As college football teams prepare for Saturday’s games, the recruiting landscape for the class of 2026 is set to intensify. With only thirty-two days remaining until the early signing period from December 3-5, programs across the nation are making their final pushes to secure top prospects. This time of year sees significant movement as uncommitted players and potential flips visit campuses, aiming to finalize their decisions before the close of the regular season.
Vanderbilt has made headlines by intensifying its recruitment efforts for five-star quarterback commit Jared Curtis from Georgia. The Commodores, currently ranked ninth nationally, are focusing on convincing Curtis to stay close to home, positioning him as the successor to quarterback Diego Pavia. Despite Vanderbilt’s aggressive outreach, sources indicate that Curtis’s commitment to the Bulldogs remains solid. After briefly decommitting last fall, Curtis reaffirmed his commitment in May and intends to sign with Georgia in December, with plans to enroll in early 2026.
Program insiders express confidence in Curtis’s continued commitment, citing his belief in Georgia’s potential for personal growth and championship contention. Additionally, Curtis recently showcased his talent, throwing six touchdowns in a game attended by Georgia’s offensive coordinator, Mike Bobo. While Vanderbilt’s efforts are commendable, insiders suggest that they may have entered the recruitment race too late to sway Curtis significantly.
Quarterback Market Developments
Beyond the Curtis situation, the quarterback market for the 2026 class is largely taking shape. Most Power 4 programs have secured at least one quarterback commitment, yet a few intriguing prospects remain available. One such player is four-star passer Tradon Bessinger, who recently decommitted from Boise State. Bessinger, ranked as the ninth-best pocket passer by ESPN, has garnered interest from several schools, including BYU, Iowa, and UCLA. He has scheduled an official visit to BYU on November 15.
Bessinger noted his desire to play early in his college career, emphasizing that he prefers not to sit behind established stars at major programs. Another uncommitted quarterback is Troy Huhn, who previously pledged to Penn State before reopening his recruitment on October 16. Huhn is closely monitoring the coaching landscape, particularly the future of former Penn State coach James Franklin.
The quarterback market could see additional shifts if coaching changes occur in November, affecting several ESPN 300 quarterbacks, including Kayd Coffman from Michigan State and Peyton Falzone from Auburn. Programs such as BYU, Iowa, and Stanford are actively seeking to bolster their quarterback rosters.
Implications of Coaching Changes for Top Recruits
The firing of Brian Kelly at LSU has created uncertainty within the Tigers’ recruiting class, particularly concerning the nation’s top prospect, Lamar Brown. As a highly sought defensive tackle from Erwinville, Louisiana, Brown’s commitment is pivotal for LSU’s recruiting efforts. Despite the upheaval, sources indicate that Brown is likely to remain committed to LSU, influenced by his strong ties to the program and the opportunity to play at Tiger Stadium.
While Texas A&M and Miami have reached out to Brown since Kelly’s departure, insiders expect him to continue with LSU, especially if he signs in December. This decision could also stabilize the rest of the Tigers’ recruiting class, which currently consists of 18 prospects, with 12 from Louisiana.
Another notable recruit, four-star running back Messiah Mickens, has reopened his recruitment following the firing of Penn State’s coach. Mickens is exploring options with programs including Georgia, Miami, and Oklahoma, looking for a coaching staff that can help develop his talent.
As the recruiting frenzy continues, particularly for wide receivers, several prospects have recently decommitted and are drawing significant interest. Among them, Davion Brown, who recently pulled his commitment from Penn State, is now a top target for Indiana, Kansas State, and Maryland.
The next few weeks will be critical as college football teams approach the early signing period. With major decisions looming for top prospects, the focus will be on how coaching changes impact recruitment and which schools will capitalize during this pivotal recruiting stretch.
