‘We’re going to make a playoff run’: How the Diamondbacks are learning to contend
-
Jesse Rogers, ESPN Staff Writer
AS THE ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS began a recent meeting signaling the start of a new series, one of the few veterans in a clubhouse filled with young players came forward to address his teammates getting their first taste of playoff race baseball.
“Don’t take this for granted,” third baseman Evan Longoria told the team. “Playing in September, with something to play for, is why you show up in February and March.”
The Diamondbacks team that is taking the field this September has a far different feel than the one that showed up at spring training with hopes that the future would soon be brighter coming out of a three-year rebuild, but questions about whether they were ready to compete in a loaded National League West.
“When I chose to come here, that was part of the reason,” Longoria told ESPN recently. “I wanted to be around a youthful group that had the ability to do what we’re doing right now.”
What the Diamondbacks do best right now is tailor-made for the style of play that MLB’s new rules have fostered in 2023. They run, they field, they cause havoc all over the diamond. That athleticism — along with two aces at the top of their rotation — has propelled Arizona into the wild-card race, where it currently owns the third spot in a crowded National League postseason picture.
“We play fast. We play with a sense of creating chaos on the bases,” closer Paul Sewald said. “We just go, go, go.
“It brings me back to the 2021 Mariners team [that I was on]. The industry didn’t think we’d be great. Then we made a run. Maybe it’s a year early, but we don’t care, we’re going to make a playoff run.”
THE DIAMONDBACKS DIDN’T so much emerge as contenders ahead of schedule as they emerged as contenders when Corbin Carroll arrived.
After keeping pace with the Los Angeles Dodgers in April, Arizona caught fire in May and June, taking control of the NL West race with its 23-year-old Rookie of the Year favorite leading the way at the plate, in the field and on the basepaths.
“I enjoy it,” Carroll said of the Diamondbacks’ style. “I’d say that’s part of our game. There’s a bunch of different ways to beat teams. That’s how we win. It’s well balanced.”
Over the past weekend in Chicago, the D-backs showed that the style of play that fueled them early in the season can still be dangerous this month — and perhaps next. As the weather changed to fall at Wrigley Field, Arizona turned the series into a small-ball showcase. Carroll swiped six bases while he and his teammates forced bad throws, wild pitches and general chaos in taking three of four games against a fellow NL wild-card contender.
“He’s so fast,” Cubs starter Jameson Taillon said of Carroll. “We’re so aware of how he is on the bases. We try to make the perfect play and the ball ends up in CF. He gets to third twice.”
Carroll is on pace to become the first rookie ever to hit 25 home runs and steal 50 bases and has immediately become the face of a franchise that took a chance by signing him to an eight-year, $111 million deal just 32 games into his major league career.
“When an organization rewards him and shows faith in a guy with a contract extension like they did that early, I figured he would be a pretty tough out,” Taillon said.
While Carroll’s game garners the most headlines, he is joined by fellow recent top prospects Gabriel Moreno, Alek Thomas and Geraldo Perdomo, who have all turned into key performers for a team that got even younger when it called up 21-year-old Jordan Lawler last week. The front office believes its young players are ready for prime time and the numbers bear it out as Arizona ranks second in the NL in stolen bases and leads the majors in outs above average.
“You appreciate teams that play the hard 90,” veteran Tommy Pham said. “It reiterates certain things as a player. It makes me play better.”
THE FORMULA THAT carried the Diamondbacks to the top of the NL West stopped working for a bit midway through the season as the team went just 8-16 in July and lost their first nine August games.
As the losses piled up, the veterans in the clubhouse knew it was their time to come to the forefront to help steady a group experiencing its first growing pains in a season that now had the pressure of expectations.
“There wasn’t any real panic,” starter Merrill Kelly said. “Some of the young guys were pressing just because of the nature of the beast. Everybody was trying to be that guy to push us back on track. That might be why that skid lasted longer than maybe it should have.”
While Kelly helped stabilize the rotation, Longoria leaned into his 16 years of big league experience to guide the lineup through the struggles.
“It’s very hard if you haven’t been through it, not to see the light at the end of the tunnel,” Longoria said. “‘Man, is this ever going to end?’ Same with hitting. It can seem like you’re never going to get a hit again. But once you go through it, and come out the other side, it’s just part of the game.
“Winning is a skill as much as anything that we do.”
Then, at the Aug. 1 trade deadline, Arizona added another veteran hitter in Tommy Pham, who has already emerged as a go-to voice in the clubhouse during his brief time with the Diamondbacks.
“Guys ask me questions and I tell them my thoughts,” Pham said. “As an older guy, I reiterate why we do certain things every day. We’re all excited to be in the race. Guys know this team hasn’t played meaningful baseball in a minute.”
As the games become even more meaningful over the final weeks of the regular season, even just watching a 10-year veteran’s approach to key moments provides a valuable learning experience for his teammates going through their first postseason race.
“He’s the guy we lean on for a lot of different reasons.” Lovullo said. “It’s the stability of the at-bat. It’s the stability of the conversation. It’s the professionalism he walks around with every single day.”
LIKE JUST ABOUT every team in baseball, the Diamondbacks have their own ways to celebrate home runs and wins. First, they broke out the Homer Snake then added the Victory Vest, courtesy of another veteran, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. But Longoria didn’t think it was enough. For a team not used to winning, he thought they needed more.
“We weren’t really doing anything in the clubhouse afterwards to celebrate wins,” he said. “Now we’re doing that in here. I think that’s a big part of coming closer as a group. Celebrating the big moments. We’ve had a lot of guys have firsts because we’re so young. You become closer and learn something about them.”
The latest celebration came after Lawler’s first hit last week in the first of three straight wins at Wrigley Field. The volume in the clubhouse after each victory seemingly increased.
“We’re starting to enjoy wins around here,” Sewald said. “This team was used to losing games in August and September and we’re starting to win games now. It’s a reminder that wins matter.
“When you’re rebuilding, you take them for granted, because it’s not that important. You’re not going to make the playoffs. But in a postseason run, every win matters. Guys are starting to get excited about that possibility.”
The combination of young and old has meshed as well as any team could hope, with the youthful energy even rubbing off on the team’s more seasoned veterans.
“It’s like a bunch of Labrador retrievers chasing frisbees around the beach,” Lovullo said with a smile.
Led by an emerging core riding its youthful exuberance into new territory and a small group of veterans becoming adept at picking the right moments to take charge, the Diamondbacks are focused on playing meaningful baseball deep into the fall.
“If you have a chance, you go for it,” Pham said. “You just have to get in. We saw that last year with Philadelphia.”
“Winning baseball is fun baseball.” Carroll added. “That’s all I care about. That was goal No. 1 coming into this year. Nothing else matters.”
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — Kentucky Derby runner-up and Preakness winner Journalism opened as the 8-5 favorite in the Belmont Stakes when post positions were drawn Monday for the final leg of the Triple Crown.
Derby winner Sovereignty was set as the second choice on the morning line at odds of 2-1 and drew the No. 2 post. Journalism, near the outside with the No. 7 post, is the only horse running in all three Triple Crown races.
“He’s been kind of the same horse since July of last summer,” trainer Michael McCarthy said. “He does everything you’d ask a good horse to do: He eats well, trains well, acts well. I thought through the last six, seven weeks here, his energy’s been the same throughout.”
Sovereignty is back after owners and trainer Bill Mott opted to skip the Preakness and run the Belmont on five weeks of rest, and things have gone swimmingly since he arrived at historic Saratoga Race Couse.
“We’ve been very lucky with everything that’s gone on since he’s been here,” Mott said. “He’s been moving well over the track.”
Sovereignty and Journalism in the field set up this Belmont, the second at Saratoga while renovations are made to its usual home on Long Island, to be a rematch between the first two Triple Crown winners who were also first and second in the Derby.
“He’s improved, as I think as many of these horses have,” Mott said of Sovereignty. “I think this entire group, if you look at their form and the way they’ve developed over the course of this year, I think they’ve made steady progress and it should be an interesting race.”
No. 6 Baeza, who finished third in Kentucky on the first Saturday in May, opened at 4-1. Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert’s Rodriguez, who was scratched from the Derby because of a minor foot bruise and held out of the Preakness, was next at 6-1 and will leave the starting gate from the No. 3 post.
The field of eight horses also includes No. 8 Heart of Honor, tied for the longest shot on the board at 30-1 after finishing fifth in the Preakness. New to the Triple Crown trail are No. 1 Hill Road (10-1), No. 5 Crudo (15-1) and No. 4 Uncaged (30-1).
Journalism, who was favorited in the Derby and the Preakness, and at the moment is the top 3-year-old in the country, looks like the horse to beat.
“Saratoga is very good for horses,” McCarthy said. “He seems a little bit reenergized up here. We’re looking for a wonderful renewal of the Belmont here on Saturday.”
Sports
Updated top 10 prospect rankings and next to debut for all 30 MLB teams: Who are your club’s future stars?
-
Kiley McDaniel
We’ve entered June, meaning it’s time for our next team-by-team MLB prospect rankings big board update. The top 10 prospects for all 30 teams are updated below.
What has changed since our first in-season list update?
Here are the rankings for your favorite team, along with what to know for this month and who we expect to reach the majors next. Players in the big leagues are eligible for this update as MLB rookie eligibility rules apply here — 130 at-bats, 50 innings pitched or 45 days on the active roster. All 30 of these lists will be updated throughout the season.
MLB prospect coverage: Updated top 50 MLB prospects
Jump to team:
American League
ATH | BAL | BOS | CHW | CLE
DET | HOU | KC | LAA | MIN
NYY | SEA | TB | TEX | TOR
National League
ARI | ATL | CHC | CIN | COL
LAD | MIA | MIL | NYM | PHI
PIT | SD | SF | STL | WSH
AL East
Preseason system ranking: 14th ($207 million)
What to know: George made the biggest leap after I ranked him 195th ahead of last year’s draft, where he signed for $455,000, the 160th-highest bonus. Forty-seven players I ranked ahead of him didn’t sign, so I roughly got that part right, but I wasn’t expecting him to show control of the strike zone and in-game power with a 1.119 OPS early in his pro debut.
Next to debut: Basallo is hitting in Triple-A and should make his debut this season.
Preseason system ranking: 4th ($278 million)
What to know: Kristian Campbell has graduated from this list, opening a spot for Tolle, whom I recently broke down. Anthony and Mayer are very high on my updated top 50 prospects list, and Anthony should be joining Mayer in the big leagues soon (*crosses fingers*). All of the pitchers listed are improving, which is encouraging.
Next to debut: *cough cough* Anthony.
Preseason system ranking: 21st ($166 million)
What to know: RHP Will Warren graduated since the last update. This system really falls off after Lombard. There are a lot of guys with one or two standout abilities who aren’t finished products, and 10 more who could be added. I wanted to add LHP Griffin Herring but he landed at 11th, just ahead of RHP Chase Hampton, who will miss the season because of elbow surgery.
Next to debut: Vivas made his big league debut a few weeks ago, and Jones and Schlittler are in Double-A but need to be added to the 40-man this winter. Both seem likely to be promoted to Triple-A soon and then maybe to the big leagues in September.
Preseason system ranking: 5th ($270 million)
What to know: There are a lot of position players with standout tools, so I’d guess in a few years, a third of the Rays would have been on this list. Gillen is arrow-up after going in the first round last year and transitioning to the outfield. The next 10 players are also quite good, with 1B Tre Morgan and 3B Cooper Kinney among my favorites.
Next to debut: Williams is regressing at Triple-A after seeming on track to debut late in 2025 or early 2026. He’s the most likely on this list to come up this season because Simpson has already debuted.
Preseason system ranking: 24th ($151 million)
What to know: Nimmala, Yesavage, Stephen and King (I have video analysis on King and Yesavage) are all arrow-ups, which is a good indication of how Toronto drafted the past two years.
Second baseman Orelvis Martinez fell to 11th after a pretty mediocre start to the season, increasing the odds that he’s a one-tool utility guy with big power. Tiedemann and Bloss are out after having elbow surgery, Rojas just returned to the mound, Kasevich returned to the field a few weeks ago, and Barriera is set to come back from surgery soon.
Next to debut: Roden has had a brief stint in the majors this year, and Bloss and Martinez got theirs last year. Tiedemann would’ve gotten his by now if he were healthy. Those recent draftees are tracking to get a look as early as next season, so Kasevich becomes the default answer because he should head to Triple-A soon.
AL Central
Preseason system ranking: 2nd ($313 million)
What to know: He gets lost a bit behind Schultz and Smith, but I believe in Taylor. Even if he doesn’t improve his command to be a 180-inning starter, he could still be a closer. Edgar Quero just graduated, and Meidroth should be graduating in a week or so.
Next to debut: Teel, hitting well in Triple-A, seems closer to ready than Schultz, Smith or Taylor.
Preseason system ranking: 11th ($213 million)
What to know: This is a very deep system, though there’s a drop-off around the 10th or 12th spot. Genao’s shoulder injury delayed his debut, Chourio just returned from his shoulder issue and DeLauter is consistently hurt. Doughty is arrow-up as a popular projection pick from last year’s draft.
Next to debut: Bazzana seems likely to reach the majors later this year or early next season, but Messick and Kayfus are in Triple-A and should show up first.
Preseason system ranking: 3rd ($298 million)
What to know: Jackson Jobe and Jace Jung graduated after the May update, and I noted then that Brant Hurter, Dillon Dingler and Trey Sweeney had already graduated. Rainer continues his hot start in pro ball, joining Clark and McGonigle as the impressive young position players in the system.
Next to debut: Smith was just called up but hasn’t debuted yet. Lee is in Triple-A, and Melton and Anderson are in Double-A, so I’ll lean Lee.
Preseason system ranking: 22nd ($163 million)
What to know: This system isn’t that good after the first handful of guys, with a number of players who haven’t turned the tools into reality yet. Pitcher, catcher and first base seem like they’ll be set for a while at the big league level — along with shortstop, obviously — but there are some holes to fill.
Next to debut: *cough cough* Cags. And he is getting the call up now!
Preseason system ranking: 6th ($257 million)
What to know: Soto, Prielipp and Hill are progressing this year and appear to be headed to the Twins’ rotation over the next few years. I liked Diaw and Schobel before the year and they have taken big steps forward this season. You could also argue for SS Kyle DeBarge, who came in at No. 11, to be on this list.
Next to debut: Rodriguez gets hurt a lot but is at Triple-A doing his usual thing: low average, crazy-high walk rate, power and solid center-field defense. Prielipp, who could come up for short stints, needs to be added to the 40-man roster this winter.
AL West
Preseason system ranking: 23rd ($160 million)
What to know: The returns on 2024 LSU teammates Jump and White continue to be solid. Morris has been good, and Clarke has made his big league debut, showing off his big tools and outstanding glove.
Next to debut: Half of this list has already debuted, but Jump is slicing through the minors like hot butter, so he could be next.
Preseason system ranking: 30th ($104 million)
What to know: Cam Smith and Zach Dezenzo graduated since the last update, and Powell exploded onto the scene. He was a little-known junior college prospect with huge measurable tools who has been pretty good this year, while showing those tools: easy plus speed and power, maybe even plus-plus.
Next to debut: Melton, who is 24 years old and continues to hit in Triple-A, has to be getting a look soon.
Preseason system ranking: 28th ($129 million)
What to know: Johnson has been a nice surprise, notwithstanding his MLB ERA, and Moore isn’t doing enough damage or making enough contact to hold his profile together in the upper minors now.
Next to debut: Klassen, Moore, Cortez and Aldegheri aren’t conventionally ready on paper. However, they have big league upside, are playing in the upper minors already, and the Angels are aggressive with promotions.
Preseason system ranking: 7th ($241 million)
What to know: Teddy McGraw is back on the mound with his massive raw stuff — and he’s worth monitoring even though he’s 23 years old with fewer than 15 pro innings. Sloan has been a pleasant breakout, Celesten has been OK and Peete has disappointed a bit.
Next to debut: Logan Evans is No. 11 and made his debut this year. Young was also just called up along with 12th-ranked 3B Ben Williamson. Ford is in Triple-A and also has a shot to debut later this season, as does Double-A LHP Brandyn Garcia (ranked 13th).
Preseason system ranking: 16th ($192 million)
What to know: Rocker has made two rehab appearances since his shoulder trouble, and Jack Leiter graduated since last month’s update. Rosario is out for the season because of elbow surgery. Scarborough wasn’t well-known out of a Central Florida high school leading up to the 2023 draft but is a huge breakout player. Fitz-Gerald was an overpay out of a South Florida high school in 2024 with a profile like the Dodgers’ Max Muncy.
Next to debut: Osuna recently made his big league debut so, if healthy, Santos is the clear answer — but he has made only two appearances after starting the season with a back issue. Drake, who’s dealing in Double-A, has to be added to the 40-man this winter.
NL East
Preseason system ranking: 27th ($133 million)
What to know: Catcher Drake Baldwin graduated, while pitchers Caminiti, Fuentes and Ritchie are all arrow-up near the top of the list (and in contention for the Top 100). A fourth-round pick in 2024, Hernandez is at the end of the top 10. Meanwhile, Alvarez and Murphy haven’t played this year because of injury, and Tornes is waiting for the Dominican Summer League to start in June.
Next to debut: Alvarez debuted last year, but he’ll likely get a look once he’s healthy. Waldrep also debuted last year and could have another promotion as an off-speed-focused relief arm.
Preseason system ranking: 15th ($197 million)
What to know: Ramirez and Snelling have been arrow-up in the upper parts of the system, and Salas and Johnson have been arrow-up in the lower minors. I went into more depth on Salas, the younger brother of Padres catcher Ethan Salas, in this breakdown, and Johnson, a second-round pick last summer, is showing plus lefty power in his first full season in the minors.
Next to debut: Snelling should get bumped up to Triple-A soon to set up a big league debut in the second half of the season. Marsee and Acosta (on the 40-man roster) are hitting all right in Triple-A, so they’re more likely to get the call first.
Preseason system ranking: 9th ($222 million)
What to know: Tong is a clear arrow-up this spring, along with Ewing and two position players showing more power this year who just missed the list: 3B Jacob Reimer and OF Eli Serrano.
Next to debut: Mauricio is at Triple-A, coming back from a torn ACL, and seems as if he could be a big league factor soon, though he got a 26-game stint in 2023. Gilbert is also performing well at Triple-A.
Preseason system ranking: 17th ($188 million)
What to know: Tait’s exit velos are 80-grade this season, and Escobar, Mendez and Moore have all been arrow-up to varying degrees.
Next to debut: Abel has debuted, and Painter seems likely to get a shot this year, though exclusively in a starting role.
Preseason system ranking: 12th ($212 million)
What to know: Susana, House, Dickerson and Sykora are all in a near tie at the top of the system. Dickerson is the new name up here (I did a deep dive on him in this video) that reminds me of Wyatt Langford as a hitter. Dickerson was underrated in the draft because he was a late bloomer with a hockey background.
Next to debut: Hassell and Lile just made their debuts. House is hitting well in Triple-A and will have to be added to the 40-man roster this winter, so he seems next up.
NL Central
Preseason system ranking: 10th ($215 million)
What to know: Hernandez was a highly touted international signee who is turning the corner, with raw power as his calling card. Keep an eye on OF Eli Lovich, a prep pick from last year’s draft, as an arrow-up prospect further down the list.
Next to debut: The first four have all debuted, with Long and Caissie looking like they’ll be next up if there’s a need for a thumper.
Preseason system ranking: 13th ($210 million)
What to know: Lewis has played only 11 games but has posted some truly amazing exit velocities in the Arizona Complex League as a 19-year-old lefty-hitting shortstop: 118.9 mph, 114.1, 111.3, 109.7, and 109.3 are his top five. He was known as a raw, standout athlete in last year’s draft, but I didn’t realize he had this kind of power.
Next to debut: Burns is an all-around player, headlined by his triple-digit fastball and hellacious breaking ball. Given that Lowder and Petty have had a big league look already, Burns seems to be next.
Preseason system ranking: 8th ($225 million)
What to know: This is a very deep system, with another dozen or so prospects who could be in that 10th spot. C Marco Dinges (fourth round) and RHP Tyson Hardin (12th round) are two notable picks from the 2024 draft who are in the mix.
Next to debut: Misiorowski is performing well at Triple-A, and Quero might join him there soon, so they seem the closest to getting the call.
Preseason system ranking: 20th ($179 million)
What to know: Griffin and Sanford are the two top position players from the Pirates’ 2024 draft haul, despite both facing questions about their short-term hit tool translating to pro ball.
Next to debut: Yorke got a big league look last year, and Ashcraft and Burrows recently made their debuts. Bubba is waiting … *looks at watch*.
Preseason system ranking: 19th ($184 million)
What to know: Hence, Mathews and Hjerpe have underperformed thus far. Hence and Mathews have started slowly and dealt with minor injuries, while Hjerpe is getting elbow surgery. McGreevy is improving and might make the biggest impact on the major league rotation this season of all of the pitching prospects in the top 10. Meanwhile, Rodriguez has six homers in his first 10 games in the Florida Complex League this season, including massive exit velos.
Next to debut: Crooks looks solid in Triple-A, but if Hence (the one prospect from this list on the 40-man roster) or Mathews gets hot, they might be first up, instead.
NL West
Preseason system ranking: 25th ($139 million)
What to know: Waldschmidt and Caldwell — and among those just missing the list, SS J.D. Dix and RHP Daniel Eagen — from last year’s draft class are all arrow-up in the early going.
Next to debut: Groover and Troy seem like 2026 debuts, and Lawlar, Del Castillo and Mena have all had big league time this season. So, there might not be an easy answer.
Preseason system ranking: 18th ($185 million)
What to know: Condon, Brecht and Thomas from the top of last year’s draft class are all doing OK, while Karros has an arrow-up bat and is growing into some power. OF Robert Calaz’s underlying data pushed him from No. 3 down to 12th, joining a number of arrow-up prospects like SS Ryan Ritter in a pretty tightly grouped area.
Next to debut: Dollander, Amador, Veen and 11th-ranked LHP Carson Palmquist have debuted while Fernandez is in Triple-A and seems to be next up.
Preseason system ranking: 1st ($420 million)
What to know: Roki Sasaki has graduated. Hope and George are toolsy outfielders moving up, and Zazueta slid into Sasaki’s spot.
Next to debut: Rushing has debuted, and Freeland is hitting well as an infielder in Triple-A, so he’ll be next up if there’s a need.
Preseason system ranking: 26th ($135 million)
What to know: De Vries is tracking like a future superstar, but there are a lot of questions. I like what I’m seeing early on from Hightower, so this might be the time to jump in on him — the buzz around him after the draft and at camp has led to a solid Low-A debut.
Next to debut: There isn’t a good option because Rodriguez was just called up and no one else on the list is close. RHP Braden Nett is pitching pretty well in Double-A and could be the next prospect to debut; there are several fill-in types in Triple-A who have already debuted.
Preseason system ranking: 29th ($109 million)
What to know: Gutierrez is the arrow-up name this year after Davidson was the big arrow-up name last year. Gonzalez’s pro debut is heavily anticipated as many thought he was the best player in this year’s signing class, though Marlins SS Andrew Salas might have temporarily taken that crown.
Next to debut: Whisenhunt and McDonald are in Triple-A while Eldridge is in Double-A, so I’d bet on one of those three to get the call next, depending on the need.
-
Eli Lederman
College football coaching staffs are off the trail. Top recruits are flocking to campuses across the country. At long last, official visit season is here.
The busiest stretch of the annual recruiting calendar has commenced with elite prospects traversing the country for official visits from now to the start of the quiet period June 22. As things stand, 146 of the prospects ranked inside the 2026 ESPN 300 are already committed. That number will skyrocket over the summer months as top programs race to fill out their recruiting classes and rising high school seniors settle on their college homes.
USC, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Penn State and Clemson entered June with the top five classes in ESPN’s latest team recruiting rankings for the class of 2026. Here’s a primer on the state of play across the class as the latest recruiting cycle begins in earnest this month:
Jump to a tier:
Spring recap | Five-star outlook | QB dominoes
ESPN 300 news | Flip watch | Big visit weekends
What has gone down this spring?
The four months since national signing day closed the door on the 2025 class have delivered plenty of fireworks in the 2026 cycle.
Miami offensive tackle commit Jackson Cantwell (No. 3 overall) and Georgia quarterback pledge Jared Curtis (No. 5) stand among the five five-star prospects who have committed since March 1, leaving only 10 five-star recruits on the board. The 2026 quarterback market has similarly narrowed this spring following the pledges of Curtis, Brady Smigiel (No. 44 — Michigan), Peyton Falzone (No. 235 — Penn State), Kayd Coffman (No. 237 — Michigan State) and Derek Zammit (No. 243 — Washington).
No program holds more ESPN 300 commits than USC with 13, headlined by five-star pledges Elbert Hill (No. 15 overall) and Keenyi Pepe (No. 17). Notre Dame, Ohio State, Penn State, Clemson, Texas A&M, Arizona State, LSU and Georgia have charted some of the strongest starts in the latest cycle. Beyond the blue bloods, Kansas, Syracuse, Illinois and Louisville are recruiting at an impressive clip six months out from the early signing period in December.
Five-star outlook
As of Monday, 11 of ESPN’s 21 five-star prospects in the 2026 cycle are committed. What’s next for the remaining 10? Things are about to heat up for the nation’s most coveted recruits.
DT Lamar Brown, No. 1 in the 2026 ESPN 300: The two-way lineman from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, told ESPN he’s now being recruited exclusively as a defensive lineman. Brown took an official visit with Miami over the weekend, and he’ll head to finalists Texas (Friday), Texas A&M (June 13) and LSU (June 20) ahead of his July 10 commitment date after swapping a trip to Florida State for this weekend’s visit with the Longhorns.
ESPN’s top overall prospect attends high school on the LSU campus, and the Tigers are clear leaders in Brown’s process, but plenty can change this month.
“It’d be hard for me to leave Louisiana,” he said. “But it may not be the best option for me. That’s why I’m looking at other teams and relationships with other coaches.”
RB Derrek Cooper, No. 7 in the 2026 ESPN 300: The nation’s No. 1 running back prospect opened his slate of official visits at Miami and will get to Alabama (Friday), Georgia (June 13), Florida State (June 15), Penn State (June 17) and Ohio State (June 20) over the next month.
Cooper, who held a short-lived commitment to Georgia last summer, remains high on the Bulldogs as well as Ohio State. Another prominent contender for the versatile rusher from Hollywood, Florida, is Miami, which is pushing hard to add Cooper alongside offensive tackle pledge Jackson Cantwell as the program’s second five-star cornerstone for 2026.
DE JaReylan McCoy, No. 9 in the 2026 ESPN 300: McCoy’s recruitment appeared wrapped up when he committed to LSU on Jan. 2. But the pass rusher from Tupelo, Mississippi, decommitted from the Tigers a month later.
Though Auburn, Ole Miss and Texas A&M have lingered in McCoy’s process this spring, sources told ESPN that the nation’s No. 2 defensive end is down to three schools: Florida, LSU and Texas. McCoy is taking official visits with all three programs — starting with Florida this past weekend ahead of trips to Texas (June 13) and LSU (June 20) — before announcing his commitment July 1.
OT Immanuel Iheanacho, No. 12 in the 2026 ESPN 300: The nation’s top uncommitted offensive tackle is down to Auburn, LSU, Oregon and Penn State and plans to announce his pledge in early August. Iheanacho opened his series of spring official visits with LSU then will be at Auburn (Friday), Penn State (June 13) and Oregon (June 20).
After Oregon missed out on Cantwell and five-star quarterback Jared Curtis last month, sources told ESPN that the Ducks entered June as the leader in Iheanacho’s process. His three other finalists will all get their chance to sway the 6-foot-7, 350-pound lineman this month, with LSU seen as the most serious contender to challenge Oregon for Iheanacho’s commitment.
OLB Tyler Atkinson, No. 13 in the 2026 ESPN 300: ESPN’s top linebacker opened his official visit slate with a trip to Clemson over the weekend. Atkinson does not yet have any other official trips on the calendar, but Auburn, Georgia, Ohio State and Oregon stand among the prominent powers expected to land visits in the coming weeks and months.
Georgia might enter the summer with a slight edge for the productive in-state linebacker from Loganville. However, Atkinson’s recruitment remains wide open as of now.
ATH Brandon Arrington, No. 14 in the 2026 ESPN 300: Projected to play cornerback at the next level, Arrington will have taken official visits with Penn State, Washington, Texas A&M, Alabama and USC by the time he wraps his trip to Oregon on June 20.
Oregon, Texas A&M and USC have been the consistent leaders in Arrington’s recruitment over the past year. Washington has entered the mix as a late-arriving contender. All six schools will continue to be involved in the chase for Arrington’s pledge up to his July 5 commitment date.
DE Richard Wesley, No. 18 in the 2026 ESPN 300: Wesley’s May 10 commitment to Oregon lasted all of 17 days. Upon pulling his pledge from the Ducks last week, Wesley’s recruitment remains open as the coveted 2027 reclass works through an accelerated process.
The circumstances of Wesley’s surprise pledge and subsequent decommitment from Oregon hasn’t soured his relationship with the program. He’ll return for an official visit with the Ducks on Friday before trips to Texas (June 20) and Ohio State (Aug. 30). Tennessee and Texas A&M are among others working to land an official visit date with Wesley.
TE Kaiden Prothro, No. 19 in the 2026 ESPN 300: The lanky 6-7, 210-pound receiving tight end from Bowdon, Georgia, opened an all-SEC run of official visits at Georgia over the weekend. Alabama (Friday), Auburn (June 10), Florida (June 13) and Texas (June 20) are next in line as the recruitment of the highly rated tight end prospect gains steam.
Georgia, with family ties and a history of developing tight ends, appears the most likely destination for Prothro while Auburn and Florida are two other programs pushing especially hard in his recruitment this spring.
OT Felix Ojo, No. 20 in the 2026 ESPN 300: A promising offensive line recruit, Ojo will end up taking a whopping eight official visits between April 18 and June 20. He already has made stops at Ole Miss, Texas Tech, Colorado, Florida and Ohio State this spring and will travel to Michigan (June 7), Texas (June 13) and Oklahoma (June 20) over the next month.
Ojo tells ESPN that Ohio State, Texas and Texas Tech have been the most aggressive programs in his recruitment this spring. He’s aiming to commit before the start of his senior season, so the relationships Ojo builds over the next month of visits will be central to his process.
DE Jake Kreul, No. 21 in the 2026 ESPN 300: A disruptive pass rusher from Florida’s IMG Academy, Kreul will visit Florida (June 7), Texas (June 13) and Oklahoma (June 20) this month following previous officials to Colorado and Ohio State this spring.
No program has worked harder to assert itself in Kreul’s recruitment than Oklahoma. Per ESPN sources, the Sooners view the 6-foot-3, 235-pound defender as a priority target in 2026. Among the top challengers for Kreul’s pledge, expect Texas and Ohio State to be heavily involved this summer.
Landing spots for the top uncommitted quarterbacks
The month began with only four of the 18 passers ranked inside the 2026 ESPN 300 uncommitted with nearly a dozen top programs still searching for a 2026 QB pledge. How might things unfold for the quarterback market’s top recruits over the next three months?
QB Ryder Lyons, No. 49 in the 2026 ESPN 300: ESPN’s fifth-ranked pocket passer has courted interest from BYU, Michigan, Ohio State, Ole Miss, Oregon and USC this spring. Three of those programs — BYU, Oregon and USC — will get Lyons on campus over the next month.
BYU has made some surprise splashes on the recruiting trail this spring, and USC is working to get the in-state quarterback to join his brother, Walker, with the Trojans. But ahead of official visits on each of the next three weekends, it’s Oregon that looks most likely to land Lyons, who will enroll in 2027 following an LDS mission after his high school graduation.
QB Landon Duckworth, No. 104 in the 2025 ESPN 300: Auburn, Florida State, Ole Miss and South Carolina are all-in on the nation’s top dual-threat quarterback. While all four programs will host Duckworth for officials this spring, sources tell ESPN that Ole Miss and South Carolina have established themselves as clear leaders in his process this spring.
Coach Lane Kiffin and the Rebels have worked harder than any other school in Duckworth’s recruitment, selling the mobile passer on his fit in the Ole Miss offense and the program’s record of development at the position. South Carolina, which previously held Duckworth’s pledge from August 2023 to June 2024, continues to maintain a strong presence in his process, as well. Visits with both programs in the coming weeks will be pivotal for Duckworth.
QB Oscar Rios, No, 192 in the 2026 ESPN 300: The former Purdue pledge holds a list of seven finalists — Arizona, Colorado, Kentucky, Oklahoma State, UCLA, Utah and Virginia Tech — ahead of visits to Utah, UCLA, Arizona and Colorado this month following earlier trips to Kentucky, Oklahoma State and Virginia Tech.
Kentucky remains a leader among the schools Rios has already visited. Plenty can change across the string of visits in front of him in the coming weeks ahead of a June 25 commitment date, days after Rios closes his run of officials with a visit to Colorado.
QB Bowe Bentley, No. 261 in the 2025 ESPN 300: The dual-threat quarterback from Celina, Texas, is down to LSU and Oklahoma. Bentley spent this past weekend with the Tigers and will make his latest trip to the Sooners this coming weekend, part of a swing of back-to-back officials that could help decide one of the most intriguing quarterback recruitments in the cycle.
Sources within both programs feel confident about their chances with Bentley, who is likely to make a decision not long after wrapping up his pair of official visits early this month.
Elite skill position recruits and top defenders
Past the five-star firepower, there’s plenty more available talent in the upper crust of the 2026 class.
Four of the nation’s top five running backs remain uncommitted this month, led by No. 1 Derrek Cooper. No. 2 rusher Savion Hiter (No. 27 overall) will take officials with Ohio State, Georgia, Michigan and Tennessee prior to the quiet period. Ezavier Crowell, a reclass from the 2027 cycle, is set to commit on June 26 after ESPN’s No. 30 prospect visits Georgia, Texas, Auburn, Florida State and Alabama. Baylor, Florida and Houston are all on the list for four-star rusher Davian Groce (No. 35), whose recruitment remains “wide open,” per ESPN sources.
LSU and Texas A&M stand as the top contenders for four-star wide receiver Ethan Feaster (No. 23 overall) ahead of his July 4 commitment date. Elsewhere in the wide receiver class, sources tell ESPN that Florida, Florida State and LSU are setting the pace for Calvin Russell (No. 26), while Alabama continues to lead the chase for in-state pass catcher Cederian Morgan (No. 47).
On defense, Alabama and Oregon hold a slight edge with four-star safety Jett Washington (No. 22 overall) as the nation’s top safety preps for officials with both schools along with Ohio State and USC. The Crimson Tide are also leading the charge for outside linebacker Xavier Griffin (No. 28), the former USC commit who will visit Florida State, Georgia, Texas after a trip to Ohio State over the weekend.
Four-star safety Jireh Edwards (No. 29) has set his commitment date for July 5 and already visited Auburn and Maryland in recent weeks. Edwards told ESPN that he’s heading into upcoming trips to Alabama, Georgia, Texas A&M and Oregon with “an open mind.” Sources tell ESPN that defensive end Anthony Jones (No. 25) and outside linebacker D.Q. Forkpa (No. 40) are two of the top defenders on the board this spring for Miami and coach Mario Cristobal.
Flip watch
DE Zion Elee, No. 2 in the 2026 ESPN 300, Maryland commit
Elee was slated for a series of summer officials across the Big Ten and SEC before he closed his recruitment and cancelled those trips in February. That’s why his official visit to Auburn last month raised eyebrows, even while Elee asserts he’s still locked in with the Terps.
“I have a bunch of former teammates there so I just wanted to check it out,” he told ESPN. “I wasn’t thinking anything of it. I’m still firm with Maryland. I just wanted to take pictures.”
The historic local class Maryland dreamed of building around Elee — think Iheanacho, Edwards et al — doesn’t appear likely. And with blue bloods still pursuing Elee this spring, his recruitment will remain one to watch from now to signing day. As things stand, Elee is committed to the Terps with plans to return to Maryland for his only scheduled official visit of the month on June 20.
WR Tristen Keys, No. 10 in the 2026 ESPN 300, LSU commit
Keys has been the top-ranked member of the Tigers’ 2026 class since March 19, but the LSU pledge hasn’t kept ESPN’s No. 2 wide receiver from taking other visits. After spring trips to Auburn, Miami, Ole Miss and Texas A&M, Keys was back at Miami for an official over the weekend.
Following his Hurricanes visit, sources tell ESPN that Keys will get to Alabama, Auburn, Tennessee and Texas A&M for officials this month before his June 20 trip to LSU. As Keys keeps his recruitment, coach Brian Kelly’s ability to hang onto five-star talent will be tested again this cycle.
QB Keisean Henderson, No. 16 in the 2026 ESPN 300, Houston commit
Programs across the Big Ten and ACC spent the spring chipping away at Henderson’s Houston commitment. Florida State finally broke through this month, landing a June 9 official visit from the mobile, 6-foot-3 passer.
Henderson has held firm on his pledge to the Cougars while maintaining dialogue with multiple programs this spring. While sources tell ESPN that there has been no change in his commitment status or plans with Houston, Henderson’s visit to Florida State marks new territory in his recruitment.
QB Jaden O’Neal, No. 122 in the 2026 ESPN 300, Oklahoma commit
Despite 11 months spent in the Sooners’ 2026 class and an offseason transfer from California to Oklahoma’s Mustang High School, O’Neal could soon be on the move.
The departure of Sooners offensive coordinator Seth Littrell last fall unsettled O’Neal’s camp, and sources tell ESPN that the program’s full-throttle pursuit of Bowe Bentley under new offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle has damaged the trust between O’Neal and Oklahoma. O’Neal visited Arizona over the weekend, and his upcoming official trip to Florida State looms especially large with Bentley nearing a decision and quarterback dominoes getting ready to fall this month.
Biggest visits
Alabama (June 6-8): The Crimson Tide’s first recruiting class under coach Kalen DeBoer got rolling in June last year. Alabama could go a long way toward turbocharging its 2026 class this weekend with four top-30 recruits on campus between five-star skill talents Derrek Cooper (No. 7 overall) and Kaiden Prothro (No. 19) and four-star defenders Xavier Griffin (No. 28) and Jireh Edwards (No. 29).
Auburn (June 13-15): The Tigers will have a big name on campus this weekend when five-star offensive tackle Immanuel Iheanacho (No. 12 overall) takes his official trip to Auburn. But the weekend of June 13 will give coach Hugh Freeze and his staff a shot at multiple elite targets, including running back Ezavier Crowell (No. 30), safety Bralan Womack (No. 31) and wide receiver Cederian Morgan (No. 47).
Florida (June 13-15): While the Gators will have elite prospects on campus all month, Florida has a chance to build momentum with several top targets two weekends from now. Prothro and No. 4 running back Davian Groce (No. 35 overall) headline a talented group of visitors that could also include top-40 linebacker Izayia Williams — who flipped from Florida to Ole Miss last month — and defensive tackle Kendall Guervil (No. 253), a priority in-state recruit.
Florida State (June 9-15): It’s not exactly a weekend, but the Seminoles will embark on a defining stretch of quarterback visits in the middle of the month. It’ll start with a visit from five-star passer Keisean Henderson (No. 16 overall) before top dual-threat passer Landon Duckworth (No. 104) on June 13 and Oklahoma pledge Jaden O’Neal (No. 112) on June 15 also make visits.
Georgia (June 6-8): The Bulldogs will host a series of heavy hitters this weekend with running back Savion Hiter (No. 27 overall), cornerback Chauncey Kennon (No. 48) and offensive tackle Ekene Ogboko (No. 50) set to visit. Georgia gets Cooper, another top running back target, on campus starting June 13.
Michigan (June 13-15): Coach Sherrone Moore and the Wolverines will welcome eight top-150 prospects on June 13. Hiter, No. 3 athlete Salesi Moa (No. 34 overall) and outside linebacker D.Q. Forkpa (No. 40) lead the group of blue-chip visitors. Top-75 offensive tackles John Turntine III (No. 43) and Leo Delaney (No. 75) mark another pair of key visitors.
Notre Dame (June 20-22): The Fighting Irish will host roughly a dozen commits from June 13 to 15 but could continue to bolster the nation’s second-ranked class a week later. Notre Dame will look to leave a lasting impression on Ogboko, ESPN’s No. 8 offensive tackle, four-star defensive tackle Elijah Golden (No. 84 overall) and athlete Joey O’Brien (No. 102) on the final weekend before the summer quiet period.
Oregon (June 20-22): Coach Dan Lanning will get his top 2026 commit — five-star tight end Kendre’ Harrison — on campus on the final official visit weekend of June with a chance to make a mark with a number of other key Oregon targets. Iheanacho and Edwards are set to visit on June 20 alongside five-star athlete Brandon Arrington (No. 14 overall), outside linebacker Talanoa Ili (No. 53), cornerback Khary Adams (No. 68) and athlete Jalen Lott (No. 108).
-
Sports3 years ago‘Storybook stuff’: Inside the night Bryce Harper sent the Phillies to the World Series
-
Sports1 year agoStory injured on diving stop, exits Red Sox game
-
Sports2 years agoGame 1 of WS least-watched in recorded history
-
Sports2 years agoMLB Rank 2023: Ranking baseball’s top 100 players
-
Sports4 years ago
Team Europe easily wins 4th straight Laver Cup
-
Environment2 years agoJapan and South Korea have a lot at stake in a free and open South China Sea
-
Environment2 years agoGame-changing Lectric XPedition launched as affordable electric cargo bike
-
Business3 years agoBank of England’s extraordinary response to government policy is almost unthinkable | Ed Conway