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The Big Ten has never been stronger on the recruiting trail and that’s become apparent with USC at the top of the Rivals Industry Team Recruiting Rankings. Oregon and Ohio State aren’t far behind, either. In the 2026 cycle, the Big Ten is now up to 111 blue-chip commitments across its 18 schools. All but three schools in the conference have landed multiple four-or-five-star pledges. Six teams currently have a top-25 class nationally. We’ve tracked down each program’s top commitment in the class and tallied them below: Illinois – WR Nasir Rankin Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 177 School: Morgan Park (Chicago, IL) Notable Quote: “Man, it’s just ever since I went down there they treated me like I was already at the school,” Rankin told Rivals’ Steve Wiltfong. “It was crazy. I knew it was home. It was my first offer. They were the first people to take a chance on me and they never stopped believing in me … It was perfect.” Indiana – DL Gabe Hill Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 244 School: Naperville North (Naperville, IL) Notable Quote: “I just like the program they’ve built so far — it’s highly competitive, highly aggressive,” Hill told TheHoosier.com. “They’re a team with a lot of ambition, a lot of things to prove, so it’s exciting. I love Coach [Curt] Cignetti. I love the way he presents himself, the way he does things at the program. His level of attention to detail, it’s just mind-blowing.” Iowa – LB Julian Manson Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 223 School: Iowa City West (Iowa City, IA) Scout’s Take: “Iowa has a terrific track record with off-ball linebackers and Julian Manson is doing everything in his power early on in his senior season to keep that tradition going strong. He’s flying around all over the field making plays from sideline to sideline and is an enforcer between the tackles. Need to get more verified measurements on him, but he appears to have added some weight this offseason while maintaining his burst and closing speed which is a big plus. He’s trending in the right direction as a senior and has earned the bump in his ranking.” — Cody Bellaire, Rivals National Scout Maryland – EDGE Zion Elee Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 2 School: St. Frances Academy (Baltimore, MD) Scouting Report: “Electric speed rusher with an elite combination of athleticism and length off the edge. Measured around 6-foot-3, 220 pounds prior to his junior season. Has truly elite length, with arms that measure 35.5 inches. Pairs the rare length with top-shelf athleticism. A standout in the combine setting who transfers the speed over to the field. Plays with an eye-popping burst, dating back to his sophomore year at Joppatowne (Md.) High. Explodes into the backfield with high-end first-step quickness. Transferred to Baltimore power St. Frances Academy for his junior season and turned in a strong campaign, racking up 28 tackles for loss and 10 sacks against top competition. Showed game-wrecking tendencies in showcase games. Often plays as a standup pass rusher. Has blow-by speed off the edge. Play strength and ability to set the edge is solid but will need to continue improving. Rare athletic and physical traits combined with consecutive years of high-level production make him the top EDGE prospect in the 2026 cycle entering his senior season.” Michigan – RB Savion Hiter Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 9 School: Louisa County (Mineral, VA) Scouting Summary: “Gifted runner with an advanced blend of athleticism, fluidity, and instincts as a high school underclassman. Physically developed, measuring in at over 5-foot-11 and around 200 pounds prior to his senior season. Registers as a strong athlete, running an 11.11 second mark in the 100-meters as a freshman. Also jumped close to 45 feet in the triple jump – an outstanding mark. Turned multiple dominant seasons as a high school underclassman, including a 1,698-yard, 26-touchdown junior campaign that saw him run for 10.8 yards per carry. Looks to be a natural runner. An extremely fluid and smooth mover who changes directions effortlessly. Shows excellent acceleration. Cuts on a dime and makes defenders miss in space. Runs with pace and instincts. A strong tackle-breaker who runs through contact due to a strong leg drive. A phenomenal high school football player who also makes big plays on defense. Has the potential and upside to be one of the best running back prospects in several cycles.” Michigan State – QB Kayd Coffman Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 292 School: East Kentwood (Kentwood, MI) Notable Quote: “I definitely think it felt right,” Coffman told Rivals’ Steve Wiltfong about his decision. “I’ve been thinking about it since November when they offered. I’ve been thinking about that and praying on it and how I see myself fitting in there. I think we can do special things and that made me excited and made me want to get on board.” Minnesota – OT Andrew Trout Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 270 School: Rocori Senior (Cold Spring, MN) About: Trout has been committed to the Golden Gophers since Jan. 28, 2024. He’s remained rock-solid with P.J Fleck and the in-state program since. He’s a part of a Rocori Senior team that ranks inside the top 25 of the Minnesota state Massey Ratings. Trout is one of four offensive linemen in Minnesota’s 2026 class to date. Nebraska – CB Danny Odem Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 166 School: The First Academy (Orlando, FL) Notable Quote: “Coach Rhule is building something special,” Odem told Rivals’ Chad Simmons. “He knows how to win. They had a good season last year, but they are just getting started. Nebraska had a great offense, but with the addition coach Butler and coach Addison, the defense will be a lot better and even things out. Nebraska is about to go a lot higher.” Northwestern – WR Jaden McDuffie Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 529 School: South River Senior (Edgewater, MD) About: The 6-foot-3, 165-pounder committed to the Wildcats over offers from Air Force, Toledo, Temple, Buffalo, Youngstown State and a handful of others back on May 22. As a junior, he hauled in 73 passes and totaled 1,251 yards and 17 touchdowns. Ohio State – WR Chris Henry Jr. Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 20 School: Mater Dei (Santa Ana, CA) Scouting Report: “Big receiver with a rare combination of size, athleticism and coordination as a young prospect. Measured in at over 6-foot-4.5 and around 185 pounds prior to his sophomore season. Tests as a strong athlete, posting an electronically-timed 4.65 second 40 yard dash at Under Armour’s Ohio Camp. Flashes outstanding functional movement skills at his size, with the ability to sink his hips and change direction with ease. Projects as a high level route runner as he continues to progress. Not overly long for his height, but flashes good ball skills and catch radius. Has strong pedigree as the son of the late NFL wide receiver Chris Henry. Projects as one of the top receivers early on in the 2026 cycle.” Oregon – OT Immanuel Iheanacho Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 6 School: Georgetown Preparatory School (Baltimore, MD) Notable Quote: “It was a very tough decision because so many different schools had my attention, but the small things added up and led me to Oregon,” Iheanacho told Rivals’ Chad Simmons. “I got on campus three times, I got to know the coaches, my parents saw the area and I knew it was is the right fit. Since I visited in the spring, I had Oregon on top and it never changed. LSU was great. I had a good time at Penn State and I like he coaches there. What made the most sense for me though, was Oregon. It felt different. The fit is right. I love the people. The program is what I need.” Penn State – IOL Kevin Brown Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 68 School: Harrisburg (Harrisburg, PA) Scout’s Take: “He’s a guy that has a great frame as well. You look at him physically and he doesn’t really look like an offensive lineman. I mean that as a compliment. His weight distribution is impressive. He’s basically 260 pounds of straight muscle. But again, he also moves extremely well, so there’s certainly a wow factor to his film. I think he’s one that’s certainly worth getting excited about. I think it’s a pretty good year for interior offensive linemen and really offensive line in general in 2026. It’s still early, but I came away thinking that Brown is certainly one of the best guys at that position.” — Charles Power, Rivals Director of Scouting and Rankings Purdue – DL Jamarcus Whyce Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 425 School: Trotwood-Madison (Trotwood, OH) About: Whyce chose the Boilermakers in July over Louisville, as well as more than a dozen other reported offers. During his junior season, Whyce recorded 64 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss and seven sacks. Rutgers – WR Dyzier Carter Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 234 School: Louisa County (Louisa, VA) About: The 5-foot-11, 180-pound Carter had a huge junior season. He turned 28 receptions for 736 yards and nine touchdowns. He rushed for five more scores. On top of that, he ran back a punt for a touchdown and did the same with an interception. His commitment to the Scarlet Knights dates back nearly a full year to July 2024. UCLA – DL Carter Gooden Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 176 School: Tabor Academy (Marion, MA) Notable Quote: “On the official visit, I got a great family vibe and culture from the players and staff,” Gooden told Rivals upon making his commitment. “That visit made an impact on me because that was the first time I got to see campus, meet the coaches and see how things were run.” USC – TE Mark Bowman Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 17 School: Mater Dei (Santa Ana, CA) Notable Quote: “It is so different with USC now,” he told Rivals. “It has changed a lot over the last year and since they made changes. They have been recruiting much harder the last few months. It is every day with USC now, and that has changed things for me with them. I like what the staff is doing, their energy and they are close to home too.” Washington – OT Kodi Greene Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 34 School: Mater Dei (Santa Ana, CA) Scouting Report: “Nimble offensive tackle who brings a translatable skill set with size and projectable movement skills. Measured around 6-foot-6, and north of 300 pounds before his senior season. Touts average to solid length for his height. Transferred to SoCal powerhouse Mater Dei for his junior season, primarily lining up at right tackle for the Monarchs. A high-level mover. Fluid and balanced. Works to the second level effortlessly. Dangerous as a puller. Shows good pop in his hands and plays with encouraging power. Has a solid understanding of body positioning, walling off defensive linemen. More advanced as a run blocker, but has the skill set to develop into a reliable pass protector over time.” Wisconsin – WR Jayden Petit
