Recruiting “locally” in the ACC now includes a couple new hotbeds thanks to the additions of Stanford, Cal and SMU. To date, the conference has five teams in the top 25 of the <a href="https://www.on3.com/rivals/rankings/industry-team/football/2026/">Rivals Industry Team Recruiting Rankings</a>.



With the conference now stretching across the nation, there’s plenty of turf to claim on the recruiting trail. Some programs continue to lean on winning in-state battles.



Rivals takes a look at which ACC recruiting classes are the closest to home on average:



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-1-georgia-tech">1. <a href="https://www.on3.com/college/georgia-tech-yellow-jackets/">Georgia Tech</a></h2>



Average Commit Distance: 121.3 miles In-State: 65% Rivals Industry Team Ranking: No. 43



As the Yellow Jackets gun for a second-straight top-25 class, they are once again leaning on in-state prospects. Of the 20 commits in the mix to date for <a href="https://www.on3.com/rivals/coach/brent-key-134469/">Brent Key</a> and Co., 13 hail from the Peach State. Among those at the top of the class include blue-chip corners <a href="https://www.on3.com/rivals/traeviss-stevenson-244805/">Traeviss Stevenson</a> and <a href="https://www.on3.com/rivals/jaedyn-terry-244804/">Jaedyn Terry</a>, tight ends <a href="https://www.on3.com/rivals/jack-richerson-249904/">Jack Richerson</a> and <a href="https://www.on3.com/rivals/nathan-agyemang-248931/">Nathan Agyemang</a>, as well as safety <a href="https://www.on3.com/rivals/darnell-collins-248149/">Darnell Collins</a>. The other seven commits in the class are from either Alabama or Florida, too.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-2-virginia">2. <a href="https://www.on3.com/college/virginia-cavaliers/">Virginia</a></h2>



Average Commit Distance: 230.4 miles In-State: 38% Rivals Industry Team Ranking: No. 73



The pledge list for <a href="https://www.on3.com/rivals/coach/tony-elliott-134456/">Tony Elliott</a> isn’t as strong as others in the conference, but Virginia is adding plenty of local commits. Five of the 13 UVA commits are in-state, including CB <a href="https://www.on3.com/rivals/alex-dunn-259173/">Alex Dunn</a>, athlete <a href="https://www.on3.com/rivals/damari-carter-176359/">DaMari Carter</a> and DL <a href="https://www.on3.com/rivals/jaysean-richardson-239793/">JaySean Richardson</a>, all of whom are top-30 players in the commonwealth this cycle. Ohio, North Carolina, Maryland and Georgia recruits are also in the fold for the Cavaliers.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-3-nc-state">3. <a href="https://www.on3.com/college/nc-state-wolfpack/">NC State</a></h2>



Average Commit Distance: 245.3 miles In-State: 32% Rivals Industry Team Ranking: No. 59



North Carolina natives account for six of the 19 commits in NC State’s class to date, including safety <a href="https://www.on3.com/rivals/dvarious-surratt-238270/">D’Various Surratt</a> and WR <a href="https://www.on3.com/rivals/jaire-richburg-238417/">Jaire Richburg</a>. The East Coast flavor is prevalent for the Wolfpack once again this cycle, as South Carolina, New Jersey, Virginia and Pennsylvania are also featured in the class. CB <a href="https://www.on3.com/rivals/jordyn-best-260600/">Jordyn Best</a>, safety <a href="https://www.on3.com/rivals/koby-sarkodie-177029/">Koby Sarkodie</a> and athlete <a href="https://www.on3.com/rivals/aiden-smalls-237792/">Aiden Smalls</a> are among those also close to Raleigh, while three Georgians are also in the fold.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-4-virginia-tech">4. <a href="https://www.on3.com/college/virginia-tech-hokies/">Virginia Tech</a></h2>



Average Commit Distance: 253.2 miles In-State: 45% Rivals Industry Team Ranking: No. 70



The Virginia Tech class only features 11 commits to date. Virginia, D.C., North Carolina and South Carolina account for all but one of the 11. Blue-chip EDGE <a href="https://www.on3.com/rivals/andrew-rogers-250300/">Andrew Rogers</a> is a top-20 recruit in North Carolina, while four-star OT <a href="https://www.on3.com/rivals/thomas-wilder-176142/">Thomas Wilder</a> is the No. 10 player in Virginia.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-5-louisville">5. <a href="https://www.on3.com/college/louisville-cardinals/">Louisville</a></h2>



Average Commit Distance: 295.4 miles In-State: 26% Rivals Industry Team Ranking: No. 30



<a href="https://www.on3.com/rivals/coach/jeff-brohm-133414/">Jeff Brohm</a> and the Cardinals have developed multiple pipelines outside of the Bluegrass, but six Kentuckians are still committed, headlined by four-star DL <a href="https://www.on3.com/rivals/josiah-hope-240955/">Josiah Hope</a> and LB <a href="https://www.on3.com/rivals/karsten-busch-243759/">Karsten Busch</a>. Nearby, Indiana, Ohio and Tennessee account for eight of the 23 commits in the class. Blue-chip OT <a href="https://www.on3.com/rivals/jarvis-strickland-155853/">Jarvis Strickland</a> plays in Kentucky, but the Chattanooga product is the No. 1 recruit out of Tennessee, while QB <a href="https://www.on3.com/rivals/briggs-cherry-156110/">Briggs Cherry</a> checks in at No. 10.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-6-smu">6. <a href="https://www.on3.com/college/smu-mustangs/">SMU</a></h2>



Average Commit Distance: 341.5 miles In-State: 71% Rivals Industry Team Ranking: No. 22



Like the other programs in Texas, SMU will never top rankings based on the size of the state. <a href="https://www.on3.com/rivals/coach/rhett-lashlee-133584/">Rhett Lashlee</a> and Co. still lean heavily on in-state recruits, with 15 of the 21 commits in the class checking that box. Three Mustang commits are currently top-40 players in the state: RB <a href="https://www.on3.com/rivals/christian-rhodes-246401/">Christian Rhodes</a>, IOL <a href="https://www.on3.com/rivals/drew-evers-174538/">Drew Evers</a> and WR <a href="https://www.on3.com/rivals/aljour-miles-240404/">Aljour Miles</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-7-florida-state">7. <a href="https://www.on3.com/college/florida-state-seminoles/">Florida State</a></h2>



Average Commit Distance: 350.5 miles In-State: 52% Rivals Industry Team Ranking: No. 15



Florida State is up to 23 commits this cycle, 12 of which are in-state prospects. With Tallahassee being at the top of the Sunshine State, plenty of Georgians are close by, too. Only four commits in the class don’t check in from Florida, Georgia or Alabama. Top local pledges include five-star CB <a href="https://www.on3.com/rivals/chauncey-kennon-239838/">Chauncey Kennon</a>, the No. 3 player in Florida, elite four-star <a href="https://www.on3.com/rivals/izayia-williams-180755/">Izayia Williams</a>, Rivals’ No. 1 linebacker, and top-100 DL <a href="https://www.on3.com/rivals/earnest-rankins-240481/">Earnest Rankins</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-8-clemson">8. <a href="https://www.on3.com/college/clemson-tigers/">Clemson</a></h2>



Average Commit Distance: 362.4 miles In-State: 5% Rivals Industry Team Ranking: No. 14



South Carolina is loaded with talent in the 2026 cycle, but Clemson has just one in-state commit in its class. Luckily for <a href="https://www.on3.com/rivals/coach/dabo-swinney-131248/">Dabo Swinney</a>, it’s the No. 1 recruit in the state — four-star safety <a href="https://www.on3.com/rivals/kentavion-anderson-244797/">Kentavion Anderson</a>. There’s still plenty of others in the class that won’t be too far from home, including North Carolina blue-chippers in IOL <a href="https://www.on3.com/rivals/leo-delaney-178991/">Leo Delaney</a> and DL <a href="https://www.on3.com/rivals/keshawn-stancil-238628/">Keshawn Stancil</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-9-duke">9. <a href="https://www.on3.com/college/duke-blue-devils/">Duke</a></h2>



Average Commit Distance: 481.5 miles In-State: 17% Rivals Industry Team Ranking: No. 51



Just three of the 18 commits in Duke’s class to date hail from North Carolina: safety <a href="https://www.on3.com/rivals/lyrik-pettis-242340/">Lyrik Pettis</a>, WR <a href="https://www.on3.com/rivals/brody-keefe-176523/">Brody Keefe</a> and safety <a href="https://www.on3.com/rivals/kd-cotton-181002/">KD Cotton</a>. A majority of the class is comprised of Southeast prospects, with Georgia, Alabama and Florida accounting for eight commits.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-10-syracuse">10. <a href="https://www.on3.com/college/syracuse-orange/">Syracuse</a></h2>



Average Commit Distance: 501.1 miles In-State: 0% Rivals Industry Team Ranking: No. 28



Four of the top five recruits in Syracuse’s class hail from Florida, but there’s still plenty of Northeast prospects in the fold, too. Receiver <a href="https://www.on3.com/rivals/darnell-stokes-241567/">Darnell Stokes</a> is the No. 3 recruit out of Delaware, DL <a href="https://www.on3.com/rivals/walt-frazier-259438/">Walt Frazier</a> is a top-20 recruit in Pennsylvania and OT <a href="https://www.on3.com/rivals/roseby-lubintus-241353/">Roseby Lubintus</a> is a top-15 recruit in New Jersey. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-acc-average-commit-distance-nos-11-17">ACC Average Commit Distance Nos. 11-17</h2>



11. <a href="https://www.on3.com/college/pittsburgh-panthers/">Pittsburgh</a>: 553.8 miles 12. <a href="https://www.on3.com/college/north-carolina-tar-heels/">North Carolina</a>: 569.8 miles 13. <a href="https://www.on3.com/college/boston-college-eagles/">Boston College</a>: 595.2 miles 14. <a href="https://www.on3.com/college/miami-hurricanes/">Miami</a>: 600 miles 15. <a href="https://www.on3.com/college/wake-forest-demon-deacons/">Wake Forest</a>: 674.1 miles 16. <a href="https://www.on3.com/college/california-golden-bears/">California</a>: 1,172.7 miles 17. <a href="https://www.on3.com/college/stanford-cardinal/">Stanford</a>: 1352.1 miles

Key, Elliot, Doeren

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