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Eli Lederman
MANHATTAN BEACH, California — That is maybe probably the most consequential week of the 2026 recruiting cycle up to now.
From Tuesday night time to Thursday morning, 20 of the nation’s prime highschool quarterbacks convened in Southern California for the Elite 11 Finals with five-star passers Dia Bell (Texas commit), Faizon Brandon (Tennessee) and Keisean Henderson (Houston) among the many headliners. Additionally readily available for the nation’s premier highschool quarterback camp: Landon Duckworth, Oscar Rios and Bowe Bentley — three of the 4 uncommitted passers within the 2026 ESPN 300 — and late risers within the present quarterback class together with Boise State decommit Bryson Beaver and two-sport star Matt Ponatoski.
Elsewhere, the nation’s most coveted highschool prospects are about to descend on campuses throughout the nation for a ultimate spherical of official visits earlier than the recruiting useless interval from June 23 to July 31. No. 1 total recruit Lamar Brown will spend the weekend at LSU, whereas Immanuel Iheanacho (Oregon), Derrek Cooper (Ohio State) and Kaiden Prothro (Texas) spherical out the checklist of intriguing five-star visits coming this weekend.
As we attain the enterprise finish of the professional network recruiting cycle, here is the state of play inside the 2026 class.
Bounce to a subject:
Top uncommitted QBs
Final five-star official visits
USC’s top-ranked class
Summer risers
Court on the nation’s prime uncommitted QBs
Of the highest 45 quarterback prospects in ESPN’s rankings, solely 12 stay uncommitted, together with 5 recruits who spent the week at Manhattan Seaside’s Mira Costa Excessive Faculty throwing at Elite 11.
Prime-ranked dual-threat QB Duckworth down to 2: Landon Duckworth arrived in Southern California days after trimming his checklist to 2 faculties: Auburn and South Carolina. ESPN’s No. 104 total prospect visited the Tigers final weekend and can journey on Friday for his professional network journey with the Gamecocks. Duckworth, a one-time South Carolina commit, has gelled with new offensive coordinator Mike Shula, and ESPN sources view the Gamecocks as clear leaders to in the end land his dedication.
Arizona or UCLA for Rios: 4-star passer Oscar Rios (No. 192 total) confirmed to ESPN that his recruitment is right down to Arizona and UCLA forward of a June 27 dedication date. The 6-foot-3 passer from Downey, California, stays break up on his ultimate resolution, however Rios’ shut relationships with Bruins offensive coordinator Tino Suneri and the household of quarterbacks Nico and Madden Iamaleava might give UCLA an edge with ESPN’s ninth-ranked pocket passer.
Bentley nearing a call: Following back-to-back officers to LSU and Oklahoma, four-star Bowe Bentley (No. 261 total) mentioned he is utilizing his Elite 11 journey to step again from the recruiting course of. ESPN sources think about LSU favorites to safe the fast-rising, dual-threat passer, however the Tigers and Sooners are every pushing arduous with Bentley, who tells ESPN that he intends to wrap his course of as early as subsequent week.
“Hopefully earlier than July,” Bentley mentioned. “That is the objective. Return dwelling, undergo every thing once more and see the place my heads at.”
What’s subsequent for Lyons and O’Neal?: 4-stars Ryder Lyons (No. 49 total) and Jaden O’Neal (No. 112) weren’t readily available for Elite 11, however the recruitments of two of ESPN’s prime seven pocket passers are creating this month.
Lyons — the nation’s prime uncommitted passer — will shut his official go to slate at BYU this weekend, although Oregon stays the front-runner for the passer from Folsom, California. Per sources, four-star Oklahoma commit Jaden O’Neal (No. 112 total) left his official go to to Florida State earlier this week as a authentic flip candidate for the Seminoles, no matter Bentley’s impending resolution between the Sooners and LSU.
QB motion out of the ESPN 300: Former three-star Iowa State pledge Jett Thomalla made waves along with his flip to Alabama on Tuesday, hours earlier than the Elite 11’s opening session.
That transfer is related for fellow three-star Matt Ponatoski, a two-sport athlete who may even play baseball on the subsequent stage. Ponatoski visited the Crimson Tide earlier this month and can preserve Alabama within the combine as this system contemplates including a second quarterback in 2026, however sources now favor Kentucky to land Ponatoski, who is about to go to Oregon this week.
No 2026 quarterback has garnered newer consideration than three-star Bryson Beaver, who pulled his pledge from Boise State final week amid contemporary curiosity from main applications. Beaver adopted his decommitment with journeys to Ole Miss and Alabama final weekend and now holds presents from each applications, together with Oregon forward of his journey to see the Geese this weekend. Sources inform ESPN that both of LSU or Oklahoma might additionally enter the combination for Beaver, topic to the result of Bentley’s recruitment within the coming weeks.
Intel and ultimate official visits for five-star prospects
No. 1 total recruit Brown nearing end line: After nixing plans to go to Texas, five-star defensive sort out Lamar Brown is right down to LSU, Miami and Texas A&M with a heavy deal with the SEC rivals which have chased ESPN’s prime recruit for the higher a part of the final two years.
Brown raised eyebrows throughout his professional network go to with the Aggies final weekend when he posted “Assume this one shut the ebook…” on social media earlier than even closing the journey to School Station. Regardless of uncertainty surrounding Brown’s plans after the weekend, sources inform ESPN that the coveted defender from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, continues to be set to shut his official go to slate with a visit to LSU this weekend. Sources imagine the Tigers are nonetheless the main contenders to land Brown’s pledge coming into the weekend, although the Aggies proceed to carry sturdy footing within the course of forward of Brown’s July 10 dedication date, significantly after his impactful official go to.
Can LSU dangle onto WR Keys? Whereas the Tigers battle to maintain the nation’s prime prospect dwelling, they’ve spent the spring working to shore up the dedication of No. 10 total prospect Tristen Keys, the top-ranked member of LSU’s 2026 since his March 19 pledge.
Keys has already taken officers with Miami, Tennessee, Texas A&M this month. ESPN’s No. 2 huge receiver was additionally set for a mid-week journey to Alabama this week earlier than Keys introduced he was not planning to journey to see the Crimson Tide forward of his LSU official this weekend. ESPN sources thought-about Alabama the largest risk to flip Keys this summer time, and his resolution to go straight to Baton Rouge on the ultimate official go to weekend is a key improvement for the Tigers.
OT Iheanacho closes with Oregon: Immanuel Iheanacho, No. 12 within the ESPN 300, is right down to 4 faculties. After journeys to Auburn, LSU and Penn State in current weeks, he’ll shut out his slate of official visits with a important journey to Oregon this weekend.
The Geese have a lot of Iheanacho’s recruitment among the many front-runners to in the end land the 6-foot-7, 350-pound lineman from North Bethesda, Maryland. Oregon stays in a powerful place for Iheanacho, however sources inform ESPN that Penn State has climbed to the highest of his recruitment, bolstered by Iheanacho’s official go to with the Nittany Lions final weekend. As Penn State surges in his course of, sources counsel that relationships at Penn State and relative proximity to dwelling — to go along with departing depth on this system’s offensive line after 2025 — might in the end assist swing Iheanacho’s resolution towards Penn State on Aug. 5.
Who’s subsequent for prime linebacker Atkinson? Clemson bought Tyler Atkinson’s first official go to this spring, adopted by Oregon after which in-state Georgia this previous weekend. The query coming into this week: would the nation’s prime outdoors linebacker take one other official in June?
Regardless of important efforts from the likes of Auburn and Ohio State, sources inform ESPN that Texas shall be internet hosting Atkinson this week, the professional network program to get a shot with ESPN’s No. 13 total prospect. Georgia and a training employees that has hosted Atkinson on campus greater than a dozen instances over the previous few years stays the clear chief for Atkinson, however Texas is gaining steam within the 2026 defensive class and will quickly rival the Bulldogs in his course of.
Lengthy method to go for cross rusher Kreul: It has been a busy run of spring officers for defensive finish Jake Kreul, No. 21 within the ESPN 300. After journeys to Colorado, Ohio State and Florida, Kreul took visits to Ole Miss and Texas final week and can cap his slate at Oklahoma this weekend.
Per ESPN sources, the Gators and Longhorns have every made important strikes in Kreul’s course of over the past month, and the Sooners have lengthy been among the many most energetic faculties in his recruitment. Kreul is anticipated to trim his finalists to 4 later this month, however seemingly will not announce a dedication till the autumn with a watch on a call round his 18th birthday on Oct. 9.
What’s left for USC and the nation’s No. 1 class?
Following the arrival of first-year normal supervisor Chad Bowden and renewed efforts on the in-state recruiting path, the Trojans enter the summer time with the nation’s deepest and most talent-rich recruiting class. Amongst USC’s 29 pledges, 18 are in-state prospects and 15 come from contained in the ESPN 300 — greater than every other program — highlighted by five-stars Elbert Hill (No. 15 total) and Keenyi Pepe (No. 17) and a complete depend of seven prime 100 prospects.
In truth, the Trojans have even dipped into the 2026 class early: four-star cornerback R.J. Sermons, who reclassified into the cycle class in Could, is about to enroll at USC this summer time.
Nevertheless, after a torrid spring of recruiting, sources now count on the Trojans to sluggish their efforts within the top-end of the 2026 class within the coming months excluding potential flips and late risers within the senior analysis interval. Two positions the place USC might nonetheless make high-profile provides: huge receiver and defensive finish.
4-star cross catcher Ethan “Boobie” Feaster (No. 23 total) and athlete Jalen Lott (No. 107) are a pair of precedence targets for the Trojans with every set to shut their respective recruitments early subsequent month. Per sources, USC and Texas A&M have offered Feaster with probably the most profitable NIL packages amongst his finalists, which additionally embody Alabama and LSU. At defensive finish, the Trojans are surging forward of the likes of Florida, Ohio State and Texas for four-star cross rusher Luke Wafle (No. 103) following his official go to with this system earlier this month.
Projecting summer time risers
As of June 19, USC, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Clemson and Penn State make up the highest 5 groups in ESPN’s staff recruiting rankings for the cycle. Who may begin difficult these locations atop the 2026 class? These 5 applications are in place to rise on the recruiting path this summer time:
Alabama: The Crimson Tide are at the moment nowhere to be discovered amongst ESPN’s prime 25 courses in 2026. However much like a 12 months in the past, when Alabama blitzed the summer time recruiting path, coach Kalen DeBoer and Co. seem poised to catch hearth as soon as once more within the coming months.
The June 9 dedication of four-star offensive sort out Samuel Utu (No. 77 total) marked the Crimson Tide’s first ESPN pledge in almost three months, and this system landed its 2026 quarterback on Tuesday with the flip of former three-star Iowa State commit Jett Thomalla, ESPN’s No. 18 pocket passer.
Up forward, sources think about Alabama front-runners within the recruitments of prime 30 defenders Jett Washington (No. 22), Xavier Griffin (No. 28) and Jireh Edwards (No. 29) this summer time. The Crimson Tide are equally well-positioned for a trio in-state targets between outdoors linebacker Anthony Jones (No. 25), operating again Ezavier Crowell (No. 30) and huge receiver Cederian Morgan (No. 47); all three will go to Alabama this weekend with Crowell (June 26) and Morgan (July 2) anticipated to announce their commitments within the coming weeks.
Florida: After using a string of late-cycle commitments to a No. 10 end within the 2025 cycle, the Gators hit the summer time months very a lot in line to contend for an additional prime 10 class in 2026.
Ten of the 12 prospects dedicated to Florida’s incoming class have landed within the month of June, headlined by Saturday’s pledge from five-star defensive finish JaReylan McCoy, ESPN’s No. 9 total prospect within the cycle. The Gators might quickly add two extra prime 300 defensive lineman alongside McCoy after impressing cross rusher Trenton Henderson (No. 60 total) and defensive sort out James Johnson (No. 122) on their visits every week in the past.
Florida additionally hosted five-star tight finish Kaiden Prothro final weekend, however the Gators have floor to make up in a battle with Alabama, Auburn, Georgia and Texas for the nation’s No. 19 recruit. A extra life like top-end cross catching possibility for Florida is four-star huge receiver Davian Groce (No. 36), who counts the Gators amongst his leaders subsequent to Baylor, Houston and Oklahoma.
Michigan: The Wolverines have been late risers within the 2025 cycle and are more likely to take their recruiting enterprise into the autumn months in 2026, too. However Michigan might nonetheless produce fireworks this summer time.
The Wolverines have made No. 2 operating again Savion Hiter a prime precedence this cycle. Michigan impressed ESPN’s No. 27 total prospect on his most up-to-date go to with this system final weekend, and sources like the place this system stands amongst finalists Georgia, Ohio State and Tennessee as Hiter prepares to wrap his course of over the subsequent month.
Hiter wasn’t the one main goal on campus final weekend. The Wolverines have jumped forward of Florida and Florida State within the race for four-star outdoors linebacker D.Q. Forkpa (No. 40 total). Current guests Andre Clarke (No. 100) and Travis Johnson (No. 109) are excessive on Michigan, too, with the Wolverines additionally within the combine for prime 100 defensive backs Davon Benjamin (No. 62) and Khary Adams (N0. 68).
Texas: Like Alabama, the Longhorns waited till the summer time to completely hit stride within the 2025 cycle earlier than touchdown the nation’s No. 1 class. With eight ESPN 300 pledges already, together with five-star quarterback Dia Bell (No. 6 total), what’s subsequent for the Longhorns in 2026?
Sources inform ESPN that the Longhorns at the moment are setting the tempo with five-star offensive sort out Felix Ojo (No. 20) forward of Michigan and Ohio State following his official go to final weekend. Alongside Ojo, four-star offensive sort out John Turntine (No. 43) represents one other main in-state goal on the offensive line. Per sources, Texas are anticipated to be aggressive in chasing prime 30 linebackers Griffin and Atkinson whereas persevering with to focus on prime 100 defenders Richard Wesley (No. 19), Trenton Henderson (No. 60) and Samari Matthews (No. 97), amongst others.
Texas A&M: The Aggies reached mid-June with the nation’s seventh-ranked recruiting class and now maintain the highest operating again tandem within the 2026 cycle after beating Texas to four-star, in-state rusher K.J. Edwards (No. 106 total) on Tuesday. The place else will Texas A&M add?
All eyes stay on Brown, the nation’s No. 1 total prospect, after the five-star defensive sort out had one other stellar go to with Texas A&M final week. No non-LSU program has hosted Brown extra usually over the previous 12 months than the Aggies, and there is rising confidence across the program forward of Brown’s dedication date on July 10.
Brandon Arrington, ESPN’s No. 1 athlete prospect, will select between Oregon and Texas A&M on Thursday, whereas fellow five-star Richard Wesley (No. 18) is anticipated to schedule an official go to with the Aggies later this summer time. Texas A&M is pushing arduous to land Feaster, ESPN’s No. 3 huge receiver, forward of his July 4 dedication date, too. Turntine, the nation’s sixth-ranked offensive sort out, is one other main goal after the Aggies and coach Mike Elko made a very good impression on his official go to earlier this month.