Rating Large Ten soccer recruiting courses: USC, Ohio State make massive splash

Now that spring observe and the following switch portal window are formally within the rearview mirror, the epicenter of faculty soccer will start to shift towards conventional highschool recruiting — at the least for the subsequent handful of weeks till the juices of fall camp start to stream. 

Between at times, nevertheless, coaches and recruiting staffers will traverse the nation for what stays of the contact interval that started on April 15 and runs by way of Might 24. That is when groups could make in-person, off-campus recruiting visits and conduct dwell evaluations of potential signees en path to the formulation of their 2026 recruiting courses. And again on campus, the place extra recruiting camps are held, many groups arrange their official go to home windows round hyped-up summer season weekends in Might and June, which implies scores of verbal commitments usually comply with. 

As issues presently stand, USC leads each the Large Ten and the game at giant within the ’26 recruiting race after head coach Lincoln Riley reconfigured his recruiting division over the winter, resulting in an attention-grabbing splash of verbal pledges. The Trojans have earned almost twice as many commitments as anybody else in faculty soccer so far within the cycle. That units the stage for one of the urgent questions between now and the early signing interval in December: Who within the convention, if anybody, will catch them?

Here is a team-by-team have a look at every class within the Large Ten utilizing information from the 247Sports Composite (up to date on the morning of 5/7/24): 

1. USC (No. 1 nationally)

Whole commitments: 27Average prospect rating: 91.99

5 stars: 1Four stars: 15Three stars: 10

Greatest prospect: Xavier Griffin, linebacker, Gainesville Excessive Faculty in Gainesville, Georgia (No. 24 total, No. 2 LB)

There’s a protracted strategy to go between now and the early signing interval, at which level USC will hope to make all of its verbal commitments official, however the Trojans have made a formidable assertion up to now. The progress started in the course of the offseason when Riley overhauled his personnel division with a sequence of splashy, high-priced hires in new basic supervisor Chad Bowden from Notre Dame, new government director of personnel and scouting Dre Brown from Illinois, new assistant athletic director of recruiting operations Zaire Turner from Notre Dame and new government director of participant personnel Max Stienecker from Wisconsin. Collectively, they’ve put collectively a category that has 12 extra commitments than anybody else within the nation and is tinged with a distinctly California taste — one thing that wasn’t at all times current in Riley’s first few recruiting hauls. The 15 verbal pledges from in-state prospects symbolize this system’s highest complete since former coach Steve Sarkisian inked 20 Californians in 2015. 4-star cornerback RJ Sermons (No. 33 total, No. 2 CB) from Rancho Cucamonga Excessive Faculty is the top-rated native recruit. 

2. Ohio State (No. 3 nationally)

Whole commitments: 12Average prospect rating: 92.91

5 stars: 2Four stars: 8Three stars: 2

Greatest prospect: Chris Henry Jr., broad receiver, Mater Dei Excessive Faculty in Santa Ana, California (No. 11 total, No. 2 WR)

The 2026 recruiting cycle is an fascinating one for the Buckeyes, who’re concurrently the defending nationwide champions and a program nonetheless adjusting to vital modifications on head coach Ryan Day’s workers. There are new coordinators on each side of the ball in Brian Hartline (offense) and Matt Patricia (protection), to not point out noteworthy newcomers at quarterbacks coach, the place Billy Fessler was elevated from an analyst position, and offensive line coach, the place Tyler Bowen was added from Virginia Tech after two seasons because the Hokies’ offensive coordinator. In traditional Hartline vogue, Ohio State’s present batch of commitments is headlined by two of the highest 15 broad receivers within the nation in Henry and his Mater Dei teammate Kayden Dixon-Wyatt (No. 107 total, No. 15 WR), who made his pledge official in early Might. However essentially the most noteworthy additions is perhaps four-star offensive tackles Maxwell Riley (No. 128 total, No. 8 OT) and Sam Greer (No. 148 total, No. 13 OT), two in-state prospects at a place the Buckeyes have struggled to recruit in latest cycles. Ohio State doesn’t have any commitments from quarterbacks within the 2026 cycle. 

3. Penn State (No. 4 nationally)

Whole commitments: 15Average prospect rating: 89.89

5 stars: 0Four stars: 9Three stars: 6

Greatest prospect: Kevin Brown, offensive sort out, Harrisburg Excessive Faculty in Harrisburg, PA (No. 48 total, No. 5 OT)

In what’s shaping as much as be one other robust recruiting haul for Penn State, whose final 4 courses all landed among the many prime 15 nationally, head coach James Franklin has constructed this group round a handful of in-state prospects. An early pledge from Brown, the four-star offensive sort out, gave the Nittany Lions a dedication from the state’s highest-rated prospect for a fifth straight yr, following within the footsteps of operating again Nicholas Singleton in 2022, offensive sort out J’ven Williams in 2023, inside offensive lineman Cooper Cousins in 2024 and tight finish Andrew Olesh in 2025. The 4 prime recruits in Penn State’s 2026 class hail from Pennsylvania, with Brown being joined by four-star tailback Messiah Mickens (No. 160 total, No. 13 RB), four-star security Matt Sieg (No. 198 total, No. 16 S) and four-star quarterback Peyton Falzone (No. 238 total, No. 17 QB). The Nittany Lions additionally added a second quarterback in four-star recruit Troy Huhn (No. 267 total, No. 19 QB) from San Marcos, California, which supplies them two signal-callers in the identical cycle for the primary time since 2022. 

4. Illinois (No. 9 nationally)

Whole commitments: 13Average prospect rating: 87.70

5 stars: 0Four stars: 1Three stars: 12

Greatest prospect: Cam Thomas, linebacker, Lakota West Excessive Faculty in West Chester Township, Ohio (No. 325 total, No. 24 LB)

Momentum from this system’s first 10-win season since 2001 appears to be carrying over to the recruiting path, the place head coach Bret Bielema is on tempo to signal his greatest class since taking on this system 5 years in the past. The Illini have already got verbal commitments from 4 gamers ranked among the many prime 500 nationally in Thomas, linebacker Tony Williams (No. 435 total, No. 33 LB), operating again Javari Barnett (No. 461 total, No. 31 RB) and offensive sort out Casey Thomann (No. 475 total, No. 42 OT) after signing simply three such gamers during the last two cycles mixed. However the place Bielema has struggled to search out success, at the least up to now, is with among the higher-rated native prospects. Thomann, who’s the state’s Eleventh-best participant, represents the Illini’s prime dedication from an in-state recruit at a time when Large Ten rivals USC and Iowa have mixed to garner pledges from three of Illinois’ prime 9 recruits total. One of the best participant within the state, four-star tight finish Mack Sutter, stays uncommitted. 

5. Washington (No. 18 nationally)

Whole commitments: 10Average prospect rating: 88.40

5 stars: 1Four stars: 3Three stars: 6

Greatest prospect: Kodi Greene, offensive sort out, Mater Dei Excessive Faculty in Santa Ana, California (No. 22 total, No. 4 OT)

Issues are trending in a optimistic route for second-year head coach Jedd Fisch, whose recruiting efforts are on monitor to enhance for the third time in as many cycles. His preliminary class, which needed to be thrown collectively rapidly after a last-gasp teaching transfer from Arizona, checked in at No. 47 nationally and No. 14 within the Large Ten for 2024. And his second recruiting class, which was put collectively amid a 6-7 debut season, soared to No. 23 within the nationwide rankings and No. 7 within the Large Ten thanks to 5 gamers ranked among the many prime 400 total. Now, Fisch’s present group is headlined by Greene, a mammoth offensive sort out who was beforehand dedicated to archrival Oregon from August 2024 to April of this yr. If Greene stays with Washington, he’ll be this system’s sixth-best signee within the recruiting rankings period behind fellow five-star prospects Shaq Thompson, Reggie Williams, Nathan Rhodes, Sam Huard and Matt Tuiasosopo. The Huskies even have a dedication from the top-rated participant in Washington — four-star edge rusher Derek Colman-Brusa (No. 161 total, No. 18 edge) — for the third time within the final 4 years. 

6. Oregon (No. 21 nationally)

Whole commitments: 7Average prospect rating: 92.80

5 stars: 1Four stars: 4Three stars: 2

Greatest prospect: Keandre Harrison, tight finish, Reidsville Excessive Faculty in Reidsville, North Carolina (No. 13 total, No. 1 TE) 

A comparatively modest place for Oregon within the nationwide recruiting rankings displays the small variety of verbal commitments secured by head coach Dan Lanning and his workers. However by way of common prospect rating, which analyzes the general high quality of every dedication, the Geese rank fourth nationally behind solely LSU (94.73), Alabama (94.03) and Ohio State (92.91). It is because 4 of Oregon’s seven verbal commitments are rated among the many prime 215 gamers within the nation, a quartet headlined by Harrison and supplemented by operating again Tradarian Ball (No. 61 total, No. 4 RB), defensive lineman Tony Cumberland (No. 96 total, No. 10 DL) and linebacker Tristan Phillips (No. 215 total, No. 15 LB). Harrison’s pledge provides Oregon a five-star recruit on the ability positions for the third time within the final 4 years, becoming a member of five-star wideouts Dakorien Moore in 2025 and Jurrion Dickey in 2023. Total, the Geese’ common prospect rating of 92.80 is in line with the lofty normal Lanning has set since arriving three years in the past: 90.78 in 2022, 90.90 in 2023, 92.19 in 2024 and 94.37 in 2025. 

7. Iowa (No. 23 nationally)

Whole commitments: 9Average prospect rating: 88.56

5 stars: 0Four stars: 4Three stars: 5

Greatest prospect: Hudson Parliament, defensive position, Brandon Valley Excessive Faculty in Brandon, South Dakota (No. 229 total, No. 15 IOL)

Given the model of soccer that head coach Kirk Ferentz likes to play, it ought to come as no shock that the three greatest prospects in Iowa’s 2026 recruiting class ply their commerce within the trenches. Along with Parliament, who has energy lifting and wrestling in his background, the Hawkeyes earned commitments from four-star offensive sort out Carson Nielsen (No. 269 total, No. 24 OT) and four-star inside offensive lineman Gene Riordan (No. 283 total, No. 21 IOL) to offer them three gamers rated among the many prime 300 nationally. The lingering query is at quarterback, the place Iowa has lacked stability for the reason that departure of Nate Stanley following the 2019 season. Each quarterbacks that Ferentz signed within the 2023 and 2024 cycles — Marco Lainez III and James Resar, respectively — have since entered the switch portal, which leaves the Hawkeyes skinny on the sport’s most essential place. Their 2026 class features a verbal dedication from three-star quarterback Money Herrera (No. 763 total, No. 45 QB), whose solely different Energy 4 presents got here from Minnesota, UCLA and Virginia Tech. 

8. Minnesota (No. 26 nationally)

Whole commitments: 10Average prospect rating: 87.68

5 stars: 0Four stars: 2Three stars: 7

Greatest prospect: Andrew Trout, offensive sort out, Rocori Excessive Faculty in Chilly Spring, Minnesota (No. 276 total, No. 26 OT)

Minnesota bounced again from a disappointing 2023 marketing campaign during which it completed beneath .500 to fabricate this system’s fifth successful season in eight years beneath head coach P.J. Fleck, who’s now 6-0 in bowl video games. The Gophers’ upward trajectory has sparked a powerful begin to this cycle on the recruiting path, the place Fleck has already earned verbal commitments from seven gamers ranked among the many prime 800 prospects within the nation. By comparability, Fleck’s 2025 class, which completed No. 48 total, solely included 5 signatures from recruits in that very same vary. Minnesota has by no means completed with a top-30 class within the Fleck period, relationship to 2017, and the Gophers final completed that feat in 2008 beneath former coach Tim Brewster. The ’08 class was bolstered by 5 junior faculty gamers rated among the many prime 75 within the nation for that individual cycle. 

9. Rutgers (No. 33 nationally)

Whole commitments: 8Average prospect rating: 88.26

5 stars: 0Four stars: 3Three stars: 4

Greatest prospect: Dyzier Carter, broad receiver, Louisa County Excessive Faculty in Mineral, Virginia (No. 199 total, No. 31 WR)

Again-to-back seven-win seasons have allowed head coach Greg Schiano to regular the ship amid his second tenure with the Scarlet Knights, bouncing again from a rocky three-year stretch (2020-22) during which he solely gained six convention video games and by no means completed higher than fifth within the Large Ten East. A median prospect rating of 88.26 close to the halfway level of this cycle places Rutgers forward of schedule relative to its 2025 class, which completed thirty third nationally, this system’s highest mark since touchdown twenty third in 2012. Carter, the jewel of this yr’s group, is the third-best broad receiver to hitch the Scarlet Knights within the recruiting rankings period, trailing solely four-star prospect Ahmir Mitchell in 2016 and four-star prospect Leonte Carroo in 2012. Carter holds extra scholarship presents from Florida State, Georgia, Miami, Michigan, Penn State and Tennessee, amongst others, which may make his pledge tough to maintain because the recruiting cycle progresses.

10. Indiana (No. 35 nationally)

Whole commitments: 7Average prospect rating: 87.54

5 stars: 0Four stars: 1Three stars: 6

Greatest prospect: Henry Ohlinger, operating again, Grandview Heights Faculty in Columbus, Ohio (No. 320 total, No. 18 RB)

It was at all times going to be fascinating to investigate the recruiting footprint of head coach Curt Cignetti after he relied so closely on transfers from his earlier cease, James Madison, to retool Indiana’s roster getting into the 2024 season. A yr in the past, the Hoosiers put collectively a recruiting class that featured only one highschool prospect ranked among the many prime 500 in four-star security Byron Baldwin Jr. (No. 257 total, No. 20 S). Solely three different gamers signed by Indiana ranked among the many prime 750 prospects. However Cignetti’s 2026 class already contains commitments from three top-500 gamers and 4 within the prime 750 with Ohlinger joined by three-star security Lawrence Timmons (No. 466 total, No. 35 S), three-star cornerback Kasmir Hicks (No. 494 total, No. 41 CB) and three-star inside offensive lineman Samuel Simpson (No. 657 total, No. 56 IOL). The Hoosiers haven’t completed within the prime half of the Large Ten’s recruiting rankings since they wound up fifth in 2022 beneath former coach Tom Allen. 

11. Wisconsin (No. 43 nationally)

Whole commitments: 6Average prospect rating: 87.29

5 stars: 0Four stars: 0Three stars: 6

Greatest prospect: Carmelow Reed, defensive position, Wealthy Township Excessive Faculty in Olympia Fields, Illinois (No. 520 total, No. 58 DL)

Regardless of signing a one-year extension in February that retains him beneath contract by way of the 2031 season, head coach Luke Fickell is definitely feeling the strain after failing to achieve a bowl sport final fall, snapping this system’s run of twenty-two consecutive postseason appearances. Not solely has Fickell struggled to provide outcomes on the sector, the place the Badgers are 13-13 since he took over, however he’s additionally discovered it considerably tough to make inroads on the recruiting path. Fickell’s firstclass ranked 59th nationally in 2023; his second class improved to twenty third in 2024; and his third held pretty regular at twenty seventh in 2025. However none of these teams cracked the Large Ten’s prime six in any given yr, and the Badgers’ present haul has slipped into the underside half of the convention. Wisconsin doesn’t have a single dedication from a participant ranked among the many prime 500 nationally getting into a vital summer season cycle of official visits. 

12. Michigan (No. 44 nationally)

Whole commitments: 5Average prospect rating: 89.89

5 stars: 0Four stars: 3Three stars: 2

Greatest prospect: Brady Smigel, quarterback, Newbury Park Excessive Faculty in Newbury Park, California (No. 80 total, No. 7 QB)

Had been it not for the April dedication from Smigel, who selected the Wolverines over Florida State, Ohio State, Oregon and Washington, followers might need began to grouse over the state of Michigan’s 2026 class. Smigel is this system’s solely commit from a participant ranked among the many prime 270 nationally, and he’s one in every of solely three pledges ranked among the many prime 400 total — a stark distinction from the eight top-400 recruits who signed to play for head coach Sherrone Moore in a 2025 haul that ranked sixth total. The highest finish of Moore’s final class featured six gamers rated among the many prime 150, together with a number of at premium positions like quarterback, offensive sort out and cornerback, which meant the group was robust sufficient to purchase him a reprieve from skeptics amid an up-and-down season on the sector. That grew to become exceedingly clear as soon as five-star quarterback Bryce Underwood, the nation’s No. 1 total participant, flipped from LSU on Nov. 21. It’s price noting, nevertheless, that Michigan is with out an in-state dedication for 2026 at a time when six of the state’s prime eight gamers are already dedicated to different packages, together with three to Notre Dame, two to Iowa and one to Georgia. 

13. Purdue (No. 45 nationally)

Whole commitments: 6Average prospect rating: 86.41

5 stars: 0Four stars: 0Three stars: 6

Greatest prospect: Corin Berry, quarterback, Constitution Oak Excessive Faculty in Covina, California (No. 576 total, No. 33 QB)

The expectations surrounding first-year head coach Barry Odom shouldn’t be significantly excessive contemplating his predecessor, Ryan Walters, completed 1-11 total and 0-9 within the Large Ten final season. So, whereas it’s true that Walters, who’s now the defensive coordinator at Washington, put collectively a strong recruiting class in 2024 (No. 27 total) after stumbling out of the gates in 2023 (No. 70 total), the on-field product remained caught in a vicious tailspin for a lot of his tenure Up to now, Odom has targeted most of his consideration on flipping the present roster forward of the 2025 marketing campaign. He’s added 51 gamers by way of the switch portal — greater than every other staff within the nation — and will proceed to buy within the coming weeks and months earlier than fall camp. Because of this, his 2026 recruiting class is off to a tepid begin with solely three pledges from gamers rated among the many prime 1,000 nationally. Berry was beforehand dedicated to Boston School earlier than flipping to Purdue in early April. 

14. Maryland (No. 52 nationally)

Whole commitments: 4Average prospect rating: 90.48

5 stars: 1|4 stars: 0Three stars: 3

Greatest prospect: Zion Elee, edge rusher, St. Frances Academy in Baltimore, Maryland (No. 6 total, No. 1 edge rusher)

As soon as once more, Maryland head coach Mike Locksley continues to display how potent the Terrapins may be on the recruiting path, even after successful only a single Large Ten sport final fall. Just one week had elapsed since Maryland was stomped, 44-7, by then-No. 4 Penn State on Nov. 30 when Elee, an elite edge rusher from a soccer powerhouse, gave Locksley a verbal dedication. 5 months later, Elee stays the highest-rated prospect dedicated to any college within the Large Ten and, if he winds up signing with the Terrapins, can be this system’s third five-star recruit in six years following broad receiver Rakim Jarrett in 2020 and linebacker Terrence Lewis in 2021. Throughout that very same span, Michigan, which reached the School Soccer Playoff in three straight seasons and gained a nationwide championship, has added 4 five-star recruits. However solely sporadically has the on-field product at Maryland matched the caliber of expertise Locksley and his workers are attracting, a truth amplified by this system’s six alternatives on this yr’s NFL Draft. 

15. UCLA (No. 55 nationally)

Whole commitments: 4Average prospect rating: 89.21

5 stars: 0Four stars: 2Three stars: 2

Greatest prospect: Jonah Smith, broad receiver, Santa Margarita Catholic Excessive Faculty in Rancho Santa Margarita, California (No. 344 total, No. 55 WR)

Head coach DeShaun Foster scored the most important recruiting victory of his comparatively transient tenure when former five-star quarterback Nico Iamaleava transferred from Tennessee to UCLA earlier this spring. A local of Lengthy Seaside, California, the place he starred for Warren Excessive Faculty, Iamaleava provides Foster a serious recruiting piece round which he can pitch extra in-state prospects. And whereas the 4 gamers in Smith’s 2026 recruiting class had been pledged to the Bruins earlier than Iamaleava got here into the fold, it’s price noting that every one of them are broad receivers rated among the many prime 70 gamers within the nation at their place: Jonah Smith (No. 343 total, No. 55 WR), Jaron Pula (No. 387 total, No. 61 WR), Kenneth Moore III (No. 422 total, No. 67 WR) and Kennan Pula (No. 425 total, No. 68 WR). So long as Iamaleava performs effectively — and sticks round for multiple season — the longer term on that facet of the ball is brightening for first-year offensive coordinator Tino Sunseri. 

Will there be extra ‘hold-outs’ in the way forward for faculty soccer?

16. Nebraska (No. 57 nationally)

Whole commitments: 4Average prospect rating: 88.15

5 stars: 0Four stars: 1Three stars: 3

Greatest prospect: CJ Bronaugh, cornerback, Windermere Excessive Faculty in Winter Backyard, Florida (No. 106 total, No. 13 CB)

It’s no shock to see Nebraska’s highschool recruiting lagging barely behind after making such an enormous funding within the switch portal this winter. Head coach Matt Rhule added six of the highest 200 gamers within the portal when the Cornhuskers signed former Kentucky wideout Dane Key (No. 33 total), former Missouri defensive lineman Williams Nwaneri (No. 35 total), former Alabama offensive sort out Elijah Pritchett (No. 47 total), former Oklahoma linebacker Dasan McCullough (No. 119 total), former Notre Dame offensive lineman Rocco Spindler (No. 133 total) and former California wideout Nyziah Hunter (No. 192 total). By way of conventional highschool recruits, Bronaugh is the one commit rated among the many prime 700 gamers within the nation getting into the essential summer season visiting season. Three-star quarterback Dayton Raiola (No. 1,118 total, No. 80 QB), who’s the youthful brother of beginning quarterback Dylan Raiola, gave Nebraska a verbal pledge final September. 

17. Michigan State (No. 58 nationally)

Whole commitments: 4Average prospect rating: 87.67

5 stars: 0Four stars: 1Three stars: 3

Greatest prospect: Kayd Coffman, quarterback, East Kentwood Excessive Faculty in Grand Rapids, Michigan (No. 295 total, No. 22 QB)

At this level, the shortage of recruiting fireworks from second-year head coach Jonathan Smith, previously of Oregon State, might be a bit regarding for Michigan State followers. Smith’s first recruiting class, in 2024, ranked forty second nationally and solely included two gamers ranked among the many prime 450 total. His second recruiting class, in 2025, slipped to 57th within the nationwide rankings and solely included one participant among the many prime 450 prospects. The story in 2026 appears to be extra of the identical with Coffman, who selected the Spartans over extra scholarship presents from Iowa State, Ole Miss, Duke and Syracuse, amongst others, being the one commit ranked among the many prime 550 nationally. If high-end prospects aren’t committing, Smith will want his returning gamers to make vital leaps ahead in 12 months 2 for the sake of constructing an attractive recruiting pitch round participant growth. In any other case, the Spartans are in actual hassle. 

18. Northwestern (No. 65 nationally)

Whole commitments: 3Average prospect rating: 86.98

5 stars: 0Four stars: 0Three stars: 3

Greatest prospect: Joshua Sims, cornerback, Pearl-Cohn Excessive Faculty in Nashville, Tennessee (No. 582 total, No. 53 CB)

This is a vital cycle for third-year head coach David Braun, whose Wildcats took a major step again final fall (4-8 total, 2-7 Large Ten) after a resilient 2023 marketing campaign following the offseason firing of longtime head coach Pat Fitzgerald. These days, Northwestern’s roster has been picked aside by high-major packages within the switch portal as cornerback Theran Johnson (No. 202 total) went to Oregon and inside offensive lineman Josh Thompson (No. 16 total) went to LSU in latest months — one yr after quarterback Brendan Sullivan went to Iowa, cornerback Jaheem Joseph went to West Virginia, cornerback Rod Heard II went to Notre Dame and inside offensive lineman Josh Priebe went to Michigan. Changing that many starters gained’t be straightforward for Braun and his workers, evidenced by the gradual begin to 2026 recruiting. Not one of the Wildcats’ commits are rated among the many prime 550 gamers within the nation. 

Michael Cohen covers faculty soccer and faculty basketball for FOX Sports activities. Observe him at @Michael_Cohen13.

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