Satou Sabally rushed from the block to the wing as her Phoenix Mercury teammate Kahleah Copper drove by on her way to the basket. It was the first minute of Game 1 in the first round of the WNBA playoffs between the Mercury and the New York Liberty. Copper drew both defenders, which left Sabally wide open on the wing. Copper turned, jumped and tossed the ball back to her teammate.
Sabally caught the pass as she slipped her orange shoes beyond the arc of the 3-point line at PHX Arena. She lined up the shot, her first of the game. Sabally flicked her left wrist toward the basket and sent the ball toward the hoop.
It clanged off the back of the rim.
A few minutes later, she let her second shot, another 3-pointer, fly. Miss. In a span of 1 minute and 50 seconds to close the first half, Sabally had a 3-pointer blocked, missed a layup, had a layup blocked and missed a 3-pointer. Halftime didn’t help. Sabally missed all nine of her shots across the second half and overtime. She finished 2-for-17 from the field and 1-for-10 from beyond the arc in her first postseason game as a member of the Mercury.
Fourth-seeded Phoenix lost to New York 76-69 on their home court. It was Sabally’s worst shooting performance since she joined the Mercury from the Dallas Wings in an offseason trade.
Two days and 2,500 miles later, Sabally caught the ball after crossing half court. Her orange shoes clashed against the seafoam green edge of the Liberty logo at Barclays Center. The Mercury led by two in the second quarter of Game 2. Sabally dribbled toward the top of the key. Breanna Stewart backed up and left Sabally with a little too much space. Sabally set her feet and launched a deep 3-point shot over the tips of Stewart’s outstretched fingers. Sabally celebrated as the ball swished through the net.
In Game 2, Sabally shot 5-for-11 from the field and 2-for-4 from 3-point range for 15 points in the Mercury’s 86-60 rout of the defending champions on Wednesday. She also had 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals.
“Whenever [I] fail, I’m really good at looking at it objectively and learning from that,” Sabally said at practice prior to the game.
For nearly a decade now, the word “unicorn” has found its way into sentences — written or spoken — about Sabally’s game. Her 6-foot-4 frame combined with her ballhandling and quickness make her a physical outlier even among the greatest players in the world. But in Game 2, Sabally showcased her elite mental strength. The Mercury are hoping she can unleash her physical and mental prowess for the decisive Game 3 on Friday night (9 ET, ESPN2) in Phoenix. The winner advances to a semifinal showdown against top-seeded Minnesota starting Sunday in Minneapolis.
After the overtime loss at home, Sabally watched film and analyzed her performance. She replayed every shot. Some, she noted, were last-second prayers with the shot clock winding down. A few were flat-out forced. “But a lot of them were great,” she said.
When Sabally was a rookie in Dallas, then-coach Brian Agler gave her a copy of “Ego Is the Enemy” by Ryan Holiday. She also read “Mind of the Athlete” by Jarrod Spencer. The books have helped her train her brain to cope with the inevitable clunkers that come her way.
“It’s really important to just stay composed in these moments and work on that,” Sabally said. “It’s as important as working on your shot.”
Sabally spent her time ahead of Game 2 visualizing the ball falling through the hoop rather than bouncing off the iron or swirling out of the rim. “That’s how I train my mind to think positively,” Sabally said.
Sabally has been challenged before. During her rookie season, she shot 19.7% from 3-point range after shooting 33.8% from beyond the arc in her final season at Oregon. When she struggles on the floor, she puts her energy into resisting the dark hole of doubt. “You have to believe in yourself,” Sabally said. “Every time you fail, that is an opportunity to be tested in that way.”
Mercury teammate Alyssa Thomas swears she never looked twice at Sabally’s Game 1 stats or read anything into the rough night. “We have the utmost confidence in her,” Thomas said after the Mercury rolled by the Liberty on Wednesday. “We knew she was going to come out and do her thing tonight.”
For the win-or-go-home Game 3 in Phoenix, the Mercury will need the Sabally who imposed her will on the Liberty in Game 2. She leads Phoenix in scoring this season at 16.3 points per game, alongside her 5.9 rebounds and 1.3 steals, which are second best on the team.
“People will celebrate you when you’re amazing, but people will really back you down when you’re failing a little bit,” Sabally said. “I just knew coming in, it’s not going to happen again. You have to believe in that, and in yourself.
“Like, this is fun, this is a game.”
When the players line up in Phoenix, the crowd will be raucous, the stakes will be high, and Sabally won’t be holding back. The ball will go in.
A heart-breaking incident, a woman abandoned her six-month-old infant at Virar Railway Station near Mumbai.
According to sources, the woman handed over the baby to a female commuter on a Virar–Dahanu Mumbai local, claiming she was going to the ladies’ restroom.
When she failed to return, the commuter informed the station master, who repeated announcements. However, no one came forward to claim the child.
The complainant, an officer from the Maharashtra Security Force posted with the Railway Security Force in Virar, was alerted about the baby by the female passenger. Following this, the Vasai Railway Police registered a case against the unidentified woman and launched an investigation.
Authorities are reviewing CCTV footage from the station and the train to trace the woman’s identity.
Yakubu Aiyegbeni says he knew he was never going to the 2002 FIFA World Cup under coach Festus Onigbinde
Younger players like Opabunmi and Ogbeche were selected ahead of the former Premier League star for the World Cup
The Super Eagles crashed out of the group stage with just one point, losing to Argentina and Sweden
Yakubu Aiyegbeni, one of Nigeria’s most feared strikers, has revealed fresh details about his infamous omission from the Super Eagles squad for the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
The former Premier League striker, who scored key goals in Nigeria’s qualification campaign to help the Super Eagles qualify, said he knew his World Cup dream was over the moment training camp began in London.
Yakubu Aiyegbeni poses for pictures with the Super Eagles squad at the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Photo by Stewart Kendall Source: Getty Images
Speaking on Sunday Oliseh’s Global Football Insights podcast, Aiyegbeni said his exclusion was not just a football decision but the result of betrayal by some teammates and questionable calls from then-head coach Festus Onigbinde.
Aiyegbeni shared that the first red flag came when Coach Onigbinde asked him what position he played during camp drills.
“I was shocked. I’m the same player who scored in Sudan to help Nigeria qualify. Then we get to London and the coach is asking me, ‘What position do you play?’ That’s when I knew I wasn’t going,” he said.
According to Aiyegbeni, his training sessions were cut short, and he was given little chance to compete for a spot in the final squad.
The former Portsmouth striker felt that the decision to drop him had already been made before the team even arrived in camp.
For Aiyegbeni, the disappointment of missing out on football’s biggest stage still stings.
“It was painful because I worked hard to get us there,” he said.
His story adds another layer to the ongoing debate about Nigeria’s 2002 World Cup preparations and what went wrong behind the scenes.
Onigbinde’s final list raised eyebrows at the time.
Coach Festus Onigbinde led Nigeria to finish bottom of Group F at the 2002 FIFA World Cup. Photo by Laurence Griffiths Source: Getty Images
Instead of including experienced qualifiers like Aiyegbeni, the coach handed opportunities to 17-year-old Femi Opabunmi and PSG forward Bartholomew Ogbeche, who had not featured in the qualification series, per Worldfootball.net.
Aiyegbeni described the decision as baffling and frustrating, saying it felt like politics had taken over the national team.
Many fans also criticised the squad selection at the time, claiming it weakened Nigeria’s chances before a ball was even kicked in Korea and Japan.
A World Cup to forget for Nigeria
The Super Eagles went on to endure one of their worst World Cup campaigns.
They lost their opening two matches against Argentina and Sweden before scraping a goalless draw with England in their final group game.
Nigeria finished bottom of Group F with just one point, confirming their early exit.
Aiyegbeni explains current Super Eagles’ struggles
In another development, Legit.ng reported that Aiyegbeni has disclosed that the current Super Eagles have struggled in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers because of a lack of creativity.
The 42-year-old is unimpressed with the national team’s performances in recent times, as they are now on the verge of missing yet another FIFA World Cup.
A man allegedly killed a 27-year-old person over an old dispute while the latter was chatting with his friends in Mumbai`s Shivaji Nagar area, police said, reported news agency PTI.
The incident took place at Lotus Colony in Shivaji Nagar on Monday night.
The victim, Aslam Qureshi, was with his friends when the accused, identified as Nazim, reached the place. He allegedly slit the victim`s throat with a sharp weapon and also stabbed him, an official from Shivaji Nagar police station said on Tuesday, reported PTI.
Qureshi was rushed to the Rajawadi Hospital and later shifted to Sion Hospital, where he died during treatment, the official said, reported PTI.
The accused fled from the spot after the incident but was later caught by police from the locality.
He told the police that his brother and Qureshi had a dispute in 2022, and he attacked the latter over it, the official said, reported PTI.
The accused has been booked on various charges, including murder, the police added.
Seven arrested in Thane double murder case booked under MCOCA
In another case, the police have invoked the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against seven persons arrested in connection with the murder of two cousins in Thane district last month, officials said on Tuesday, reported PTI.
The seven accused, including the main perpetrator Vicky Mhatre, were part of an organised criminal gang involved in a series of violent crimes over the past decade, district Superintendent of Police (SP) Dr D S Swami said, reported PTI.
The gang allegedly targeted 42-year-old Praful Tangdi due to previous enmity and monitored his movements before fatally attacking him on August 11, he said.
Tangdi was attacked inside his office at Khardi village in Bhiwandi with swords and other weapons. When his cousin and office staff member Chetan Tangdi (22) tried to intervene and save him, he too was assaulted and killed by the accused, the police said in a release, reported PTI.
The Bhiwandi Taluka police initially registered an FIR under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Arms Act.
Following the registration of the case, the police launched a massive manhunt, deploying multiple teams and leveraging both intelligence and technical surveillance to track down the suspects. All seven accused were subsequently arrested.
“Upon investigating their criminal backgrounds, we found these individuals had been involved in serious and heinous crimes since 2013. Their offences include unlawful assembly, assault, attempt to murder, and illegal possession of weapons. The consistent pattern of criminal behavior indicated that they operated as a structured gang, which warranted the application of MCOCA,” the SP stated, reported PTI.
The police were probing the extent of the gang`s criminal network and its possible links to other cases.
A Mumbai special court has ordered the restoration of the 2021 benami property case involving Maharashtra minister Chhagan Bhujbal and some of his family members, stating that the Bombay High Court had previously quashed the case on technical grounds, not based on the merits of the case, reported the PTI.
The matter will now proceed before the Special MP/MLA Court in Mumbai, with the next hearing scheduled for October 6, 2025.
According to the PTI, the case, initiated in 2021 by the Income Tax Department, involved Chhagan Bhujbal, his relatives, and companies allegedly linked to them – Armstrong Infrastructure Pvt Ltd, Parvesh Constructions Pvt Ltd, and Devisha Constructions Pvt Ltd. The department claimed the accused were the beneficial owners of benami assets and had engaged in benami transactions during the financial years 2008-09 and 2010-11.
Benami properties are assets that are held in the name of another person, while the actual beneficiary remains hidden.
In November 2021, the special court had issued summonses to Chhagan Bhujbal, his son Pankaj Bhujbal, and nephew Sameer Bhujbal. However, they challenged the case in the Bombay High Court, which in December 2024 quashed the complaint based on a Supreme Court precedent, not on the factual basis or substance of the allegations, as per the PTI.
However, Special Judge Satyanarayan Navander, hearing the matter in the special MP/MLA court, stated that the High Court`s decision was purely technical, and it had not address the facts or merits of the complaint.
Special judge, in an order passed on Tuesday, noted that the High Court, while quashing the case, “did not touch either the facts of the case or the merits of the matter”, reported the PTI.
“(After) bare perusal of the (HC) order, it can be noted that relief of quashing of the proceeding was granted only on technical grounds,” the special judge observed, the news agency reported.
The special court underlined that the Bombay High Court had granted liberty to the prosecution to revive the proceeding in case their review petition was allowed by the Supreme Court.
As the Supreme Court has since allowed the review and set aside the earlier precedent, the court noted it had no choice but to restore the proceedings.
Michael Voepel is a senior writer who covers the WNBA, women’s college basketball and other college sports. Voepel began covering women’s basketball in 1984, and has been with ESPN since 1996.
Previously covered UConn and the WNBA Connecticut Sun for the Hartford Courant
Stanford graduate and Baltimore native with further experience at the Dallas Morning News, Seattle Times and Cincinnati Enquirer
Sep 18, 2025, 07:06 PM ET
Two games. A pair of game-winning shots in the final 12 seconds. Have you caught your breath yet?
In the first game of Thursday’s WNBA playoffs, Aliyah Boston hit the go-ahead shot with 7.4 seconds left to help the Indiana Fever win their first playoff series in 10 years and advance to the semifinals. A couple of hours later, Jackie Young scored on a putback with 12.4 seconds remaining to help the Las Vegas Aces return to the semifinals.
And now they’ll meet on Sunday (3 p.m. ET, ABC) in Game 1 of a best-of-five series.
First round: After dropping Game 1 in Atlanta, Indiana routed the Dream at home to force Game 3. Despite trailing for almost 30 minutes, the Fever pulled out a win in a decisive Game 3.
Las Vegas won handily in its first game at home, then dropped a close Game 2 when the Storm outscored the Aces 25-14 in the fourth quarter. On Thursday, the Aces won a back-and-forth fourth quarter to hold off Seattle to win their three-game series.
What we’re hearing about the Aces
Becky Hammon said she has some concern about how well the Storm shut down the Aces’ 3-point shooting in Las Vegas’ 74-73 Game 3 victory Thursday — the Aces were 3-of-12 beyond the arc. That put even more pressure on center A’ja Wilson.
That said, one of the biggest plays of the game came from Young with the putback of Wilson’s miss that proved to be the winning basket. The experience that the Aces get from their big three of Wilson, Young and Chelsea Gray was a major factor in pulling out their first-round series and could be pivotal for their chance to advance to the WNBA Finals again.
Hammon said the Aces didn’t guard the entirety of the court in Game 2 at Seattle, which cost them. They did that better in winning Game 3, but it still came down to the wire. Even though it was nerve-wracking for the Aces, their first-round series going the distance and being tested might have been the best thing that could have happened before facing Indiana in the semifinals.
What we’re hearing about the Fever
Even during the regular season, as player after player went down because of injury, the Fever consistently maintained that they had big goals, and that they could make some noise in the playoffs. Mission accomplished. The outside world might have counted them out against the Dream — go back and look at ESPN’s first-round picks — but the Fever never wavered in their belief.
After the game Thursday, Kelsey Mitchell and Natasha Howard shared glowing remarks on how special Stephanie White has been as a coach, as she has guided this group through so much adversity this season, leading White to wipe away a tear. To advance to the semifinals, this group made winning plays on both ends, but its chemistry and cohesion has been its special sauce.
How they match up
The Fever won the regular-season series 2-1 — and both wins came with Caitlin Clark sidelined. But all three matchups were before the Aces put together a 17-game win streak that catapulted them back into the title conversation. And before Indiana’s success this season, Las Vegas dominated the series: Their 16 straight wins against the Fever marked the second-longest win streak against a single opponent in WNBA history.
Gamecocks fans will be torn watching South Carolina greats Wilson and Aliyah Boston battle inside, but both teams also have fantastic guards, Mitchell for the Fever and Young, Gray and Jewell Loyd for the Aces. Las Vegas has the edge in depth and experience: This will be the team’s seventh straight semifinals appearance; Indiana hasn’t made it this far in the postseason since 2015.
What will most impact the series
Loyd has the chance to be an X factor, especially if she is feeling confident from beyond the arc. Her ability to stretch the defense can make a big difference in the Aces being able to take over games. Loyd doesn’t have to be the superstar scorer she was for a lot of her career at Seattle, but she’ll need to make an impact in every game.
Indiana needs a third scorer behind Mitchell and Boston. Can Howard fill that role? The Fever would also love to see Lexie Hull get going from beyond the arc and some big games from point guard Odyssey Sims.
Las Vegas will advance if: The Aces are able to defend at their highest level, which was the case in their Game 1 victory over Seattle. They kept the Storm uncomfortable most of that game, and they will look to do it against a Fever squad that can go on offensive dry spells. Young is the premier perimeter defender and will look to try to slow down Mitchell as much as possible, but Wilson said the Aces can’t leave Young to do that all by herself. The rest of the Aces also need to provide a little more offensive support for Wilson, although she is used to carrying a very heavy load.
Indiana will advance if: The Fever have struggled with defensive consistency this season, but they’ll have to be at their sharpest to slow down an Aces squad that had the league’s best offense during its 16-game win streak to end the regular season. That includes defending without fouling, which has been an issue at times for Indiana. Offensively, they can’t overly rely on Mitchell to score and desperately need to find more success from beyond the arc — they made only 29% of their 3s in the first round.
We’re nowhere near the new year, but the resolutions are already beginning.
Did that r-word stress you out? You’re not alone. As we crawl out of the frigid short days at this time of year, the last thing we should be thinking about is the clock ticking over on December 31. But that’s exactly the mindset a certain corner of the internet has settled into.
About a month ago, conversations on TikTok began revolving around something called “the great lock-in”. With a third of the year still to come, people around the world declared, now was the time to set a fresh batch of goals and commit yourself to them anew. A lot can change in four months, if you want it hard enough. If you “lock in” from September 1 and establish good habits, you’ll be unrecognisable by the new year.
Credit: Robin Cowcher
On one hand, it felt like business as usual for our optimisation-obsessed culture. You can’t just play a fun word game any more, you have to win Wordle every day for fear of breaking a streak. What’s the point in going for a run if you’re not logging it on Strava or having it count towards some virtual medal in the Apple Fitness app?
Exercising joins reading books, eating well and drinking litres of water a day as core tenets of a system called “75 Hard” – so named because it demands daily perfection, and any lag means the counter starts back at zero. Rest is for the weak, going out for a drink is failing when perfection – which in this context means dry chicken for dinner instead of an occasional martini – is possible. This is hard stuff, it shouts.
Any “challenges” based around exercise tend to naturally lean towards a certain kind of militant tone. It’s like we’re all contestants on The Biggest Loser and the Commando lives in our phone, yelling at us until we can’t tell if the moisture on our yoga mats is sweat or tears. Fear-based encouragement tends to have the opposite effect on me. But positive motivation and goal-setting? Now that’s another story.
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Some have mentioned the grown-up “back to school” energy of the lock-in (especially those in the United States, where schools actually do go back in September). Buy a new planner, start a new habit-tracker, design a schedule that actually aligns to your weeks and months. People with order-obsessed minds appreciate the symmetry of a month starting on a Monday, which made September 2025 the ideal month to kick off a new weekly structure in earnest.
No matter how silly or childish it might sound, both of those appeal to me. I love ticking off a to-do list, cracking the spine on a new journal and setting a goal in my crosshairs. Also appealing is the discrete nature of the time period. Four months? That’s long enough to feel like genuine change can happen, but short enough that there’s a deadline, a ticking clock, encouraging me not to dawdle or waste time.
Four persons allegedly thrashed a tribal man to death following an old dispute and dumped the body near the Samruddhi highway in Maharashtra`s Thane district, police said on Wednesday, reported news agency PTI.
The body was found near Ratandhale village along the Mumbai-Nagpur Samruddhi Highway on Tuesday morning, they said.
The accused had a dispute with the 47-year-old victim, identified as Ramdas Gorkhane, a resident of Pradhanpada village, an official from Shahapur police station said, reported PTI.
After a heated argument, they allegedly kicked Gorkhane and also hit him with sticks. When his nephew tried to intervene, the accused asked him to step aside and forcefully bundled the victim into a jeep and took him away, the official said.
At around 5 am on Tuesday, some passers-by found the body near the Samruddhi Highway. The body was later sent to the government-run JJ Hospital in Mumbai for forensic examination, the police said, reported PTI.
Following a complaint by the victim`s nephew, the police launched a probe and arrested one of the accused, identified as Sunil Nimse, senior police inspector Mukesh Dhage said, adding efforts were on to trace the others, reported PTI.
A case has been registered against the accused on charges of kidnapping and murder under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, along with provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
Man`s death turns out to be murder; brother and sister-in-law arrested
In another case, the police have arrested a man and his wife for allegedly killing his brother in Nagpur and trying to pass it off as a case of accidental death, officials said, reported PTI.
The 40-year-old man was found dead in the bathroom of his house at Eros Society in Shiv Nagar on September 2.
His family then claimed he had slipped and suffered a head injury due to which he died, an official from Mankapur police station said on Tuesday, reported PTI.
However, the postmortem indicated severe head injuries caused by assault, the official said.
The police found that there was tension among the family members due to the deceased`s drinking habit, he said, reported PTI.
Based on suspicion, the police arrested the deceased`s elder brother and sister-in-law on Tuesday, the official said. A probe was underway into the case.
More than a decade of college and pro coaching experience.
Graduated from Indiana and Nebraska-Omaha
The 2025 season is still in its early stages, but the coaching carousel is already spinning, and it has impacted the class rankings. A promising UCLA class lost several commits following the dismissal of DeShaun Foster, and it pushed the Bruins out of the rankings.
More job changes could come, and more prospects could look elsewhere, so the impact on the rankings is likely far from done.
New this ranking: Houston
(Previous update: Sept. 3)
Previous ranking: 1
ESPN 300 commits: 19 Top offensive prospect: OT Keenyi Pepe Top defensive prospect: CB Elbert Hill
No program has more 2026 momentum than USC under Lincoln Riley, especially after hiring general manager Chad Bowden away from Notre Dame. The Trojans have double-digit ESPN 300 commits, with several joining the list since January. That includes two five-stars to start May in Pepe and Hill, and a pair of four-star commits who flipped from Big Ten rival Oregon: in-state defensive lineman Tomuhini Topui and quarterback Jonas Williams. Topui is a physical, aggressive defensive tackle who could develop into an interior pass-rushing headache for opposing offenses, and Williams is a true dual-threat signal-caller.
USC also made it a point to beef up in the trenches. It pulled four-star defensive tackle Jaimeon Winfield out of Texas, landed in-state defensive end Simote Katoanga and traveled to Utah to snag Corner Canyon offensive lineman Esun Tafa. To further bolster the O-line, the Trojans landed Pepe out of IMG Academy. He is huge at roughly 6-foot-7 and 320 pounds, but is light on his feet as well as physical and can become a standout tackle. On the perimeter, they will not have to wait for in-state defender R.J. Sermons as the ESPN 300 CB reclassified to 2025 and will join the Trojans this fall. For 2026, they pulled Elbert Hill, the top-ranked corner, out of the Midwest. Hill possesses elite speed, having been measured at over 22 mph in game play.
The Bulldogs have been a staple among the top three recruiting classes during Kirby Smart’s tenure and look to be a contender to do so again in 2026. A big step toward finishing near the top is bringing five-star quarterback Curtis back into the mix. After a decommitment, the Bulldogs were able to fend off other suitors, most notably Oregon, and give themselves a potential impact QB for the future. Curtis might need to adjust to a relatively steep jump in competition level, but he has elite physical tools, including a smooth, quick release and the ability to change arm angles.
With three of their top four pass catchers from 2024 having moved on and the fourth likely to leave after this season, Georgia is bringing in new receiving targets with speed. Brady Marchese has been recorded hitting over 22 mph in game play. Kaiden Prothro can give the Bulldogs a matchup nightmare as he possesses an excellent blend of size, speed and body control. After signing two ESPN 300 TEs in their 2025 class, the Dawgs continue to restock there, adding Lincoln Keyes, who with his big frame and good body control can offer a wide catch radius.
On defense, the Bulldogs have had 11 first-round NFL draft picks over the past five years and they continue to infuse that unit with top talent, including two of the top DBs in the country in Fitzpatrick and Zechariah Fort. Fort is a safety with good range who can be active in run support. Fitzpatrick is the younger brother of former Alabama great Minkah Fitzpatrick; his blend of size and speed gives him equally promising impact potential.
Mike Elko has quickly proved he can identify and recruit at a high level. He has worked fertile recruiting grounds outside his home territory, including Georgia, Florida, California. He went out west to land the nation’s No. 1-ranked athlete Brandon Arrington, whose speed could allow him to have an impact on either side of the ball, though he projects to corner in College Station. He pulled out Georgia ESPN 300 DLs Jordan Carter and Bryce Perry-Wright as well as landing fellow four-star defensive tackle Jermaine Kinsler out of New Jersey.
The Aggies bolstered their rushing attack with a pair of in-state running backs in K.J. Edwards and Jonathan Hatton, who has an excellent blend of size (200 pounds) and speed (he was measured hitting 21 mph on film). Edwards has been very productive in high school, rushing for 1,700 yards in each of his last two seasons.
Elko has also been able to unearth talent from more unlikely places, such as quarterback Helaman Casuga out of Utah. Casuga is not a big, physical prospect at roughly 6 feet, but he has a live arm and can get the ball out quickly. Victor Singleton, one of the top prospects in Ohio, was a nice flip from Illinois. He has clocked a 21-mph max speed and has the type of quickness and excellent feet to thrive in man coverage at corner.
Previous ranking: 4
ESPN 300 commits: 14 Top offensive prospect: QB Dia Bell Top defensive prospect: DE Richard Wesley
As Texas tackles the 2025 season led by one of the most high-profile signings in recent years in quarterback Arch Manning, the Longhorns continue to build for the future, including another five-star QB. Dia Bell brings valuable experience, having faced quality competition during his time in high school. He has shown good accuracy and deep-ball touch, and as a junior threw for more than 2,500 yards and completed 70% of his passes.
The Horns also added potential targets in ESPN 300 WRs Chris Stewart and Jermaine Bishop Jr. Stewart brings big-play speed, and Bishop is a quick, fluid target who can create after the catch. Their backfield gained more five-star talent with Derrek Cooper, a versatile running back who blends excellent size and speed and can also be a receiving threat. To protect their new offensive weapons, they have also landed some top in-state OLs, including top-10 OG Nicolas Robertson, a powerful big man with good feet.
Texas hit the transfer portal hard to address needs along the defensive line for this season, especially interior DL, but there are young players for that unit in the 2026 class. One-time Oregon commit Richard Wesley was a big add as he is explosive and powerful and could be a versatile and impactful presence in the trenches. Dylan Berymon has been a standout on the camp circuit the past two offseasons and seems to keep rising to whatever challenge is thrown at him. Corey Wells is another 300-pounder who can bend well and be disruptive.
Previous ranking: 5
ESPN 300 commits: 18 Top offensive prospect: TE Ian Premer Top defensive prospect: CB Khary Adams
Notre Dame started the year off slowly on the recruiting trail but added several key ESPN 300 additions in the spring and summer months, including important defensive additions. Rodney Dunham was one of the first on board and is an edge player with a quick first step. The secondary will benefit from adding some length to that unit. Ayden Pouncey is a rangy safety with a 6-foot-3 frame that could allow him to grow into an outside linebacker role. Khary Adams is one of the top cornerback prospects in the nation as he possesses an excellent blend of size (6-foot-2) and speed (21.3 mph max speed).
On offense, ESPN 300 OT Gregory Patrick joined a class that already featured several top offensive line prospects including top-10 tackle Tyler Merrill, who at 6-foot-7 and 335 pounds is a massive presence with physicality and power in the run game. This group collectively can continue the school’s strong reputation as an offensive line factory.
The Irish also landed Thomas Davis Jr., whose father is former Panthers star Thomas Davis, and four-star quarterback Noah Grubbs, who already has shown impressive footwork and a sound release from the pocket. Their QB of the future will benefit from multiple targets added in this class, including TE Ian Premer. Among the wide receivers in the group is high-three star Devin Fitzgerald, the son of former NFL great Larry Fitzgerald. Like his father, he is a good-sized target at nearly 6-foot-2 and has shown to be productive, with more than 50 receptions and nine TDs as a junior.
Dan Lanning’s run of sustained excellence in Eugene rolls on with Oregon’s 2026 class. Reeling in five-star tight end Kendre’ Harrison in November set the tone. The 6-6, 250-pound tight end is a dynamic two-sport athlete with an exceptional catch radius and is a nightmare for opposing defenses in the red zone. The Ducks also added a five-star prospect to their defense with the big-framed and rangy Jett Washington. A fluid safety with good ball skills and the ability to win jump-ball battles, he can also be a physical presence in the secondary. The Ducks added four-star defensive back Xavier Lherisse, who clocked an impressive 1.62 10-yard dash and 4.49 40-yard dash at the Under Armour Miami camp. Four-star running back Tradarian Ball adds explosiveness and excellent ball skills.
While the commitment of five-star DE Richard Wesley was short-lived, the Ducks still have a strong defensive line foundation within this class. They secured the top in-state big man in ESPN 300 DT Tony Cumberland, who has good burst and power, and can be a disruptive presence. DE Dutch Horisk will arrive from one of the top programs in California (St. John Bosco), where he has been a multiyear starter who uses his hands well; as a junior, he had nine TFLs and four sacks.
Oregon also has bolstered its O-line unit. Leading that group is five-star Immanuel Iheanacho, who is a massive presence at around 6-foot-7, 350 pounds and can push defenders around. The Ducks also pulled a pair of OLs from former conference foe Cal, in ESPN 300 OG Tommy Tofi and Koloi Keli.
Faizon Brandon, a five-star quarterback, is the headliner here, and rightfully so. He’s a strong, accurate passer who fits Tennessee’s offense perfectly. His commitment was big initially but seems even more impactful after the Vols’ well-publicized split with Nico Iamaleava.
In-state four-star receivers Tyreek King (Knoxville Catholic) and Joel Wyatt (Webb School) pair well alongside Brandon. King is a quick, fluid target who has clocked in-game speeds faster than 21 mph. Five-star Tristen Keys, out of Mississippi, was a big flip from SEC foe LSU. He brings excellent ball skills and body control and offers a wide catch radius. Keep an eye on in-state offensive tackle Gabriel Osenda, who is a massive presence (6-7, 330 pounds) for the Vols to develop.
Tennessee’s in-state success extends to defense with DE Zach Groves. A defender with good quickness and power, he has amassed more than 50 TFLs heading into his senior season. The Vols also bolstered their D-line by landing Dereon Albert out of Mississippi. The 300-pound defender has been a UA Next camp standout two straight years and displays the tools to be a tough, competitive and consistent presence in the trenches. Brayden Rouse, out of Georgia, could contribute at TE but projects to linebacker, where he brings good range and can play well in space and be effective in coverage.
It took some time for Alabama’s class to find its footing, but an active June brought the Tide into the mix among the top classes in the country. They kept one of the top running backs in the class at home by landing Ezavier Crowell, an aggressive runner who possesses good power and vision.
The defense is benefitting from some big pickups, including pulling several ESPN 300 defenders out of Georgia. Xavier Griffin has a lengthy and broad frame to develop and can get up field and bend the edge. From the same high school (Gainesville), the Tide snagged DE Jamarion Matthews, who has a stockier build but can also bend well and get after the quarterback.
They also added a pair of top-10 CBs in Jorden Edmonds, also out of the Peach State, and in-state Zyan Gibson, who has posted consistent mid-4.4 40s on the camp circuit. The summer success continues into July as the Tide added five-star Jireh Edwards to their secondary. At roughly 6-foot-2 and more than 200 pounds with excellent testing numbers, Edwards can be a physical and versatile defensive back.
Ryan Day has the luxury of building his 2026 class around one of the most coveted players in the country: five-star receiver Henry, whose father, the late Chris Henry, was a star receiver for West Virginia and the Cincinnati Bengals. Henry Jr. stands 6-6 and has a combination of length and quickness rarely seen from high school receivers.
The rest of the Buckeyes’ class has started to take shape around Henry. The team has added a handful of ESPN 300 prospects since March, including Bradford out of Louisiana and linebacker Simeon Caldwell out of Florida. C.J. Sanna is a prospect we like on tape; he is a big, physical linebacker with excellent range and is a bit of an underrated pickup for this talented class. In-state offensive tackle Maxwell Riley is impressive changing direction and finishes plays with the type of nastiness that will endear him to fans in Columbus.
The Wolverines signed the No. 1 QB for the 2025 cycle in Bryce Underwood and he carries high expectations, but they continue to add talent to the position and landed ESPN 300 signal-caller Brady Smigiel. The onetime Florida State commit is not only an accurate passer, but he also plays with the confidence and swagger that will be needed battling with five-star Underwood. Michigan further bolstered its backfield by landing No. 2 RB Savion Hiter, a runner with a nice blend of size (6 feet, 200 pounds), power and speed who can also catch the ball well.
After losing two DLs in the first round of the NFL draft, Michigan added several DLs to this class, including ESPN 300 DEs Titan Davis and McHale Blade. Four-star DE Tariq Boney is a player to keep an eye on. He lacks ideal length but can be a well-rounded technician and a quick contributor. In addition to pulling Boney out of the nation’s capital, Michigan also landed Carter Meadows, a rangy edge defender who can bend well.
After scoring from off the beaten path with former standout TE Colston Loveland (Idaho), the Wolverines hope to strike big again from that same region with Matt Ludwig out of Montana. He is a versatile player with good ball skills who can be tough after the catch and fights for yards.
Landing one of the top defenders in the country is the fastest way to climb the recruiting rankings, and that’s exactly what Billy Napier did by securing five-star defensive end JaReylan McCoy. Ranked No. 9 overall and the second-best defender in the ESPN 300, McCoy would be Florida’s highest-rated defensive signee in more than a decade. The 6-foot-7, 260-pound Mississippi native brings elite length, explosive traits and a relentless motor that was on full display at the Under Armour All-America week in January. Beating out LSU and Texas for McCoy marks a major recruiting win for Napier, and McCoy has the potential to develop into one of the SEC’s most feared defensive linemen.
A late close helped the Gators rise in the past cycle, but they’ve ascended much earlier this time around with an active summer. In June they added a pair of dynamic pass catchers in Marquez Daniel and Justin Williams, as well as Georgia running back Carsyn Baker. An early but key pickup was QB Will Griffin, who came on board in June 2024. A big-bodied passer with a strong arm and good accuracy, he could eventually be a nice transition from current QB DJ Lagway. Napier’s staff has also bolstered both lines of scrimmage with several high-upside prospects ranked just outside the ESPN 300, adding critical depth as Florida looks to reassert itself in the SEC.
Previous ranking: 12
ESPN 300 commits: 10 Top offensive prospect: WR Jabari Mack Top defensive prospect: DT Lamar Brown
The Tigers are tough to beat for in-state talent, and they built the foundation for one of the top classes in the country with homegrown recruits. A great example of that came when they fended off several top suitors, including Texas A&M, and kept top-ranked prospect Lamar Brown at home. Projected to the defensive line, he is an agile and flexible big man who also could excel, if needed, as an offensive lineman.
LSU also added wide receiver Jabari Mack (a strong route runner) and offensive tackle Brysten Martinez, a pair of in-state four-star recruits who bolster a class that now features more than half of the top 10 players from Louisiana. That includes a pair of teammates from Edna Karr High: DT Richard Anderson, a stout presence at more than 300 pounds with good initial quickness, and Aiden Hall, a safety with good length, speed and downhill physicality. Though much of their recruiting success is from within their primary recruiting footprint, the Tigers did go out west to land ESPN 300 CB Havon Finney Jr. A 2027 prospect who reclassified into the 2026 class, he has shown he can be physical in press coverage but also brings excellent speed to be able to run with receivers.
Despite a rocky finish to the 2024 season, the Hurricanes are trending in the right direction. They’re coming off a 10-win season, former QB Cam Ward was the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft and they’ve reeled in two consecutive top-15 recruiting classes. Mario Cristobal’s 2026 class is working to match or even exceed those groups.
The Hurricanes are adding pieces to field a dominant offensive line. They could lose several projected 2025 starters after this season but are adding big men who can step in and project a bright future in the trenches. In addition to landing the top-rated interior OL in the 2025 class, they have added several OLs to their 2026 class, led by No. 1 tackle Jackson Cantwell. Much like current standout OT Francis Mauigoa, who was a five-star himself and a Year 1 starter, Cantwell could step in at one of the tackle spots upon arriving in South Florida. He is a massive presence at roughly 6-7 and 320 pounds and carries his size well. In addition to being powerful, he possesses good quickness and flexibility, and much like Mauigoa is being projected to be a high NFL draft pick.
QB Dereon Coleman has room for growth but has a quick release and accuracy. The Hurricanes flipped from Georgia a speedy receiving target out of California in Vance Spafford, who won the fastest-man competition last summer at the UA Future 50 event. Four-star Miami native Jordan Campbell is 6-2, 220 pounds with the versatility to make plays in pursuit and the bend and power that portend a potential impact pass rusher. He’s a candidate to take a leap with college coaching.
Mike Norvell cranked up the heat on Florida State’s 2026 recruiting class this summer. Coming off a 2-10 season that led to a staff overhaul, Norvell’s fresh start pitch is resonating with prospects. A key in-state win was landing rangy top-five CB Chauncey Kennon out of Booker High School in Sarasota. LB Izayia Williams has bounced around with multiple commitments, including a previous commitment to the Seminoles, but if they can keep him in the mix, their defense will add a player with excellent speed and range.
The Seminoles landed multiple four-star commitments in June, headlined by tight end Xavier Tiller, who checks in at No. 84 on the ESPN 300. A former Texas A&M commit, the 6-foot-5, 215-pound Tiller boasts an 80-inch wingspan, fluid movement skills and the toughness to win contested catches.
Tiller isn’t the only notable pass catcher entering the mix for Florida State. Wide receiver Devin Carter, the son of former Seminoles running back Dexter Carter, is back in the fold after initially flipping to Auburn. He brings explosive short-area quickness and a strong football background. Four-star Florida native Brandon Bennett adds another dynamic option.
Norvell also landed a quarterback who could one day get them the ball and tie the class together by flipping Jaden O’Neal, who plays at Mustang High in Oklahoma, from the in-state Sooners. The 6-foot-3 pocket passer ranks No. 166 overall with a good frame, smooth delivery and calm demeanor. If Florida State holds on to O’Neal, he would be the program’s highest-rated quarterback signee since 2022.
Unsurprisingly given his ethos, Bill Belichick is building North Carolina’s 2026 class from the inside out. Zavion Griffin-Haynes was a key in-state keep. The aggressive, lengthy edge defender can bolster the Heels’ defensive front with the tools to be a three-down player. Four-star North Carolina defensive tackle Trashawn Ruffin flipped from Texas A&M, and the 300-pounder has plenty of raw physicality to mold. Ruffin is one of several interior linemen in the class that also includes one-time Oregon commit Viliami Moala, a massive 300-pounder who brings not only jolting power but is light on his feet for his size and can be a handful in the heart of the trenches.
The secondary has undergone some changes during this recruiting cycle, but Marcellous Ryan out of California remains and gives UNC a lean but fluid CB to develop. Jakob Weatherspoon out of Ohio was a big flip from Ohio State and is CB with excellent speed. Crew Davis can be a versatile back with the power to run between the tackles, but he also possesses good ball skills. As a junior, he rushed for more than 1,300 yards and also hauled in more than 50 receptions.
In an effort to boost their passing attack, the Heels have added several potential big-play pieces. Quarterback commit Travis Burgess had a strong showing at the Elite 11 finals and jumped into the ESPN 300 after spring evaluations. He displayed steady development including improved accuracy and also has excellent mobility to create with his legs as well. In July they added a pair of ESPN 300 WRs in Keeyun Chapman and Carnell Warren, both of whom are big targets (roughly 6-foot-4) who can run well. Having worked with some excellent TEs in his past, Belichick was able to snare a flip from Tennessee in Carson Sneed, an ESPN 300 TE who can also be a productive target as well as aid the ground game as a tenacious blocker.
Clemson is coming off a College Football Playoff appearance, but the Tigers are still chasing the heights of their mid-2010s success under Dabo Swinney, and their 2025 class ranked just 37th in the country. Their 2026 group is looking more promising, especially after a red-hot March in which Swinney landed eight verbals, including five ESPN 300 commits.
Much of the talent is currently concentrated on offense. Naeem Burroughs is a burner in the 100-meter dash who can take the top off a defense and has a high football IQ. Fellow receiver Connor Salmin is another big-play threat. With some new offensive weapons, the Tigers are making sure they have the time to get the ball downfield by loading up along the offensive line. Delaney, Carter Scruggs, Grant Wise, Adam Guthrie and Chancellor Barclay give the Tigers multiple ESPN 300 OLs to help reload a senior-heavy unit that is projected to lose multiple starters after 2025.
They could one day protect fellow four-star Tait Reynolds, a dual-threat QB out of Arizona who could push to be part of the long-term solution to replace Cade Klubnik. While the foundation of the class is on offense, Anderson is a key in-state pickup on the other side of the ball. With his frame (roughly 6-foot-2, 190 pounds) and range, he can be a versatile back-end defender for the Tigers.
Previous ranking: 17
ESPN 300 commits: 6 Top offensive prospect: WR Davion Brown Top defensive prospect: S Matt Sieg
The Nittany Lions jumped out to a fast start fueled by strong in-state recruiting and have kept that momentum going. Several of their top commits are Pennsylvania natives, including four-star Harrisburg High School teammates Kevin Brown and Messiah Mickens. Brown is a big, flexible offensive tackle, while Mickens has been a productive prep running back, which bodes well for a Penn State program that must finally replace Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton after 2025.
James Franklin also landed in-state athlete David Davis Jr., who has clocked a 20.5 mph max speed and has the cover skills to fit into the back end of a defense one day. While most of the early commits are within Penn State’s primary recruiting radius, the Nittany Lions also landed strong-armed quarterback Troy Huhn out of California. He’s a big body with good feet and brings nice upside. They also went out of state to land a potential big-play target in Davion Brown. Out of Virginia, Brown possesses excellent speed, having been recorded at over 21 mph in game play, and can do a good job of high pointing the football to win contested matchups.
Jedd Fisch did an excellent job bringing in talent at Arizona and is now working to retool Washington’s roster and get the Huskies back into the playoff hunt. The Huskies won a key recruiting battle by pulling away Greene, an ESPN 300 OL, from rival Oregon. He is a 300-pounder who moves very well for his size with good quickness and the one-time Washington resident can be a key option in the trenches. The Huskies went east to land their QB in Derek Zammit, a tough, smart player with a smooth, quick release. He should continue to improve with the tools to develop into a productive starter.
Washington landed several commitments in the secondary to address that unit. In-state Elijah Durr has good size at roughly 6 feet and is smooth in his movements. He could develop at cornerback or safety. The Huskies also added a pair of four-star DBs in CB Jeron Jones, who has good speed, and Gavin Day out of Las Vegas, an aggressive safety who tallied more than 100 tackles as a junior.
Kalani Sitake’s 2026 class has the potential to be program-defining as BYU builds on the momentum of last year’s 11-win season, which saw the Cougars climb as high as No. 6 in the College Football Playoff rankings. The Cougars currently hold commitments from two top-100 ESPN 300 standouts — tight end Brock Harris and quarterback Ryder Lyons — marking what could be their most highly rated duo of high school signees in the ESPN 300 era dating to 2006).
Harris, a 6-foot-7, 240-pound in-state product, has transformed from a jumbo wideout into one of the nation’s premier tight ends, adding size while retaining his fluid route-running and wide catch radius. He also brings toughness, having competed at the 2025 Under Armour All-America Game with a cast on his hand. If all goes according to plan, Harris will catch plenty of passes from Lyons, a four-star quarterback who won California’s Gatorade Player of the Year award this fall. Lyons’ commitment represents a full-circle win for BYU. The Cougars offered him as an eighth grader and held off the likes of USC and Oregon to secure his commitment.
Another ESPN 300 prospect, two-way lineman Bott Mulitalo, committed in March and could be tasked with protecting Lyons down the road, adding to what has the makings of a historic haul in Provo.
The Mustangs charged into the CFP last season and are showing signs they plan to be consistent contenders. Capitalizing on the rich talent base in Texas, they have added several in-state prospects, including ESPN 300 back Christian Rhodes. An explosive runner who has been recorded hitting better than 21 mph in game play, he rushed for more than 1,200 yards as a junior. To help clear running lanes, the Mustangs have added several offensive linemen, including Evan Goodwin, a massive presence at 6-foot-7 and 320 pounds, and in-state guard Drew Evers, a thickly built and strong blocker who can latch on and control defenders.
High three-star Aljour Miles II is another nice in-state add, as he is a lengthy receiver with good quickness and body control. Another receiving target with big-play potential, Jakai Anderson, was pulled out of Louisiana. Not quite as big a target, he brings a good blend of speed and elusiveness and could also be productive in the return game. On defense, the addition of DE Hudson Woods is a big plus. Woods shows some savvy as a pass rusher, with active hands and good bend. LB Kenneth Goodwin out of California can be a physical player with the ability to rush the passer as well as make plays in coverage.
South Carolina nearly made the College Football Playoff, and Shane Beamer keeps brightening the Gamecocks’ future outlook as well. South Carolina added J’Zavien Currence out of the same high school, South Pointe High School, as former Gamecocks star Jadeveon Clowney. Currence is a versatile defender with his blend of size, versatility and speed. He could stay in the secondary, or if he continues to grow, he could move to linebacker. Also on defense, South Carolina has added several four-star defensive ends, including Keenan Britt. Britt lacks ideal height but has good arm length and initial quickness. He plays with leverage and can be a disruptive presence with his blend of speed and power.
On the heels of a deep and talented 2025 cycle receiver haul, the Gamecocks continue to add young talent to that unit, landing in-state ESPN 300 prospect Sequel Patterson. A multi-sport athlete who can play on either side of the ball, he projects to receiver where he can be a productive target as a quick and sharp route runner. ESPN 300 QB Landon Duckworth, a passer with a strong arm, brings high upside with excellent physical tools to develop. Four-star in-state offensive tackle Zyon Guiles is a 6-foot-5, 295-pound mauler with powerful hands and contact explosiveness, which should bode well even if he’s asked to move inside.
Previous ranking: 23
ESPN 300 commits: 3 Top offensive prospect: QB Bowe Bentley Top defensive prospect: DE Jake Kreul
Oklahoma’s 2026 recruiting class might be middle of the pack so far in the SEC, but it’s anchored by one of the top quarterback prospects in the country. Bowe Bentley, a four-star signal-caller from Celina (Texas) High, gives the Sooners a dynamic player around whom to build. Bentley is a dual-threat passer who pairs impressive production with the kind of arm talent, mobility and leadership — not to mention a bit of improvisation — that can shape a class.
Bentley is one of several four-stars currently in the group. He’s joined by wide receiver Daniel Odom out of St. John Bosco (Calif.). The 6-foot-2, 190-pound target has length, runs polished routes and has deceptive speed off the line. Oklahoma has layered in a slew of signings along the offensive and defensive fronts, including Brian Harris, a 6-3, 280-pounder out of Florida. He’s a disruptive interior run defender with an impressive motor. Another key addition out of Florida — and a big boost to the class overall — was five-star DE Jake Kreul, who brings an explosive first step, good bend and a relentless motor and should be able to work his way into the mix in Year 1.
Previous ranking: 26
ESPN 300 commits: 2 Top offensive prospect: OT Felix Ojo Top defensive prospect: S Donovan Webb
The Red Raiders have been active in the transfer portal, but Joey McGuire & Co. also remain committed to building their roster through high schools. He pulled off a huge in-state win landing five-star offensive tackle Felix Ojo. It’s the second time McGuire has landed an in-state five-star prospect (Micah Hudson, 2024). Ojo is lean and needs some further development but has elite length, bends well and brings a high ceiling for development. In-state guard Jerald Mays is another nice addition to that unit, as he is a thickly built lineman with good feet.
While the hope is Hudson will still break out and meet expectations, Tech is adding to the receiver room in four-star Chase Campbell, a target with good speed and body control who has amassed over 160 receptions with 35 TDs between his sophomore and junior years. In-state safety Donovan Webb can close well and has strong ball skills to finish and generate turnovers. He was position MVP at this spring’s UA Dallas camp.
Good recruiting starts at home, and an early priority for the Fighting Illini was in-state athlete Rankin. A two-sport star who also excels on the hardwood, the ESPN 300 prospect projects to wide receiver, where he can be a playmaker with good hands and the ability to make defenders miss after the catch. Also from in-state, big man Casey Thomann is one of the top OL prospects in Illinois, and three-star Tony Balanganayi is an interesting big man. He projects to the defensive line, where he has shown he can be disruptive, but with more mass could offer higher upside as an OL.
From within the Big Ten footprint, four-star Cam Thomas (Ohio) is a defender with an outstanding first step and could develop into an edge rusher with big upside. Parker Crim brings good arm length, can move well and has shown he can be explosive off the ball. Tony Williams, out of Florida, is a middle linebacker with good instincts and can be a physical presence between the tackles.
The Fran Brown era in Syracuse certainly isn’t boring. He led the Orange to just their second 10-win season since 2001 behind Ohio State transfer Kyle McCord, then landed a solid 2025 recruiting class. Now he’s pushing for more talent in 2026. They surprised many by beating several top programs, including Michigan, for ESPN 300 WR Calvin Russell, a lengthy but smooth target who plans to also play basketball with the Orange.
Four-star defensive end Jarius Rodgers, also out of Florida, is among Brown’s biggest gets so far. The 6-5 220-pounder has tremendous length and an impressive track background. He has considerable physical tools and upside if Syracuse’s coaching staff can harness it. Wilson is another big pull out of Florida; the edge defender has good initial quickness and tallied 17 sacks in 2024.
OT Javeion Cooper has real upside too. He has good size (6-5, 300 pounds) yet plays with impressive balance for someone with his power and contact explosiveness. The Orange also have been active in the mid-Atlantic, landing three receivers from Delaware. Among that group is B.J. Garrett, a big target (6-3, 191 pounds) with good hands who could develop into a player in the mold of Oronde Gadsden, who had similar measurables coming out in the 2021 class.
The Rebels have relied heavily on the transfer portal, but by no means have turned their back on bringing in young talent. They signed a top-20 class for 2025 as well one of the top 10 newcomer classes for the last cycle. Damarius Yates was a key in-state keep, as he rushed for more than 1,300 yards as a junior for Kemper County and caught 31 passes. He possesses explosive lateral movement with the acceleration to separate from defenders. Corey Barber is a receiver with good speed and can be a vertical threat as well as create plays on jet sweeps.
On defense, DEs Landon Barnes and Carmelow Reed both need further development but bring good tools. Barnes is out of one of the top programs in Texas (Duncanville) and uses his hands well and can set the edge. Reed has a big frame and possesses good first-step quickness.
Baylor picked up a WR with strong ties to the program in London Smith, whose father was a football and basketball star at Baylor and whose mother was a national champion triple jumper for the Bears. Unsurprisingly, London is a quick, smooth target with good body control. Another key add at WR is Jordan Clay, a nice-sized target at close to 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds who also possesses very good body control.
Further capitalizing on in-state talent, Baylor landed ESPN 300 DE Jamarion Carlton and ESPN 300 CB Jamarion Vincent, who possesses coveted size at roughly 6-2 and blends that with good speed and smooth movements.
Jeff Brohm has raised Louisville’s floor with a 19-8 record and an appearance in the ACC championship game two years ago. His 2026 class has the players to keep the program moving in the right direction. ESPN 300 defensive back Jaydin Broadnax, out of Florida, is the biggest get so far. At nearly 6-foot-3, he has great length, balance and body control for a corner. LB Karsten Busch is a nice addition from within the state who will help on defense. He possesses good size and the ability to be a physical, downhill presence against the run. Sam Dawson is another in-state defensive add. He is a DT with active, heavy hands and good power who can help stuff the run.
QB Briggs Cherry has performed well during in-person evaluations, including winning positional MVP during the UA New Orleans camp in March. The strong-armed passer has risen in the rankings, proving to be a key January pickup.
The Cardinal are working to bounce back from a 3-9 campaign and their 2026 class is showing the tools to make future improvements. A key pickup was ESPN 300 athlete Ryelan Morris, a flip from Baylor. At 5-foot-10 and 175 pounds, he is versatile in how he could be utilized within their offense. He is quick with good hands and best projects as a slot receiver, where he can be dangerous after the catch. They beat out programs like Alabama and Florida State for ESPN 300 DB Lasiah Jackson out of Georgia, a defender with good length and range.
Having had a reputation for fielding excellent OLs not long ago, they are looking to rebuild that unit into a strength with several big men committed. Jalayne Miller, out of Arizona, possesses good feet and flexibility, and Blaise Thomassie could be a sleeper add. He performed very well at a loaded UA New Orleans camp between his junior and senior years. He possesses good body quickness, is very good with his hands and could develop at OG or center.
The Scarlet Knights have added some top talent to their wide receiver room with Dyzier Carter and Elias Coke, who are longtime commits, having joined the class before the 2024 season started. Carter is a good route runner with strong hands and could be a quick contributor. Coke is a nice target at roughly 6-foot-2.
On defense, Joey Kopec is a two-way player in high school, contributing at RB and LB. He has good range and is effective dropping into coverage. Part of a big June haul, Rinaldo Callaway, out of Georgia, is an interesting addition to keep an eye on. A rangy edge defender, he is raw and needs development but shows a nice ceiling for development and could grow into a disruptive pass rusher. Athlete Chris Hewitt projects to the secondary.
Always active in Florida, the Scarlet Knights landed Reece Beck, a DE with good physical tools, frame, reach and active hands. He can be tough against the run and productive as a pass rusher. They will not need to wait for edge defender Wydeek Collier, a big riser in the 2026 rankings after the spring evaluation period, who reclassified and joined Rutgers’ 2025 class.
Curt Cignetti proved in his first year at Indiana that his program-building skills translate to the Power 4. Now he’s establishing a foundation for sustained success by assembling one of the program’s most promising defensive recruiting classes in recent memory. The Hoosiers have put particular emphasis on the defensive line. Four-star tackle Cameron McHaney, a thickly built interior lineman from IMG Academy, shows initial quickness off the snap and plays with violence and disruption. He projects as a pocket-pusher who can anchor or attack in multiple fronts. Joining him are a pair of four-star defensive ends: Gabe Hill and Kevontay Hugan. Hill, at 6-foot-2 and 240 pounds, pairs an explosive first step with strong hands and a relentless motor. Hugan, another high-upside edge rusher, rounds out a talented group of trench commits.
On offense, a top commit is wide receiver Kortez Rupert, a 5-foot-11, 155-pound speedster from East Saint Louis High, the same program that produced Luther Burden. Rupert isn’t the same caliber of prospect, but he shows impressive burst off the line and could grow into a dangerous slot threat.
Under Jonathan Smith, Michigan State is looking to recapture its status among the Big Ten’s upper-tier programs, which has become harder over the past few years. Having an in-state, homegrown signal-caller to shepherd in a new era would certainly inject more enthusiasm into the program. Enter Kayd Coffman, a 6-foot-2, 195-pounder out of East Kentwood High School in Michigan and an ESPN 300 prospect. Coffman has a quick, snappy release with the footwork and mobility to develop into a dynamic passer on the run. Michigan State will have to work to hold on to him — Colorado and Ohio State were among the programs who checked in on Coffman in the spring — but getting him to campus would be a major win.
Michigan State’s other ESPN 300 commit, Tyren Wortham, could be a target for Coffman. At 6 feet, 180 pounds, he’s a lean and fluid receiver who can surge off the ball with sudden quickness. Wortham can sustain that burst too — he ran a 21.91-second 200-meter dash in late March — and competes in games and practices alike with an impressive no-nonsense attitude. He’s one of several pass-catchers already pledged in Michigan State’s class, joining three-stars Samson Gash and Zachary Washington.
Previous ranking: 34
ESPN 300 commits: 1 Top offensive prospect: OG Marek Jin Top defensive prospect: DE Mason Leak
Bill O’Brien has injected new life into Boston College, in part by returning the program to its local roots. That has continued so far in 2026, with nearly half of its commits hailing from Massachusetts, Connecticut or New York. One of those prospects is Mason Leak, who is an interesting addition that will likely need developmental time but flashes very good raw tools and could be a breakout player. The Eagles added two promising QBs this cycle as well in Femi Babalola and D.J. Bordeaux. The former has a rangy frame, tested well in offseason camp and possesses a strong, accurate arm. The latter has a smooth release and moves well.
At the program’s height, BC built a reputation for developing NFL-caliber talent, particularly along the offensive line and on defense, and the Eagles are working hard to get back to that level. An early commit from in-state is OT Brady Bekkenhuis, who is a tenacious blocker with upside. Four-star Marek Jin is a flexible OL prospect who plays with good leverage, and with continued development and focus, Jin could be a key contributor in the trenches.
The Gophers are not a class that will be heavy with ESPN 300 commits, but they’re assembling a strong class anchored by a plethora of high three-star prospects. CBs Justin Hopkins and Chance Payne are good examples, as is edge defender Aaden Aytch. A prospect with a lean build, Aytch needs to continue to develop, but he brings a high ceiling as he has good length, displays wiry strength, can redirect well and be a factor in pursuit.
Beefing up the offensive line, they have several commits, led by Andrew Trout, the No. 1 player in the state and an ESPN 300 OT. Another key in-state keep was Roman Voss, who was also pursued by Alabama. Listed as an athlete, he has experience as a QB, but projects to TE and can be a versatile weapon for the Minnesota offense.
Pat Narduzzi and Pittsburgh haven’t secured multiple ESPN 300 commits in one class since 2021. If things hold, that’s set to change in 2026. The Panthers landed commitments from a pair of four-stars: outside linebacker Reston Lehman, out of Pennsylvania, and athlete Damon Ferguson. Lehman has solid size at 6-foot-3, 230 pounds and has the versatility to get after quarterbacks off the edge but also drop into coverage. He’s comfortable tracking the quarterback as a pass rusher and has already begun to show the makings of multiple pass-rush moves. He’s one of several intriguing linebacker additions, alongside three-star outside linebacker Isaiah Simmons and three-star inside linebacker Desmond Johnson out of Miami.
Pitt hasn’t produced a 1,000-yard rusher since Israel Abanikanda in 2022. Ferguson certainly has the raw tools to change that. The Maryland native is a quick runner who can change direction without skipping a beat and runs low to the ground. His suddenness and speed make him an attractive option in the pass game too and could even translate to work in the defensive secondary if needed.
Lance Leipold is no stranger to building a program and is working to fortify Kansas’ 2026 class. At 6-foot-3, 190 pounds, in-state defensive back J.J. Dunnigan has the length to reroute receivers off the line and the straight-line speed to hang with them on vertical routes. The Jayhawks have a few offensive linemen committed, led by 6-foot-5 Kansas native Kaden Snyder, who has an enticing combination of athleticism, pass-protection skills and upside if he can continue to fill out his frame.
The Jalon Daniels era enters its sixth and final season in 2025. In-state three-star commit Jaylen Mason is an intriguing developmental option at QB.
In Justin Wilcox’s eight seasons, Cal has been steady, albeit unspectacular, never losing more than eight games but never winning more than eight. If the Golden Bears’ 2026 class is any indication, their coaching staff certainly isn’t leaving any stone unturned in their pursuit to raise the ceiling of the program. Their lone ESPN 300 recruit, defensive end Camron Brooks, hails from Georgia and picked Cal after taking visits to Clemson, Florida State and Ohio State. At 6-foot-3, 230 pounds, Brooks has excellent length and initial burst. He’s one of two players from Thomas County Central High School who have committed to Cal in the class, joining interior lineman Artem Korchagin.
Cal also dipped into Hawai’i to land four prospects: tight end Taimane Purcell, offensive guard Kamo’i Huihui-White, quarterback Nainoa Lopes and offensive tackle Esaiah Wong. The Bears even tapped into the NFL Academy’s European program, landing tight end Luca Wolf out of London, who stands an impressive 6-foot-6, 240 pounds. The class could gel around in-state quarterback Brady Palmer, a three-star pocket passer out of San Diego. He’s a poised, accurate passer who has enough athleticism to extend plays and has been a frequent competitor on the camp circuit.
Previous ranking: 40
ESPN 300 commits: 2 Top offensive prospect: QB Oscar Rios Top defensive prospect: DE Prince Williams
Arizona’s program has oscillated between incredible highs, winning 10 games two seasons ago and sending Tetairoa McMillan to the NFL, and painful lows, with a four-win campaign in Brent Brennan’s first season. One of the few constants amid plenty of program upheaval has been quarterback Noah Fifita, who is sixth in program history in passing yards (5,955) and seventh in touchdowns (44). Arizona’s 2026 class could have Fifita’s successor.
The Wildcats landed a commitment from four-star California native Oscar Rios in late June. An ESPN 300 QB, Rios has developed from a tall, lanky underclassman into a strong-armed, confident passer capable of driving the ball vertically while winning over teammates and coaches with his competitive demeanor. Landing Rios was a big win, and Arizona continued the momentum in early July, landing a commitment from fellow four-star Prince Williams. The Bishop Gorman defensive end stands 6-foot-2, 255 pounds and doesn’t back down from larger offensive tackles, nor does he cede reps in camp settings. He has the type of competitive nature and versatility a defensive line room can rally around. That duo forms an impressive foundation for Arizona to continue building out its 2026 class.
Previous ranking: 33
ESPN 300 commits: 0 Top offensive prospect: WR Dequane Prevo Top defensive prospect: LB J.J. Bush
Hot seat talk surrounding head coach Sam Pittman seemed to cool entering the offseason, which will benefit recruiting and help aid a 2026 class that has a solid foundation to build on. Four-star Dequane Prevo out of Texas is a 5-foot-10 receiver that has outstanding balance, body control and short-area burst. Despite still battling some notable decommitments, several high-three-star prospects anchor the class, including TE Jaivion Martin, a big body (250 pounds) who can be a steady, physical target, as he reeled in nearly 90 passes between his sophomore and junior seasons.
Colton Yarbrough brings upside at defensive end with good first-step quickness and range. An offensive line coach himself, Pittman has landed in-state big man Tucker Young, who can get push and help create lanes in the run game.
It has been nearly a decade since Houston got a five-star high school recruit to campus when it reeled in future NFL defensive tackle Ed Oliver. That will change in 2026 if Houston and coach Willie Fritz hang onto Keisean Henderson, the nation’s top dual-threat quarterback prospect. The 6-foot-3, 185-pounder is an exceptional athlete — so much so that some evaluators wondered whether he’ll ultimately be better served at a different position. But Fritz has remained steadfast that the Cougars envision Henderson as a signal-caller, and he has a strong recent track record of production at the position, having coached Darian Mensah at Tulane. They’ll need to continue to develop Henderson’s game, but there’s no denying he has got a dizzying array of physical gifts, arm talent and game-changing mobility. That was on display when he kicked off his senior season with a seven-TD performance, including six through the air.
Henderson is the headliner, but he’s not the only ranked recruit in Houston’s class. Jayden Warren is a 6-foot-2, 185-pound target who committed to the Cougars in mid-July. He has excellent speed and can take the top off a defense as a vertical threat.
Video: King Charles hosts state banquet for Donald Trump
King Charles hosts state banquet for Donald Trump
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Daily Mirror Royal Editor Russell Myers on President Donald Trump’s historic state visit to the UK, where the royals are hosting the first couple with a banquet at Windsor Castle.
