Top committed running backs in the 2026 class

The busiest four weeks of the recruiting calendar — official visit season — is nearly upon us, but almost a dozen of the country’s top running back recruits have already made their college commitments.

We’re certain to see some flips and decommitments, but with limited spots available in high school recruiting these days, prospects are locking down their spots earlier than ever. The nation’s top four running backs remain uncommitted, but a few already have summer commitment dates scheduled as well.

Below are the top 10 committed running backs in the 2026 class:

Tradarian Ball – Oregon

School: Texas High (Texarkana, TX)
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 61 (#5 RB)
Notable quote: “I talked to my family about it they agreed with it,” Ball told On3’s Steve Wiltfong upon making his commitment public. “I talked to my coaches and (former Oregon standout running back and Texarkana native) LaMichael James was a huge impact in this too. So I put a lot of trust in the coaches there and I’m ready to be a Duck.” … “Just the excitement about the school,” he said. “Coach Lanning is a great head coach. He’s a great coach all-around.”

Jonathan Hatton Jr. – Texas A&M

School: Steele (San Antonio, TX)
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 81 (#6 RB)
Notable quote: “I have had this feeling for a while,” Hatton told On3’s Chad Simmons. “Texas A&M has been high on my list for some time, but I would say I knew 100% of my decision around a month and a half ago. I wanted to make sure and the more I thought about it, the more clear it became. Earlier this year, it just became clear Texas A&M was the place for me.”

Javian Osborne – Notre Dame

School: Forney (Forney, TX)
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 111 (#8 RB)
Notable quote: “When you think of Notre Dame, it starts with the football program of course but then it’s the life after football,” Osborne told Blue & Gold about why he picked the Irish before announcing his decision. “The Notre Dame degree holds a lot of weight. It doesn’t get any better than Notre Dame.”

Jonaz Walton – Notre Dame

School: Central (Carrollton, GA)
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 131 (#10 RB)
Notable quote: “When I first visited there, I felt a different vibe about the campus,” Walton told Blue & Gold before going public with his commitment. “If you’ve been there, you know what I’m talking about. It’s a different place — the prestige and they’re a great football team as well as an awesome school academically. You can’t find that at such a high level in many other places than Notre Dame.”

Shahn Alston – USC

School: Harvey (Painesville, OH)
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 140 (#11 RB)
Notable quote: “They highlighted the big things I was looking for,” he told On3’s Chad Simmons when he committed. “They took me to business classes and explained to me that they have one of the top business schools in America. In the meetings, they told me that I’ll be in classes with future CEOs and business owners every single day. They made it more personal. In some of the meetings I had with coaches, they put on my film and asked questions about my family. The visit definitely helped me make my decision.” 

Damarius Yates – Ole Miss

School: Kemper County (De Kalb, MS)
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 141 (#12 RB)
Notable quote: “The way that they treat my family like they’d treat their family,” Yates told On3’s Billy Embody upon his decision. “Also, they made sure I’m good on everything that I need. … “My Ole Miss visit was great. I liked their players, the way their scheme is. The offensive scheme that they run. The brotherhood that they have. Basically, it’s a great place to be. They’re my No. 1 pick right now.”

Deshonne Redeaux – USC

School: Oaks Christian (Los Angeles, CA)
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 154 (#13 RB)
Notable quote: “USC has always been there, and when they realized they couldn’t let me slip away late last year, things changed with them,” Redeaux told On3. “Once they turned it up and made me feel I couldn’t leave home and that there was no need for me to go anywhere else, USC became that school for me. … They laid out their plan, they showed me that USC had everything for me and that I could be a difference-maker early in the program. They showed me I was wanted; things changed.” — Redeaux to On3’s Chad Simmons

Messiah Mickens – Penn State

School: Harrisburg (Harrisburg, PA)
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 169 (#14 RB)
Notable quote: “I committed to that school for a reason, and I never wanted to be that kid who committed to three different schools,” Mickens told BWI. “I committed to that school for the tradition and me being a kid in this state, it does mean a lot to me to play for my hometown school. Plus, they’ve been making it known that they want me there.”

Christian Rhodes – SMU

School: Lake Highlands (Dallas, TX)
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 193 (#17 RB)
Notable quote: “It was very exciting. This is actually my second time being up here. I went to last time’s junior day. Whenever I was here (first), I was the only running back here. Going through it and seeing it a second time really like made me like realize to narrow down some of the choices I want to make for college.” — Rhodes to On3’s Billy Embody on visiting before he committed in February

Javian Mallory – Miami

School: West Boca Raton (Boca Raton, FL)
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 298 (#20 RB)
Notable quote: “One of the biggest reasons that I chose Miami was because that is the school I believe I will be able to come in and compete day one at for a very impactful role on the team,” Mallory told On3’s Chad Simmons. “I also fit in perfectly with their offensive scheme and not just that, but I also fit into their culture as well.