cycle last month — represents an elite building block in 2026. The Longhorns are the only program currently scheduled for both unofficial and official visits with Feaster this spring, and Texas must capitalize on its time with him on campus.
Michigan Wolverines
Commits: 3 (1 from ESPN Junior 300)
Top offensive pledge: OG Bear McWhorter (No. 176 overall)
Top defensive pledge: CB Brody Jennings (not ranked)
Top targets: The Wolverines have emerged as early leaders in the recruitments of four-stars Hiter and Osborne, ESPN’s No. 2 and No. 6 running back prospects, respectively. Both are set for official visits to Michigan in June.
Cantwell will visit campus on March 22 before an official visit with the Wolverines in June. No. 4 TE Brock Harris will take his official to Michigan on the same weekend as Cantwell, and Kreul and wide receiver Davion Brown are two more top-50 prospects giving the Wolverines heavy consideration. Four-star quarterbacks Brady Smigiel and Ryder Lyons are both expected to visit Michigan this spring, starting with Smigiel’s unofficial trip on April 19.
Most important visitor: Smigiel committed to Florida State last summer and had effectively closed his recruitment before changes on the Seminoles’ coaching staff prompted his decommitment on Jan. 26. The Wolverines wowed Smigiel on his trip to Ann Arbor last June and will have another chance to impress him in April with a follow-up official visit to Michigan likely in the cards for the nation’s No. 4 pocket passer later this spring.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Commits: 7 (4 from ESPN Junior 300)
Top offensive pledge: OT Tyler Merrill (No. 69 overall)
Top defensive pledge: LB Thomas Davis Jr. (No. 138 overall)
Top targets: Notre Dame entered the recruitment of top-100 running back Brian Bonner Jr. only after the arrival of new running backs coach Ja’Juan Seider, and Bonner will be on campus for an unofficial visit later this month. The Fighting Irish will host four-star offensive tackle Felix Ojo in April and also have locked in a June official visit from Ekene Ogboko, ESPN’s No. 9 offensive tackle prospect in 2026.
On defense, Notre Dame has continued its flip efforts with four-star Georgia safety pledge Zech Fort and is pushing to get him on campus for an official visit later this spring. The Fighting Irish also remains firmly in the mix for top-100 defensive backs Jett Washington and Khary Adams, as well as linebacker Simeon Caldwell, who visited Notre Dame in January. Four-star linebacker Zavion Griffin-Haynes will make an unofficial visit to Notre Dame in April.
Most important visitor: Alabama has made a significant impression on Ogboko while his older brother is a defensive lineman at Georgia. His June visit to Notre Dame will be the Fighting Irish’s opportunity to distinguish themselves in a recruitment that also includes Ohio State, LSU, Clemson, South Carolina and NC State.
Florida Gators
Commits: 2 (1 from ESPN Junior 300)
Top offensive pledge: QB-PP Will Griffin (No. 70 overall)
Top defensive pledge: S Devin Jackson (not ranked)
Top targets: Florida hosted elite receiver Jabari Brady in February. ESPN’s No. 4 pass catcher remains a priority in-state target alongside Caldwell, a top-35 linebacker.
Florida’s late-spring slate of official visitors includes McCoy, Prothro, Morgan, Burroughs and top-65 defenders Womack, Izayia Williams and Trenton Henderson. Auburn commits Hezekiah Harris and Shadarius Toodle are another pair of ESPN 300 prospects set for officials with the Gators.
Most important visitor: Florida wasn’t in the picture for Womack — ESPN’s second-ranked safety prospect — until the Gators hired co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach Vinnie Sunseri in January. No college assistant holds a closer relationship with Womack than Sunseri, and Florida will get its chance to separate itself from fellow finalists Texas A&M, Auburn and Ohio State when the four-star safety takes a pair of trips to see the Gators this spring, including a May 30 official visit.
Penn State Nittany Lions
Commits: 9 (5 from ESPN Junior 300)
Top offensive pledge: OT Kevin Brown (No. 78 overall)
Top defensive pledge: OLB Daniel Jennings (No. 216 overall)
Top targets: James Franklin signed 27 high school recruits in the 2025 cycle, and the Nittany Lions appear headed for another deep class in 2026 while Penn State remains in play for five-stars Iheanacho, Arrington, Hill and Cooper.
Four-star wide receiver Ryan Mosley will be among the program’s unofficial visitors in April as the Nittany Lions jockey with contenders across the SEC and ACC. Penn State has already locked in official visits with Iheanacho, Arrington and Cooper. Top-100 defenders Williams and Adams and offensive lineman Darius Gray will also take officials with the Nittany Lions later this spring while in-state athlete Joey O’Brien remains a priority target.
Most important visitor: Arrington’s list of finalists remains long, but Penn State will get to make an early impression when it hosts his first official visit of the spring on May 2. The Nittany Lions continue to trend upward on the recruiting trail, and Arrington’s pledge would give the program a statement addition in 2026 under new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles.
Tennessee Volunteers
Commits: 8 (3 from ESPN Junior 300)
Top offensive pledge: QB-PP Faizon Brandon (No. 6 overall)
Top defensive pledge: N/A
Top targets: Tennessee hosted top-50 offensive lineman John Turntine III in January and will have three more key unofficial visits up ahead with Keys (March 10), top-50 offensive lineman Micah Smith (March 30) and Hiter (April 5) expected on campus in the coming weeks.
Hiter is already scheduled for an official visit with the Vols in June. Five-star linebacker Tyler Atkinson and four-star running back Davian Groce are two more important targets for Tennessee. Gray, the four-star lineman, Harris, the Auburn defensive end, and athlete Joey O’Brien are among those also set for official visits in June.
Most important visitor: Atkinson, No. 10 in the ESPN Junior 300, is originally from Tennessee and the Vols were one of three programs to get an in-home visit with the nation’s top linebacker in January. Atkinson has yet to formalize his spring visits, but Tennessee can cut into the momentum Georgia and Clemson have built in his recruitment if/when they get Atkinson on campus.
Florida State Seminoles
Commits: 7 (2 from ESPN Junior 300)
Top offensive pledge: ATH Efrem White (No. 126 overall)
Top defensive pledge: ATH Darryon Williams (No. 257 overall)
Top targets: The Seminoles have targeted several quarterbacks since Smigiel pulled his pledge from the program in January. Most intriguing among those options is four-star dual-threat passer Landon Duckworth, who is expected to visit campus this spring.
Five-star prospect Lamar Brown headlines Florida State’s list of spring official visitors. The Seminoles also will host official visits with four-star wide receiver Calvin Russell, Crowell, the four-star running back and top-100 in-state defenders Williams, Chauncey Kennon and Trenton Henderson. Atkinson, the five-star linebacker, remains a target as well
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“It’s not just me. There’s other very talented players that are getting tampered with every single year, that our guys are being [enticed] to transfer elsewhere. … It’s tough for a lot of these guys to turn down that type of money. But in the long run, you just got to fall back to what you believe in.”
Zabel said he believed in Bison football, which he describes as a player-driven and process-driven program. He played for the same offensive line coach, Dan Larson, for the past four years, a coach who has a record of developing players for the NFL. The Zabels have a family farm in South Dakota, and Grey didn’t have much NIL money from NDSU, but he used what he had to lease 245 acres of farmland in South Dakota. The Bison lost in the semifinals of the 2023 postseason, and he didn’t want to end his time in Fargo, North Dakota, that way.
“It’s an emptiness that you want to fll immediately,” Zabel said. He wanted to be a national champion again, and he did that. Since then, he has been climbing draft boards because of a strong Senior Bowl week and versatility to play guard and center. He could be a first-round pick, and many teams are asking him questions about why he didn’t move up.
“The dollar range was in a place where you had to consider it, and you had to truly think about it,” he said. “It was a hard decision, but at the end of the day, it was a super easy decision to decide to stay at North Dakota State and play my final year there because of the culture, the relationships you make, the locker room that you established and played with the past four years. You don’t want to leave those guys or leave that program, you want to stick where you started, stay home, and in the end, win the last game of the season.”
Zabel is a rarity in college now. NIL money and the one-time transfer rule, which went into effect for the 2021 college football season, allowed college athletes to transfer once and not sit out the season (the rule expanded in 2024 to allow unlimited transfers with no penalties as long as players met academic requirements). That led to a steady decline in small school players making the combine. They’re all moving up before they go pro.
“The Khalil Macks of the world [played four years at Buffalo of the MAC before going No. 5 in the 2014 draft] will be relics of the NFL drafts past,” an analytics staffer for an NFL team said. “With the money you get in the portal now — not sure we’ll ever see another top 10 pick out of an FCS or lower program again.”
From 2016 to 2021, before the transfer rule, an average of 20.5 small schoolers were invited to the combine. Since 2022, that average has dropped to 14.5, the lowest it has been in the past 10 years.
Zero D-II or D-III prospects have been invited to the past two combines. From 2015 to 2021, an average of 3.5 sub-FCS players were invited, with a high of seven D-II and D-III players invited in 2017.
If the small school prospect is on the verge of extinction, what does it mean for NFL teams?
Cam Ward (pictured at Incarnate Word in 2021) transferred to Washington State, then Miami, en route to being one of the top QB prospects in the draft. Marvin Pfeiffer/The San Antonio Express-News via AP
ACCORDING TO AN NFL club that shared its data with ESPN, two of 336 players (0.6%) in the 2018 scouting combine transferred to a higher level of college football (NAIA to D-II, FCS to FBS, for example) from a non-FBS program. This year, 28 of the 330 players (8.5%) invited to the scouting combine have transferred up at least once from a non-FBS program — 14 times the number of players who transferred up seven years ago. A total of 126 of this year’s 330 (38.2%) transferred from any level of college football at least once, with the majority of those players moving to a school at the same level. Only 18 of 336 (5.4%) at the 2018 combine transferred at any point from any level.
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