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Home to the past two national champions, the Big Ten is flexing its muscles on the recruiting trail with 10 teams ranked among the top 25 classes. USC still sits at No. 1, while Ohio State pushes to No. 2 after a pair of ESPN 300 additions: in-state RB Favour Akih and DE Khary Wilder.

June has already been busy and few teams have been busier than Rutgers, which leaps into the top 10 after securing double-digit commitments already this month. UCLA, Minnesota and Michigan have all broken into the top 25, helping to fortify their conference’s takeover of the class rankings.

Other conferences have teams ascending as well, such as Georgia of the SEC and SMU of the ACC. A staple near the top of the rankings under Kirby Smart, the Bulldogs now sit on the cusp of the top five after landing several commitments, led by one of the top DB prospects in the nation in Justice Fitzpatrick.

Coming off a College Football Playoff appearance, SMU is showing signs it plans to be a consistent contender. The Mustangs’ defense has benefitted from many of their recent commitments, including in-state DE Hudson Woods, who displays the tools to be a disruptive pass rusher.

Here’s a look at our latest top 25.

New this ranking: SMU, UCLA, Minnesota, Michigan, Stanford

Out: Tennessee, BYU, Auburn, Boston College, Florida State

(Previous update: May 28)

Previous ranking: 1

ESPN 300 commits: 14
Top offensive prospect: OT Keenyi Pepe
Top defensive prospect: CB Elbert Hill

No program has more 2026 momentum than USC under Lincoln Riley, especially after hiring general manager Chad Bowden away from Notre Dame. The Trojans have double-digit ESPN 300 commits, with several joining the list since January. That includes two five-stars to start May in Pepe and Hill, and a pair of four-star commits who flipped from Big Ten rival Oregon: in-state defensive lineman Tomuhini Topui and quarterback Jonas Williams. Topui is a physical, aggressive defensive tackle who could develop into an interior pass-rushing headache for opposing offenses, and Williams is a true dual-threat signal-caller.

USC also made it a point to beef up in the trenches. It pulled four-star defensive tackle Jaimeon Winfield out of Texas, landed in-state defensive end Simote Katoanga and traveled to Utah to snag Corner Canyon offensive lineman Esun Tafa. To further bolster the O-line, the Trojans landed Pepe out of IMG Academy. He is huge at roughly 6-foot-7 and 320 pounds, but is light on his feet as well as physical and can become a standout tackle. On the perimeter, they will not have to wait for in-state defender R.J. Sermons as the ESPN 300 CB reclassified to 2025 and will join the Trojans this fall. For 2026, they pulled Elbert Hill, the top-ranked corner, out of the Midwest. Hill possesses elite speed, having been measured at over 22 mph in game play.


Previous ranking: 3

ESPN 300 commits: 13
Top offensive prospect: WR Chris Henry Jr.
Top defensive prospect: S Blaine Bradford

Ryan Day has the luxury of building his 2026 class around one of the most coveted players in the country: five-star receiver Henry, whose father, the late Chris Henry, was a star receiver for West Virginia and the Cincinnati Bengals. Henry Jr. stands 6-6 and has a combination of length and quickness rarely seen from high school receivers.

The rest of the Buckeyes’ class has started to take shape around Henry. The team has added a handful of ESPN 300 prospects since March, including Bradford out of Louisiana and linebacker Simeon Caldwell out of Florida. C.J. Sanna is a prospect we like on tape; he is a big, physical linebacker with excellent range and is a bit of an underrated pickup for this talented class. In-state offensive tackle Maxwell Riley is impressive changing direction and finishes plays with the type of nastiness that will endear him to fans in Columbus.


Previous ranking: 2

ESPN 300 commits: 12
Top offensive prospect: OT Tyler Merrill
Top defensive prospect: DE Rodney Dunham

Notre Dame started the year off slowly on the recruiting trail but heated up during the spring, landing a handful of ESPN 300 prospects in April. On defense, the Irish landed Dunham, an edge player with nice length and a quick first step, and Ayden Pouncey, a rangy safety out of Florida.

On offense, ESPN 300 OT Gregory Patrick joined a class that already featured several top OL prospects including top-10 OT Merrill, who at 6-7 and 335 pounds is a massive presence with physicality and power in the run game. This group collectively can continue the school’s strong reputation as an offensive line factory.

The Irish also landed Thomas Davis Jr., whose father is former Panthers star Thomas Davis, and four-star quarterback Noah Grubbs, who already has shown impressive footwork and a sound release from the pocket.


Previous ranking: 5

ESPN 300 commits: 10
Top offensive prospect: OT Leo Delaney
Top defensive prospect: S Kentavion Anderson

Clemson is coming off a College Football Playoff appearance, but the Tigers are still chasing the heights of their mid-2010s success under Dabo Swinney, and their 2025 class ranked just 37th in the country. Their 2026 group is looking more promising, especially after a red-hot March in which Swinney landed eight verbals, including five ESPN 300 commits.

Much of the talent is currently concentrated on offense. Naeem Burroughs is a burner in the 100-meter dash who can take the top off a defense and has a high football IQ. Fellow receiver Connor Salmin is another big-play threat. With some new offensive weapons, the Tigers are making sure they have the time to get the ball downfield by loading up along the offensive line. Delaney, Carter Scruggs, Grant Wise, Adam Guthrie and Chancellor Barclay give the Tigers multiple ESPN 300 OLs to help reload a senior-heavy unit that is projected to lose multiple starters after 2025.

They could one day protect fellow four-star Tait Reynolds, a dual-threat QB out of Arizona who could push to be part of the long-term solution to replace Cade Klubnik. While the foundation of the class is on offense, Anderson is a key in-state pickup on the other side of the ball. With his frame (roughly 6-foot-2, 190 pounds) and range, he can be a versatile back-end defender for the Tigers.


Previous ranking: 4

ESPN 300 commits: 6
Top offensive prospect: WR Davion Brown
Top defensive prospect: S Matt Sieg

The Nittany Lions jumped out to a fast start fueled by strong in-state recruiting and have kept that momentum going. Several of their top commits are Pennsylvania natives, including four-star Harrisburg High School teammates Kevin Brown and Messiah Mickens. Brown is a big, flexible offensive tackle, while Mickens has been a productive prep running back, which bodes well for a Penn State program that must finally replace Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton after 2025.

James Franklin also landed in-state athlete David Davis Jr., who has clocked a 20.5 mph max speed and has the cover skills to fit into the back end of a defense one day. While most of the early commits are within Penn State’s primary recruiting radius, the Nittany Lions also landed strong-armed quarterback Troy Huhn out of California. He’s a big body with good feet and brings nice upside. They also went out of state to land a potential big-play target in Davion Brown. Out of Virginia, Brown possesses excellent speed, having been recorded at over 21 mph in game play, and can do a good job of high pointing the football to win contested matchups.


Previous ranking: 12

ESPN 300 commits: 7
Top offensive prospect: QB Jared Curtis
Top defensive prospect: CB Justice Fitzpatrick

The Bulldogs have been a consistent staple among the top three overall classes during Kirby Smart’s tenure and look to be a contender to do so again in 2026. A big step toward finishing near the top is bringing five-star quarterback Curtis back into the mix. After a decommitment, the Bulldogs were able to fend off other suitors, most notably Oregon, and give themselves a potential impact QB for the future. Curtis might need to adjust to a relatively steep jump in competition level, but he has elite physical tools, including a smooth, quick release and the ability to change arm angles.

With three of their top four pass catchers from 2024 having moved on and the fourth likely to leave after this season, Georgia is bringing in new receiving targets with speed. Vance Spafford out of California won the fastest-man competition last summer at the UA Future 50 event, and in-state prospect Brady Marchese has been recorded hitting over 22 mph in game play. After signing two ESPN 300 TEs in their 2025 class, the Dawgs continue to restock there, adding Lincoln Keyes, who with his big frame and good body control can offer a wide catch radius.

On defense, the Bulldogs have had 11 first-round NFL draft picks over the past five years and they continue to infuse that unit with top talent, including two of the top DBs in the country in Fitzpatrick and Zechariah Fort. Fort is a safety with good range who can be active in run support. Fitzpatrick is the younger brother of former Alabama great DB Minkah Fitzpatrick; his blend of size and speed gives him equally promising impact potential.


Previous ranking: 6

ESPN 300 commits: 7
Top offensive prospect: RB Jonathan Hatton Jr.
Top defensive prospect: CB Victor Singleton

Mike Elko has quickly proved he can identify and recruit at a high level. He has worked fertile recruiting grounds, landing the Aggies’ top-ranked commit, defensive end Jordan Carter, out of Georgia. He landed fellow four-star defensive tackle Jermaine Kinsler out of New Jersey.

Elko has also been able to unearth talent from more unlikely places, such as quarterback Helaman Casuga out of Utah. Casuga is not a big, physical prospect at roughly 6 feet, but he has a live arm and can get the ball out quickly. Singleton, one of the top prospects in Ohio, was a nice flip from Illinois. He has clocked a 21 mph max speed and has the type of quickness and excellent feet to thrive in man coverage. A key in-state keep is Hatton, who has an excellent blend of size (200 pounds) and speed (he was measured hitting 21 mph on film).


Previous ranking: 19

ESPN 300 commits: 2
Top offensive prospect: WR Dyzier Carter
Top defensive prospect: ATH Chris Hewitt Jr.

The Scarlet Knights have added some top talent to their wide receiver room with Carter and Elias Coke, both of whom have been long-time commits, having joined the class before the 2024 season started. Carter is a good route runner with strong hands and could be a quick contributor once arriving. Coke is a nice target at roughly 6-2.

On defense, Joey Kopec is a two-way player in high school, contributing at RB and LB. He has good range and is effective dropping into coverage. Justin Edwards, who tallied 10 sacks as a junior, was another good addition at LB. Part of big June haul, Rinaldo Callaway III, out of Georgia, is an interesting addition to keep an eye on. A rangy edge defender, he is raw and needs development but shows a nice ceiling for development and could grow into a disruptive pass rusher. Athlete Chris Hewitt projects to the secondary.


Previous ranking: 10

ESPN 300 commits: 1
Top offensive prospect: ATH Nasir Rankin
Top defensive prospect: LB Cam Thomas

Good recruiting starts at home, and an early priority for the Fighting Illini was in-state athlete Rankin. A two-sport star who also excels on the hardwood, the ESPN 300 prospect projects to wide receiver, where he can be a playmaker with good hands and the ability to make defenders miss after the catch. Also from in-state, big man Casey Thomann is one of the top OL prospects in Illinois, and three-star Tony Balanganayi is an interesting big man. He projects to the defensive line, where he has shown he can be disruptive, but with more mass could offer higher upside as an OL.

From within the Big Ten footprint, four-star Thomas (Ohio) is a defender with an outstanding first step and could develop into an edge rusher with big upside. Parker Crim brings good arm length, can move well and has shown he can be explosive off the ball. Tony Williams, out of Florida, is a middle linebacker with good instincts and can be a physical presence between the tackles.


Previous ranking: 8

ESPN 300 commits: 1
Top offensive prospect: OT Javeion Cooper
Top defensive prospect: DE Kamron Wilson

The Fran Brown era in Syracuse certainly isn’t boring. He led the Orange to just their second 10-win season since 2001 behind Ohio State transfer Kyle McCord, then landed a solid 2025 recruiting class. Now he’s pushing for more talent in 2026. Four-star defensive end Jarius Rodgers out of Florida is one of Brown’s biggest gets so far. The 6-5 220-pounder has tremendous length and an impressive track background. He has considerable physical tools and upside if Syracuse’s coaching staff can harness it. Wilson is another big pull out of Florida; the edge defender has good initial quickness and tallied 17 sacks in 2024.

Cooper has real upside too. He has good size (6-5, 300 pounds) yet plays with impressive balance for someone with his power and contact explosiveness. The Orange also have been active in the mid-Atlantic, landing three receivers from Delaware. Among that group is B.J. Garrett, a big target (6-3, 191 pounds) with good hands who could develop into a player in the mold of Oronde Gadsden, who had similar measurables coming out in the 2021 class.


Previous ranking: NR

ESPN 300 commits: 2
Top offensive prospect: WR Jakai Anderson
Top defensive prospect: LB Markel Dabney

The Mustangs charged into the CFP last season and are showing signs they plan to be a consistent contender. Capitalizing on the rich talent base around them, they have added several in-state prospects, including ESPN 300 back Christian Rhodes. An explosive runner who has been recorded hitting better than 21 mph in game play, he rushed for more than 1,200 yards as a junior.

High three-star Aljour Miles II is another nice in-state add, as he is a lengthy WR with good quickness and body control. Another receiving target with big-play potential, Jakai Anderson, was pulled out of Louisiana. Not quite as big a target, he brings a good blend of speed and elusiveness and could also be productive in the return game. On defense, the addition of DE Hudson Woods is a big plus. Woods shows some savvy as a pass rusher, with active hands and good bend.


Previous ranking: 9

ESPN 300 commits: 2
Top offensive prospect: QB Jake Fette
Top defensive prospect: DE Julian Hugo

Kenny Dillingham deftly pulled all the roster-building levers available to him as he rebuilt the Sun Devils back to national relevancy. They have an interesting 2026 class so far that includes a pair of ESPN 300 recruits. Fette, a four-star Texas native, is a dual-threat playmaker with excellent short-area quickness and a smooth, consistent release.

They lost a key, potentially productive, target with the decommitment of Israel Briggs, but still sit in good position. The class already included another TE in Hayden Vercher, who possesses excellent ball skills and is a good route runner, with more than 1,000 yards receiving in 2024. Shortly after losing Briggs, they added ESPN 300 WR Nalin Scott, a big target at roughly 6-3, 210 pounds who moves well for his size and can be tough to tackle after the catch.


Previous ranking: 13

ESPN 300 commits: 2
Top offensive prospect: RB Crew Davis
Top defensive prospect: DE Zavion Griffin-Haynes

Unsurprisingly given his ethos, Bill Belichick is building North Carolina’s 2026 class from the inside out. Griffin-Haynes was a key in-state keep. The aggressive, lengthy edge defender can bolster the Heels’ defensive front with the tools to be a three-down player. Four-star North Carolina defensive tackle Trashawn Ruffin flipped from Texas A&M, and the 300-pounder has plenty of raw physicality to mold. Ruffin is one of several interior linemen in the class, and Belichick went to his former home base in Massachusetts to bring in 335-pound guard Lenneil Hall.

The secondary has undergone some changes during this recruiting cycle, but Marcellous Ryan out of California remains and gives UNC a lean but fluid CB to develop. Crew Davis can be a versatile back with the power to run between the tackles, but he also possesses good ball skills. As a junior, he rushed for more than 1,300 yards and also hauled in more than 50 receptions.


Previous ranking: 7

ESPN 300 commits: 1
Top offensive prospect: OL Kaden Snyder
Top defensive prospect: CB J.J. Dunnigan

Lance Leipold is no stranger to building a program, and he’s off to a hot start in fortifying Kansas’ 2026 class. At 6-3, 190 pounds, in-state corner Dunnigan has the length to reroute receivers off the line and the straight-line speed to hang with them on vertical routes. The Jayhawks have a few offensive linemen committed, led by 6-5 Kansas native Snyder, who has an enticing combination of athleticism, pass protection skills and upside if he can continue to fill out his frame.

The Jalon Daniels era enters its sixth and final season in 2025. In-state three-star commit Jaylen Mason is an intriguing developmental option for the future at QB.


Previous ranking: 23

ESPN 300 commits: 1
Top offensive prospect: OT Bryce Gilmore
Top defensive prospect: DE Colton Yarbrough

The talk about coach Sam Pittman on the hot seat seemed to cool off entering the offseason, which will benefit recruiting and aid a 2026 class that already has a solid foundation. Four-star Dequane Prevo out of Texas is a 5-10 receiver who has outstanding balance, body control and short-area burst. Several high-three-star prospects anchor the class, including quarterback Jayvon Gilmore, a tall (6-4) but lean passer with a nice frame to develop. He has a strong arm with a smooth release and is a nice early pickup by the Razorbacks.

Yarbrough brings upside at defensive end with good first-step quickness and range. Pittman, a former offensive line coach, added some talent to that unit as well. In-state big man Tucker Young can get push and help create lanes in the run game. ESPN 300 OT Gilmore has a nice frame to develop and possesses good flexibility and aggressiveness.


Previous ranking: 11

ESPN 300 commits: 8
Top offensive prospect: WR Tristen Keys
Top defensive prospect: CB Havon Finney Jr.

The Tigers are tough to beat for in-state talent, and they built the foundation for one of the top classes in the country on homegrown recruits. But landing Keys from nearby Mississippi delivered Brian Kelly and his staff their first five-star of the 2026 cycle. As of now, the 6-3 Keys would be the highest-rated receiver to make it to Baton Rouge since Kayshon Boutte. Keys is a long strider with long arms who prioritizes winning and is a favorite of coaches and teammates alike.

LSU also recently added wide receiver Jabari Mack (a strong route runner) and offensive tackle Brysten Martinez, a pair of in-state four-star recruits who bolster a class that now features more than half of the top 10 players from Louisiana. That includes a pair of teammates from Edna Karr High: DT Richard Anderson, a stout presence at more than 300 pounds with good initial quickness, and Aiden Hall, a safety with good length, speed and downhill physicality. Though much of their recruiting success is from within their primary recruiting footprint, the Tigers did go out west to land ESPN 300 Finney. A 2027 prospect who reclassified into the 2026 class, he has shown he can be physical in press coverage but also brings excellent speed to be able to run with receivers.


Previous ranking: 15

ESPN 300 commits: 5
Top offensive prospect: OT Jackson Cantwell
Top defensive prospect: LB Jordan Campbell

Despite a rocky finish to the 2024 season, the Hurricanes are trending in the right direction. They’re coming off a 10-win season, former QB Cam Ward was the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft and they’ve reeled in two consecutive top-15 recruiting classes. Mario Cristobal’s 2026 class is working to match or even exceed those groups.

The Hurricanes are adding pieces to field a dominant offensive line. They could lose several projected 2025 starters after this season but are adding big men who can step in and project a bright future in the trenches. In addition to landing the top-rated interior OL in the 2025 class, they have added several OLs to their 2026 class, led by No. 1 tackle Jackson Cantwell. Much like current standout OT Francis Mauigoa, who was a five-star himself and a Year 1 starter, Cantwell could step in at one of the tackle spots upon arriving in South Florida. He is a massive presence at roughly 6-7 and 320 pounds and carries his size well. In addition to being powerful, he possesses good quickness and flexibility, and much like Mauigoa is being projected to be a high NFL draft pick.

QB Dereon Coleman has room for growth but has a quick release and accuracy. Four-star Miami native Jordan Campbell is 6-2, 220 pounds with the versatility to make plays in pursuit and the bend and power that portend a potential impact pass rusher. He’s a candidate to take a leap with college coaching.


Previous ranking: 14

ESPN 300 commits: 2
Top offensive prospect: RB Evan Hampton
Top defensive prospect: DB Jaydin Broadnax

Jeff Brohm has raised Louisville’s floor with a 19-8 record and an appearance in the ACC championship game two years ago. His 2026 class already has more than a dozen commits, with four-star defensive back Broadnax out of Florida the biggest get so far. At nearly 6-3, he has great length, balance and body control for a corner. LB Karsten Busch is a nice addition from within the state who will help on defense. He possesses nice size and the ability to be a physical, downhill presence versus the run. Sam Dawson is another in-state defensive add. He is a DT with active, heavy hands and good power who can help stuff the run as well.

Evan Hampton, a three-star running back, ran for 1,549 yards and 20 touchdowns as a junior at in-state Owensboro High School. He’s an elusive, upright runner with the ball skills to affect the pass game and also has a baseball background; he originally committed to rival Kentucky as a freshman before pursuing football. Adding more help along the line could be a focus for Louisville after Miami flipped three-star offensive tackle Joel Ervin.


Previous ranking: 17

ESPN 300 commits: 8
Top offensive prospect: QB Dia Bell
Top defensive prospect: DT Corey Wells

As Texas tackles the 2025 season led by one of the most high-profile signings in recent years in quarterback Arch Manning, the Longhorns continue to build for the future as well, including another five-star QB. Bell brings valuable experience, having faced quality competition during his time in high school. He has shown good accuracy and deep-ball touch, and as a junior threw for more than 2,500 yards and completed 70% of his passes.

The Horns also added potential targets including ESPN 300 WRs Chris Stewart and Jermaine Bishop Jr. Stewart brings big-play speed, and Bishop is a quick, fluid target who can create after the catch. To protect their new offensive weapons, they have also landed some top in-state OLs, including top-10 OG Nicolas Robertson, a powerful big man with good feet.

Texas hit the transfer portal hard to address needs along the defensive line for this season, especially interior DL, but there are young pieces for that unit in the 2026 class. Dylan Berymon has been a standout on the camp circuit the last two offseasons and seems to keep rising to whatever challenge is thrown at him. Corey Wells is another 300-pounder who can bend well and be disruptive.


Previous ranking: NR

ESPN 300 commits: 2
Top offensive prospect: OT Micah Smith
Top defensive prospect: DE Anthony Jones

The DeShaun Foster era got off to a rocky start, but the Bruins are showing some ascension. In recruiting, the former running back knows the importance of a good O-line and pulled a pair of ESPN 300 OLs out of Florida in Micah Smith and Johnnie Jones. Known as Champ, Smith was an Under Armour All-American as a junior and has shown he can play against top competition and be a well-rounded OT. Tight end Camden Jensen should help propel the run game as well, as he is a good blocker.

The Bruins have added multiple WRs in this class, including in-state four-star Kenneth Moore. Onetime SMU commit Yahya Gaad has a sturdy, muscular build with a good initial burst and is a DE who can set the edge and be tough against the run.


Previous ranking: NR

ESPN 300 commits: 1
Top offensive prospect: OT Andrew Trout
Top defensive prospect: CB Justin Hopkins

The Gophers don’t have a class that will be heavy with ESPN 300 commits, but they’re assembling a strong group anchored by a plethora of high three-star prospects. CBs Justin Hopkins and Chance Payne are good examples of that, as is edge defender Aaden Aytch. A prospect with a lean build who needs to continue to develop, Aytch brings a high ceiling as he has good length, displays wiry strength, can redirect well and can be a factor in pursuit.

Beefing up the offensive line, the Gophers have several commits within the unit, led by the No. 1 player in the state, Andrew Trout, an ESPN 300 OT.


Previous ranking: NR

ESPN 300 commits: 4
Top offensive prospect: QB Brady Smigiel
Top defensive prospect: DE McHale Blade

The Wolverines signed the No. 1 QB for the 2025 cycle in Bryce Underwood and he carries high expectations, but they continue to add talent to the position and landed ESPN 300 signal-caller Brady Smigiel. The onetime Florida State commit is not only an accurate passer, but he also plays with the confidence and swagger that will be needed battling with five-star Underwood.

After losing two DLs in the first round of the NFL draft, Michigan added several DLs to this class, including ESPN 300 DE McHale Blade. Four-star DE Tariq Boney is a player to keep an eye on. He lacks ideal length but can be a well-rounded technician and a quick contributor. After scoring from off the beaten path with former standout TE Colston Loveland (Idaho), the Wolverines hope to strike big again from that same region with Matt Ludwig out of Montana. He is a versatile player with good ball skills who can be tough after the catch and fights for yards.


Previous ranking: 16

ESPN 300 commits: 4
Top offensive prospect: TE Kendre’ Harrison
Top defensive prospect: DT Tony Cumberland

Dan Lanning’s run of sustained excellence in Eugene rolls on with Oregon’s 2026 class. Reeling in five-star tight end Harrison in November set the tone. The 6-6 250-pounder is a dynamic two-sport athlete with an exceptional catch radius who is a nightmare for opposing defenses in the red zone. In late February, the Ducks added four-star defensive back Xavier Lherisse, who clocked an impressive 1.62 10-yard dash and 4.49 40-yard dash a few days later at the Under Armour Miami camp. Four-star running back Tradarian Ball adds explosiveness and excellent ball skills.

While the commitment of five-star DE Richard Wesley was short-lived, the Ducks still have a strong defensive line foundation within this class. They secured the top two big men in-state, in ESPN 300 DTs Cumberland and Viliami Moala. The latter is a massive 300-pounder who not only brings jolting power but is light on his feet for his size and can be a handful in the heart of the trenches. DE Dutch Horisk will arrive from one of the top programs in California (St. John Bosco), where he will have been a multiyear starter and is a sound football player who uses his hands well. As a junior he had nine TFLs and four sacks.


Previous ranking: 24

ESPN 300 commits: 3
Top offensive prospect: OT Kodi Greene
Top defensive prospect: DE Derek Colman-Brusa

Jedd Fisch did an excellent job bringing in talent at Arizona and is now working to retool Washington’s roster and get the Huskies back into the playoff hunt. The Huskies won a key recruiting battle by pulling away Greene, an ESPN 300 OL, from rival Oregon. He is a 300-pounder who moves very well for his size with good quickness and the one-time Washington resident can be a key option in the trenches. The Huskies went east to land their QB in Derek Zammit, a tough, smart player with a smooth, quick release. He should continue to improve with the tools to develop into a productive starter.

Washington landed several commitments in the secondary, including in-state Durr, who has good size at roughly 6 feet and is smooth in his movements. He could develop at cornerback or safety.


Previous ranking: NR

ESPN 300 commits: 2
Top offensive prospect: ATH Ryelan Morris
Top defensive prospect: LB Waswa Lugolobi

The Cardinal are working to bounce back from a 3-9 campaign, and their 2026 class is showing the tools to make future improvements. A key pickup was ESPN 300 athlete Ryelan Morris, a flip from Baylor. Although he is diminutive, he is versatile in how he can be utilized within an offense. He is quick with good hands and best projects as a slot receiver, where he can be dangerous after the catch.

Having had a reputation for fielding excellent OLs not long ago, the Cardinal are looking to rebuild that unit into a strength with several big men committed. Jalayne Miller out of Arizona possesses good feet and flexibility, and Blaise Thomassie could be a sleeper add from this class. He performed very well at a loaded New Orleans Under Armour camp between his junior and senior years. He possesses good body quickness and is very good with his hands and could develop at guard or center.

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Oilers strike back, tie Cup Final 2-2: Grades for both teams, look ahead to Game 5

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Oilers strike back, tie Cup Final 2-2: Grades for both teams, look ahead to Game 5

South Florida is the sort of place where bizarre doesn’t just live, it thrives. Jake Walman, who was fined for squirting water in Game 3, scored what appeared to be the game-winning goal for the Edmonton Oilers in the third period … only for Sam Reinhart to score for the Florida Panthers with 20 seconds left in regulation … before Leon Draisaitl scored the actual game winner in overtime to give Edmonton a 5-4 win and tie the Stanley Cup Final at 2-2.

Game 4 was so erratic that even Florida Man likely thought it was too much. Exactly how hectic are we talking? How about the Panthers opening with a 3-0 lead in the first period, only to see the Oilers pull Stuart Skinner, replace him with Calvin Pickard and then score three goals of their own in the second period.

That set the stage for a defensive deadlock in the third that appeared to first be broken when Walman scored with 6:24 left, only to have Florida even the score. Draisaitl finished the job for Edmonton in overtime.

At this point, you know the drill. Ryan S. Clark and Kristen Shilton take a look at what worked and what didn’t for each team, while identifying which players to watch in Game 5 and pondering the big questions for the Oilers and the Panthers come Saturday.

Is the conversation after Game 4 more about the comeback — or what forced the Oilers to need to come back in the first place?

After the Oilers allowed two goals in each period of Game 3, they allowed three in the first period of Game 4. In total, the first period marked the sixth time in the first 10 periods of this series that the Panthers have come away with multiple goals. That’s what forced Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch and his staff to make a quick adjustment to avoid a disaster similar to Game 3.

Knoblauch’s decision to remove Skinner to start the second led to Pickard stopping all 10 shots he faced in the frame. It helped that the Oilers went from a 38.4% shot share in the first to a 55.6% shot share in the second, resulting in three goals. It was just their second multigoal period during the Cup Final.

Everything was going so well in the third. Their defensive structure allowed eight combined high-danger scoring chances in the second and third period, a contrast from the seven they allowed in the first alone. To be 20 seconds away from tying the series all while the Panthers had a shot share that was greater than 60%? That’s what made Reinhart’s goal so disheartening.

But in the end, Draisaitl’s game winner drew the Oilers level entering Game 5 on Saturday. — Clark

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Leon Draisaitl scores OT winner for Oilers in Game 4

Leon Draisaitl notches the game-winning goal with this one-handed effort in a pulsating Game 4 that levels the series for Oilers.

The Panthers tried to call game in the first period. And, briefly, it looked like they succeeded. They pounced early with a pair of Matthew Tkachuk power-play goals (his first points of the Cup Final), and Anton Lundell added insult to Oilers’ injury by extending Florida’s lead to three with just 41 seconds left in the first period — a 20-minute frame where the Panthers outshot Edmonton 17-7 and outchanced them 21-5. Florida’s furious forecheck once again appeared to flummox the Oilers.

But Edmonton made a goalie change to start the second, and their karma shifted along with it. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (on the power play), Darnell Nurse and Vasily Podkolzin erased all of Florida’s first-period work and put the Panthers on their heels.

And Pickard had Florida’s number in net, keeping the Panthers’ deep well of offensive threats from finding an equalizer until 20 seconds were left in regulation and Reinhart found an opening.

Florida’s eventual loss in extra time felt stunning. The Panthers’ uncharacteristic mistakes — players caught below the goal line, losing track of assignments, turnovers — ultimately doomed them in a game they were on track to win handily. Now all that matters is how they rebound in the quick turnaround to Game 5. — Shilton


Arda Öcal’s Three Stars of Game 4

Draisaitl set the record for most overtime goals in a single postseason, with four — after setting the record for most overtime goals in the regular season. He is the third player in Stanley Cup Final history with multiple OT goals in a single series — along with Don Raleigh in 1950 with the New York Rangers vs. the Detroit Red Wings and John LeClair in 1993 with the Montreal Canadiens vs. the Los Angeles Kings.

After coming in to relieve Skinner, Pickard proceeded to make 22 saves on 23 shots (the lone goal coming in the final minute of regulation with Florida’s net empty). Pickard is the first goaltender to win a Stanley Cup Final game in relief since 2015, when Andrei Vasilevskiy played 9:13 in relief of injured Ben Bishop. Pickard is also the fourth goalie to win seven straight decisions in the playoffs who didn’t start his team’s first game of the postseason, joining Chris Osgood (2008), Jacques Plante (1969) and Cam Ward (2006).

Tkachuk scored his first two goals of the Cup Final to open the game up quickly for Florida. This was also the first time Tkachuk has scored two goals in a Cup Final game. His fifth career playoff power-play goal set a franchise record.

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Matthew Tkachuk scores again to make it 2-0 Panthers

Matthew Tkachuk doubles the Panthers’ lead, again scoring on the power play against the Oilers in Game 4.

Honorable mention: This series!

This Cup Final has been incredibly entertaining. Between two overtime games, a blowout and dueling three-goal periods in Game 4, there has been no shortage of drama and intrigue in this Cup Final rematch. This series is the third in NHL history to see at least seven total goals in the first four games (1980 and 1918 were the others) and, at 32 goals, is tied for the fourth most goals in Cup Final history through four games. Bring on Game 5!


Players to watch in Game 5

Pickard’s work in relief of Skinner has become rather instrumental in the Oilers establishing some sense of consistency. The strongest example of that came in their first-round series against the Los Angeles Kings, when Pickard was named the starter in Game 3 and would win four straight to advance Edmonton to the second round. He won the first two games of the second round against the Vegas Golden Knights before an injury prompted the Oilers to return to Skinner.

Pickard was perfect in the second period of Game 4 and was nearly flawless until Reinhart’s goal late in the third. But when it reached overtime? Pickard stopped every shot — with some help from the crossbar — to finish the evening stopping 22 of 23 for a .957 save percentage over 51:18. And that was with the Panthers having a shot share greater than 57% over the final two periods. — Clark

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Calvin Pickard’s outrageous save keeps Oilers in game

Calvin Pickard’s incredible tip-save onto the crossbar stops Panthers from notching an overtime game-winner.

The Panthers’ leading scorer in the playoffs wasn’t at his best in Game 4 — and Florida will need a return to form Saturday. Bennett took a second period infraction that led to Edmonton’s first goal off a power-play marker by Nugent-Hopkins, and he was tagged again in the third period for tripping right when Florida had found its lost momentum.

Add to that Bennett collected just a single assist on a night where the Panthers struggled for offense after an explosive first period. That’s not the sort of impact Florida requires from Bennett — and all eyes will be on how he rebounds in Game 5.

It was a positive for Florida to see Tkachuk get rolling Thursday, but the Panthers’ offense has so often run through Bennett. (His breakaway goal in Game 3 was particularly nice.) Florida will be right to expect Bennett to step it up when the series shifts back to Edmonton. And if any player can turn things around in a hurry, it’s Bennett, who was the Conn Smythe Trophy favorite ahead of Game 4 for a reason. — Shilton


Big questions for Game 5

Did the Oilers’ comeback potentially unlock a new way to defend the Panthers?

The Oilers have had troubles with preventing breakaways. They’ve struggled with giving up the big period on more than one occasion. In fact, that was the narrative of a Game 3 that might have been their worst performance of the postseason.

The first period of Game 4 seemed to point to another defensive challenge for the Oilers — only for them to walk away with a win and the belief that they might have found a solution for their aforementioned issues.

In Game 4, the Oilers:

  • Found ways to take away the passing lanes, which is why they went from allowing 17 shots in the first period to 23 shots for the entire rest of the game.

  • Blocked 28 shots.

  • Significantly prevented the Panthers from having high-danger chances despite the possession numbers. In fact, the Panthers finished with one high-danger scoring chance in overtime while having a 57.14% shot share.

Even with Reinhart’s late goal, the overall structure the Oilers used for the rest of Game 4 — coupled with Pickard’s performance — had them looking like the team that has led Connor McDavid to repeatedly state that they can play defense. But can they harness what they did in Game 4 for Game 5 and beyond? And if so, will that be the key to the rest of the series? — Clark

Can Florida rattle Pickard?

The Panthers had Skinner’s number in this series, scoring eight goals on the netminder through Game 3 and the first period of Game 4. Pickard, on the other hand, was excellent in relief of Skinner on Thursday, making 18 consecutive saves before allowing Reinhart’s goal late in the third.

It’s not as if Pickard wasn’t challenged. He made several terrific stops on the Panthers’ top scorers and proved he was still in peak form despite not starting a game in weeks.

That doesn’t bode well for Florida. Even though Reinhart did get one past Pickard late, it didn’t seem to shake Pickard’s confidence. He was terrific in extra time, doing more than enough to keep pace with Sergei Bobrovsky at the other end, and ultimately securing the victory for Edmonton.

So what sort of challenge will a goaltending switch present for Florida in Game 5? Pickard was a sensational 6-0 in the postseason before getting hurt in the second round. If Pickard can be that game-changing presence in the crease that the Oilers are looking for, what will it take for the Panthers to respond and recapture an offensive edge? — Shilton

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Draisaitl’s OT winner caps historic Oilers comeback

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Oilers strike back, tie Cup Final 2-2: Grades for both teams, look ahead to Game 5

SUNRISE, Fla. — The Edmonton Oilers didn’t just win Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final to even their series with the Florida Panthers at 2-2. They accomplished something the NHL hasn’t seen in 106 years.

With their 5-4 overtime win on Thursday night, Edmonton became the first road team in Stanley Cup Final history to rally from a deficit of at least three goals and win since the Montreal Canadiens rallied to defeat the Seattle Metropolitans in overtime in 1919.

Leon Draisaitl‘s 11th goal of the playoffs ended Game 4 in extra time for the Oilers. Home teams with at least a three-goal lead in the Stanley Cup Final were 158-1 before Thursday night.

“I think that once again it shows you that our group never quits,” Draisaitl said. “I think we believe that no matter how bad it is, if we get over that hump of adversity we’re going to keep pushing, we’re going to keep coming, and eventually it’ll break.”

Draisaitl made NHL history of his own in the victory. This was his NHL record fourth overtime game-winning goal in the 2025 postseason, the most ever in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. He also set the regular-season record with six this season.

Draisaitl’s dramatic goal Thursday night came in a game in which the Oilers trailed 3-0 after the first period.

“We sat back too much,” defenseman Jake Walman said. “We watched a little too much. We didn’t get to our game at all in that first period. That’s pretty much the thing we talked about in the intermission — get to our game and see what happens.”

That sentiment was conveyed in an impactful intermission speech by forward Corey Perry, the 40-year-old in his 20th NHL season, whose words inspired and refocused the Oilers for a second period that saw them tie the score at 3-3.

“I’m not going to share exactly what he said, but the message was that he’s been in these moments,” Draisaitl said. “He’s not a guy that speaks up or yells at guys all the time. That’s not his character. So you know when a guy like that — with that many games, that much experience, he’s won everything there is to win, he knows how to win — when he speaks up, you listen. It grabs your attention.”

The Oilers didn’t have that attention at the start.

Edmonton was trying to rebound from a devastating 6-1 loss in Game 3. Goaltender Stuart Skinner, who was pulled from that loss, got the start Thursday night because of his ability to bounce back after defeats along with his 6-0 record in Game 4s in his career.

But Skinner’s night would end early, as he was replaced by goalie Calvin Pickard in the second period. Pickard made 18 straight saves before Florida’s Sam Reinhart sent the game to overtime with a goal at 19:40 the third period, scoring with goalie Sergei Bobrovsky on the bench for an extra skater.

“It’s hard to describe the situation that he gets put in,” Draisaitl said of Pickard. “We’re down 3-0. He’s coming in. He’s cold. It’s not easy, and he makes those stops at the key moments when we really need them. He’s one of the best in the league at making the right save at the right time. He’s been nothing but spectacular for us.”

Pickard took over the Oilers’ crease for an ineffective Skinner in the first round against the Los Angeles Kings, going 6-0 for Edmonton. But an injury in their second-round series against Vegas gave Skinner the starting job again through the next two rounds.

Pickard came up with some clutch stops throughout his 22-save effort in Game 4, none bigger than a glove save on Florida’s Sam Bennett that sent the puck behind him off the crossbar and out of trouble in overtime.

“I read it pretty well,” Pickard said. “I looked in my glove and it wasn’t in there. I heard the crowd ‘ooh’ and ‘ahh’ and I got a good bounce.”

Pickard became the sixth goaltender to win a Stanley Cup Final game in relief.

The Oilers started Game 4 allowing a barrage of shots to the Panthers and once again parading to the penalty box. Matthew Tkachuk scored to make it 1-0 on a 5-on-3 power player with Evander Kane in the penalty box for high-sticking and Darnell Nurse in there for tripping. Tkachuk scored again 5:16 later on a power-play goal after Mattias Ekholm went off for high-sticking Brad Marchand. Center Anton Lundell made it 3-0 with 42 seconds left in the first period.

Skinner gave up three goals on 17 shots on Thursday, struggling again after lasting 43:27 in the Oilers’ loss in Game 3, in which he gave up five goals on 23 shots. Pickard entered on Monday night and stopped seven of eight shots.

With Pickard between the pipes, the Oilers began their comeback. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins converted on the power play — on one of three penalties the Panthers took in the period — from McDavid and Draisaitl. Nurse snuck one past Bobrovsky at 12:47 to cut the Florida advantage to one goal.

Just 10 seconds after Nurse scored, Florida captain Aleksander Barkov took a delay of game penalty. It was the moment the Oilers were waiting for: the best defensive forward in the NHL in the penalty box and a chance for their offensive stars to tie the score. But Bobrovsky was all the penalty kill needed, making five saves, including two on McDavid on the same scoring chance.

Undaunted, the Oilers kept fighting and tied the score with 4:55 left in the second period. Nurse set up forward Vasily Podkolzin for his second of the playoffs, knotting it at 3-3.

It remained that way until 6:24 of the third period when a great Oilers forecheck pinned the Panthers’ top line in their zone before Walman blasted the puck for the 4-3 lead. But the Oilers couldn’t hold it, as Florida knotted the score on Reinhart’s late goal.

After an overtime that saw both teams get their chances, it was Draisaitl who ended it at 11:18. After a great pass by Podkolzin to set him up, Draisaitl pushed the puck toward the Florida net and it deflected off defenseman Niko Mikkola and past Bobrovsky (30 saves).

Draisaitl is now tied with McDavid with 32 points in the playoffs. He is the fifth player in NHL history with at least 30 points in consecutive postseasons and is tied with McDavid and Mark Messier for second all-time with three 30-point postseasons in total; Wayne Gretzky did it six times.

“He’s as clutch as it gets,” Pickard said of Draisaitl. “He’s been playing great. Always scoring big goals at big times, and now we’re going home with momentum.”

For Florida, it was a squandered opportunity to move one win away from hoisting the Stanley Cup for the second straight season.

“It’s the best of three,” Tkachuk said. “With losing this one tonight, we’ve got to go in there and win one eventually. So hopefully you can do it in Game 5.”

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Agent: Skaggs named Reds’ Miley as drug supplier

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Agent: Skaggs named Reds' Miley as drug supplier

LOS ANGELES — Cincinnati Reds left-hander Wade Miley is accused in court documents of providing drugs to the late Tyler Skaggs, the Los Angeles Angels pitcher who died of an accidental overdose in 2019.

Skaggs’ former agent, Ryan Hamill, said in a deposition that Skaggs told him he was using pain pills containing oxycodone that were provided by Miley.

The deposition is part of a wrongful death lawsuit filed by Skaggs’ family against the Angels in California. A former publicist for the Angels, Eric Kay, was convicted in Texas of providing the fentanyl-laced pills that an autopsy found contributed to Skaggs’ death. Kay was sentenced to 22 years in federal prison.

Skaggs died in the team hotel in a Dallas suburb. His body was found hours before what was supposed to be the start of a series between the Angels and Texas Rangers.

Miley, 38, is not facing criminal charges, and it’s not the first time his name has come up in relation to Skaggs’ death. During the sentencing phase of Kay’s case, prosecutors used a recording of a conversation between Kay and his mother in which Kay said Miley was one of Skaggs’ drug suppliers.

The Reds had no comment Thursday, and Miley wasn’t immediately available for comment.

Matt Harvey, now a retired major league pitcher, testified during Kay’s trial that he provided drugs to Skaggs. Harvey was later suspended for 60 days for violating MLB’s drug policy. He didn’t pitch in the major leagues again. Harvey and three other players also testified they received pills from Skaggs and described the recreational drug use they witnessed while with the Angels.

Harvey and Skaggs were teammates with the Angels in 2019. Skaggs and Miley were teammates with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2012 and 2013.

Hamill said the conversation in which Skaggs implicated Miley took place in 2013. Hamill had expressed concern to Skaggs’ parents about what he said was erratic behavior from the pitcher in a phone conversation. Hamill said he and Skaggs’ parents confronted Skaggs at home, leading to Skaggs’ admission that he was using drugs and the accusation that Miley was supplying them.

Miley signed a one-year contract with the Reds on June 4 and has made two starts this season. He had Tommy John surgery on his left elbow in May 2024 and signed a minor league deal with Cincinnati in February.

Miley had an opt-out clause if he didn’t reach the big leagues by June 1. The 14-year veteran executed that clause but remained with Cincinnati while he pursued potential deals with other clubs before re-signing with the Reds.

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