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USA Today
13 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Where Clemson landed in ESPN's updated 2026 recruiting rankings after June official visits
June's slate of official visits is now in the rearview, and while Clemson football awaits several key recruiting decisions, ESPN has released its latest 2026 class rankings — with the Tigers still firmly in the national mix. Clemson checks in at No. 6 overall in ESPN's updated rankings, sliding down two spots from the previous edition. Still, the Tigers remain one of the top programs in the country with 10 ESPN 300 commitments already in the fold. The current class continues to show strong momentum, especially after a fast-paced March that reshaped the outlook of Clemson's 2026 haul. 'Clemson is coming off a College Football Playoff appearance, but the Tigers are still chasing the heights of their mid-2010s success under Dabo Swinney, and their 2025 class ranked just 37th in the country,' ESPN's Craig Haubert wrote. 'Their 2026 group is looking more promising, especially after a red-hot March in which Swinney landed eight verbals, including five ESPN 300 commits.' Four-star defensive lineman Keshawn Stancil is scheduled to announce on June 28, followed by five-star lineman Bryce Perry-Wright on July 4. Both are highly sought-after targets who would significantly boost the Tigers' already strong defensive class. Nationally, USC holds the top spot with 17 ESPN 300 commitments. Texas A&M (13), Notre Dame (14), Georgia (12), and Ohio State (13) round out the Top 5. Within the ACC, Miami sits at No. 8 with nine ESPN 300 pledges, while Florida State has surged to No. 10 after previously being outside the Top 25, now holding eight ESPN 300 commits. Other ACC teams in the Top 25 include North Carolina (No. 18), Cal (No. 19), SMU (No. 20), and Louisville (No. 25). Syracuse, meanwhile, took the biggest drop after a quiet visit period, falling 12 spots to No. 22 with just one ESPN 300 recruit. As more summer decisions roll in, Clemson is well-positioned to stay among the nation's elite — and potentially climb even higher in the coming weeks. Contact us @Clemson_Wire on X, and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Clemson Tigers news and notes, plus opinions.
USA Today
14-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Where Clemson lands in ESPN, experts' updated 2026 college football recruiting rankings
Where Clemson lands in ESPN, experts' updated 2026 college football recruiting rankings ESPN college football recruiting analyst Craig Haubert updated his class of 2026 recruiting rankings on Wednesday. For the Clemson Tigers, no news is good news as Dabo Swinney's 2026 class holds at No. 5 overall in ESPN's recruiting rankings. Wide receiver Naeem Burroughs remains ESPN's top-ranked offensive recruit for Clemson, while defensive tackle Kameron Cody is ranked the Tigers' top defensive recruit. Burroughs, a four-star recruit out of The Bolles School in Jacksonville, is ranked the sixth best receiver in the 2026 class and the No. 48 player overall by On3. On3 ranks Cody, a 6-foot-3, 280-pound lineman out of Benedict Military School in Savannah (Ga.) the 33rd best defensive lineman in the 2026 class. Clemson ranks behind the USC Trojans, who top the industry's 2026 recruiting rankings at No. 1, with Ohio State at No. 2 and Notre Dame at No. 3. Penn State moved into the top five at No. 4 in ESPN's rankings while the team the Nittany Lions replaced in the top five, the LSU Tigers, dropped six spots to No. 10. LSU recently lost four-star receiver Jakai Anderson, who flipped to SMU over the weekend. Where do Clemson rivals sit in 2026 football recruiting rankings? Within the ACC, the Syracuse Orange are the only other ACC program to crack ESPN's top 10 at No. 7. Fran Brown, entering his second year at Syracuse after guiding the school to a 10-win season in 2024, won recruiting battles in Florida against Florida State, USF and others for Top 100 EDGE Kamron Wilson and Top 100 OT Javeion Cooper. ESPN lists Cooper and Wilson as Syracuse's top recruits for 2026. Miami moved up five spots to No. 12 in ESPN's updated rankings after landing Jackson Cantwell, a five-star offensive tackle from Missouri that's ranked the nation's No. 1 overall player in 247Sports' Composite Recruiting Rankings. North Carolina and first-year coach Bill Belichick land just below Miami at No. 13, while Louisville is No. 14. Further back, Florida State lands at No. 18. Where Clemson football ranks in 247Sports, On3 recruiting rankings for 2026 247Sports : No. 5 nationally, 0 five-stars, 6 four-stars, 8 three-stars. : No. 5 nationally, 0 five-stars, 6 four-stars, 8 three-stars. On3 : No. 10 nationally, 0 five-stars, 10 four-stars, 4 three-stars. : No. 10 nationally, 0 five-stars, 10 four-stars, 4 three-stars. Rivals: No. 4 nationally, 0 five-stars, 10 four-stars, 4 three-stars. Clemson football 2026 commitments Clemson has 14 total commitments in its 2026 recruiting class as of May 14. Contact us @Clemson_Wire on X, and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Clemson Tigers news and notes, plus opinions.
USA Today
04-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Clemson stands tall in ESPN's first Top 25 rankings for the 2026 recruiting class
Clemson stands tall in ESPN's first Top 25 rankings for the 2026 recruiting class Clemson's 2026 recruiting class is off to a blazing start, landing at No. 3 in ESPN's newly expanded Top 25 rankings — behind only USC and Ohio State. 'Clemson is coming off a College Football Playoff appearance, but still chasing its peak years under Dabo Swinney,' ESPN's Craig Haubert said. 'Their 2026 class looks far more promising than 2025's, especially after a huge March that brought in eight commits — five of them from the ESPN 300.' The class leans heavily on offense, headlined by four-star WR Naeem Burroughs, ranked 15th nationally at his position. Clemson also has two more Top 25 receivers in Connor Salmin and Gordon Sellars, plus four-star offensive linemen Grant Wise and Adam Guthrie. Dual-threat QB Tait Reynolds is another key piece, rated an 80 and viewed as a potential successor to Cade Klubnik. Seven Clemson commits so far have earned grades of 80 or higher. The Tigers are the highest-ranked ACC team, with Syracuse next at No. 9. South Carolina sits at No. 16, just behind. Notably, Georgia and Alabama haven't cracked the Top 25 yet. Clemson's next big wave of visits comes May 30, setting the stage for more momentum. Contact us @Clemson_Wire on X, and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Clemson Tigers news and notes, plus opinions.
USA Today
26-01-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Where does ESPN rank Penn State's 2022 recruiting class three years later?
Penn State had its best run at a National Championship in two decades this season, making it to the playoff semifinals before falling short against Notre Dame. Like most teams even in the new NIL landscape of college football, their success can be primarily attributed to excellent recruiting classes over the last few seasons. Coach James Franklin has been criticized for many things during his tenure, but one thing nobody can say is that he isn't a phenomenal recruiter. His classes have ranked inside the top 20 every season since 2015 according to 247Sports. That consistent success in recruiting has led to six double-digit win seasons during his time as head coach. Of all his great classes, the 2022 class has been the lynchpin of their most successful stretch in decades. ESPN's Craig Haubert recently looked back at the 2022 class and reranked them, listing Penn State's class as the second-best in the country. Only fellow Big Ten powerhouse Michigan ranks above them on his list. The class makes up most of Penn State's best players from this past season. Quarterback Drew Allar, running backs Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen, defensive ends Abdul Carter and Dani Dennis-Sutton, safety Kevin Winston Jr., and offensive linemen Drew Shelton and Vega Ioane are some impact players from a stacked group. That's without factoring in transfers Chop Robinson, Hunter Nourzad, and Mitchell Tinsley, all of whom are currently in or at some point made the NFL. Other contributors like corner Cam Miller, QB Beau Pribula, defensive lineman Zane Durant, and receiver Omari Evans round out a tremendous class. Not every player was able to make a huge impact, but several home run signings have elevated the program to the heights they are enjoying now. With Allar, Singleton, Allen, Dennis-Sutton, Shelton, and others returning for 2025, the 2022 class still has time to add even more to their already impressive resume. With some believing that Penn State could be the top team in the country next season, a National Championship could be what makes this class one of the best to ever come through Happy Valley. Follow Nittany Lions Wire on X, Facebook, and Threads.
