Top-rated ACC commits at each position in the 2026 class

When it comes to recruiting in the ACC, the big three — Clemson, Florida State and Miami — continue to do quite well on the trail. Others in the conference are trying to make their presence felt, too.

The Tigers, Seminoles and Hurricanes all currently have a top-15 class in the 2026 cycle, according to the Rivals Industry Team Recruiting Rankings. When you expand to the top 30 classes, an additional three ACC programs are featured.

Many of the programs looking to break through have made a splash or two this cycle thanks to landing major blue-chip commitments. The biggest example came on July 5 when Syracuse won out for Opa Locka (Fla.) Northwestern five-star wide receiver Calvin Russell, the nation’s No. 28 overall prospect.

As those recruits begin their senior seasons, Rivals looks at which ACC schools hold the highest-rated commitments by position group:

QB — Travis Burgess (North Carolina)

School: Grayson (Ga.)
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 190 NATL. (No. 14 QB)
The Skinny: Playing for one of the top high school football programs in Georgia, Burgess saw his stock soar this summer heading into his senior campaign. He impressed at the Elite 11 Finals and eventually landed blue-chip status. He chose UNC over NC State, Auburn and others on May 21, giving Bill Belichick and the Tar Heels another big piece to their top-20 recruiting class. Grayson is off to a 2-0 start this fall.

RB — Christian Rhodes (SMU)

School: Lake Highlands (Texas)
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 186 NATL. (No. 15 RB)
The Skinny: One of the more underrated commitments this cycle, SMU nabbed Rhodes back in early February and the 6-foot-1, 200-pounder continues to look like one of the top burners in the Lone Star State and beyond. He headlines the pledge list for head coach Rhett Lashlee and looks to be fully locked in with the local ACC program. SMU currently owns the nation’s No. 23 class this cycle.

WR — Calvin Russell (Syracuse)

School: Northwestern (Fla.)
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 28 NATL. (No. 4 WR)
The Skinny: Syracuse was long considered a top contender for Russell this summer, but not many were taking Fran Brown and the Orange seriously as his July commitment drew nearer. Buzz continued to grow, and on July 5, he shocked plenty by picking the Orange over Michigan and other powerhouse programs. He remains in the mix for Brown and Co., but his recruitment is far from shut down. He’s set to visit Miami and the Hurricanes will be a team to watch this fall. For now, though, Russell is a landmark recruiting win for Syracuse.

TE — Israel Briggs (Miami)

School: Redwood (Calif.)
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 138 NATL. (No. 8 TE)
The Skinny: Miami identified Briggs as a top target at the tight end position this cycle. He backed off an early pledge to Arizona State and the Hurricanes began to trend from there until he jumped in the mix in Coral Gables on June 24. A top-20 prospect in California, the 6-foot-3.5, 205-pounder is currently the third highest-ranked commit in Miami’s class that currently ranks No. 11 in the Rivals Industry Team Recruiting Rankings.

OT — Jackson Cantwell (Miami)

School: Nixa (Mo.)
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 3 NATL. (No. 1 OT)
The Skinny: Georgia and Oregon emerged as the other true top contenders in Cantwell’s recruitment, but arrows began to point toward Coral Gables in the final weeks before he pledged on May 13. Head coach Mario Cristobal, vaunted OL coach Alex Mirabal have an immediate-impact tackle coming to campus next season. The 6-foot-7.5, 315-pounder is the son of two USA Olympians and is also an elite shot put thrower in his own right. Cantwell is a landmark tackle prospect and the clear jewel of Miami’s 2026 class. He remains the No. 1 overall prospect in the Rivals300.

IOL — Leo Delaney (Clemson)

School: Providence Day (N.C.)
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 110 NATL. (No. 5 IOL)
The Skinny: Clemson has one of, if not the top offensive line haul in the 2026 cycle. Headlining the six OL recruits in the fold for head coach Dabo Swinney, OL coach Matt Luke and Co. is Delaney, a 6-foot-5, 275-pounder out of North Carolina. The No. 9 recruit in the state, Delaney chose the Tigers on June 4. He plays for an elite high school program in North Carolina; Providence Day enters the 2025 season as the No. 6 team in the state, per the Rivals Composite Rankings.

EDGE — Jordan Campbell (Miami)

School: Northwestern (Fla.)
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 185 NATL. (No. 23 EDGE)
The Skinny: Now at Miami high school powerhouse Northwestern for his senior campaign, Campbell remains locked in with the Hurricanes after committing all the way back in November of 2023. Other teams continue to push, notably Florida State, Auburn and Nebraska. He reaffirmed his loyalty to Miami earlier this month in an interview with Rivals’ Marcus Benjamin. Campbell is the No. 25 prospect in the Sunshine State this cycle.

DL — Earnest Rankins (Florida State)

School: Cedar Grove (Ga.)
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 97 NATL. (No. 9 DL)
The Skinny: Amidst Florida State’s red-hot run of recruiting wins this summer, it landed a commitment from Rankins, the No. 6 prospect in Georgia per the Rivals300. Checking in at 6-foot-4 and 260 pounds, Rankins chose the Seminoles over Auburn, Georgia, Ohio State and other big-time offers. He remains locked in with head coach Mike Norvell and Co. heading into the fall and will continue to bolster his stock as a senior for Cedar Grove.

LB — Izayia Williams (Florida State)

School: Tavares (Fla.)
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 61 NATL. (No. 3 LB)
The Skinny: Everyone is aware of Williams’ recruitment at this point. Louisville, Syracuse, Florida State, Florida, Ole Miss and now Florida State again have held his commitment. Despite the topsy-turvy process, he remains Rivals’ top-ranked linebacker prospect in 2026 and looks primed to make an immediate impact at the next level. He told Rivals after flipping back to FSU that his recruitment is now shut down, but it remains to be seen where he’ll sign when December rolls around. He’s worked to come back from injury for his senior season this fall.

CB — Chauncey Kennon (Florida State)

School: Booker (Fla.)
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 27 NATL. (No. 2 CB)
The Skinny: Heading into his final season of high school football, Kennon has emerged as one of the top corners in the nation this cycle. He now checks in as the No. 3 recruit in the Sunshine State and is locked in with the Seminoles after a July 6 commitment. He chose FSU over Miami, Florida, Georgia and LSU. Kennon was named a preseason High School All-American by Rivals’ Andy Villamarzo earlier this month.

S — Kentavion Anderson (Clemson)

School: Dorman (S.C.)
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 86 NATL. (No. 7 S)
The Skinny: Perhaps the lynchpin of Clemson’s 2026 class, Anderson locked in with the in-state school in the middle of May and remains the second highest-ranked commit for Swinney and the Tigers. He’s the top-ranked recruit in South Carolina and announced at the end of July that his recruitment is now shut down. South Carolina, North Carolina and Michigan were other contenders in his process back in the spring.