College football is marching toward the busy period of the recruiting calendar, and the picture for the 2026 cycle is beginning to take shape for the country's top programs.
Three top-100 prospects came off the board in the last week alone, headlined by five-star wide receiver Tristen Keys' pledge to LSU. The slow trickle of commitments will eventually turn to a flood later this spring when the official visit season kicks off and the nation's elite high school prospects flock to campuses all over the country from mid-May to the third weekend in June.
So who are the priority targets and what are the key roster needs for college football's biggest programs in the 2026 class?
We took a shot at answering that question for the 30 schools that finished atop ESPN's class rankings for the 2025 recruiting cycle earlier this year. For certain programs, the focus is trained on an individual recruit, such as Georgia and its pursuit of No. 1 quarterback Jared Curtis. For others, including Ohio State and Texas A&M, there's key position groups to address, while a handful of risers -- TCU, SMU, Maryland and Rutgers -- are working to make sure their recruiting success goes beyond impressive 2025 classes.
Let's start with Texas, which secured the nation's No. 1 class in 2025, and a potentially foundational offensive line target for the Longhorns' 2026 class.
1. Texas Longhorns
Top target: OT John Turntine III, No. 41 in ESPN Junior 300
The Longhorns have signed just one top-100 offensive line recruit over the past three recruiting cycles -- Brandon Baker in 2024 -- and notably whiffed in their late push to flip five-star Oklahoma signee Michael Fasusi last cycle. As Texas prepares to replace four starters on the offensive line in 2025, the program's lack of high-level recruiting at the position in recent cycles leaves the Longhorns relatively light on promising depth for the future.
All of that makes Turntine, the state's No. 4 prospect out of Fort Worth, Texas, a priority in 2026. Longhorns offensive line coach Kyle Flood visited Turntine in January, and ESPN's No. 6 offensive tackle prospect is set for an official visit to Texas on June 20 with Georgia, Texas A&M, Tennessee, Ohio State, Michigan and Oregon among other schools involved in his recruitment.
2. Georgia Bulldogs
Top target: QB Jared Curtis, No. 2 in ESPN Junior 300
ESPN's No. 1 quarterback prospect spent seven months in Georgia's 2026 class before pulling his pledge and reopening his recruitment in October. The Bulldogs, however, have remained central in Curtis' process and the five-star passer is now down to two schools: Georgia and Oregon. He took unofficial visits with the Ducks and Bulldogs earlier this month, and Curtis is set to announce his decision on May 5, his family confirmed to ESPN on Monday.
With respect to sophomore Ryan Puglisi and 2025 quarterback signee Ryan Montgomery, the Bulldogs have been searching for an elite quarterback prospect to recharge the program's pipeline at the position ever since Dylan Raiola flipped to Nebraska in the 2024 cycle. Curtis, the big-armed, 6-foot-4 passer who draws comparisons to Matt Stafford, could be that guy. He's the kind of quarterback Georgia hasn't had on its depth chart for a while.
3. Oregon Ducks
Top target: WR Chris Henry Jr., No. 1 in ESPN Junior 300
Oregon needs to add depth at wide receiver with projected starters Evan Stewart, Gary Bryant Jr. and Florida State transfer Malik Benson all out of eligibility after the 2025 season. The Ducks landed the nation's No. 1 wide receiver in five-star recruit Dakorien Moore last cycle -- why not do it again in 2026?
Henry has been committed to Ohio State since July 2023, and the 6-foot-6 receiver from California powerhouse Mater Dei has emphasized that his Buckeyes pledge will be hard to shake. But if any program can flip Henry, it's Oregon. The Ducks have been slowly building momentum in Henry's recruitment, and the nation's No. 1 overall prospect was on campus for a visit last week. Oregon will get an official with Henry this spring, as will Ohio State, Miami and USC. Can The Ducks sway him before the early signing period and secure a five-star Ohio State flip for the second consecutive cycle?
4. Alabama Crimson Tide
Top target: Elite in-state prospects
Of the 19 signees in Kalen DeBoer's debut recruiting class with the Crimson Tide, only two came from the state of Alabama. By comparison, Nick Saban averaged 14.3 in-state signees across his first three cycles with the program, and Alabama landed fewer than five in-state prospects just once across Saban's 18 recruiting classes from 2007-24. Bottom line: DeBoer has work to do with in-state recruiting in 2026.
The Crimson Tide already hold a pledge from cornerback Zyan Gibson, the state's fourth-ranked prospect and a recruit who addresses the program's needs in the secondary. Up next, Alabama must make top in-state prospect and No. 2 outside linebacker Anthony Jones a priority. Ditto for running back Ezavier Crowell and wide receiver Cederian Morgan, a pair of top-50, in-state skill position talents who are scheduled for official visits on the same weekend in June.
5. Ohio State Buckeyes
Top target: Offensive line
The Buckeyes have gotten 84 starts from the 14 offensive line prospects they signed from 2021-24, and nearly half of those belong to 40-game starter Donovan Jackson. Ohio State's offensive line recruiting has lagged behind the program's broader success on the trail this decade. That trend, paired with the arrival of first-year offensive line coach Tyler Bowen, makes 2026 an especially important -- and intriguing -- cycle for the Buckeyes.
Bowen had priority target No. 1 on campus this past weekend in five-star offensive tackle Jackson Cantwell, No. 4 in the ESPN Junior 300. After Cantwell, top-100 linemen Micah Smith and Darius Gray mark another pair of key targets. The Buckeyes are already building out locally with a pair of in-state commitments from ESPN 300 tackles Maxwell Riley and Sam Greer this month as Ohio State works to restock at a position of need in the 2026 cycle.
6. Auburn Tigers
Top target: RB Ezavier Crowell, No. 29 in ESPN Junior 300
The Tigers made a splash in the 2025 cycle with Penn State running back flip Alvin Henderson, but coach Hugh Freeze has work to do in shaping an Auburn backfield for the future. Senior Damari Alston is out of eligibility after the 2025 season. The Tigers have little other proven depth around Henderson and UConn transfer Durell Robinson, who joined the program with three years of eligibility after a breakout freshman campaign last fall.
Crowell, an in-state rusher who reclassified from the 2027 cycle in January, is certainly a fit. The speedy all-purpose back rushed for 1,964 yards and 31 touchdowns on 168 carries as a sophomore last fall. The Tigers had Crowell on campus in January. He's scheduled for officials with Auburn, Georgia, Alabama, Texas and Florida State later this spring.
7. Michigan Wolverines
Top target: Offensive talent
Sherrone Moore and the Wolverines landed a crown jewel when they flipped No. 1 overall prospect Bryce Underwood from LSU last cycle. Now Michigan has to do all it can to surround Underwood with supporting talent.
The Wolverines landed a pair of top offensive tackles in 2025 between five-star Ty Haywood and top-30 lineman Andrew Babalola. In 2026, Cantwell -- who is fresh off a visit to Michigan over the weekend -- and four-star offensive tackle Leo Delaney are two more elite offensive line targets. Underwood needs talented pass catchers, too, hence the Wolverines' pursuits of coveted in-state athlete C.J. Sadler; four-star wide receivers Davion Brown, Travis Johnson and Mason James; and No. 2 tight end-Y Brock Harris. Four-star rusher Savion Hiter, No. 25 in the ESPN Junior 300, remains Michigan's top running back target.
8. LSU Tigers
Top target: Quarterback for the future
Sophomore transfer quarterback Michael Van Buren Jr. (Mississippi State) gives the Tigers some post-Garrett Nussmeier help. But LSU's last two top-300 quarterback signees -- Rickie Collins and Walker Howard -- both play elsewhere now, and Underwood's November flip to Michigan dealt a crushing late-cycle blow to Brian Kelly's 2025 class and the program's quarterback pipeline.
LSU offensive coordinator Joe Sloan worked hard on former Oregon commit Jonas Williams before ESPN's No. 2 dual-threat quarterback flipped to USC last month. The Tigers have kept in touch with five-star commits Dia Bell (Texas) and Keisean Henderson (Houston), but neither appears likely to flip as things stand. LSU will face competition from Oklahoma, Ohio State, Georgia, Florida State and Georgia Tech for top-300 quarterback Bowe Bentley, a recent riser in the 2026 class. Arizona State quarterback pledge Jake Fette is another quarterback on the Tigers' board.
9. Texas A&M Aggies
Top target: Impact defensive linemen
Mike Elko's defenses are predicated on elite defensive line talent, so the Aggies need more in his second full recruiting cycle, particularly after the departures of 2024 standouts Nic Scourton, Shemar Turner and Shemar Stewart.
Texas A&M already holds pledges from No. 4 defensive end Jordan Carter and No. 9 defensive tackle Jermaine Kinsler in 2026. But the Aggies' defensive line class took a couple of hits last week between Trashawn Ruffin's flip to North Carolina and five-star pass rusher JaReylan McCoy's decision to swap his Texas A&M official visit with a trip to Texas. The Aggies remain close in the recruitment of five-star tackle Lamar Brown and will be contenders for elite 2027 reclass Richard Wesley. Top-100 defensive end Jamarion Carlton is another target and key in-state prospect for Elko as Texas A&M pushes to land an impact defensive line class.
10. Florida Gators
Top target: Talent infusion on the offensive line
The Gators have yet to land a top-100 offensive line prospect under Billy Napier. That didn't stop Florida from building a dependable offense line in 2024, but there will be multiple starters to replace after the 2025 season and the Gators have to start stocking some elite blocking talent.
ESPN 300 recruits Johnnie Jones and Zykie Helton lead the list of the offensive line prospects already set for officials with the Gators this spring. At the top of the class, the Gators are angling to land an official visit from Immanuel Iheanacho as the five-star offensive tackle prepares to narrow his recruitment in the coming weeks. Florida is also working to get Micah Smith and Keenyi Pepe, a pair of top-50, in-state tackles, as well as four-star guard Breck Kolojay on campus this spring.
11. Tennessee Volunteers
Top target: DE Rodney Dunham, No. 58 in ESPN Junior 300
The Vols built their first-ever College Football Playoff team in 2024 around a deep and powerful defensive line unit. Tennessee has continued to stock up on elite defensive line talent in recent cycles with four-star edge Jordan Ross in 2024 and defensive tackle Isaiah Campbell in the 2025 class. This cycle, Dunham could be next in line.
Dunham notched 39 tackles, 16 hurries and five sacks in his junior season this past fall, and climbed 44 spots in ESPN's latest rankings update for the 2026 class. The 6-foot-4 pass rusher came away impressed from a recent visit to Notre Dame. The Vols will face stiff competition from Georgia and South Carolina, too, but they've hosted Dunham plenty across his recruitment and should be involved to the very end.
12. Penn State Nittany Lions
Top target: ATH Joey O'Brien, No 107 in ESPN Junior 300
James Franklin knows how to recruit Pennsylvania. Penn State already holds pledges from three of the state's top five recruits in 2026. Since the Nittany Lions missed out on offensive tackle Tyler Merrill (Notre Dame) in January, there's no bigger in-state target than O'Brien, Pennsylvania's No. 3 overall prospect in the cycle.
A versatile, two-way star at La Salle College High School, O'Brien projects best as a defensive back in college. He's fresh off visits to Michigan and Notre Dame in the last week, and O'Brien has officials set with Penn State, Clemson, Notre Dame, Oregon, Tennessee and Ohio State later this spring. Familiarity and proximity could be the key for Penn State, who can pitch O'Brien on his fit in defensive coordinator Jim Knowles' secondary, where speedy and physical defensive backs thrive.
13. Miami Hurricanes
Top target: WR Calvin Russell, No. 24 in ESPN Junior 300
As Miami rebuilds its wide receiver room without the program's top four producers at the position from a year ago, the 6-foot-6 catcher from nearby Miami Northwestern (Florida) High School is a pivotal target. The Hurricanes had Russell on campus for an unofficial visit earlier this month, and ESPN's No. 5 wide receiver prospect is expected to take official trips to Miami, Florida State, Florida, Georgia and Syracuse with Michigan and Ohio State also in the mix.
This feels like a battle the Hurricanes have to win. Not only does Russell play his high school football miles from campus, but he's also a Miami legacy through his mother Chanivia Broussard, the 10th-leading scorer in the history of the school's women's basketball program. After missing out on coveted four-star recruit Dallas Wilson and losing a pair of wide receivers commits in 2025, Miami has to land an impact pass catcher like Russell this cycle.
14. USC Trojans
Top target: California's best
USC has signed only one of California's top 10 recruits in each of the past two cycles. However, as Lincoln Riley and the Trojans revamp their operation this offseason under newly hired general Chad Bowden, there's a clear emphasis on recruiting the state.
The Trojans already hold a pledge from four-star cornerback R.J. Sermons, California's No. 3 recruit in 2026. USC's 2026 class has in-state depth, as well, between longtime cornerback pledge Brandon Lockhart and recent additions Trent Mosley and Simote Katoanga. Up ahead, the Trojans can bolster their class and make a statement locally in their pursuits of a pair of top in-state recruits: five-star athlete Brandon Arrington and No. 3 tight end Mark Bowman. Four-star defenders Talanoa Ili and Davon Benjamin are two more priority targets, and USC will be in the mix for four-star quarterback Ryder Lyons, too.
15. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Top target: WR Kaydon Finley, Aledo, Texas, No. 106 in ESPN Junior 300
Recruiting struggles with elite wide receivers have been a source of frustration for Notre Dame fans in recent cycles, and Marcus and Freeman & Co. aren't doing any better in 2026, at least not yet. Top targets Naeem Burroughs (Clemson), Connor Salmin (Clemson) and Trent Mosley (USC) have all committed elsewhere in recent weeks, and the Fighting Irish missed the cut when four-star pass catcher Zion Robinson, another key Notre Dame recruit, dropped his top seven late last week.
As wide receivers fall off Notre Dame's recruiting board, Finley is becoming an increasingly critical target. The son of former Green Bay Packers tight end Jermichael Finley, the younger Finley will make his fourth visit to the Fighting Irish later this month. Can Notre Dame flip its recruiting luck and beat the likes of Texas, Texas A&M and Arizona State to the pass catcher from Aledo, Texas?
16. Ole Miss Rebels
Top target: QB Landon Duckworth, No. 120 in ESPN Junior 300
Lane Kiffin opted not to sign a quarterback in the 2025 class after the Rebels failed to flip Auburn pledge Deuce Knight, Mississippi's third-ranked prospect. This fall, Ole Miss enters its post-Jaxson Dart era without any proven experience behind projected starter Austin Simmons, so Kiffin needs all the quarterback talent he can get if he's going to keep the Rebels among the SEC's upper crust beyond 2025.
Duckworth, ESPN's No. 1 dual-threat quarterback, is an ideal fit for a Kiffin-style offense. Ole Miss hosted Duckworth earlier this year, and the Rebels enter the spring as presumed front-runners to ultimately land the former South Carolina pledge from Jackson, Alabama. Duckworth has spring officials scheduled with Georgia, South Carolina, Florida State and Ole Miss while North Carolina and Missouri also remain involved in his recruitment.
17. Washington Huskies
Top target: QB Brady Smigiel, No. 42 in ESPN Junior 300
Jedd Fisch showed the country exactly what he can do on the recruiting trail this past cycle when he landed six ESPN 300 recruits and the Big Ten's sixth-ranked recruiting class in Year 1 with the Huskies.
Washington can make another statement in 2026 with Smigiel, a former Florida State commit and ESPN's No. 4 pocket passer. Smigiel's relationship with Fisch and Huskies offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Jimmie Dougherty runs deep; the pair were at Arizona when they became the first program to offer Smigiel as an eighth-grader. Smigiel already has a June official set with Washington after visiting the Huskies earlier this month. The 6-foot-5 passer from Newbury Park, California, will take trips to other finalists Michigan, South Carolina and UCLA in the coming weeks, as well.
18. Oklahoma Sooners
Top target: DE Jake Kreul, No. 19 in ESPN Junior 300
Among the six ESPN 300 defensive linemen Brent Venables has landed at Oklahoma, only 2022 signee Gracen Halton has broken through as a meaningful contributor. That list does not include 2024 freshman All-America Jayden Jackson -- a former three-star recruit who made nine starts last fall. The Sooners' recent recruiting classes have broadly lacked the kind of defensive line talent Venables and Oklahoma need to compete in the SEC.
Kreul, the 6-foot-3, 230-pound pass rusher from Florida's IMG Academy, can be part of the solution. One of the most polished pass rushers in the 2026 class, he projects as the kind of multi-positional weapon who could thrive in Venables' defense. Kreul has visited Oklahoma multiple times and keeps in close contact with the coaching staff. The Sooners, however, are battling a long list of programs including Florida, Florida State, Miami, Michigan, Ohio State, Oregon and Penn State for his pledge.
19. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Top target: Depth in the secondary
The Yellow Jackets' veteran-laden defensive back unit will be an asset in 2025. Moving forward, however, that reliance on upperclassmen will leave the Georgia Tech secondary vulnerable. ESPN 300 defensive back signees Tae Harris and Dalen Penson were important additions in the 2025 cycle. In 2026, Brent Key and his staff have more work to do to continue the rebuild.
The Yellow Jackets remain in contact with a pair of top 100 defensive backs between former Alabama pledge Dorian Barney and Georgia commit Zechariah Fort. Four-star safety Blake Stewart is another secondary talent Georgia Tech is working to get on campus this summer. Defensive backs already set for official visits with the program include ESPN 300 safeties Lasiah Jackson and Jordan Smith along with unranked defensive backs Kealan Jones and Jaedyn Terry.
20. South Carolina Gamecocks
Top target: Guard Darius Gray, No. 71 in ESPN Junior 300
The Gamecocks have been building momentum in offensive recruiting since the program landed top 100 offensive tackles Kam Pringle and Josiah Thompson in the 2024 class. Last Friday's commitment from four-star, in-state offensive tackle Zyon Guiles gives the Gamecocks another big lineman to build around in the 2026 cycle.
With the Gamecocks well stocked at tackle, South Carolina can shift its focus inside and to Gray, who intends to play guard in college and projects as the top interior offensive lineman in the class. Gray has been on the Gamecocks' campus often throughout his recruitment, returning for his latest visit earlier this month. Clemson, LSU, Miami and Tennessee have also hosted Gray in a busy month of travel, and he'll get to Michigan in April, but South Carolina holds the edge for now.
21. TCU Horned Frogs
Top target: WR Zion Robinson, No. 108 in ESPN Junior 300
Robinson held interest from the likes of Oregon, Notre Dame and Colorado before cutting his recruitment to seven schools -- TCU, Baylor, Stanford, Miami, Illinois, Arizona and Texas Tech -- last week. He remains one of the top names on the Horned Frogs' recruiting board.
An advantage here for TCU: Robinson is the son of Horned Frogs Director of Track and Field Khadevis Robinson, a two-time Olympic qualifier who competed at TCU in the 1990s. The younger Robinson has distinguished himself as a big-framed downfield target in Texas' highest classification. He'd be the Horned Frogs' highest-rated wide receiver signee since Jordan Hudson in 2022 and an important addition with projected starters Eric McAlister and Joseph Manjack IV out of eligibility after 2025.
22. Nebraska Cornhuskers
Top target: WR Jabari Brady, No. 22 in ESPN Junior 300
Nebraska has not landed a single top-five wide receiver prospect since ESPN recruiting rankings started in 2006.
The Huskers hosted Brady, ESPN's No. 4 receiver in 2026, in January and will get him back on campus on June 20 for his final official visit of the summer. Missouri and Oklahoma are two others set for officials with Brady, who also holds strong interest from Florida and Tennessee. If Nebraska can land him, Brady would comfortably arrive as the program's highest-rated skill position signee under Matt Rhule and another potential weapon for quarterback Dylan Raiola in 2026.
23. Missouri Tigers
Top target: DE Titan Davis, No. 142 in ESPN Junior 300
Missouri is still set to get an official visit from five-star, in-state offensive tackle Jackson Cantwell in June. However, as the Tigers have slipped behind the likes of Georgia, Oregon and Miami in Cantwell's recruitment, it's worth paying attention to Davis, the state of Missouri's other top 150 prospect in the 2026 class out of St. Louis.
The Tigers followed Alabama on March 8 as Davis' second stop in a busy slate of unofficial visits featuring trips to Michigan, Illinois and Nebraska this month. Davis will get to Auburn, Texas A&M and USC in April, as well, but Eli Drinkwitz and Missouri will battle to keep Davis in the state, especially if Cantwell heads elsewhere. The Tigers signed No. 9 defensive end Javion Hilson in 2025, and Davis would follow as another important addition at the position, particularly after former five-star pass rusher Williams Nwaneri's portal move to Nebraska.
24. Maryland Terrapins
Top target: OT Immanuel Iheanacho, No. 9 in ESPN Junior 300
The Terps secured their top all-time recruiting class in 2025 with seven ESPN 300 signees, and Maryland already holds the commitment from in-state pass rusher Zion Elee, the nation's No. 1 defender in 2026. With nine top-100 prospects spread across Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C., this cycle, Mike Locksley has a unique opportunity to recruit more elite local talent into another historic class this cycle.
After Elee, Iheanacho is the next big local name out of Bethesda, Maryland. The Terps enter the spring alongside traditional powers Oregon, Georgia, Penn State, LSU and Texas A&M in the recruitment of ESPN's No. 3 offensive tackle. Iheanacho told ESPN in January that the opportunity to play close to family is attractive, especially with top in-state prospects like Elee and 2025 quarterback signee Malik Washington on board at Maryland. If Iheanacho opts to stay home, he could kick off a run of serious recruiting momentum for the Terps.
25. Arkansas Razorbacks
Top target: DT Danny Beale, No. 81 in ESPN Junior 300
The Razorbacks will have a fight on their hands for Beale, the top in-state prospect in the 2026 cycle. ESPN's No. 4 defensive tackle has officials scheduled with Arkansas, Oklahoma State, Ole Miss, Mississippi State and Missouri with Georgia, Oregon, and USC also involved.
A couple of reasons why Beale should be one of Sam Pittman's top priorities this cycle: 1) The Razorbacks will lose both starting defensive tackles Cameron Ball and David Oke after this season, and the program's depth at the spot is severely thin behind the veteran duo; 2) The last time Arkansas failed to sign at least two of the state's top prospects was 2018. As things stand, Evan Goodwin, Terry Hodges and Missouri commit Anthony Kennedy -- three of Arkansas' top four recruits -- all appear likely to leave the state. Without Beale, the Razorbacks could be headed for their worst in-state class in nine cycles.
26. Florida State Seminoles
Top target: Quarterback for the future
Gus Malzahn's offenses rely on mobile quarterbacks, and that mold should guide the Seminoles' approach to recruiting the position while Malzahn is running their offense. It's no surprise that Florida State's first move after Brady Smigiel's January decommitment was to offer three of the nation's top mobile dual-threat passers: five-star Houston pledge Keisean Henderson and four-stars Landon Duckworth and Bowe Bentley.
Henderson, for the time being, will be a difficult flip. Duckworth is a fit for Malzahn's scheme and seems a much more plausible option, though the Seminoles face competition from Ole Miss, Georgia and South Carolina. Florida State finds itself in a similar spot with Bentley, who visited the Seminoles this past weekend at the end of a spring break swing that also included stops at Georgia, LSU and Ohio State. The Seminoles' biggest challenge in landing another passer in 2026 is that Georgia, LSU, Ohio State, Ole Miss and Oregon need one, too.
27. Mississippi State Bulldogs
Top target: Youth movement up front
Each projected starter along the Bulldogs' offensive line has played at least five years of college football and only one holds eligibility beyond 2025. Within the program's 12-man defensive line unit, second-year defensive tackle Kai McClendon stands as the lone underclassmen.
That experience could help Mississippi State this fall. But it also spells significant recruiting needs in 2026 on both sides of the ball, where the Bulldogs have to prioritize young depth. Four-star offensive tackle Evan Goodwin is a key top-300 target for first-year offensive line coach Phil Loadholt. On defense, the Bulldogs appear well positioned with defensive tackle Dylan Berymon, Louisiana's No. 8 prospect. Both have already been on campus this year and have Mississippi State officials set later this spring.
28. Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Top target: DE Jackson Ford, No. 293 in ESPN Junior 300
The Scarlet Knights have molded their recruiting strategy in the second Greg Schiano era around early offers and long-term relationship-building. Rutgers closed this past cycle with three ESPN 300 signees and its highest-ranked recruiting class since 2022. The program already holds two top 300 commitments in 2026 between four-star pass catchers Dyzier Carter and Elias Coke.
Ford, a potential defensive cornerstone for the Scarlet Knights' next class, is another long-term target. Rutgers came in with Ford's fourth Power 4 offer last August, and the Scarlet Knights are a top contender for his pledge alongside Penn State. Stanford and Big Ten rivals Michigan, USC and Wisconsin also remain involved in Ford's process.
29. Kentucky Wildcats
Top target: OT Jarvis Strickland, not ranked
Kentucky's offensive line depth is already thin, and the program could ultimately start five players in their final year of eligibility up front in 2025. Considering that Mark Stoops & Co. are the last SEC program without a 2026 commitment, a key in-state offensive tackle commitment could be the jump-start the Wildcats need to get rolling this cycle.
It's why Strickland, the 6-foot-7, 295-pound recruit from Paducah, Kentucky, has been a priority for the Wildcats in the new year. Stoops' staff visited Strickland twice in January and got him on campus multiple times that same month. A riser in the 2026 class, Strickland has already set official visits to Kentucky and Vanderbilt. Bill Belichick and North Carolina became the latest to offer Strickland this past weekend. The Tar Heels could emerge as a player in his recruitment.
30. SMU Mustangs
Top target: RB K.J. Edwards, No. 101 in ESPN Junior 300
SMU proved it could compete in Power 4 recruiting with the highest-ranked signing class in program history in 2025. The Mustangs' summertime flip of TCU quarterback pledge Ty Hawkins marked a symbolic exclamation point in 2025, and SMU could make another statement this cycle in a battle of Texas schools over Ford, ESPN's No. 10 running back.
The 5-foot-10 rusher from Carthage, Texas, intends to remain in his home state for college and will take official trips to Baylor, SMU, Texas and Texas A&M later this spring. The Aggies could fall off following the recent commitment of running back Jonathan Hatton Jr., but Texas is going to be a serious contender for Ford's pledge. Fresh of a playoff appearance, the Mustangs can pitch themselves as a program on the rise as they jump into another recruiting fight with Texas' traditional football powers.