10 big-time recruits that committed to non-traditional powers

The world of college football recruiting is often predictable: five-star athletes commit to five-star programs, perpetuating cycles of dominance. We’re used to seeing programs like Alabama and Georgia land the nation’s top talent. But when a player with offers from every major program chooses to play for a school outside the traditional power structure, it creates a buzz throughout the sport. Here are detailed scouting reports from Rivals national analyst Cody Bellaire of 10 big-time 2026 commits who surprised the nation by choosing to play their college ball at non-traditional powers.

5-star EDGE Zion Elee – Maryland commit

School: St. Frances Academy (Baltimore)
Rivals Ranking: No. 2 NATL (No. 1 EDGE)

Scouting Summary: “At 6-foot-3, 220-plus pounds with over 35-inch arms, Zion Elee is built different. Combine his mutant build with his absurd athletic testing and impressive production and you have something Maryland fans potentially haven’t seen flying off the edge since Yannick Ngakoue. Elee has a chance to become an impact rusher in year one and develop into a dominant three-down player down the line as he continues to add mass throughout his frame and become more stout in the run game.” – Rivals national scout Cody Bellaire

5-star OT Kelvin Obot – Utah commit

School: Fruitland (Fruitland, Idaho)
Rivals Ranking: No. 7 NATL (No. 2 OT)

Scouting Summary: “Kelvin Obot was recently named a Rivals five-star and for good reason. He’s nearly 6-foot-6, 300 pounds with over 34-inch arms and has immense raw power and movement skills. He’s thrown over 54-feet in the shot put and has received tremendous coaching at the position from his head high school coach, Jordan Gross, the former top-10 pick by the Carolina Panthers and most importantly, the former Utah Ute. Obot has all the physical and athletic tools to walk in and compete for a starting job at the next level.” – Bellaire

4-star OT Felix Ojo – Texas Tech commit

School: Lake Ridge (Mansfield, Texas)
Rivals Ranking: No. 40 NATL (No. 7 OT)

Scouting Summary: “Felix Ojo has one of the highest ceilings of any tackle in the country due to his frame and athletic ability. The nearly 6-foot-7, 275 pounder has a super athletic build and excellent foot speed for the tackle position. Plus, with a July birthday, he could technically be a 2027 prospect due to not turning 18 until the summer going into his freshman college season. Texas Tech is betting on the long-term development of Ojo while still getting significant playing time from him early on in his career due to his raw power and movement skills.” – Bellaire

4-star EDGE Jamarion Carlton – Baylor commit

School: Temple (Temple, Texas)
Rivals Ranking: No. 56 NATL (No. 9 EDGE)

Scouting Summary: “The 6-foot-4, 240 pound monster that is Jamarion Carlton is a force between the white lines on Friday nights. But he’s a monster on the hardwood as well, going up and detonating rims, Carlton shows off his explosiveness in every athletic setting. And with nearly a 7-foot wingspan, he has one of the more impressive physical/athletic combinations on the defensive side of the ball in the country. And as a local kid growing up in Central Texas, Carlton will be potentially wreaking havoc close to home for the Baylor Bears early and often in his college career.” – Bellaire

4-star QB Keisean Henderson – Houston commit

School: Legacy SSS (Houston)
Rivals Ranking: No. 92 NATL (No. 8 QB)

Scouting Summary: “Houston‘s hometown hero Keisean Henderson is one of the most gifted athletes in the country regardless of position. Considered one of the top athletes in America early on in his career, college programs were unsure if he was going to be able to develop into a bona fide quarterback prospect, except for the University of Houston. The Cougars took his commitment as a QB long before other national powers bought in and Henderson has only continued to ascend in his ability as a passer. He should be one of the most electric play makers as a senior this upcoming season.” – Bellaire

4-star OT Johnnie Jones – UCLA commit

School: Venice (Venice, Fla.)
Rivals Ranking: No. 97 NATL (No. 12 OT)

Scouting Summary: “One of the more gifted athletes at the position, Johnnie Jones is what college offensive line coaches salivate over. Nearly 6-foot-6, 280 pounds with a 7-foot wingspan, Jones is a physical freak. He’s also an excellent basketball player and it shows when he climbs to the second level and maneuvers in space. He has such great foot speed and ability to move for a prospect with his measurables and just needs some refinement to the technical sides of his game. Deshaun Foster, head coach at UCLA, took his commitment this past summer and if there’s any position a former running back wants to be dominant? It’s the offensive front.” – Bellaire

4-star QB Matt Ponatoski – Kentucky commit

School: Archbishop Moeller (Cincinnati)
Rivals Ranking: No. 99 NATL (No. 9 QB)

Scouting Summary: “Arguably the most dominant two-sport athlete in the country, Matt Ponatoski was Gatorade High School Player of the Year in the state of Ohio for both baseball and football. He is one of two high school athletes to ever win the state GPOY awards in two sports in the same year joining Baseball hall of famer Joe Mauer and Pro Football hall of famer Randy Moss. If that isn’t enough to sell you, Ponatoski finished in the Elite 11 at the Elite 11 Finals this summer and is considered a 10 grade, ‘”‘Elite level college prospect'”‘ according to Perfect Game baseball. This may be the most hyped quarterback prospect to potentially sign with Kentucky out of high school in the modern recruiting era.” – Bellaire

4-star WR Calvin Russell – Syracuse commit

School: Northwestern (Miami)
Rivals Ranking: No. 105 NATL (No. 13 WR)

Scouting Summary: “Multi-sport stud at football, basketball and track, Calvin Russell is a truly gifted athlete. Russell averaged 20 points per game on the hardwood as a sophomore and has legitimate power conference offers for basketball. On the track he’s competed in the 110m and 400m hurdles as well as the long jump, high jump and triple jump. But on the football field is where he shines brightest attacking the football in the air and blowing by defensive backs. Syracuse could potentially land another multi-sport star to it’s legendary history of dominant multi-sport athletes like Jim Brown and Donovan McNabb.” – Bellaire

4-star WR Milan Parris – Iowa State commit

School: Walsh Jesuit (Stow, Ohio)
Rivals Ranking: No. 189 NATL (No. 28 WR)

Scouting Summary: “One of the freakier prospects at the receiver position in the 2026 cycle resides in the state of Ohio. Milan Parris is 6-foot-5, 205 pounds and has one of the most dominant athletic profiles regardless of position. Has an impressive basketball background as well with plenty of footage of him playing above the rim and you see that translate to the football field when attacking the football. Plus, he has the long speed to blow by defenders and attack the field vertically. Iowa State has had an excellent run of receivers recently and looking to add Parris to the list of recent NFL draft selections out of Ames.” – Bellaire

4-star RB Evan Hampton – Vanderbilt commit

School: Owensboro (Owensboro, Ky.)
Rivals Ranking: No. 170 NATL (No. 16 RB)

Scouting Summary: “Evan Hampton was one of the most productive ball carriers in Kentucky last season averaging nearly 10 yards per carry and scoring over 20 touchdowns as a junior. His ability as a runner and a pass catcher makes him a dynamic three-down back at the next level. So much so, that Vanderbilt went and flipped him from Louisville during the summer prior to his senior season. Hampton has a chance to continue to rise in the running back rankings for 2026 with another dominant season as a senior.” – Bellaire