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Eli Lederman
Essentially the most lively month of the 2026 recruiting cycle is drawing to a detailed. How did issues shake out on the recruiting path among the many nation’s prime school soccer applications this June?
Headlined by five-star commitments, Florida, Texas and Texas A&M led the cost among the many nation’s recruiting risers. Defensive finish JaReylan McCoy (No. 9 within the 2026 ESPN 300) provides the Gators an enormous increase. For the Longhorns and Aggies, commits Richard Wesley (No. 11) and Brandon Arrington (No. 15) land as respective defensive anchors for the Texas rivals within the 2026 class.
Who whiffed on the month of June? Auburn, Oregon and Penn State took tumbles over the previous 30 days by key decommitments and misses on a number of the most coveted prospects within the 2026 ESPN 300. In the meantime, Alabama, LSU and Ohio State stand among the many distinguished soccer powers poised to rise in July after quiet June home windows.
With 33 of the nation’s prime 100 prospects nonetheless uncommitted, lots of the greatest dominoes inside the 2026 class are nonetheless to fall. Because the cycle shifts from late spring’s official go to season into the commitment-heavy waters of July, we dive into June’s recruiting winners, what’s subsequent for the groups that missed huge and the applications most certainly to climb over the subsequent month.
Bounce to a bit:
Big winners | Teams with questions | Who could rise
June’s greatest recruiting winners
Present ESPN class rating: No. 2
The Aggies’ recruiting heater peaked with the June 19 dedication of five-star athlete Brandon Arrington, who selected Texas A&M over Oregon and sealed the highest-ranked pledge of the Mike Elko period in Faculty Station. Beating Texas to No. 5 general operating again K.J. Edwards two days earlier marked a signature in-state victory, too. Between Edwards and fellow in-state rusher Jonathan Hatton Jr., the Aggies will shut the month with the 2026 cycle’s top-ranked operating again tandem. Commitments from three extra top-300 recruits in June — cornerback Camren Hamiel, offensive deal with Samuel Roseborough and defensive finish Tristian Givens — go away Texas A&M stage with Georgia for the third-most ESPN 300 pledges nationally getting into July.
Via the additions of Edwards and Hatton, together with the late-cycle pledge of five-star offensive deal with Lamont Rogers within the 2025 class, Elko has proven himself able to profitable high-level recruiting battles within the state of Texas. However the Aggies’ message is carrying nationally as nicely. Of the ten pledges Texas A&M landed in June, 5 got here from out of state, together with 4 of the 5 ESPN 300 commits now anchoring the nation’s second-ranked class, and the Aggies aren’t accomplished but. No. 1 general prospect Lamar Brown, who is ready to commit July 10, is among the many program’s precedence targets for the brand new month.
Present ESPN class rating: No. 14
After surging solely within the ultimate months of the 2025 cycle, the Gators used June to get the ball rolling a lot earlier on this system’s 2026 class. Of the eight ESPN prospects dedicated to Florida, seven have landed with the Gators over the previous 30 days. That group of newcomers is headlined by five-star defensive finish JaReylan McCoy, who stiff-armed LSU and Texas for Florida and could be the Gators’ highest-ranked defensive signee since 2015.
Florida constructed out the early core of its talent place class in June with four-star operating again pledge Carsyn Baker and cross catchers Marquez Daniel and Justin Williams. 5-star tight finish Kaiden Prothro, a heavy Georgia lean, might be part of that group when he picks among the many Bulldogs, Gators and Texas on July 12. Within the June arrivals of security commit Kaiden Hall and Nebraska cornerback flip C.J. Bronaugh, Florida has at the very least two extra ESPN 300 defensive again skills on the way in which after touchdown top-100 prospects J’Vari Flowers, Hylton Stubbs and Lagonza Hayward Jr. within the 2025 class.
Present ESPN class rating: No. 3
A sluggish begin within the 2026 cycle gave option to an explosive spring for Notre Dame, highlighted by 11 ESPN 300 pledges since April 1. As issues stand, Marcus Freeman and the reigning nationwide runner-up Irish are on monitor to signal a historic class later this yr.
Three ESPN commitments over the previous 30 days made June a high-quality, low-volume month for Notre Dame. The Irish beat out Michigan, Oregon and Penn State for No. 2 general cornerback Khary Adams on June 20, then edged the Geese, Nittany Lions and Clemson for security Joey O’Brien hours later, forming the muse of this system’s 2026 defensive again class, which additionally contains top-200 security Ayden Pouncey. Adams, No. 28 general, is Notre Dame’s top-ranked commit within the cycle following the shares replace to the 2026 ESPN 300.
No. 5 general tight finish Ian Premer‘s dedication marked the shares little bit of recruiting momentum in South Bend. If Premer indicators later this yr, he’ll be this system’s highest-ranked tight finish addition since Cane Berrong within the 2021 cycle, and Notre Dame doubtless is not accomplished including cross catchers, with extensive receivers Kaydon Finley, Devin Fitzgerald and Brayden Robinson set to announce commitments later this week.
Present ESPN class rating: No. 7
The Longhorns landed their first-ever No. 1 class within the ESPN recruiting rankings period (since 2006) final cycle, and coach Steve Sarkisian & Co. have set themselves as much as contend for one more in 2026 with a productive month of June of recruiting alongside the line of defense.
Texas’ top-ranked 2025 class included 4 defensive linemen, headlined by five-star Justus Terry. However the flood of expertise out of the Longhorns’ line of defense room this offseason meant the workforce wanted to proceed including on the place for 2026. With the June additions of Corey Wells, Dylan Berymon and Vodney Cleveland, Texas holds extra top-20 defensive deal with pledges than any program nationally. Within the June 22 dedication of five-star cross rusher Richard Wesley, No. 11 within the 2026 ESPN 300, the Longhorns landed an influence playmaker on the sting and headliner for this system’s incoming line of defense class.
Effectively stocked on the line of defense, the remainder of Texas’ 2026 cycle will probably be outlined by this system’s success elsewhere within the coming month. 5-star targets Tyler Atkinson and Felix Ojo have the potential to supercharge the Longhorns’ 2026 class. Additions of prime 100 prospects John Turntine III, Trenton Henderson and Jamarion Carlton might be within the playing cards, too.
Present ESPN class rating: No. 10
The Seminoles entered June with seven whole pledges and solely three from the 2026 ESPN 300. As of Monday, Florida State’s incoming class sits in a a lot more healthy spot with 12 commits since June 1, offering coach Mike Norvell and his new-look employees a possible springboard towards a stronger end later this yr.
Quarterback recruiting has lengthy been a sticking level all through Norvell’s tenure, and Florida State appeared headed for one more unnerving cycle on the place till four-star passer Jaden O’Neal dedicated June 22. The previous Oklahoma pledge is ESPN’s No. 7 pocket passer in 2026, and contemplating the Seminoles’ skinny quarterback depth past the 2025 season, O’Neal — a refined passer with one of many stronger arms within the class — will be part of this system subsequent yr with a pathway to early reps.
Elsewhere, Florida State is molding a formidable pass-catching class round O’Neal. Former Texas A&M pledge Xavier Tiller, ESPN’s No. 6 general tight finish, grew to become the Seminoles’ top-ranked commit June 23. Auburn extensive receiver Devin Carter flipped hours later, touchdown because the No. 1 extensive receiver in a category that additionally contains June commits Brandon Bennett and Jasen Lopez. Florida State has bolstered its protection too, including cornerback Lawrence Timmons and defensive finish James Carrington over the previous two weeks, with extra to return in the summertime months.
Present ESPN class rating: No. 1
The Trojans shot out to the most popular begin of any program within the 2026 cycle, spurred on by the January arrival of common supervisor Chad Bowden. After beating UCLA to sixth-ranked exterior linebacker Talanoa Ili, outmuscling Ohio State and Penn State for cross rusher Luke Wafle and touchdown security Peyton Dyer previously month, USC leads the nation with 17 ESPN 300 commitments.
Simply as essential: The Trojans have, up to now, held on to all of their greatest names this time round. USC’s dip within the 2025 cycle started with the decommitments of eventual five-stars Justus Terry and Isaiah Gibson final June earlier than the Trojans misplaced a collection of high-profile commits within the fall.
Thus far, Xavier Griffin‘s late-Could exit is USC’s solely vital departure this spring. That is excellent news for coach Lincoln Riley and the Trojans, who might add one other elite participant to this system’s 2026 class when four-star extensive receiver Ethan Feaster commits Friday.
Present ESPN class rating: No. 12
Second-year Bruins coach DeShaun Foster is proving to be the recruiter he was anticipated to change into when he changed Chip Kelly at UCLA, and offseason employees additions of offensive coordinator Tino Sunseri and offensive line coach Andy Kwon are serving to increase this system’s presence on the recruiting path.
In June, the Bruins added 14 whole commitments. None was extra vital than the June 7 pledge of offensive deal with Micah Smith, No. 46 within the 2026 ESPN 300. The highest-ranked commit of the Foster period, Smith would arrive as UCLA’s highest-rated offensive line addition since Xavier Su’a-Filo within the 2009 cycle. Paired with fellow ESPN 300 offensive deal with pledge Johnnie Jones, who dedicated June 9, the Bruins have the makings of a historic offensive line class after UCLA completed 107th in sacks allowed in 2024. 4-star passer Oscar Rios‘ dedication to Arizona over the Bruins on Friday was a miss, however is predicted to stay a participant in what stays of the 2026 quarterback market between now and the early signing interval.
Present ESPN class rating: No. 21
Are Kalani Sitake and the Cougars on their option to touchdown the very best recruiting class in program historical past? That is the trajectory BYU finds itself on this summer time following an 11-win end in 2024.
The Cougars’ fifth and ultimate commit of June was simply essentially the most vital. In beating Oregon and USC for four-star passer Ryder Lyons, No. 49 within the 2026 ESPN 300, BYU landed its highest-ranked quarterback pledge since 2002 and a category cornerstone final Tuesday. Lyons is the nation’s fifth-ranked general passer within the cycle. And although he will not enroll till 2027 as a result of he will probably be serving on a Latter-day Saints mission after highschool, he might function as quickly as his freshman season with out an underclassman in this system’s present quarterback room.
With Lyons’ dedication, he joins springtime ESPN 300 pledges Brock Harris and Bott Mulitalo — Utah’s No. 1 and No. 3 recruits in 2026, respectively — in BYU’s incoming class. If all three signal later this yr, it would mark the primary time the Cougars have landed three top-300 prospects in a single cycle within the ESPN recruiting rankings period.
Present ESPN class rating: N/A
With solely two ESPN 300 pledges in 2026, the Sooners nonetheless have loads of work to do between now and the early signing interval. Nevertheless, Oklahoma averted catastrophe on the quarterback place June 20 when No. 5 dual-threat passer Bowe Bentley dedicated to this system, sealing a significant recruiting win for coach Brent Venables and first-year offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle.
Bentley’s pledge marked the top of a recruiting tightrope stroll for the Sooners. Oklahoma had appeared settled with its 2026 quarterback after Jaden O’Neal’s dedication final June. However upon Arbuckle’s arrival in December, this system swiftly shifted its focus to an all-out pursuit of Bentley this spring, a transfer that alienated O’Neal and uncovered the Sooners to the chance of lacking out on each ESPN 300 passers this summer time. That risk hung within the stability as Bentley took visits to each Oklahoma and LSU earlier this month, however the Sooners remained assured all through Bentley’s course of earlier than securing the pledge of ESPN’s No. 168 recruit.
Oklahoma can now flip its consideration to the remainder of the 2026 class, working to flip the downward development for a program that has fallen in ESPN’s class rankings every year because the Sooners locked down the nation’s No. 4 class in 2023.
Present ESPN class rating: No. 19
It has been at the very least 10 years because the Bears signed an offensive lineman of the caliber of top-ranked guard Tommy Tofi. That is why the Bay Space lineman’s June 3 determination to decide to the Bears over Oregon marked such a major recruiting upset for Cal. The Geese aren’t going away in Tofi’s recruitment. But when the Bears can maintain on to the 6-foot-4, 340-pound blocker, it would mark an announcement addition for coach Justin Wilcox, just one cycle faraway from securing ESPN 300 guard Justin Hasenhuetl and quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele.
Tofi is one in all 15 prospects who landed in Cal’s incoming class over the previous month. The Bears seem set to maintain their quarterback pipeline going with three-star Brady Palmer, ESPN’s No. 25 pocket passer, and he’ll arrive with a slew of lately dedicated cross catchers in extensive receivers Tyree Sams and E.J. Morgan and tight ends Taimane Purcell and Luca Wolf, all out of the state of California. June offensive line pledges Kamo’i Huihui-White, Koloi Keli and Esiah Wong be part of Tofi as a part of Cal’s ongoing efforts to bulk up on the road of scrimmage within the ACC.
What’s subsequent for groups that whiffed in June
The Tigers’ previous month of recruiting was outlined as a lot by the prospects they missed on because it was the recruits who left coach Hugh Freeze’s 2026 class over the previous 30 days.
Freeze and his employees fell quick on a pair of operating backs final week between prime in-state operating again Ezavier Crowell (Alabama pledge) and four-star Jae Lamar (Georgia). And the Tigers now seem like on the surface trying in for different prime targets, together with five-stars Immanuel Iheanacho and Kaiden Prothro and top-50 in-state extensive receiver Cederian Morgan. However the June departures of top-200 linebacker pledges JaMichael Garrett (decommit) and Shadarius Toodle (Georgia flip) sting closely, as does four-star extensive receiver Devin Carter’s flip to Florida State on June 23.
Auburn’s flip of four-star Penn State quarterback pledge Peyton Falzone final Thursday was a key win and signaled a concession in this system’s battle with South Carolina for dual-threat passer Landon Duckworth, who visited the Tigers earlier this month. High-150 inside linebacker goal Adam Balogoun-Ali visited Auburn in Could and would characterize a robust alternative for Toodle. No. 5 defensive finish Nolan Wilson, No. 53 general, is one other main defensive goal.
The Geese went huge to tug five-stars Dakorien Moore, Na’eem Offord and Trey McNutt away from extra conventional recruiting powers in 2025. The 2026 class has seen this system take a extra conservative strategy on the highschool path, which confirmed up throughout key battles in June as Oregon completed second for a collection of long-term time period targets, together with Brandon Arrington (Texas A&M), Ryder Lyons (BYU) and Notre Dame pledges Khary Adams and Joey O’Brien.
Will issues play out equally for the Geese in July?
Oregon did register just a few huge recruiting wins in June, led by commitments from No. 1 general security Jett Washington, four-star cross catcher Messiah Hampton and quarterback Bryson Beaver, a late riser within the 2026 class. Coach Dan Lanning & Co. will hope that a part of the development can proceed because the Geese maintain working Iheanacho, No. 13 within the ESPN 300, and Cal commit Tommy Tofi. Oregon can be anticipated to stay in critical rivalry for a trio of top-30 prospects as extensive receiver Calvin Russell and linebackers Tyler Atkinson and Anthony Jones make selections later this summer time.
The Nittany Lions registered plenty of early wins within the 2026 cycle, and James Franklin’s incoming class stays within the prime 10 of ESPN’s shares rankings. Nevertheless, Penn State went comparatively quiet in June, including offensive guard Benjamin Eziuka as its lone ESPN 300 addition since June 1 whereas prime targets together with Arrington, Adams and O’Brien and USC pledge Luke Wafle landed elsewhere earlier than Falzone, ESPN’s No. 7 dual-threat quarterback, flipped to Auburn.
Among the many constructive indicators for the Nittany Lions transferring ahead is the progress this system made with Iheanacho on his official go to earlier this month. ESPN’s No. 2 offensive deal with instructed ESPN that Penn State “felt like house” following the mid-June journey, and this system’s relative proximity to Iheanacho’s household in Maryland might give the Nittany Lions an edge in a battle with LSU and Oregon. High-100 defensive finish Carter Meadows is one other precedence goal.
Misses on ESPN 300 cornerback Camren Hamiel (Texas A&M) and Michigan pledges Zion Robinson and Titan Davis, paired with the flip of No. 1 commit C.J. Bronaugh (Florida), lowlighted a difficult June for the Huskers. Nebraska’s fading grip on the recruitment of top-100 rusher Brian Bonner Jr. in a battle with UCLA and Washington does not assist issues, both.
Nevertheless, coach Matt Rhule and the Huskers recovered from Bronaugh’s flip on June 23 with a dedication from ESPN 300 cornerback Danny Odem, and the flip final Friday of four-star Arizona State extensive receiver pledge Nalin Scott marked one other win. Up forward, top-300 offensive deal with Kelvin Obot looms as an essential goal, each for what the 6-5, 270-pound lineman can carry Nebraska and the momentum he might kick off for the Huskers. Obot narrowed his finalists to Michigan, Nebraska, Oregon and Utah in Could and visited the Huskers in early June.
Tennessee misplaced a pledge from three-star Miami extensive receiver flip Tyran Evans in June. Extra critically, the Vols have gone quiet this month, going with no single ESPN 300 addition whereas prime targets together with athlete Sequel Patterson and defensive finish Tristian Givens dedicated elsewhere.
The excellent news for the Vols? There’s loads of dominos nonetheless to fall in Knoxville over the approaching weeks. Tennessee stays closely alongside Texas A&M in flip efforts for five-star LSU extensive receiver pledge Tristen Keys. The Vols are critical gamers for No. 2 operating again Savion Hiter and top-100 prospects Joel Wyatt and Darius Gray, whereas four-star defenders Dereon Albert and T.J. White have Tennessee amongst their prime finalists forward of their upcoming commitments.
Groups poised to rise in July
It wasn’t fairly the livid stretch of June recruiting the Crimson Tide unleashed within the 2025 class, however Alabama was lively this month, including top-150 prospects Xavier Griffin, Ezavier Crowell, Sam Utu and Mack Sutter and flipping Iowa State quarterback pledge Jett Thomalla. For now, coach Kalen DeBoer’s incoming class continues to be ready to crack ESPN’s prime 25 for 2026, however the Crimson Tide aren’t anticipated to remain on the surface trying in for much longer.
Crowell, No. 31 within the 2026 ESPN 300, was the primary to commit amongst a trio of prime in-state targets who visited Alabama on the ultimate weekend earlier than the recruiting useless interval. The Crimson Tide will hope to keep up the native momentum when four-star extensive receiver Cederian Morgan publicizes his pledge July 2, whereas No. 2 exterior linebacker prospect Anthony Jones of Cell, Alabama, additionally might land in DeBoer’s class over the subsequent month.
Newly minted five-star security Jireh Edwards is one other precedence goal for the Crimson Tide in a battle with Auburn, Oregon and Texas A&M for ESPN’s No. 23 general recruit. Set to commit Saturday, Edwards might quickly be part of top-10 cornerbacks Jorden Edmonds and Zyan Gibson in the kind of defensive class which may vault Alabama to a different top-five end in 2026.
With the additions of eight ESPN 300 prospects, led by top-50 recruits Justice Fitzpatrick and Ekene Ogboko, the Bulldogs have a case to be amongst June’s greatest recruiting winners. Nevertheless, Georgia’s fourth-ranked 2026 class may solely get higher with prime targets set to commit.
4-star defensive deal with Pierre Dean Jr. might change into coach Kirby Good’s subsequent addition as ESPN’s No. 106 general recruit prepares to decide on between Georgia and South Carolina on Monday. July 12 marks one other essential day for the Bulldogs with five-stars Derrek Cooper and Kaiden Prothro set to make their selections. Cooper, ESPN’s No. 1 operating again, is right down to Alabama, Florida State, Georgia, Miami, Ohio State and Texas, whereas Prothro — the versatile, in-state tight finish — appears particularly prone to land with the Bulldogs over Florida and Texas.
Whereas Georgia contends with Michigan, Ohio State and Tennessee for No. 2 rusher Savion Hiter, top-ranked linebacker Tyler Atkinson, who’s No. 14 general, looms as one other main in-state domino.
No program has hosted Atkinson greater than Georgia, and the Bulldogs had lengthy been seen as front-runners in his recruitment earlier than Ohio State, Oregon and Texas started making up floor this spring. Any mixture of Cooper, Atkinson and Prothro, alongside five-star quarterback pledge Jared Curtis, ought to have Georgia headed for a tenth straight top-three class.
The Tigers’ lone June addition got here from former Mississippi State offensive deal with pledge Emanuel Tucker. However crucial piece of stories for coach Brian Kelly is that LSU closes the month with five-star extensive receiver Tristen Keys nonetheless dedicated to this system’s 2026 class regardless of ongoing flip efforts from Miami, Tennessee and Texas A&M.
Hanging on to Keys is a precedence. So is the recruitment of No. 1 general prospect Lamar Brown, the coveted defensive deal with who attends highschool on the Tigers’ campus at College Laboratory Faculty. LSU stays the favourite to safe Brown’s pledge July 10, however his long-standing relationships at Texas A&M and brisker connections at Miami will take a look at the flexibility of Kelly and his employees to maintain the nation’s prime recruit house in Baton Rouge.
LSU stays within the combine for four-star extensive receiver Calvin Russell with Florida State, Miami, Michigan and Oregon additionally chasing ESPN’s No. 4 extensive receiver forward of his Saturday dedication. High-100 recruits Chauncey Kennon, Trenton Henderson and Darius Grey stand among the many different distinguished targets the Tigers will probably be hovering over within the coming weeks and months.
The Buckeyes took care of most of their enterprise earlier this spring earlier than touchdown in-state ESPN 300 prospects Cincere Johnson and Favour Akih together with defensive finish Khary Wilder out of California this month. What’s subsequent for the nation’s fifth-ranked recruiting class?
Ohio State is working laborious to pair Akih, ESPN’s No. 16 operating again recruit, with an elite rusher after the Buckeyes hosted Cooper and Hiter — the nation’s prime two backfield prospects — final month. 5-star offensive deal with Felix Ojo instructed ESPN that Ohio State and Texas have pulled forward in his recruitment with an anticipated dedication someday in July. The Buckeyes stay front-runners for top-40 defenders Bralan Womack and Deuce Geralds. Three-star quarterback Luke Fahey appears prone to be part of Ohio State’s shares star-studded class Thursday after ESPN’s No. 28 pocket passer closed the June official go to interval with a visit to Columbus.
No. 3 athlete Sequel Patterson and four-star defensive finish Aiden Harris are this system’s most up-to-date ESPN 300 additions, and South Carolina seems ready so as to add extra in July.
Twin-threat quarterback Landon Duckworth, who beforehand spent 10 months within the Gamecocks’ 2026 class, has maintained his relationships with the employees, and ESPN’s No. 178 general prospect has been trending towards a recent dedication to this system in latest weeks. Auburn’s transfer to flip four-star passer Peyton Falzone solely reinforces Duckworth’s anticipated determination.
Dean, ESPN’s No. 8 defensive deal with, might land with South Carolina on Monday, and the Gamecocks stay prime contenders for top-150 prospects Samari Matthews and Somourian Wingo as nicely. South Carolina has lengthy led within the recruitment of four-star offensive lineman Darius Grey, who might assist supercharge coach Shane Beamer’s subsequent class this summer time if he in the end picks the Gamecocks over the likes of Clemson, LSU, Ohio State and Georgia.