While the 2025 recruiting cycle is in full swing with top prospects beginning to take official visits, the 2026 cycle is just getting underway. Some of the nation’s top recruits have announced a college destination as they head into their junior years.
The On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings measure a class’s overall strength based on the On3 Industry Ranking of the recruits committed to that school.
The On3 Industry Ranking is a proprietary algorithm that compiles ratings and rankings from all four primary recruiting media services. The On3 Industry Ranking is the industry’s most advanced, complete and unbiased measurement.
The On3 Industry Ranking weights the primary recruiting media services based on past performance data, and overall scouting and recruiting coverage investment.
For football, the algorithm is weighted as follows: On3 (35%), 247Sports (35%), Rivals.com (20%) and ESPN (10%).
Florida State, USC and South Carolina have already secured at least three commitments in the class, resulting in a ranking in the 2026 On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings.
1. Florida State — 91.888
0 five-stars | 4 four-stars | 0 three-stars | 4 total commits
Top Commit: Vero Beach (Fla.) four-star athlete Efrem White, No. 47 in the On3 Industry Ranking.
Half of the Seminoles’ 2026 recruiting class committed last month. Tampa Gaither four-star athlete Darryon Williams pledged to FSU just a week before Seffner (Fla.) Armwood four-star cornerback Jaelen Waters.
Vero Beach (Fla.) four-star athlete Efrem White joined the class in mid-December.
“I love the environment and energy they bring,” White told Warchant about his commitment. “The facility is great, and so are the fans. But most of all, I really respect and love how the coaching staff runs everything. They really make it feel like I’m home when I’m there, and I love the way they treat academics to better the players off the field.”
Florida State wide receivers coach Ron Dugans has played a big part in White’s recruitment and was one of the coaches the four-star prospect thanked in his commitment post.
“Well, he’s a very good person in general. He really treats his players like they’re his own children,” White said. “And he makes me feel like FSU is something I’ll wanna be a part of.”
Miami Barbara Goleman Senior four-star safety Darryl Bell is the earliest commit of the class, having pledged in October.
2. USC — 90.598
0 five-stars | 4 four-stars | 0 three-stars | 4 total commits
Top Commit: Los Angeles Loyola four-star cornerback Brandon Lockhart, No. 34 in the On3 Industry Ranking.
Class leader Los Angeles Loyola four-star cornerback Brandon Lockhart committed to USC back in October, nearly two months after Los Alamitos (Calif.) four-star wide receiver Ja’Myron Baker.
Lockhart pledged to USC in late October over Penn State and Oregon.
“I have for sure talked to other 26s and even a few 25s,” Lockhart told WeAreSc. “I think the class is stacked and has a huge opportunity to make USC a national powerhouse for years to come. ‘JuJu’ committing first is going to get things started for sure. Having a great quarterback lets everyone know what the offense will look like.
“I can be the guy that people will look to for what the defense will look like.”
Tampa Robinson four-star cornerback Dominick Kelly and Pasadena (Calif.) Sierra Canyon four-star athlete Madden Riordan are also members of this group.
3. South Carolina — 88.832
0 five-stars | 2 four-stars | 1 three-star | 3 total commits
Top Commit: Newnan (Ga.) four-star linebacker Rodney Colton, No. 90 in the On3 Industry Ranking.
Rock Hill (S.C.) South Pointe three-star interior offensive lineman Anthony Baxter is the newest commit to the Gamecocks’ 2026 class, having pledged on May 4. Class headliner Rodney Colton joined the class not long before him, committing on April 24.
Jackson (Ala.) four-star quarterback Landon Duckworth was the first to commit to South Carolina, doing so all the way back in August before his sophomore season. He committed to the Gamecocks shortly after their annual summer cookout.
“I had an idea going into that visit that I was going to commit,” Duckworth told On3. “One big thing was that we stay in contact and talk all the time. No other school stayed in contact like that. I could tell we were really locked in with each other.
“. . . I just had a different feeling up there and I feel comfortable with my decision.”
One of the biggest reasons for his commitment to South Carolina was his already strong bond with Gamecocks’ quarterback coach Dowell Loggains.
“I like the way Coach Loggains talks to me and treats me,” Duckworth said. “I can talk to Coach Loggains like we’re best friends. We understand each other and we can talk good football together.”
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