Top committed defensive linemen in the 2026 class

The 2026 recruiting cycle went way ahead of schedule from a commitment perspective. Not many notable prospects are left on the board with football season now well underway.

Flips and decommitments will come, but as of Sept. 17, 48 of the top 50 defensive line prospects in the 2026 cycle — per the Rivals Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all major recruiting media companies — are currently off the board.

That includes each of the top 20 in the nation. Below is a look at the top defensive linemen prospects in the cycle, as well as where they’re currently committed:

1. James Johnson — Texas commit

School: Northwestern (Fla.)
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 43 NATL.

The recruitment of Johnson hit overdrive after he took his June official visits. He pledged to Georgia at the end of the month, but less than three weeks later, he flipped to Texas. Johnson told Rivals’ Chad Simmons that he felt “something was missing” when he chose UGA, and after some thought, he instead opted for the burnt orange. Johnson remains on flip watch this fall, with Miami being a contender of note. In the latest Rivals300 update this week, Johnson remained a five-star prospect.

2. Richard Anderson — LSU commit

School: Edna Karr (La.)
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 48 NATL.

A classic LSU target, Anderson made no bones about his recruiting process and committed to the local Tigers in June of last year. He’s remained fully locked in since and has flirted with five-star status all year. The 6-foot-3.5, 350-pounder is the No. 3 recruit in Louisiana this cycle and one of six top-100 prospects currently pledged to the Tigers.

3. Nolan Wilson — Alabama commit

School: Picayune Memorial (Miss.)
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 62 NATL.

Alabama was Nolan Wilson’s first official visit on the weekend of May 30 and that trip to Tuscaloosa helped it beat out Auburn, Ole Miss and Miami when his Fourth of July commitment rolled around. Currently the No. 3 recruit in the Magnolia State, Wilson has remained solid with the Tide and is one of nine top-100 prospects in the class. Miami is still kicking the tires on trying to flip him from the SEC program.

4. Jaimeon Winfield — USC commit

School: Richardson (Texas)
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 65 NATL.

USC got off to a hot start on the recruiting trail this cycle and plucked numerous big blue-chippers early. Winfield jumped in the boat back in March after getting out to Los Angeles for a spring visit. As the Trojans continue to hold the nation’s No. 1 recruiting class, Winfield is still in the fold after taking his official visit in June. The new Rivals300 ranks Winfield as the No. 2 player in the Lone Star State this cycle.

5. Khary Wilder — Ohio State commit

School: Gardena Junipero Serra (Calif.)
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 74 NATL.

The 6-foot-4, 255-pound Wilder also took a hefty leap in the new Rivals300 and now checks in as a five-star prospect, No. 14 overall and No. 1 at the DL position. Ohio State went into the Golden State and landed Wilder on June 10, less than two weeks after he logged his official visit to Columbus. Wilder remains a key piece to the Ohio State class that currently ranks No. 9 nationally.

6. Aiden Harris — South Carolina commit

School: Weddington (N.C.)
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 76 NATL.

South Carolina was long considered one of the favorites for Aiden Harris and his brother, Andrew. The Gamecocks have recruited the Carolinas exceptionally this cycle, and on June 7, the brothers locked in with Shane Beamer and Co. on the weekend of their official visit to Columbia. Aiden continues to see his stock rise as a senior and looks to be one of the jewels in South Carolina’s 2026 haul.

7. Tony Cumberland — Oregon commit

School: Willamette (Ore.)
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 91 NATL.

One of the first of his cycle to announce a commitment of any kind, Cumberland chose the Ducks nearly two years ago on Sept. 23, 2023. Nothing has changed since, with the 6-foot-4.5, 285-pounder out of Scottsdale, Ariz. already playing for a high school in Eugene. He’s long been a top-100 recruit and is now the No. 1 prospect playing in Oregon this cycle.

8. PJ Dean — Georgia commit

School: West Forsyth (N.C.)
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 92 NATL.

Once ranked as an interior offensive lineman prospect, Dean has since profiled as a top recruit on the other side of the trenches. In a hotly-contested recruitment that saw South Carolina and Georgia go back and forth just hours before his scheduled announced, it was the Bulldogs that came out on top. The No. 6 recruit in North Carolina has remained solid with UGA since his June 30 commitment.

9. Deuce Geralds — LSU commit

School: Collins Hill (Ga.)
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 94 NATL.

Geralds’ recruitment saw multiple teams grab the momentum this year. Geralds, an Ole Miss legacy, considered the Rebels, but it really came down to Oregon and LSU. Arrows pointed toward Eugene just a few days before his Aug. 2 decision date, but the Tigers came on strong at the buzzer and landed his commitment, creating an impressive pairing on the defensive front with Anderson, as well as the nation’s No. 1 overall prospect Lamar Brown, a two-way lineman who plans to play DL at the next level in Baton Rouge.

10. Titan Davis — Michigan commit

School: De Smet (Mo.)
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 106 NATL.

An elite recruit out of St. Louis, Davis eventually whittled his list of contenders down to Alabama and Michigan. He chose Sherrone Moore and the Wolverines on June 23 and is currently the third highest-ranked commit in U-M’s class to date. The No. 2 recruit in Missouri continues to hear from the Tide, as well as Penn State this fall.