Because the 2026 recruiting cycle reaches the stretch run, Georgia, LSU, Maryland, Oklahoma, Texas and a reenergized, James Franklin-led Virginia Tech are among the many main applications seeking to dazzle high recruits in Week 13, solely 12 days from the 2026 early signing interval (Dec. 3-5).
Probably the most fascinating recruiting weekend throughout the nation, surprisingly, is in Blacksburg, Virginia, the place Franklin and the Hokies are internet hosting some 2026 prospects, together with high uncommitted quarterback Troy Huhn, on Saturday, days after Franklin’s introductory information convention. Texas may have a crucial slate of prospects on campus, too, led by four-star LSU offensive sort out pledge Brysten Martinez. In the meantime, Davion Brown, ESPN’s top-ranked uncommitted vast receiver, will step up his late recruitment with a visit to Maryland.
There’s loads of motion nonetheless to play out over the following two weeks. Earlier than Week 13 begins throughout the nation, here is the newest recruiting intel on the 2026 class:
James Franklin opening with huge recruiting weekend at Virginia Tech
Aside from a handful of spectacular courses up to now decade, Virginia Tech has seldom been a recruiting energy. The Hokies have logged only one top-20 end in ESPN’s staff class rankings since 2010. From 2021 to 2025, this system signed simply 5 ESPN 300 recruits.
Invigorating Virginia Tech’s presence on the recruiting path is considered one of Franklin’s challenges in his new job, and the previous Penn State coach is attending to work quick this weekend. With interim coach Philip Montgomery nonetheless on the sidelines, the Hokies are set to kick off the Franklin period this weekend with a protracted record of holiday makers, together with some present and former Nittany Lions commits, available to see the Hokies host Miami in Week 13.
“We have already began recruiting,” Franklin mentioned in his introductory information convention Wednesday. “Two nights in the past, I had 40 gamers on the telephone; younger males which are dedicated to Virginia Tech. [I] additionally referred to as all the highest gamers within the state of Virginia, as properly. We’ll want this stadium rocking on Saturday.”
Troy Huhn, No. 198 total and the highest uncommitted quarterback within the ESPN 300, is among the many greatest names who will probably be on campus Saturday. Huhn spent 16 months dedicated to Franklin and Penn State earlier than pulling his pledge final month, days after Franklin’s Oct. 12 firing.
Minnesota and Stanford have every entered the combination for Huhn. With Franklin again in a job, Virginia Tech instantly turns into a high contender for ESPN’s No. 10 pocket passer.
“Coach Franklin taking the Virginia Tech job modifications just a few issues,” Huhn’s father advised ESPN. “We’ll exit on an official go to this weekend and watch the Hokies play Miami. We need to know who the workers is and who they’re bringing in scheme-wise and all that.”
Penn State security pledge Matt Sieg (No. 162 total) is one other ESPN 300 prospect set to go to Virginia Tech on Saturday. Sieg, who has visited Indiana, Pitt and Notre Dame since mid-November, advised ESPN that he plans to announce a choice within the subsequent week.
Among the many different Franklin-linked Penn State recruits anticipated to go to this weekend: athlete Pierce Petersohn (No. 293 total), offensive guard Benjamin Eziuka (No. 300), three-star linebacker Mathieu Lamah and three-star offensive tackles Marlen Vivid and Roseby Lubintus. Franklin has additionally been involved with former Penn State pledges Davion Brown and Tavian Department in current days.
4-star offensive sort out Thomas Wilder, who decommitted from the Hokies after Brent Pry’s firing in September, can even return to Virginia Tech this weekend. Wilder (No. 222 total) is the No. 7 total recruit within the state of Virginia and holds curiosity from Maryland.
Carter, No. 57 total, turned ESPN’s top-ranked uncommitted defender when he pulled his pledge from Texas A&M on Nov. 1 after greater than a yr within the Aggies’ 2026 class.
This week, the 6-foot-3, 235-pound edge rusher from Douglasville, Georgia, introduced that he’ll determine Dec. 3 as Auburn, Georgia Tech, Tennessee and Texas vie for his dedication. Per ESPN sources, all 4 applications will probably be prominently concerned in Carter’s recruiting course of heading into the early signing interval.
Tennessee’s current historical past of growing elite line of defense skills stands out to Carter, and he got here away impressed with the Vols’ game-day expertise on his go to final weekend. On Saturday, he’ll be available for 9-1 Georgia Tech’s matchup in opposition to Pitt, a visit that might loom particularly giant, with sources suggesting the chance to play near dwelling may play a heavy half in Carter’s choice. Carter will go to Auburn for the second time this fall when he is available for the Iron Bowl in Week 14, and he is working to safe a go to date to Texas between now and Dec. 3.
The suitors for the nation’s No. 8 defensive finish are clear. With lower than two weeks earlier than the early signing interval, Carter’s course of seems more likely to go all the way down to the wire.
SEC rivals Oklahoma and Texas surging towards huge finishes
The Sooners and Longhorns are headed in reverse instructions by way of Faculty Soccer Playoff competition, however each applications seem poised to shut robust on the 2026 recruiting path.
Sources inform ESPN that Oklahoma is well-positioned in its pursuits of former Penn State working again pledge Messiah Mickens (No. 141 total) and four-star Wisconsin receiver commit Jayden Petit (No. 178).
Mickens has grown shut with Sooners assistant DeMarco Murray, who not too long ago visited ESPN’s Thirteenth-ranked working again, and Mickens is ready to be in Norman in Week 14, days earlier than asserting his dedication to both Oklahoma, Indiana or Ole Miss on Dec. 3. Regardless of Wisconsin’s choice to retain coach Luke Fickell, Petit’s course of has been trending towards the Sooners for the reason that 6-foot-4 vast receiver visited Oklahoma on Oct. 25.
One other late-rising goal, four-star defensive finish Dane Bathurst, will probably be on campus when the Sooners host Missouri on Saturday. Since pulling his dedication from Duke earlier this month, Bathurst has drawn vital curiosity from Nebraska, Purdue, Vanderbilt and the Sooners. Sources point out that Oklahoma is the front-runner.
On the opposite facet of the Pink Pink Rivalry, Texas is internet hosting some key recruits for Saturday’s dwelling recreation in opposition to Arkansas because the Longhorns put the ultimate touches on the nation’s No. 7 class.
Headlining the guests is four-star LSU offensive sort out commit Brysten Martinez, who returns for his second go to of the month. He’ll be joined on his official go to by two different LSU pledges, defensive sort out Richard Anderson (No. 90 total) and security Aiden Corridor (No. 145), two flip targets Texas is working so as to add to an already star-studded defensive class.
The Longhorns are additionally set to host a pair of late in-state gives — Jett Walker and Kaden Scherer, who’re highschool teammates from Georgetown, Texas. Walker, a three-star working again, dedicated to Minnesota earlier this month. Scherer, additionally a three-star, has been the top-ranked offensive sort out in Stanford’s 2026 recruiting class since June.
A supply confirmed that three-star UCLA cornerback pledge Toray Davis is now not anticipated to go to Texas in Week 13 on account of a highschool playoff recreation Saturday.
High uncommitted WR Davion Brown visiting Maryland with two others within the combine
Brown, a former Penn State commit, has already skilled one teaching change this fall.
It is why Maryland’s choice to retain coach Mike Locksley was so vital to Brown, a go catcher from Richmond, Virginia, who has picked up his recruitment within the ultimate weeks earlier than the early signing interval. On Saturday, ESPN’s No. No. 109 total prospect will go to the Terps, one of many main contenders in his late-cycle course of, alongside Kansas State and Virginia Tech.
“I am searching for a steady program with a steady coach,” Brown advised ESPN. “I need to play for someone who’s going to be there and attempt to change the trajectory of this system. [Maryland] is recruiting me to be a participant who will help do this.”
Led by vast receivers coach Latrell Scott, Maryland has been an possibility for Brown for greater than two years. Kansas State, which has spent the autumn working so as to add vast receiver expertise within the 2026 class, started recruiting Brown shortly after he decommitted from Penn State final month, whereas Indiana’s curiosity has cooled after the Hoosiers landed a dedication from former Penn State vast receiver pledge Lavar Keys final weekend.
The latest entrant into the race for Brown’s pledge: Virginia Tech. The Hokies have been in contact virtually instantly after Franklin was formally employed earlier this week.
“He was simply reintroducing himself,” Brown mentioned of his name with Franklin. “He is in this system now, and he needs to have the identical relationship that we had when he was at Penn State.”
Brown developed a robust relationship with Franklin throughout his recruitment and spent six months within the Nittany Lions’ class. Brown is not going to be at Virginia Tech’s large recruiting weekend, however he advised ESPN that he intends to go to this system within the coming weeks.
Brown can’t enroll in January and will take his course of to the February signing interval. “For now, I am probably not planning to hurry something,” he mentioned.
Weekend visits to observe
Georgia: 4-star security Blake Stewart, Clemson decommit
Georgia, Miami and Vanderbilt have been making an attempt to land the defensive again from Faculty Park, Georgia, since he pulled his pledge from Clemson on Oct. 27. As Stewart nears a choice, the Bulldogs seem like within the driver’s seat amongst his finalists in a decent late-cycle recruitment.
After current journeys to Vanderbilt (Oct. 25) and Miami (Nov. 8), Stewart returned to Georgia in Week 12 for an unofficial go to throughout this system’s 35-10 win over Texas. It bodes properly that he’ll be again on campus once more for an official go to with Georgia on Saturday, significantly with sources telling ESPN that Stewart is predicted to announce a dedication earlier than Dec. 3.
Houston: 4-star WR Jayden Warren, Houston commit
Warren, from Iowa Colony, Texas, has pingponged between Houston to Texas A&M in current weeks, because the Aggies proceed their late flip efforts with Warren, ESPN’s No. 237 total recruit.
A vertical playmaker with elite velocity, Warren has been dedicated to Houston since July 13. He visited the Cougars on Nov. 8 earlier than returning to Texas A&M for the second time this fall final Saturday, throughout the No. 3 Aggies’ come-from-behind win over South Carolina. That go to left sources at Texas A&M assured in this system’s standing with Warren. However with Warren again at Houston this weekend, visiting alongside No. 1 quarterback commit Keisean Henderson, the Cougars will get to make a closing argument.
LSU: 4-star DT Dylan Berymon, Texas decommit
Berymon, who pulled his pledge from Texas on Nov. 5, is Louisiana’s No. 8 prospect, and the in-state Tigers are making a robust push for the 6-foot-3, 330-pound defender.
After visiting for LSU’s 23-22 win over Arkansas final weekend, Berymon will probably be again Saturday for this system’s Week 13 go to from Western Kentucky. Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Texas Tech and Washington are all involved, together with Nebraska, which can host Berymon on Nov. 29. However for the second, LSU seems to carry a transparent edge in his recruitment.
North Carolina: 4-star RB Carsyn Baker, Florida commit
Nonetheless dedicated to the Gators, ESPN’s No. 16 working again prospect is courting late curiosity from Georgia Tech, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ole Miss and South Carolina.
On Saturday, Baker will go to North Carolina, which does not have an ESPN 300 working again pledge in both its 2026 or 2027 recruiting courses, because the Tar Heels proceed their late-cycle push with a number of top-300 gamers. Georgia Tech, which Baker visited in October and can go to once more Nov. 28, is a serious participant in his course of. Kentucky and Ole Miss, which respectively hosted Baker over the previous two weekends, stand as two extra main flip contenders.
SMU: 4-star OT Max Wright, Texas commit
The 6-foot-7, 310-pound lineman from Melissa, Texas, will go to SMU for the second time this month Saturday. He is a high precedence for the Mustangs and coach Rhett Lashlee.
Wright has been dedicated to Texas since February. However because the Longhorns have upped their efforts so as to add top-300 offensive line expertise this month, SMU has intensified its long-standing pursuit of ESPN’s No. 39 offensive sort out prospect. After visiting the Mustangs on Nov. 1, he’ll be again for his or her Week 13 go to from Louisville earlier than returning to Texas subsequent weekend.
