Tracking college football commitments and decommitments as flip season heats up, 2026s and 2027s fly off board

Tracking the latest moves in the college football recruiting world ahead of Dec. 3's Signing Day and assigning out an impact grade for each of them.

Not all commitments are created equal -- and in today's college football landscape, that's truer than ever. With roster turnover at an all-time high and player movement spanning coast to coast, the question isn't just who committed. It's how much does it actually matter?

That's why we're rolling out the Commitment Impact Score -- a quick, context-rich metric designed to measure the real-time value of a commitment beyond just stars and rankings.

With college football's early signing period nearing (it is Dec. 3), the news has picked up as schools look to fill roster spots and even flip highly-touted prospects from elsewhere. 

What it is:

The Commitment Impact Score (CIS) is a 1–10 score that reflects how meaningful a new commitment is to a program at the time it happens. It's not about long-term potential alone — it's about fit, timing, and program trajectory. A 3-star commit can sometimes matter more than a 4-star, depending on who else is on the roster and where the team is headed.

How we score it:

We evaluate each commitment across three simple categories:

• Roster Boost (Does this player fill a current or future need?)

• Momentum Hit (Does the commitment move the needle in rankings or buzz?)

• Program Fit / Narrative (Does it fit the school's culture, timeline, or build a key pipeline?)

Each category is scored from 1 to 5, and we weight them based on impact -- with Roster Boost accounting for 50% of the final score. The total is scaled to a 1–10 score, then tiered into one of four buckets:

Score	Tier
9–10	🟣 Game-Changer
7–8	🟢 Strong Add
5–6	🟡 Solid Depth
1–4	🔴 Low-Impact

We also include a brief explanation for each commit's score -- whether it's a flip from a rival, a future starter at a thin position, or a quiet add that flies under the radar.

Why it matters:

In the transfer portal and NIL era, it's no longer enough to report that a school landed a 4-star. We want to contextualize every move: Is this commitment plugging a hole or stacking talent? Is it a class-altering win or just depth?

You can track the latest college football roster additions here. Below we are gauging the impact scores across college football's biggest programs. 

[Dec 3, 2025 at 8:05 pm ET · Gabe Brooks]

4-star LB Terry Wiggins signs with Virginia Tech

Our eval: Strong add (8/10)

It's gotten hard to keep up with just how many recruits James Franklin has flipped​ from his old Penn State class to Virginia Tech. Top247 four-star linebacker Terry Wiggins marked another significant win for Franklin as a top 10 linebacker​ in the country and top five player​ in the state of Pennsylvania. Wiggins gives VT its highest-ranked signee and the type of versatile option who could play off the ball, from the edge, or a combination of the two, as personnel situations dictate.

"Fluid reactionary athlete with a quick first step who can win with speed off the edge," said 247Sports national scouting analyst Hudson Standish. "Primarily wins with speed off the edge at this stage, but has shown plenty of stack-and-shed capability when matched up against run-heavy offenses. Diagnoses keys quickly and plays with tremendous effort, will pursue the football sideline-to-sideline and can close space quickly."

As of 7 p.m. CST, Virginia Tech had signed 22 players​ and risen to No. 22 nationally​ in the 247Sports Team Recruiting Rankings. The Hokies finished no higher than 43rd in the previous six recruiting cycles. One must look to 2019 for a class in the top 30 (27th).

[Dec 3, 2025 at 5:54 pm ET · Gabe Brooks]

4-star EDGE Carter Gooden signs with Tennessee

Our eval: Strong add (8/10)

Tennessee made a statement on signing day with a handful of major flips/commitments, including Top247 four-star​ edge Carter Gooden, a longtime UCLA pledge from Massachusetts. Ranked in the top 100 overall​, Gooden brings a large-framed, athletic pass rusher to the fold for the Vols, who sit at No. 5 nationally​ in the 247Sports Team Recruiting Rankings, as of 4:45 p.m. CST.

Gooden joins fellow four-star edge Jordan Carter​, who decommitted in early November from Texas A&M, in Tennessee's Wednesday grabs. Top247 four-star​ athlete Legend Bey​, who had recently flipped from the Vols to Ohio State, signed with Tennessee, representing another massive pickup for head coach Josh Heupel. Gooden sits atop the state of Massachusetts rankings​, while Bey and Carter are top 25 recruits in Texas​ and Georgia​, respectively.

Along with his physical traits, Canadian-born Gooden boasts an outstanding athletic profile that also includes basketball, lacrosse, and hockey experience. Bey is a highly productive dual-threat QB at the high school level who could play the slot or from the backfield in college, especially considering his electric track speed. Carter is one of the more productive pass rushers in the 2026 class with 44 sacks across the past three seasons, including 18 as a senior.

[Dec 3, 2025 at 5:36 pm ET · Gabe Brooks]

4-star DL Vodney Cleveland signs with North Carolina

Our eval: Strong add (7/10)

Vodney Cleveland crossed the finish line Wednesday for the Tar Heels​ and not Texas, which had held his commitment for nearly six months. At 6-foot-3, 320 pounds, Cleveland gives UNC and head coach Bill Belichick a potential interior keystone to help a unit that finished ninth of 17 in the ACC in rushing yards allowed per game.

Cleveland, a Top247 four-star​ ranked top 30 among D-linemen​ and top 10 overall​ in the state of Alabama, assembled an up-and-down senior year, but at his best, creates problems for opposing offenses at the point of attack. He's a massive, wide-bodied presence who could fit multiple looks, but likely best fits spots in the 0- to 2-tech range.

While the Heels have plenty room to improve on defense, North Carolina's disappointing 2025 season stemmed primarily from the lack of offensive firepower. Adding Cleveland to the fold should continue to raise the floor in the D-line room and gives Belichick an SEC archetype interior defender who could eventually serve as front seven's point of orbit.

[Dec 3, 2025 at 4:15 pm ET · Gabe Brooks]

4-star SAF Kaden Gebhardt signs with Ohio State

Our eval: Strong add (7/10)

Ohio State's gain also marked a major blow to Clemson's 2026 class, to which Gebhardt had been committed since March. The Buckeyes landed a top 10 class​ (No. 7), while Clemson hangs onto top 20 status (No. 19). The four-star safety gives Ohio State a top 25 player​ at his position and a top 12 prospect​ in the state of Ohio.

Gebhardt is one of Ohio State's eight defensive back-seven signees​, including six defensive backs. Gebhardt could provide some personnel versatility as a natural forward-oriented safety who could grow into a more traditional off-ball linebacker in the long run.

Ohio State's overall defensive haul is quite impressive. Of the Buckeyes' 15 highest-rated signees, 13 are defensive players. All of those own four-star grades​ on 247Sports.

[Dec 3, 2025 at 3:56 pm ET · Gabe Brooks]

4-star WR Trez Davis signs with Washington

Our eval: Strong add (7/10)

Longtime Tulane pledge Trez Davis, a Top247 four-star​ receiver, signed with Washington, cementing an excellent group of wideouts​ for the Huskies' No. 13-ranked recruiting class. Davis represented 247Sports' highest-rated prospect without a Power Four offer even before committing to Tulane in June. He rose into the Top247 rankings​ a couple of weeks ago: No. 182 overall​, top 25 among receivers​, and No. 6 overall in Louisiana​.

Washington signed seven Top247 members, including one five-star (OT Kodi Greene​) and six four-stars, three of whom are receivers in Davis, Jordan Clay​, and Mason James​. Davis and Clay were flipped in the final 36 hours leading to National Signing Day. James committed in mid-June to the Huskies. The three Top247 receiver signees complement quite well.

Davis gives Washington a chunk-play threat as a vertical field stretcher whose athleticism is honed on the basketball court and in track and field, including an outstanding 48-foot, 11-inch Louisiana 5A regional championship-winning triple jump rep. Clay is a big outside receiver who overwhelms defenders with size, strength, and ball-winning fire. James is a classic slot threat with high-level route-running acumen derived from sudden redirection that also aids run-after-catch playmaking.

[Dec 3, 2025 at 1:31 pm ET · Gabe Brooks]

4-star SAF Matt Sieg signs with West Virginia

Our eval: Strong add (8/10)

Top247 four-star​ safety Matt Sieg flipped from Penn State to West Virginia​ on National Signing Day to mark yet another finish-line loss for the Nittany Lions, while landing the Mountaineers their No. 1 recruit in the 2026 class​. As of noon CST Wednesday, West Virginia cracked the national top 30​ in the 247Sports Team Recruiting Rankings with a haul headlined by two of the top five player​s in the state of Pennsylvania in Sieg and four-star offensive lineman Kevin Brown​.

This fall, Sieg set all-time records for touchdowns, rushing yards, and scrimmage yards in the storied Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League. Sieg's multi-phase playmaking ability accompanies a four-sport athletic profile that includes baseball, basketball, and track and field. Ranked third overall​ in the state of Pennsylvania, Sieg is the Top247's No. 11-ranked safety​, and sits just outside the top 100 at No. 104 overall​.

[Dec 3, 2025 at 12:53 pm ET · Gabe Brooks]

4-star WR Kayden Dixon-Wyatt signs with USC

Our eval: Strong add (8/10)

Longtime Ohio State commit Kayden Dixon-Wyatt flipped his commitment on National Signing Day to USC, which pushed the Trojans to the nation's No. 1 recruiting class as of noon CST Wednesday. Ranked No. 47 overall​ in the Top247, Dixon-Wyatt is much higher nationally per 247Sports compared to the rest of the industry. Director of Scouting Andrew Ivins compares Dixon-Wyatt to former five-star and current Ohio State star Carnell Tate.

"An advanced route runner with an explosive lower half that can shake defensive backs and snap back to the quarterback," Ivins said. "Attacks the football in flight with his bounce while elite tracking skills allow him to make necessary adjustments when running underneath deep shots."

Dixon-Wyatt's flip to USC​ certainly has a lot to do with longtime Buckeyes receiver guru Brian Hartline taking the head coaching job at USF. Instead of heading to the Midwest, the nation's No. 6 receiver​ and a top five overall prospect​ in the Golden State stays home to play for the Trojans.

[Dec 3, 2025 at 12:27 am ET · Gabe Brooks]

3-star WR Kervin Johnson Jr. flips to Ole Miss

Our eval: Strong add (7/10)

High-ceiling wideout Kervin Johnson Jr., who committed earlier in fall to LSU, flipped to Ole Miss on Tuesday to give new head coach Pete Golding his first pledge. Johnson, graded with the highest three-star rating (89)​ on 247Sports, may need some developmental patience at the next level, but possesses immense long-term upside as a high-flying hooper who transfers that athleticism to the gridiron.

Johnson bolsters that athletic profile with high jumps, long jumps, and triple jumps. That explosiveness shows in pads, where Johnson displays vertical field-stretching ability and ball-winning acumen in contested situations. The 6-foot-2, 200-pounder gives Ole Miss the No. 16 overall prospect​ in the state of Louisiana's strong 2026 recruiting cycle.

Despite the turmoil with Lane Kiffin's departure to LSU, Ole Miss holds 17 commitments​ as National Signing Day looms. With Golding already named permanent head coach, one can expect some degree of continuity with the staff, which should help Ole Miss in its quest to retain targets. Johnson, though, represents a quality pickup with ample potential once he's ready to play.

[Dec 3, 2025 at 12:02 am ET · Gabe Brooks]

4-star TE JC Anderson flips to LSU

Our eval: Solid depth (6/10)

Longtime Ole Miss commit JC Anderson, a four-star tight end from Illinois​, flipped to LSU on Tuesday​, marking the third commitment, and highest-ranked of that trio, since Lane Kiffin took over the Tigers. Anderson joined high three-star receiver Brayden Allen​, a former Oklahoma pledge, and high three-star offensive lineman Ryan Miret​, another ex-Ole Miss pledge.

"Stretch tight end with some Y potential. Big target with a big catch radius that can make high-flying grabs on the perimeter and down in the red zone," said Andrew Ivins, 247Sports director of scouting. "Not a top-end burner, but a subtle route runner with a longer stride that flashes some suddenness as he builds speed."

LSU sits at 15 commitments​ on National Signing Day Eve. The Tigers' signing class is a long way from solidified, but of the 15 pledges, all but four own four-star grades (or better) on 247Sports​, including the top two players in Louisiana in five-star defensive linemen Lamar Brown​ and Richard Anderson​. Speaking of those two, they have added some drama down the stretch​ by reportedly intending on delaying their signing, while remaining verbally committed to LSU. Kiffin and Co. must retain that duo.

[Dec 2, 2025 at 11:37 pm ET · Gabe Brooks]

3-star EDGE Malique Franklin commits to Alabama

Our eval: Solid depth (6/10)

New Alabama high three-star​ edge commit Malique Franklin is the type of prospect who could really pay off down the road. Franklin assembled a highly productive senior season with 98 tackles, 23 for loss, and 11 sacks in 12 games, showcasing raw but explosive movement patterns that fostered effort- and athleticism-based playmaking abilities.

Depending on his exact measurements, Franklin could potentially fit multiple roles and personnel groupings. His basketball experience and shot put participation bolster his athletic profile and represent multi-sport factors we see see encouragingly often in this type of potentially high-ceiling defender.

Franklin joins an Alabama class ranked No. 2 in the country​ on National Signing Day Eve. The Crimson Tide stands at 24 commitments​, a quarter of those coming from within state borders, such as Franklin. He will need some time to hone his craft and continue his physical development, but the long-term payoff should be worth it.

[Dec 2, 2025 at 11:00 pm ET · Gabe Brooks]

4-star WR Jordan Clay flips to Washington

Our eval: Strong add (8/10)

Baylor's once-promising 2026 recruiting class has fallen apart in the past week. The latest defection: Jordan Clay, a Top247 four-star​ receiver who flipped Tuesday to Washington. A top 20 wideout​ in the class, Clay also resides in the top 20 overall​ in the state of Texas, and No. 129 overall​ in the 2026 Top247 rankings.

Clay possesses excellent size and consistent aerial playmaking ability that could make him a red-zone terror at the next level. He approaches 6-foot-3 and north of 200 pounds, and live evaluations have revealed an imposing perimeter weapon who overwhelms smaller defenders with size and strength.

Washington now boasts six top 150 overall prospects​ in the 2026 Top247 rankings​ as the Huskies assemble a stellar class that has breached the top 15 nationally​. Ten of their 23 commitments own grades of 90 or better​, including five-star offensive tackle Kodi Greene​.

[Dec 2, 2025 at 9:03 pm ET · Gabe Brooks]

5-star QB Jared Curtis flips to Vanderbilt

Our eval: Game-changer (10/10)

Longtime Georgia pledge Jared Curtis flipped his commitment Tuesday​ to Vanderbilt, picking the hometown Commodores as his college destination. Calling the recruiting win for Vanderbilt seismic is an understatement. Curtis, a Top247 five-star ​quarterback, is the No. 3 overall prospect​ in the 2026 Top247 rankings, and would qualify as Vandy's highest-ranked recruit in modern history.

Andrew Ivins, 247Sports director of scouting, provides some insight into what Clark Lea and his staff will get in the Nashville Christian standout:

"Regularly makes things happen off-script, but can also play within structure as he works through his progressions and looks off defenders. Will punish defenses that bite on play-action with his ball placement, especially when looking deep. Might not have faced the highest level of competition during prep career, but was the X factor multiple times on bigger stages and heads to college with more than 45 starts under his belt."

Curtis joins a trio of four-star commitments in Vanderbilt's 20-player class​, which has cracked the top 30 nationally. The 6-foot-3 1/2, 225-pound QB could push for early playing time considering his volume of live reps and his relatively older age in the 2026 recruiting cycle. Coincidentally, Curtis is Vandy's only in-state commitment, as the Commodores have hit 13 different states for their 20 pledges, led by a six-player Texas contingency.

[Dec 2, 2025 at 2:52 am ET · Gabe Brooks]

4-star SAF Bralan Womack flips to Mississippi State

Our eval: Game-changer (9/10)

Typically, calling a safety commit a "game-changer" may hyperbolic, but Bralan Womack, the No. 2 prospect in the state of Mississippi​, could legitimately start from Day 1 at Mississippi State. A late August commitment to Auburn, Womack flipped Monday to the home-state Bulldogs, who added their second four-star commitment in their 26-player class​, which sits just outside the top 30 nationally​.

Womack is a classic ballhawk safety who thrives in coverage situations, including those that require singling up on receivers. He sees the field with an awareness and processing ability beyond his years, which reflects in his 16 career high school interceptions. Womack could provide roster value in the secondary thanks to his coverage ability, which should translate to multiple safety roles, nickel, and perhaps even cornerback.

Mississippi State looks to Womack as a potential immediate impact player for a defensive unit that finished next-to-last in the SEC in total defense and scoring defense (only Arkansas ranked lower in each). The No. 39 overall prospect​ in the 2026 Top247 rankings, Womack gives Mississippi State a true blue-chip, homegrown prospect to represent the keystone of this 2026 recruiting class.

[Dec 1, 2025 at 10:46 pm ET · Gabe Brooks]

Arkansas lands trio of in-state 4-stars: DL Danny Beale, DL Anthony Kennedy Jr., RB Terry Hodges

Our eval: Strong add (8/10)

Ryan Silverfield's new staff at Arkansas looked to gain some in-state goodwill with a handful of quality additions Monday, when the Razorbacks landed Top247 four-star​ defensive lineman Danny Beale, four-star​ D-lineman Anthony Kennedy Jr.​, and four-star running back Terry Hodges​. Arkansas also grabbed a pledge from high three-star​ linebacker Jakore Smith​, another in-state prospect who recently decommitted from Oklahoma.

Beale and Kennedy are the type of massive interior defensive bodies you must collect to compete in the SEC. Beale pushes 6-foot-5, 325 pounds with a strong two-way on-field profile that includes tight end and offensive line reps, plus basketball and track and field in his athletic background. Also nearly 6-foot-5 and north of 300 pounds, Kennedy possesses excellent length and a similar basketball-plus-track and field athletic profile.

Hodges reminds us of Texas running back Tre Wisner at the same stage of development, but perhaps with a bit more open-field speed. Hodges ran a 10.73-second 100-meter time as a sophomore to verify that top-end gear. Beale, Hodges, and Kennedy are Arkansas' highest-ranked commitments​, but sitting at 55th nationally in the 247Sports Team Recruiting Rankings, the Razorbacks still have plenty of work to do to keep pace with their SEC brethren.

[Dec 1, 2025 at 12:14 am ET · Gabe Brooks]

4-star OT Justin Morales flips to Arizona

Our eval: Strong add (8/10)

El Paso-area four-star​ offensive tackle Justin Morales flipped his commitment Sunday from Kansas State to Arizona, making for a major addition for the Tucson-based Wildcats and a significant loss for those in the Little Apple. Morales, whose strong senior season and continued improvement warranted a bump to four-star status​ within the past two weeks, gives Arizona a potentially position-versatile offensive lineman with the movement ability to play outside and the bulking capacity to provide roster value at guard.

Morales marks Arizona's sixth four-star​ commitment in the Cats' 2026 class​, which sits at No. 32 nationally and fourth in the Big 12 Conference. Morales joins in-state pledge Malachi Joyner​ as Arizona's pair of four-star offensive line commitments. Like Morales, Joyner is a potentially roster-flexible O-line piece as well. Arizona is on track to finish with its best recruiting class since 2022, when it signed the nation's 25th-ranked group​ headlined by Tetairoa McMillan.

[Nov 30, 2025 at 11:34 pm ET · Gabe Brooks]

4-star CB Jamarion Vincent flips to Michigan

Our eval: Strong add (7/10)

Baylor lost its second longtime Top247 four-star commitment​ in as many days Sunday, when cornerback Jamarion Vincent flipped his pledge to Michigan​. Vincent, a top 175 overall prospect​ in the 2026 class, gives Michigan a long, lean, wiry athlete with layered on-field experience and an overall football and athletic profile that points to immense long-term potential.

Vincent's high-volume offensive reps can make for an initial learning curve, but a high developmental ceiling, based on what we have seen among defensive backs and the NFL Draft in recent years. The data says Vincent is a gifted prospect who could become a pro prospect in the next few years. Though quite thin, he's a legitimate 6-foot-2 with excellent length for the position, along with testing, track and field, and basketball context that reinforces the athleticism seen in pads.

Vincent has played both sides of the ball for Waco (Texas) Connally, which has emerged in the past few years as a talent-producing Class 4A program in the Lone Star State. Former Top247 four-star safety Jelani McDonald​, now a stalwart in Texas' secondary, previously played quarterback at Connally. Connally also produced former Top247 four-star cornerback Kobe Black​ (Texas) and Longhorn running back Tre Wisner​, who played his senior year of high school at Dallas-area football factory DeSoto High School.

[Nov 29, 2025 at 7:21 pm ET · Gabe Brooks]

4-star DL Jamarion Carlton flips to Texas

Our eval: Solid depth (6/10)

Texas flipped Top247 four-star defensive lineman Jamarion Carlton from Baylor on Saturday to punctuate a weekend for the Longhorns that featured noteworthy commitments across multiple classes and a major rivalry upset of previously undefeated Texas A&M. Carlton, fresh off a five-sack season for the second year in a row, is a top 25 defensive line prospect​ nationally and a top 25 overall recruit​ in the talent-laden state of Texas. The Longhorns move to No. 7 nationally​ in the 247Sports Team Recruiting Rankings, which put Texas third in the SEC​.

Carlton's flip to Texas provides the Longhorns with a developmental front-line defender who could become a major impact player once he enhances his technique, rush arsenal, and football awareness. He flashes sudden power and owns a stellar athletic profile that includes highlight-reel basketball finishes. But Carlton likely needs time to develop before becoming a starter-caliber high-major D-line piece.

While Carlton's commitment marks a significant addition for Texas, his decommitment represents a critical loss for Baylor's class. Carlton, from Temple High in Central Texas, was a backyard get for the Bears, who lost Saturday's season finale at home to Houston to miss bowl eligibility. With only a few days before National Signing Day, Baylor now must protect its class with the potential for other programs to lay siege to the Bears' top commitments​.

[Nov 29, 2025 at 6:54 pm ET · Gabe Brooks]

3-star CB Sean Johnson flips to Maryland

Our eval: Solid depth (6/10)

Maryland flipped longtime Florida State commit Sean Johnson on Friday, giving the Terps a high three-star cornerback (89 rating on 247Sports​) who is ranked in the top 50 nationally​ at his position. Johnson is Maryland's third commitment in the past week, though the Terps still sit outside the top 50 ​in the 247Sports Team Recruiting Rankings.

Johnson is a former teammate of Maryland starting quarterback Malik Washington​, a former Top247 four-star at Severn (Md.) Archbishop Spalding. Johnson has played a lot of snaps at a few different spots, from safety to nickel to corner. He wears the CB label from a projection standpoint, but could very well wind up playing safety or nickel in the long run. Johnson's position versatility could make for valuable roster flexibility and might create a quicker path to the field, especially considering his consistent tackling ability.

[Nov 29, 2025 at 5:55 pm ET · Gabe Brooks]

3-star OT Max Wright commits to SMU

Our eval: Solid depth (6/10)

Longtime Texas pledge Max Wright flipped to SMU on Friday, coincidentally the same day Texas beat previously undefeated rival Texas A&M. Wright, rated with a high three-star grade (88)​ on 247Sports, will instead stay close to home in the DFW Metroplex for a Mustang program ranked 28th nationally in the 247Sports Team Recruiting Ranking, as well as sixth in the 17-team ACC​.

Wright possesses significant long-term potential thanks to his verified measurables. He lives in the 6-foot-6 to 6-foot-7 range with a wingspan approaching 7 feet. His naturally higher center of gravity can be exploited by leverage-oriented power in the run game, but Wright's strength capacity -- as well as his potential as a pass protector given the natural orbit he possesses -- should be quite high given his physical tools.

[Nov 29, 2025 at 5:08 pm ET · Gabe Brooks]

3-star EDGE PJ Takitaki commits to Utah

Our eval: Strong add (7/10)

New Utah high three-star​ commit PJ Takitaki gives the Utes a talented edge defender who could become a factor as a rusher and a run defender. While his sack total noticeably dropped in 2025, Takitaki's play did not. A deeper look into the tape shows an athletic, urgent edge presence who flashes sudden dip-and-bend flexibility, accompanied by valuable two-way snaps as a blocking tight end/H and some off-ball linebacker reps as well.

Takitaki should fit into Utah's existing defensive scheme nicely at one of the end spots once he's ready to contribute. Utah's 16 commitments​ feature a quartet of four-stars, then Takitaki as the fifth highest-ranked player in the class. He's the fifth player from inside state borders, with four of those native Utahns accounting for 80 percent of those top five-rated commitments.

[Nov 29, 2025 at 2:38 pm ET · Gabe Brooks]

4-star WR Jayden Petit commits to Oklahoma

Our eval: Strong add (8/10)

Top247 four-star​ receiver Jayden Petit, a national top 100 overall prospect​, committed Thanksgiving Day to Oklahoma, which landed Petit's commitment not long after he decommitted from Wisconsin. Petit eclipsed 1,500 receiving yards and grabbed 23 TD catches in a stellar senior year that recently pushed him to No. 93 overall in the 2026 Top247 rankings​, which put him in the top 15 receivers​ in the country and top 12 overall​ in talent-rich Florida.

"Big, fluid receiver who has what it takes to emerge as a go-to target on Saturdays with his ball skills and body control," said Andrew Ivins, 247Sports director of scouting. "Showcases the ability to get open all over the field as he can stretch defenses vertically or strain them at the intermediate level with his catch radius and sudden movements. Hoops background frequently shows up on tape in mid-air adjustments and ability to fight for positioning in 50-50 situations."

Oklahoma's 25-player class​ boasts three Top247 top 100 commitments, including Petit. The Sooners' top two commitments in the class are both from the state of Florida, followed by two players from Texas and a duo from California. Petit's combination of size and functional athleticism could mean that he gets into the rotation as a big outside target sooner than later.

[Nov 29, 2025 at 2:58 pm ET · Gabe Brooks]

3-star LB Dane Bathurst commits to Oklahoma

Our eval: Solid depth (6/10)

Oklahoma grabbed a high three-star​ linebacker commitment Friday from Dane Bathurst, a potentially role-versatile defender who played his senior year at Carmel (Ind.) after moving from Tampa (Fla.) Plant. Verified at 6-foot-3, 230 pounds, Bathurst owns above average length and experience as a two-point rush linebacker and an off-ball 'backer.

That variety of experience could come in handy in college. Bathurst's heavy reps as a rusher have resulted in a burgeoning move set that includes counters, spins, and secondary rush nuance. That said, Bathurst's size and pursuit conviction would fit a traditional Mike linebacker role as well. Bathurst finished his senior campaign with 65 tackles, 12 for loss, and seven sacks as he showcased his versatility.

Having said that, Bathurst's commitment marks OU's only 2026 pledge who wears a linebacker label, so the second level may be his ultimate destination with the Sooners. Oklahoma sits at 25 commitments​ and No. 14 nationally​. Seven of those commitments are defensive linemen or edge defenders.

[Nov 29, 2025 at 2:32 pm ET · Gabe Brooks]

3-stars Pierce Petersohn (TE), Marlen Bright (OT), and Roseby Lubintus (OT) commit to Virginia Tech

Our eval: Strong add (7/10)

James Franklin's Virginia Tech squad landed a pair of Thanksgiving Day high three-star​ offensive tackle pledges, both of whom were previously committed to Penn State: Marlen Bright​ and Roseby Lubintus​. The combination of those two giant-framed tackle additions equals a strong addition to the Hokies' class, which continues to pick up steam since Franklin joined the program. VT has landed four commitments in the past five days​; those four players are four of the Hokies' six highest-rated commitments in its 12-player class.

In addition to Bright and Lubintus, Virginia Tech also nabbed high three-star​ tight end Pierce Petersohn​ on Thanksgiving Day. Petersohn has played quarterback and gotten defensive reps, but the lean, athletic Minnesota native projects as a pass-catching developmental tight end prospect with outstanding athletic markers that include above-the-rim basketball ability and a catalog of impressive track and field numbers, including a 6-foot-10 high jump.

All three of these high three-star prospects​ represent high-upside additions who may not play immediately, but possess immense long-term developmental potential. Entering a Virginia Tech program under a new regime that will retool the roster means these types of traitsy recruits should have time to blossom in Blacksburg.

[Nov 26, 2025 at 6:04 pm ET · Gabe Brooks]

3-star SAF Markel Ford flips to Oklahoma

Our eval: Solid depth (6/10)

SMU suffered a significant blow to its 2026 recruiting class when high three-star​ safety Markel Ford flipped his commitment Wednesday to Oklahoma, which gets a long-established, respected defensive prospect who raises the floor of almost any safety group.

After facing transfer eligibility jeopardy entering his senior year, Ford played the final five games of Mesquite (Texas) Horn's 2025 season and made a major impact on both sides of the ball. Ford logged 18 tackles and two interceptions on defense, and caught 14 passes for 367 yards and six touchdowns on 26.2 yards per grab.

The ball skills and awareness fostered by those multi-phase snaps project particularly well to the secondary. Ford has gotten extensive experience playing elite high school competition at the Texas Class 6A level in the DFW Metroplex. He reminds us a bit of former Top247 four-star safety Jaydan Hardy​, who has collected 11 tackles, one interception, and one forced fumble in 2025, his true sophomore season with the Sooners.

[Nov 26, 2025 at 5:54 pm ET · Gabe Brooks]

3-star LB Rocky Cummings commits to Texas

Our eval: Solid depth (6/10)

Texas landed a commitment Wednesday from longtime Cal pledge Rocky Cummings​, a high three-star linebacker from Carlsbad (Calif.) High School. Cummings (89 rating on 247Sports​) represents a savvy addition for the Longhorns as a larger-framed off-ball linebacker prospect who possesses extensive two-way snaps, a quality seen over and over in defensive back-seven NFL Draft selections.

Cummings possesses elite combine testing athleticism in agility and explosion events. Untapping that quick-twitch ability in pads will raise his already-high ceiling. He originally was a 2025 prospect before re-classifying for 2026; however, Cummings is still young for the 2026 cycle with an April 2008 DOB.

Texas boasts plenty of capable bodies at the linebacker spots who could be back in 2026, so Cummings probably won't be asked to provided heavy snaps early. Having said that, Cummings' on-field experience, physical traits, and natural athleticism point to being able to hold his own if he's needed sooner.

[Nov 26, 2025 at 5:41 pm ET · Gabe Brooks]

3-star OL Brady Bekkenhuis commits to Wisconsin

Our eval: Solid depth (6/10)

New Wisconsin commit Brady Bekkenhuis is the type of offensive lineman who could really pay off if given the proper time to develop before being forced into action. Bekkenhuis, who owns the highest three-star rating (89)​ on 247Sports, brings an intense field demeanor to Wisconsin's class, in addition two heavy two-way snaps at multiple spots on each side of the trenches.

Bekkenhuis wears an OT label, but could certainly wind up playing guard in the long term. He has gotten ample reps this fall at right tackle, right guard, and left guard as an enforcer of a run-game presence who drive blocks and finishes with vigor. Coming from a run-oriented offense, Bekkenhuis lacks ideal volume in the pass protection category, but possesses the size functional athleticism to become a quality blocker in that department.

Furthermore, Bekkenhuis boasts a strong athletic profile that enhances the two-way on-field background. He has played baseball and also competed in wrestling, which we see frequently among NFL Draft selections on the line of scrimmage and even periodically mid-skill positions. The "solid depth" label on the evaluation has more to do with the hope that Bekkenhuis gets to develop technically and physically before getting on the field, rather than a limited long-term ceiling, because he certainly possesses significant potential down the road. He's now the fourth highest-rated prospect in Wisconsin's 14-player 2026 class​.

[Nov 26, 2025 at 4:29 pm ET · Gabe Brooks]

3-star CB Julian Peterson commits to North Carolina

Our eval: Strong add (7/10)

North Carolina landed two commitments Wednesday, headlined by cornerback Julian Peterson​, who owns the highest three-star rating (89)​ on 247Sports. Peterson is a box-checking developmental corner with experience in multiple phases, height and frame length, and encouraging verified athleticism in a combine setting.

Peterson's commitment preceded another high three-star pledge from receiver Kymistrii Young, a longtime Purdue commit who flipped to the Tar Heels​. The duo pushes North Carolina to a whopping commitment total of 38​. UNC sits at No. 17 nationally​ on the 247Sports Team Recruiting Rankings.

North Carolina's almost 40 pledges indicate Bill Belichick and staff's desires to remake the roster after a disappointing 2025 season. You never expect a majority of true freshmen to impact games, but Peterson is the type of young newcomer who could get on the field when considering his combination of physical and athletic traits, plus North Carolina's need for playmakers.

[Nov 25, 2025 at 9:43 pm ET · Gabe Brooks]

4-star ATH Messiah Mickens commits to Virginia Tech

Our eval: Strong add (7/10)

James Franklin's Virginia Tech recruiting class added a significant piece Tuesday, when four-star athlete Messiah Mickens -- a former Penn State commit -- pledged to the Hokies. Mickens could play either side of the ball at the P4 level, but all signs point to him playing running back at VT. Mickens represents the first commitment for the Hokies​ since the announcement of Franklin's hiring.

From the backfield, Mickens employs effective, subtle hesitations and redirections to create room to run. He's a natural football player with impressive production in multiple phases, including a 16.5-sack junior season, and his combination of requisite physical tools and above average functional athleticism raise the floor of a running back room.

Mickens' long-term ceiling may be higher on defense, especially in today's game that allows for more position-less second-level defenders who blend off-ball linebacker and safety qualities to stay on the field in all situations. Nevertheless, Mickens' production -- he's approaching 4,000 career rushing yards, per MaxPreps -- and verified athleticism on the track (11.36 100 as a sophomore) and in a combine setting point to plenty of upside on offense.

[Nov 24, 2025 at 8:39 pm ET · Gabe Brooks]

3-star SAF Tayten Duncan commits to Iowa State

Our eval: Solid depth (6/10)

Tayten Duncan's commitment to Iowa State comes as no surprise if you are familiar with the Cyclones' propensity to find high-caliber back-seven defenders who thrive on instincts, motor, and physicality. Duncan led Mustang (Okla.) in tackles (90) through a 10-game regular season and helped his squad to the Oklahoma Class 6A-I quarterfinals.

A glance at Iowa State's defensive depth chart suggests the possibility for a healthy number of returning back-seven defenders in 2026, but that's not necessarily a negative for a player in Duncan's situation. Iowa State is the type of program that often succeeds developing his type of prospect: In our opinion, an under-the-radar gem as a high three-star​ safety who's a relatively lightly-offered recruit, but becomes a late-cycle P4-caliber commodity right before National Signing Day.

[Nov 24, 2025 at 8:27 pm ET · Gabe Brooks]

4-star RB Jonathan Hatton Jr. flips to Oklahoma

Our eval: Strong add (8/10)

Four-star running back Jonathan Hatton Jr., the No. 5 RB​ in the nation per the 2026 Top247 rankings​, flipped his commitment Monday from Texas A&M to Oklahoma. The move marks Hatton's second commitment to the Sooners, to whom he was previously pledged prior to his switch to the Aggies.

Ranked No. 100 overall in the Top247 rankings​, Hatton has enjoyed a stellar senior season. The 2025 season has been Hatton's best to date, in our opinion, and continues this weekend as Hatton's Cibolo (Texas) Steele squad enters the third round of the Texas Class 6A Division I postseason. He's averaged more than eight yards per carry, and while that's not a career-high number, the explosiveness Hatton has proven in a combine setting has shown most clearly on the field in 2025.

Oklahoma's running back room has been a strange story this year. Former Top247 No. 1 RB Taylor Tatum has virtually not played. Coveted transfer Jaydn Ott, a former four-star in his own right, has not played in a month and a half and played lightly before that. OU averages only 3.8 yards per carry as a team. Freshman four-star Tory Blaylock and 240-pound sophomore Xavier Robinson, a former high three-star, have gotten the most reps, to mixed results. All of this suggests touches are available in 2026, which is good news for Hatton.