Essentially the most energetic 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 high faculty 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 a giant 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 via key decommitments and misses on among 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 high 100 prospects nonetheless uncommitted, lots of the largest dominoes throughout 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 probably to climb over the subsequent month.
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Massive winners | Groups with questions | Who may rise
June’s largest 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 School Station. Beating Texas to No. 5 total operating again Ok.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 — depart Texas A&M stage with Georgia for the third-most ESPN 300 pledges nationally coming into July.
By 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 properly. 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 carried out but. No. 1 total prospect Lamar Brown, who is about 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 remaining 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 can 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 go catchers Marquez Daniel and Justin Williams. 5-star tight finish Kaiden Prothro, a heavy Georgia lean, may be a 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 Corridor and Nebraska cornerback flip C.J. Bronaugh, Florida has no less than 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 gradual begin within the 2026 cycle gave technique 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 total cornerback Khary Adams on June 20, then edged the Geese, Nittany Lions and Clemson for security Joey O’Brien hours later, forming the inspiration of this system’s 2026 defensive again class, which additionally consists of top-200 security Ayden Pouncey. Adams, No. 28 total, is Notre Dame’s top-ranked commit within the cycle following the newest replace to the 2026 ESPN 300.
No. 5 total tight finish Ian Premer’s dedication marked the newest 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 seemingly is not carried out including go catchers, with broad 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 defensive position.
Texas’ top-ranked 2025 class included 4 defensive linemen, headlined by five-star Justus Terry. However the flood of expertise out of the Longhorns’ defensive position room this offseason meant the crew 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 go rusher Richard Wesley, No. 11 within the 2026 ESPN 300, the Longhorns landed an affect playmaker on the sting and headliner for this system’s incoming defensive position class.
Properly stocked on the defensive position, the remainder of Texas’ 2026 cycle can 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 high 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 workers 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 sophisticated passer with one of many stronger arms within the class — will be a 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 total tight finish, turned the Seminoles’ top-ranked commit June 23. Auburn broad receiver Devin Carter flipped hours later, touchdown because the No. 1 broad receiver in a category that additionally consists of 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 well liked begin of any program within the 2026 cycle, spurred on by the January arrival of basic supervisor Chad Bowden. After beating UCLA to sixth-ranked exterior linebacker Talanoa Ili, outmuscling Ohio State and Penn State for go rusher Luke Wafle and touchdown security Peyton Dyer up to now month, USC leads the nation with 17 ESPN 300 commitments.
Simply as vital: The Trojans have, up to now, held on to all of their largest 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-Might exit is USC’s solely important departure this spring. That is excellent news for coach Lincoln Riley and the Trojans, who may add one other elite participant to this system’s 2026 class when four-star broad 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 grow to be when he changed Chip Kelly at UCLA, and offseason workers 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 important 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 anticipated 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 technique to touchdown the most effective 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 remaining commit of June was simply essentially the most important. 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 total passer within the cycle. And although he will not enroll till 2027 as a result of he can be serving on a Latter-day Saints mission after highschool, he may characteristic 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’s going to 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 prevented catastrophe on the quarterback place June 20 when No. 5 dual-threat passer Bowe Bentley dedicated to this system, sealing a serious recruiting win for coach Brent Venables and first-year offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle.
Bentley’s pledge marked the tip 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 danger of lacking out on each ESPN 300 passers this summer time. That risk hung within the steadiness 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 pattern for a program that has fallen in ESPN’s class rankings annually for the reason that Sooners locked down the nation’s No. 4 class in 2023.
Present ESPN class rating: No. 19
It has been no less than 10 years for the reason that Bears signed an offensive lineman of the caliber of top-ranked guard Tommy Tofi. That is why the Bay Space lineman’s June 3 resolution to decide to the Bears over Oregon marked such a big 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’s going to 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 certainly one of 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 just lately dedicated go catchers in broad 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 a 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 workers fell quick on a pair of operating backs final week between high in-state operating again Ezavier Crowell (Alabama pledge) and four-star Jae Lamar (Georgia). And the Tigers now seem like on the skin wanting in for different high targets, together with five-stars Immanuel Iheanacho and Kaiden Prothro and top-50 in-state broad 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 broad 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. Prime-150 inside linebacker goal Adam Balogoun-Ali visited Auburn in Might and would symbolize a robust alternative for Toodle. No. 5 defensive finish Nolan Wilson, No. 53 total, 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 method 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 total security Jett Washington, four-star go 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 pattern 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 broad receiver Calvin Russell and linebackers Tyler Atkinson and Anthony Jones make choices later this summer time.
The Nittany Lions registered a variety of early wins within the 2026 cycle, and James Franklin’s incoming class stays within the high 10 of ESPN’s newest rankings. Nevertheless, Penn State went comparatively quiet in June, including offensive guard Benjamin Eziuka as its lone ESPN 300 addition since June 1 whereas high 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 shifting ahead is the progress this system made with Iheanacho on his official go to earlier this month. ESPN’s No. 2 offensive deal with advised ESPN that Penn State “felt like dwelling” following the mid-June journey, and this system’s relative proximity to Iheanacho’s household in Maryland may give the Nittany Lions an edge in a battle with LSU and Oregon. Prime-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 would 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 broad receiver pledge Nalin Scott marked one other win. Up forward, top-300 offensive deal with Kelvin Obot looms as an vital goal, each for what the 6-5, 270-pound lineman can deliver Nebraska and the momentum he may kick off for the Huskers. Obot narrowed his finalists to Michigan, Nebraska, Oregon and Utah in Might and visited the Huskers in early June.
Tennessee misplaced a pledge from three-star Miami broad receiver flip Tyran Evans in June. Extra critically, the Vols have gone quiet this month, going with no single ESPN 300 addition whereas high 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 broad receiver pledge Tristen Keys. The Vols are critical gamers for No. 2 operating again Savion Hiter and top-100 prospects Joel Wyatt and Darius Grey, whereas four-star defenders Dereon Albert and T.J. White have Tennessee amongst their high 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 energetic 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 remains to be ready to crack ESPN’s high 25 for 2026, however the Crimson Tide aren’t anticipated to remain on the skin wanting in for much longer.
Crowell, No. 31 within the 2026 ESPN 300, was the primary to commit amongst a trio of high 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 broad receiver Cederian Morgan pronounces his pledge July 2, whereas No. 2 exterior linebacker prospect Anthony Jones of Cellular, Alabama, additionally may 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 total recruit. Set to commit Saturday, Edwards may quickly be a part of top-10 cornerbacks Jorden Edmonds and Zyan Gibson in the kind of defensive class that 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 largest recruiting winners. Nevertheless, Georgia’s fourth-ranked 2026 class may solely get higher with high targets set to commit.
4-star defensive deal with Pierre Dean Jr. may grow to be coach Kirby Sensible’s subsequent addition as ESPN’s No. 106 total recruit prepares to decide on between Georgia and South Carolina on Monday. July 12 marks one other vital day for the Bulldogs with five-stars Derrek Cooper and Kaiden Prothro set to make their choices. Cooper, ESPN’s No. 1 operating again, is all the way down to Alabama, Florida State, Georgia, Miami, Ohio State and Texas, whereas Prothro — the versatile, in-state tight finish — seems to be 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 total, 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 an important piece of reports for coach Brian Kelly is that LSU closes the month with five-star broad 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 total prospect Lamar Brown, the coveted defensive deal with who attends highschool on the Tigers’ campus at College Laboratory College. LSU stays the favourite to safe Brown’s pledge July 10, however his long-standing relationships at Texas A&M and more energizing connections at Miami will check the power of Kelly and his workers to maintain the nation’s high recruit dwelling in Baton Rouge.
LSU stays within the combine for four-star broad receiver Calvin Russell with Florida State, Miami, Michigan and Oregon additionally chasing ESPN’s No. 4 broad receiver forward of his Saturday dedication. Prime-100 recruits Chauncey Kennon, Trenton Henderson and Darius Grey stand among the many different distinguished targets the Tigers can 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 high two backfield prospects — final month. 5-star offensive deal with Felix Ojo advised 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 seems to be prone to be a part of Ohio State’s newest 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 workers, and ESPN’s No. 178 total prospect has been trending towards a contemporary dedication to this system in current weeks. Auburn’s transfer to flip four-star passer Peyton Falzone solely reinforces Duckworth’s anticipated resolution.
Dean, ESPN’s No. 8 defensive deal with, may land with South Carolina on Monday, and the Gamecocks stay high contenders for top-150 prospects Samari Matthews and Somourian Wingo as properly. South Carolina has lengthy led within the recruitment of four-star offensive lineman Darius Grey, who may 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.