With just some weeks to go earlier than the early signing interval, the 2026 class is generally wrapped up. Solely eight of the prospects ranked contained in the ESPN 300 stay uncommitted, together with only one — defensive finish Jordan Carter — amongst ESPN’s high 100 recruits.
Nonetheless, there’s nonetheless loads of exercise anticipated over the homestretch of the 2026 cycle. As dedicated prospects hit the highway for November visits throughout the nation and high packages scour the flip marketplace for late-cycle additions, recruiting drama this time of yr is predicted. Including to the intrigue this fall is early exercise on the teaching carousel that left job openings at main packages, together with Auburn, Florida, LSU and Penn State, sparking flip curiosity from different high colleges and sending dedicated recruits to rethink their choices earlier than December.
Because the enterprise finish of the 2026 cycle arrives, ESPN spoke to sources throughout the trade about 10 prospects who might be on the transfer within the 23 days between now and the early signing interval.
Hometown: Erwinsville, Louisiana
ESPN 300 rank: No. 1
Place rank: No. 1
Dedicated to: LSU
Recruiting intel: Brown grew to become the highest-ranked pledge of the Brian Kelly period at LSU when he dedicated to the Tigers over Miami and Texas A&M in July. 5 months later, the nation’s top-ranked recruit stays the cornerstone of this system’s incoming class as the varsity searches for its subsequent coach within the wake of Kelly’s firing.
Brown, who was recruited as a official two-way offensive/line of defense prospect, recorded 91 tackles and eight sacks throughout his first three varsity seasons at Louisiana’s College Laboratory Faculty, which is positioned on the LSU campus, only one mile east of Tiger Stadium.
The newest: Brown has emphasised the worth of taking part in at LSU as a Louisiana native and the prospect to stay near residence all through his recruitment. Greater than two weeks after Kelly’s dismissal, ESPN sources proceed to count on Brown to signal with the Tigers throughout the early signing interval, no matter the place this system’s teaching search stands at that time.
Brown’s continued dedication is crucial for LSU, not solely as a result of he can be this system’s first No. 1-ranked signee since Leonard Fournette in 2014 however as a result of the 6-foot-5, 285-pound defender is seen because the linchpin of the Tigers’ incoming class, in accordance with sources throughout the program. If Brown sticks with LSU, these sources count on the vast majority of the 2026 class to do the identical.
Nonetheless, Brown has been the topic of renewed curiosity from Miami and Texas A&M in latest weeks. Between these two, sources imagine Texas A&M — a slim runner-up for Brown’s pledge in June — presents the most important menace to LSU. Brown will not be slated to take any visits this month, however his recruitment might be one to observe.
Hometown: Flowood, Mississippi
ESPN 300 rank: No. 39
Place rank: No. 3
Dedicated to: Auburn
Recruiting intel: Auburn beat Florida, Ohio State and Texas A&M to Womack’s dedication in August, and Mississippi’s 2024 Gatorade Soccer Participant of the 12 months stays the Tigers’ top-ranked 2026 pledge.
ESPN sources considered Womack’s pledge as tied closely to the way forward for Auburn coach Hugh Freeze earlier than this system fired the third-year coach Nov. 2. After Freeze’s exit, Womack is contemplating all of his choices, with main packages .
The newest: Texas A&M is engaged on a number of high-profile flip targets within the closing levels of the cycle, together with Womack, Brown, Anthony Jones (Oregon) and Kevin Ford (Florida). Amongst that group, Womack could be essentially the most attainable for coach Mike Elko and the Aggies.
Texas A&M completed second in Womack’s recruitment over the summer time, and the Aggies are anticipated to have him again on campus this weekend for this system’s go to from South Carolina.
In-state packages Mississippi State and Ole Miss are two others in pursuit of Womack; his go to for the Bulldogs’ Week 11 loss to Georgia marked a big growth for Mississippi State. Summer time finalists Florida and Ohio State cannot be counted out both.
Hometown: Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
ESPN 300 rank: No. 78
Place rank: No. 13
Dedicated to: Penn State
Recruiting intel: School expertise evaluators view the longtime Penn State commit as a possible multiyear starter on the subsequent degree. It is a massive a part of why Ohio State and West Virginia, amongst a bunch of different main packages in search of to land an influence, late-cycle addition on the offensive line, have swarmed Brown for the reason that Nittany Lions fired coach James Franklin final month.
“The packages which might be coming in proper now are groups that want a proper deal with,” Brown’s father, Tim, advised ESPN. “It’s totally particular — it is not the recruiting we skilled earlier than.”
An agile, big-framed blocker able to taking part in throughout the offensive line, Brown marked a seismic in-state win for Franklin’s workers when he dedicated to Penn State in July 2024. Almost a yr and a half later, his future more and more seems to lie someplace apart from Joyful Valley.
The newest: Brown closed October with a midweek go to to West Virginia earlier than spending Week 10 at Ohio State throughout the Buckeyes’ 38-14 win over Penn State on Nov. 1.
Brown’s father performed at West Virginia within the early 2000s beneath coach Wealthy Rodriguez, and past household ties, this system has impressed Brown with its long-term imaginative and prescient for Rodriguez’s second stint main the Mountaineers. The tradition at Ohio State left an imprint on him as nicely, and Brown would possibly return for an official go to with the Buckeyes later this month.
North Carolina is one other program working to sway Brown. He additionally plans to depart the door open with Penn State and its subsequent coach. However with the clock ticking on the Nittany Lions’ teaching search and Brown intent on making a call no later than the primary week of December, Ohio State and West Virginia seem well-positioned for an necessary flip.
Hometown: Vero Seashore, Florida
ESPN 300 rank: No. 81
Place rank: No. 14
Dedicated to: UCLA
Recruiting intel: Smith’s June pledge to UCLA marked a once-in-a-decade offensive line dedication for the Bruins. However quite a bit has modified since then, most significantly, the staff’s coach. With curiosity swirling from across the nation, will Smith finally land at Ohio State or within the SEC? Or can the Bruins dangle on to their lone remaining ESPN 300 pledge?
The newest: Although Smith has maintained his dedication to UCLA, the 6-foot-6, 320-pound lineman has made the rounds this fall with Ohio State, Ole Miss, South Carolina and Tennessee rising among the many most outstanding flip contenders in his recruitment.
Smith visited Ole Miss in September, and he was on campus at Tennessee for an official go to throughout this system’s Week 10 sport towards Oklahoma. ESPN sources count on the Rebels and Vols to be essentially the most critical gamers in Smith’s course of.
Sources have additionally strengthened the potential of Smith remaining with UCLA. His dedication earlier this yr got here with a big monetary bundle, and Smith stays shut with UCLA offensive line coach Andy Kwon. It isn’t out of the query that Smith might stick to the Bruins beneath a brand new head coach, significantly if Kwon stays on this system’s workers.
Hometown: Gonzales, Louisiana
ESPN 300 rank: No. 84
Place rank: No. 15
Dedicated to: LSU
Recruiting intel: Brian Kelly’s departure definitely accelerated potential motion in Martinez’s course of. However the 6-foot-6, 280-pound lineman had been in touch with a number of SEC packages this fall, nicely earlier than LSU moved on from its fourth-year coach final month.
With elite size and physicality, Martinez tasks as a standout run blocker with positional flexibility in school. He held provides from Alabama, Georgia, Oregon, Tennessee, Florida, Texas A&M and Penn State upon his dedication to the in-state Tigers in February.
The newest: Texas made a notable leap in Martinez’s recruitment when he visited for the Longhorns’ win over Vanderbilt on Nov. 1, and Martinez is scheduled to return for an official go to when this system hosts Arkansas on Nov. 22.
“I’ve by no means heard him say, ‘I do not need to go residence,’ on a go to,” his mom, Kandace, mentioned. “He liked it [at Texas]. He wished to determine once we have been coming again earlier than we even left.”
The Longhorns attain mid-November as clear front-runners amongst Martinez’s flip contenders. Oklahoma and Tennessee are also nonetheless concerned in his course of, and Martinez stays in touch with the LSU workers. However as issues stand, the return journey to Texas later this month is the one go to Martinez has scheduled earlier than the early signing interval.
Hometown: Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
ESPN 300 rank: No. 141
Place rank: No. 13
Dedicated to: Penn State
Recruiting intel: The longest-tenured member of the Nittany Lions’ 2026 class, Mickens has been wanting elsewhere over the previous month, with Indiana, Oklahoma and Ole Miss rising among the many main contenders.
Mickens accounted for greater than 3,200 dashing yards and 54 touchdowns on the bottom throughout the primary three seasons of his highschool profession. He initially shut down his recruitment earlier this yr after a quick flirtation with Notre Dame. However since Franklin’s firing Oct. 12, Mickens stands as one of many high out there operating backs throughout the 2026 class.
The newest: Mickens heard from almost a dozen packages after Franklin’s departure. He has since narrowed his course of to 3 packages and plans to hit the highway within the coming weeks.
Mickens is ready to go to Indiana this weekend for the Hoosiers’ Week 12 matchup with Wisconsin. He’ll journey to Oklahoma, the place Mickens has developed a detailed relationship with operating backs coach DeMarco Murray, on Nov. 29, and Mickens is working to arrange a visit to Ole Miss earlier than the tip of the common season. From that group, ESPN sources view Oklahoma because the main contender for Mickens, who additionally has thought of South Carolina.
Hometown: West Palm Seashore, Florida
ESPN 300 rank: No. 142
Place rank: No. 1
Dedicated to: Auburn
Recruiting intel: The nation’s top-ranked inside linebacker stays dedicated to the Tigers, however Balogoun-Ali has drawn important curiosity from power-conference packages within the week-plus since Freeze’s departure from Auburn.
Balogoun-Ali entered his senior season this fall as a three-year varsity contributor with 161 profession tackles. His preliminary dedication to the Tigers over Kentucky and Missouri in June was influenced closely by a reference to Auburn linebackers coach and defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin, who took over because the Tigers’ interim coach Nov. 2.
The newest: Georgia, Miami, Missouri and Notre Dame are among the many packages which have continued pushing to flip Balogoun-Ali over the previous week. However for now, Balogoun-Ali advised ESPN he stays locked in with Auburn beneath Durkin whereas this system searches for its subsequent head coach.
“The strongest purpose I dedicated to Auburn was to play and study beneath Coach Durkin,” Balogoun-Ali advised ESPN. “With him turning into interim, I will give it time. Proper now, it is nonetheless Struggle Rattling Eagle.”
Missouri has been essentially the most lively program in Balogoun-Ali’s recruitment in latest weeks. In-state Miami presents one other engaging spot. Georgia and Notre Dame stand as two late-arriving contenders nonetheless wanting so as to add high-level expertise on protection within the 2026 cycle.
Hometown: Duncanville, Texas
ESPN 300 rank: No. 158
Place rank: No. 20
Dedicated to: Florida
Recruiting intel: Ford picked Florida over Ohio State and Texas in July. The promising edge rusher from Texas continues to be dedicated to the Gators, maintaining in shut contact with this system’s teaching workers since coach Billy Napier’s departure final month.
“It essentially did not influence my recruitment,” Ford advised ESPN of Napier’s firing. “I favored the campus at Florida and the way the followers and tradition are constructing for years to come back. I am probably not hoping to see something with the teaching search, only a one who can elevate this system.”
Nonetheless, Ford continues to be drawing curiosity from a number of packages. He has already set for a go to with USC later this month, and appears prone to take a couple of extra campus journeys within the coming weeks.
The newest: Clemson, Texas A&M, Texas Tech and USC are main the cost to tug Ford away from the Gators within the lead-up to the early signing interval.
Initially anticipated to go to Texas Tech for this system’s top-10 showdown with BYU on Saturday, Ford didn’t make the journey to Lubbock however might nonetheless go to with the Purple Raiders this month. Texas A&M, which has hosted Ford twice this fall, stands as one other main participant in his recruitment because the Aggies pursue late-cycle line of defense expertise. USC has been a relentless presence all through Ford’s course of and can host him when the Trojans face UCLA on Nov. 29.
Ford stays one of many high members of Florida’s 2026 class. However the Gators must fend off a number of surging packages to maintain his pledge by means of signing day.
Hometown: McDonald, Pennsylvania
ESPN 300 rank: No. 162
Place rank: No. 42
Dedicated to: Penn State
Recruiting intel: One other longtime Penn State commit, Sieg is courting late-cycle curiosity from Indiana, Notre Dame, Pitt and West Virginia as he evaluates his subsequent steps whereas keeping track of the Nittany Lions’ teaching search.
“I used to be actually wanting ahead to getting arrange there this December and having the ability to get into it,” Sieg mentioned of Penn State. “However all the things occurs for a purpose. So proper now, I am simply making an attempt to weigh my choices and ensure me and my household make the most effective choice attainable.”
A two-way star at Fort Cherry (Pennsylvania) Excessive Faculty, roughly 30 miles exterior of Pittsburgh, Sieg stays the third-ranked pledge in Penn State’s 2026 class. However that would change over the following month as packages swarm to one of many nation’s high out there security prospects.
The newest: Sieg hit the highway within the weeks after Franklin’s exit at Penn State, opening with journeys to Indiana and Pitt earlier than visiting Notre Dame this previous weekend. He’ll additionally go to West Virginia later this month, because the Mountaineers have pitched Sieg on the prospect to play each methods, tacking on alternatives at huge receiver/operating again to his defensive duties.
Among the many flip contenders, Indiana and Notre Dame seem greatest positioned in Sieg’s recruitment. Much like different Penn State pledges, Sieg can also be keeping track of the place Franklin would possibly land in a course of that’s anticipated to go all the way down to the wire.
“My plan is to most likely decide on signing day or proper earlier than,” Sieg mentioned. “I am making an attempt to attend and see what finally ends up occurring with Coach Franklin and loads of the coaches which might be nonetheless at Penn State and see what they find yourself doing earlier than I make a closing choice.”
Hometown: Leakesville, Mississippi
ESPN 300 rank: No. 258
Place rank: No. 14
Dedicated to: Auburn
Recruiting intel: Mathews, Auburn’s lone top-300 talent place pledge, suits the mildew of the tall, playmaking huge receiver the Tigers have recruited lately. He advised ESPN that this system’s choice to maneuver on from Freeze, paired with constant curiosity from a trio of rival SEC packages, has prompted him to rethink his choices within the late levels of the cycle.
“I’ve needed to query myself a number of occasions,” Mathews mentioned. “I am hoping to see them develop and never falter from these losses, and within the course of, see them strengthen our offense.”
Mathews’ senior season was lower quick by an ACL tear. But when wholesome, he tasks as a possible Day 1 contributor wherever he lands subsequent fall, which explains why the eye he has attracted this fall has solely intensified since Freeze’s firing late final month.
The newest: LSU, Ole Miss and Texas A&M have been amongst Mathews’ finalists when he dedicated to Auburn in August. Weeks out from the early signing interval, he advised ESPN that these three packages stay in shut contact, working to flip the 6-foot-2 go catcher from the Tigers.
Mathews noticed two of these packages in individual final month when he visited LSU for the Tigers’ Oct. 25 sport with Texas A&M. Although Mathews intends to return to Auburn within the closing weeks of the common season, he is additionally prone to go to a couple of different campuses earlier than signing day.
“Do not be shocked if I am on the highway when the Tigers usually are not taking part in at Jordan-Hare,” Mathews mentioned.
As Auburn conducts a training search, Mathews’ recruitment might roll into the primary week of December, opening the door for considered one of his top-three suitors to make a late transfer.