Official visits are set, commitments dates are locked in, and the busiest stretch of school soccer’s annual recruiting calendar is upon us. If the developments of final 12 months’s cycle — when 43% of ESPN’s prime 300 prospects sealed their remaining commitments between June 1 and Aug. 31 — are any indication, the majority of the 2026 recruiting class will type itself over the following three months.
Nevertheless, whereas the most recent cycle is nearly to take off in earnest, the highest finish of the 2026 quarterback class is essentially settled already, not less than in the intervening time. Following Jared Curtis’ Might 5 pledge to Georgia, all 4 of the nation’s five-star QBs and 14 of the 18 passers ranked contained in the 2026 ESPN 300 are dedicated, leaving 4 blue-chip prospects nonetheless on the board:
Regardless of that shortage, there are a handful of prime packages throughout the nation nonetheless working laborious to land a 2026 quarterback. Which groups stay essentially the most QB-needy on the recruiting path as of late spring? We broke them down by tier, from the faculties that should land an elite passer in 2026 to others anticipated to be lively within the QB market, and some extra who may be part of on this summer time.
Leap to a bit:
Must land prime QB | Groups to stay in QB market
Do not want, however would possibly seize | Lingering questions
Tier 1: Must land a prime quarterback within the 2026 class
Florida State
In his sixth full-recruiting cycle with the Seminoles, coach Mike Norvell remains to be ready for his quarterback pipeline to take off. The January decommitment of four-star recruit Brady Smigiel (No. 45 within the 2026 ESPN 300) marked the most recent blow to this system’s future plans on the place. 4 months later, Florida State’s efforts to land an elite 2026 passer hinge on a pair of precedence targets: four-star Landon Duckworth and Oklahoma commit Jaden O’Neal.
Duckworth, a dynamic playmaker who accounted for 51 whole touchdowns as a junior final fall, is a exact match for the mould of a dual-threat quarterback that first-year Seminoles playcaller Gus Malzahn has historically relied on through the years. Whereas Ole Miss has established itself because the clear chief in Duckworth’s course of this spring, the 6-foot-3, 195-pound prospect from Jackson, Alabama, is aware of Norvell’s historical past of manufacturing high-scoring offenses and was beforehand recruited by Malzahn at UCF. Florida State will get its subsequent probability to woo Duckworth when he arrives for an official go to on June 13.
O’Neal has been dedicated to Oklahoma since June 24, 2024. However following a coordinator change amid the Sooners’ pursuit of a second quarterback within the 2026 class, ESPN’s seventh-ranked pocket passer enters late spring as a chief flip candidate. O’Neal (No. 113 general) took unofficial journeys to Florida State and Auburn this spring whereas entertaining curiosity from Georgia, and he’ll see the Seminoles once more for a multiday official go to beginning on June 15.
Florida State has gotten simply 10 mixed begins from the 4 highschool quarterbacks it signed throughout 5 lessons from 2020-24, and solely a kind of passers — redshirt sophomore Brock Glenn — nonetheless stays on this system’s roster. Can Norvell & Co. get it proper in 2026 with Duckworth or O’Neal?
LSU
The Tigers did not signal a quarterback within the 2025 cycle after Bryce Underwood’s gorgeous flip to Michigan final November. Even with the offseason addition of Mississippi State switch Michael Van Buren, this system’s future depth behind Garrett Nussmeier in 2025 is skinny, and coach Brian Kelly and his workers have labored laborious over the previous sixth months in pursuit of a quarterback for the Tigers’ 2026 class.
LSU circled again with five-star prospects Dia Bell (Texas commit) and Keisean Henderson (Houston) and four-star Arizona State pledge Jake Fette (No. 158 general) earlier this 12 months to no avail. The Tigers had been additionally closely concerned within the recruitment of four-star recruit Jonas Williams (No. 156 general) previous to his February flip from Oregon to USC. Navigating a narrowing quarterback market, the Tigers have now turned their consideration to four-star recruit Bowe Bentley (No. 262 general), one of many cycle’s prime risers this spring after he led Celina (Texas) Excessive Faculty to a 16-0 end and a 4A state title as a first-year starter final fall.
Bentley landed greater than a dozen Energy 4 presents earlier than trimming his record of finalists to Georgia, LSU and Oklahoma in late March. Following Jared Curtis’ Might 5 pledge to Georgia, Bentley’s recruitment is all the way down to the Tigers and Sooners, and the stage is now set for a important stretch that can see Bentley journey to LSU (Might 30) and Oklahoma (June 6) on back-to-back weekends as he reaches the closing phases in his recruitment. Bentley is LSU’s finest probability at grabbing a prime QB.
Ole Miss
Like LSU, Ole Miss went with out a quarterback signee within the 2025 class, nevertheless it was not for lack of making an attempt, most notably via this system’s late-fall efforts to flip in-state four-star Deuce Knight from his Auburn pledge. After lacking out on one coveted dual-threat passer a 12 months in the past, may coach Lane Kiffin handle to land one other within the 2026 cycle?
The Rebels have definitely laid the groundwork this spring, centering Duckworth — ESPN’s second-ranked uncommitted quarterback prospect — because the potential cornerstone of Ole Miss’ 2026 class throughout a pair of unofficial visits with this system this spring.
Kiffin and Rebels offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr. have bought Duckworth closely on his slot in this system’s offensive scheme and their improvement of former quarterback Jaxson Dart, one other cellular passer who emerged as a first-round NFL draft choose after three seasons at Ole Miss. As Duckworth prepares for a slate of spring official visits to Auburn, South Carolina, Florida State and Ole Miss, Kiffin and the Rebels maintain a definitive lead in his recruitment.
Redshirt sophomore Austin Simmons will take over beginning duties with three years of remaining eligibility this fall. Ole Miss’ present quarterback depth features a pair of proficient underclassmen, too, between former ESPN 300 signee AJ Maddox and Oklahoma State switch Maealiuaki Smith. However there is a motive why Kiffin and his workers are so invested in Duckworth, who would mark this system’s highest-ranked quarterback signee since Matt Corral in 2018.
Tier 2: Applications that can stay lively within the QB market
Auburn
After ending 71st nationally in scoring final fall, the Tigers renovated their quarterback room throughout the offseason with transfers Jackson Arnold (Oklahoma) and Ashton Daniels (Stanford) and Knight, the proficient freshman they pried away from Notre Dame final fall.
Knight, No. 40 within the 2025 ESPN 300, is seen as a future starter at Auburn. However his arrival has not saved this system from pursuing quarterbacks within the 2026 class. The Tigers hosted O’Neal, the Oklahoma pledge, for a go to earlier this spring and stand among the many challengers to Ole Miss within the chase for Duckworth, who will take his official to Auburn on Might 30.
Colorado
Liberty switch Kaidon Salter presents an skilled stopgap in 2025, however the Buffaloes secured their inheritor obvious to Shedeur Sanders with the flip of five-star quarterback Julian Lewis from USC final November.
Nonetheless, Colorado has maintained a presence on the 2026 quarterback path this spring. The Buffaloes had been finalists for three-star Mississippi State pledge Brodie McWhorter, four-star Michigan State commit Kayd Coffman and three-star recruit Luke Fahey amongst their most up-to-date presents. Most prominently, Colorado stays as considered one of seven faculties within the combine for four-star pocket passer Oscar Rios (No. 193 in ESPN 300), who will shut a busy run of spring officers with a visit to see coach Deion Sanders and the Buffaloes on June 20.
North Carolina
No program is garnering extra consideration in 2025 than the Tar Heels, and North Carolina’s quarterback recruiting is a key subplot in coach Invoice Belichick’s first full cycle with this system following Zaid Lott’s flip to Syracuse in March.
Belichick, whose contract stipulates entry to $13 million in income sharing {dollars}, has cash to spend on his roster. The Tar Heels have already missed on a pair of massive swings with top-100 quarterbacks Curtis and Smigiel, however Duckworth stays a sensible possibility who may nonetheless schedule an official go to with this system over the following month. North Carolina did beat out Auburn for three-star, dual-threat Travis Burgess.
Oklahoma
A once-settled Sooners quarterback state of affairs within the 2026 class may see a number of twists and turns earlier than all is alleged. O’Neal, who dedicated final June below former offensive coordinator Seth Littrell, stays the top-ranked member of Oklahoma’s incoming class whereas the Sooners’ workers at the moment are full-throttle of their pursuit of Bentley, whose recruitment might be wrapped up inside the subsequent month following his pair of official visits.
All of that matches this system’s plan so as to add two passers within the 2026 cycle below first-year coordinator Ben Arbuckle. However will it play out so seamlessly? A dedication from Bentley might be the final word nudge that prompts O’Neal to leap elsewhere. Conversely, if Bentley lands with LSU, holding O’Neal on board shall be extra necessary than ever. In fact, there’s additionally the catastrophe state of affairs for Oklahoma the place Bentley commits to LSU and O’Neal flips elsewhere this summer time, sending OU again to the drafting board within the 2026 quarterback class with rising three-star prospect Matt Ponatoski among the many passers this system has saved in contact with this spring.
South Carolina
The rise of LaNorris Sellers and the addition of a once-prized expertise in Ohio State switch Air Noland provides the Gamecocks safety within the medium-term. Nevertheless, South Carolina’s efforts within the 2026 quarterback class over the primary half of this 12 months counsel coach Shane Beamer is aware of he wants so as to add one other passer this cycle.
The Gamecocks had been amongst 4 prime contenders for Curtis in January earlier than the nation’s No. 1 general quarterback reduce his recruitment to Oregon and Georgia. This system made Smigiel one other precedence goal and made a late push in April earlier than his dedication to Michigan. These misses have turned the Gamecocks’ consideration again to Duckworth, who beforehand spent 10 months in South Carolina’s 2026 class earlier than reopening his recruitment final June. Duckworth will return to campus for an official go to subsequent month, the place Beamer and the Gamecocks would safe a serious recruiting victory in the event that they handle to tug him again into fold amid curiosity from Ole Miss, Auburn and Florida State.
Tier 3: We do not want a 2026 QB, however we nonetheless would possibly go get one anyway
Alabama
The Class of 2025 addition of five-star passer Keelon Russell, No. 2 within the 2025 ESPN 300, not solely diminishes the Crimson Tide’s want for a quarterback on this cycle, however may additionally be working in opposition to this system’s potential to land one in 2026. Such are the lofty expectations surrounding the dynamic Russell and his future at Alabama.
The Crimson Tide do look like ramping up their efforts on the quarterback path, although. After holding in contact with Houston pledge Keisean Henderson and eventual Penn State commit Peyton Falzone (No. 236 in ESPN 300) this spring, Alabama prolonged presents to Ponatoski, ESPN’s No. 27 pocket passer, and three-star Iowa State pledge Jett Thomalla final week. Whereas Kalen DeBoer & Co. may not be battling on the higher reaches of the 2026 quarterback class, there’s motivation inside the program to proceed its pipeline on the place on this cycle.
Ohio State
Between projected 2025 starter Julian Sayin and five-star 2025 signee Tavien St. Clair, the defending nationwide champions are already well-stocked on younger quarterback expertise. The dedication of coveted 2027 passer Brady Edmunds provides one other layer of safety to the Buckeyes future on the place.
Nevertheless, the Buckeyes have not been solely quiet across the present quarterback class, notably internet hosting prime uncommitted passer Ryder Lyons (No. 50 in ESPN 300) and Bentley for visits earlier this spring. Extra not too long ago, Michigan State commit Kayd Coffman spent a day on campus with the Ohio State workers final month, although the Buckeyes haven’t but formally provided ESPN’s fifth-ranked dual-threat prospect. Count on Ohio State to linger as a possible flip contender for a number of prospects throughout the nation from now to the early signing interval.
Oregon
Coach Dan Lanning and the Geese did all the pieces they might to sway Curtis earlier than the five-star passer returned to his place atop Georgia’s 2026 class earlier this month. A number of years of remaining eligibility for Dante Moore and Austin Novosad, coupled with the arrival of four-star freshman Akili Smith Jr. imply Oregon may comfortably go with out a quarterback signee in 2026, however this system’s actions on the path this spring counsel that will not be the case.
The Geese are among the many lengthy line of packages to verify in with Henderson, the five-star Houston commit this spring. Extra urgent, this system stays firmly within the combine for Lyons, the four-star passer who will take officers with BYU, Oregon and USC in June. Given the Geese’ eligibility cushion at quarterbacks, Lyons’ plan to enroll in 2027 following a one-year mission journey will not be a difficulty for Oregon. If the Geese miss on Lyons, then Ponatoski — a two-sport star from Cincinnati who intends to play baseball in school — may emerge as a main goal.
Lingering questions for the 2026 quarterback class
What occurs if Jaden O’Neal decommits from Oklahoma?
Loads of drama may nonetheless unfold inside the 2026 quarterback class from now to the early signing interval. However as issues stand, O’Neal seems to be the most certainly candidate to flip.
If O’Neal finally pulls his pledge from the Sooners, he’ll instantly emerge as one of many prime obtainable quarterbacks within the 2026 class with beforehand events like Auburn and Florida State primed to pounce on his availability. Relying on different outcomes throughout the quarterback class, there might be plenty of different packages — LSU, North Carolina, Ole Miss, Oregon — primed to enter the race, too. As for Oklahoma, the dimensions of injury surrounding O’Neal’s exit can be solely depending on the place Bentley lands and the way open his recruitment would possibly stay if the four-star recruit commits to a program apart from the Sooners.
Can anybody flip Keisean Henderson?
No program has proven extra religion in Henderson’s potential to play quarterback on the school stage than Houston, and the five-star has continued to recruit on behalf of the Cougars this spring whereas remaining totally locked in together with his Might 2024 dedication to this system.
Nevertheless, so long as the likes of Alabama, Auburn, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Ohio State and Oregon are sustaining contact with Henderson, the door shall be open to a possible flip. The noise round Henderson’s recruitment has been quiet this spring, however that would definitely change within the coming months, particularly if QB-needy packages corresponding to Florida State, North Carolina and LSU miss on different prime targets this summer time and intensify their efforts with the athletic playmaker from Spring, Texas. Henderson’s recruitment shall be one to observe Houston work to hold on to the highest-ranked pledge in program historical past.
Who’re essentially the most intriguing uncommitted, non-ESPN 300 quarterbacks?
The gathering of quarterback expertise within the 2026 class extends past the ESPN 300, and historical past exhibits that star rankings and prospect rankings are all the time good predictors of future success. So which comparatively unheralded quarterback recruits may emerge as key targets on this cycle?
Ponatoski is one prospect producing vital curiosity this spring after throwing for greater than 4,000 yards with 56 touchdowns final fall. Aided by his two-sport potential, Ponatoski now counts Alabama and Oregon among the many outstanding newcomers in his recruitment and likewise holds vital curiosity from Arkansas, Duke, Georgia Tech, Kentucky and Texas A&M, amongst others.
Nathan Bernhard, ESPN’s No. 14 pocket passer, flirted closely with Michigan earlier than he dedicated to App State final month after the Wolverines landed on Smigiel as this system’s 2026 quarterback. Indiana Hoosiers, Maryland Terrapins, Michigan State and Penn State all entered the combo for Bernhard earlier this spring, and he may emerge as a prized flip candidate later within the cycle for Energy 4 packages nonetheless trying to safe a quarterback pledge.
Three-star prospect Femi Babalola is one other quarterback gaining consideration forward of the busy summer time recruiting interval. Amongst greater than a dozen Division I presents, NC State, Boston School and Tulane rank amongst Babalola’s main contenders whereas Arizona, Georgia Tech, Maryland and Virginia Tech have all provided ESPN’s No. 18 pocket passer this spring.
Developments round Burgess, the Auburn, North Carolina and NC State goal, may have ripple results throughout the 2026 quarterback class. Three-star passers Romin Seymour, Laird Finkel and Jarin Mock are one other trio value keeping track of this summer time.
