Top backfield groups in the 2026 recruiting class

This summer has been a record-breaking one in the recruiting world, with nearly all of the nation’s blue-chip recruits already off the board by the time college football season rolls around.

No position is that more apparent than quarterback, where each of the nation’s top 50 recruits are currently committed to a program. Running backs aren’t far behind them either. Forty-six of the top 50 in that category are already accounted for with a few more expected to commit this month.

With so many pledged this early, Rivals is taking a look at which programs have the best backfield combinations in their incoming classes right now:

Texas

It’d be hard to make an argument for anyone on this list to be higher than Texas with the dynamic duo they have coming to Austin. Five-Star Plus+ passer Dia Bell is the No. 1 quarterback in the country this cycle, making the jump to the spot after winning Elite 11 MVP this summer. Although the Longhorns have signed talented quarterbacks in the 2024 and 2025 classes, Bell is seen by most as the heir apparent to Arch Manning when that time comes.

And last month, they added the second piece to their one-two backfield punch with Derrek Cooper, the No. 2 running back in the Rivals Industry Ranking. Cooper played all of the field for Miami-area powerhouse Chaminade-Madonna in 2024. As a running back, he toted the rock 124 times for 905 yards (9.3 YPC) and 13 TDs. He also showed some skills in the receiving game, with nine catches for 156 yards and a touchdown. While Bell might be waiting behind Manning in 2026, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Cooper in the mix for carries with his 4.42 speed and a clear college-ready build.

Texas A&M

The Aggies are loading up in the backfield this cycle with multiple upperclassmen set to depart after this season. And despite not being considered the leader early on for either KJ Edwards or Jonathan Hatton Jr., both are in the boat now for Mike Elko and Co. Hatton was at one time committed to SEC rival Oklahoma, but backed off that pledge in December 2024 after being pledged for more than a year. A few months later in March of this year, he committed to the Aggies. As for Edwards, Texas was the perceived favorite with Edwards planning to announce his decision in August. But after his official visit to College Station, the Aggies shot up the list and he made the call to commit. Over the course of his three-year high school career, Edwards has amassed more than 4,000 rushing yards and 54 touchdowns while averaging better than 11 yards per attempt.

The duo of Hatton and Edwards flanks longtime quarterback commit Helaman Casuga, who was a major stock riser at the Elite 11 Finals in June. According to Rivals’ Charles Power, Casuga was the most consistent performer over all three days and finished No. 2 in On3’s Overall Top Performers from the event. 

Oregon

Few quarterbacks have seen their stock rise more over the summer than Ducks pledge Bryson Beaver, who entered the Elite 11 Finals fresh off a decommitment from Boise State. He turned in one of the top performances at the event, and committed to UO just a few days later. After spending most of his recruitment as a mid-level three-star, Beaver checks in as Rivals’ No. 5 quarterback in the class. He joins one of Dan Lanning’s longest-tenured commits this cycle in Tradarian Ball, who has been with the Ducks since July 2024.

He is one of the country’s best all-purpose backs, rushing for 777 yards and 14 touchdowns, according to MaxPreps. He excelled as a receiver, too, hauling in 44 catches for 1,017 yards and 11 TDs. After signing two blue-chippers in 2025 at both positions, Oregon is building elite depth in the backfield.

Notre Dame

Much like Texas A&M, the Fighting Irish have secured two of the premier running backs in this class with Forney (Texas) four-star Javian Osborne and Central (Ga.) blue-chipper Jonaz Walton. Both jumped on board within two weeks of each in May and were part of a big spring for Notre Dame on the recruiting trail. Osborne has rushed for at least 1,000 yards in each of his first three seasons and has developed in the receiving game as well. Walton brings a lot of the same characteristics, amassing more than 2,000 all-purpose yards as a junior. What sets him apart as back is speed, with a verified 100-meter dash of 10.60 seconds.

Both will be major weapons in and out of the backfield for four-star quarterback commit Noah Grubbs, who has been a record-setting quarterback at the prep level. Across his first three seasons of high school football, the 6-foot-4, 190-pounder has thrown for 8,286 yards with 83 touchdowns.

Georgia

It’s awfully hard to argue with Georgia’s production at this position given the Bulldogs’ success running the ball over the past decade. They’re hopeful that Colquitt County (Ga.) four-star Jae Lamar can be the next on that conveyor belt after beating out Clemson, Florida State and Miami to land him this summer. At the quarterback spot, Mike Bobo and Co. landed Five-Star Plus+ signal-caller Jared Curtis not once, but twice. He decommitted after an early pledge, then looked around at Oregon and a number of others only to decide Athens was home a second time.

Curtis completed over 70% of his passes for 2,830 yards (11.1 yards per attempt) for 40 touchdowns and 3 interceptions while leading his team to a state title. He also showed off his legs and rushed for 637 yards and 18 more scores.

Alabama

In the transfer portal era, fewer teams are taking multiple quarterbacks in a class than ever before. But in part because of the portal and a three-way quarterback competition going on right now at Alabama, the Tide are looking ahead and building their depth. After striking out early on a couple of targets, they moved their focus to one-time Iowa State commit Jett Thomalla. He ultimately flipped to UA in June right before the Elite 11 Finals, giving them a commitment from the country’s No. 11 QB.

A few short weeks later, the Tide got the nation’s No. 3 RB Ezavier Crowell in the boat, beating out Texas, Auburn and Georgia, among others. Recently reclassified from 2027, Crowell has been one of the state’s best backs over the past two years as an underclassman. As a sophomore this fall at Jackson, Crowell tallied 168 carries and ran for 1,964 yards and 31 touchdowns. And the third part of the Tide’s trio is Rivals four-star passer Tayden Kaawa. He was a late offer for Alabama this spring, but quickly has climbed up the recruiting rankings, checking in as the country’s No. 13 QB.

As a junior, he completed 64 percent of his passes for 2,890 yards and 28 touchdowns to just nine interceptions. He added another 318 rushing yards and four more scores.

USC

The Trojans have one of the biggest classes this cycle, with a whopping 32 total commitments. But it’s a group that is full of talent from top to bottom, hence the No. 1 overall ranking in the Rivals Industry Team Recruiting Rankings. Maybe the most impressive part of the class is how much positions of need Lincoln Riley and Co. have hit on, especially on the offensive side of the ball. That group is led by Lincoln-Way East (Ill.) four-star passer Jonas Williams, who flipped his commitment from Oregon to USC in February.

The 6-foot-1, 200-pounder put on a strong performance at this summer’s Elite 11 Finals where he completed 194 of 286 passes (67.8%) for 2,926 yards, with 42 touchdowns and just six interceptions. He also added 395 rushing yards and seven more scores on the ground.

The Trojans also have a prolific one-two punch at running back with local star Deshonne Redeaux and top-100 national prospect Shahn Alston. The latter has totaled more than 3,000 total yards and nearly 50 touchdowns under his belt at the high school level while Redeaux had over 1,200 rushing yards and 17 TDs as a junior.