Top committed running backs 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. 15, 48 of the top 50 running back 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 19 of the top 20 burners in the nation. Below is a look at the top running back prospects in the cycle, as well as where they’re currently committed:

1. Savion Hiter — Michigan commit

School: Louisa County (Va.)
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 8 NATL.

Hiter kept his recruitment close to the vest down the stretch, with Michigan and Tennessee emerging as the top two programs in his process. The 5-foot-11.5, 200-pounder has long been the top-ranked RB in the 2026 cycle, and on Aug. 19, he chose the Wolverines. Georgia and Ohio State were his other finalists, though U-M emerged late. Hiter is expected to be the highest-paid running back in the cycle, On3’s Pete Nakos reported this summer.

2. Derrek Cooper — Texas commit

School: Chaminade-Madonna Prep (Fla.)
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 38 NATL.

After essentially pump-faking a commitment to Georgia early on in his process, Cooper hit the brakes and went through his recruitment like normal this year. Alabama, Georgia, Miami and Florida State were all in on the 6-foot, 210-pounder, but it was Texas that nabbed the momentum right before his July 20 decision. Despite not taking an official visit to Austin this summer, Cooper locked in with the Longhorns and is now set to take that OV this fall.

3. Ezavier Crowell — Alabama commit

School: Jackson (Ala.)
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 40 NATL.

Upon reclassifying to the 2026 cycle, it was all Alabama in the recruitment of Crowell. The Crimson Tide were long trending before he jumped in the boat on June 26. Auburn, Texas and Georgia were among those also pushing, but Crowell, the No. 3 player in the Yellowhammer State, is locked in with Kalen DeBoer and the SEC powerhouse.

4. KJ Edwards — Texas A&M commit

School: Carthage (Texas)
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 56 NATL.

Texas A&M won out for Edwards on June 17 amidst official visit season. He did not set a commitment date before coming off the board and is currently one half of perhaps the best RB tandem in the 2026 cycle, alongside Jonathan Hatton Jr. LSU continues to kick the tires on Edwards’ pledge and is working to flip the 5-foot-10, 190-pounder out of the Lone Star State.

5. Brian Bonner — Washington commit

School: Valencia (Calif.)
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 72 NATL.

Washington, unlike most, had its big official visit weekends in April during the spring. The Huskies have swung big and have connected with some top blue-chippers, one of which is Bonner. The 6-foot-1 burner chose UW on July 8 over UCLA, Nebraska and Penn State. He’s currently the second highest-ranked commit in the Huskies’ 2026 class.

6. Jonathan Hatton Jr. — Texas A&M commit

School: Steele (Texas)
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 79 NATL.

Oklahoma was the first to land a commitment from Hatton, but that didn’t stick as he came back on the board in December. Texas A&M began to trend from there and it landed his pledge a few months later at the end of March. He and Edwards are two of seven top-100 prospects committed to the Aggies, giving Mike Elko and Co. the nation’s No. 6 recruiting class so far this fall.

7. Tradarian Ball — Oregon commit

School: Texas High (Texas)
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 80 NATL.

Last July, Oregon picked up an early commitment from Ball. Nearly 14 months later, the 5-foot-9, 170-pounder hasn’t wavered one bit in his pledge. He’s said his recruitment is “shut down” and he’s fully locked in with Dan Lanning and the Ducks. Ball was the first big RB commitment of the 2026 cycle and remains a key piece for the Big Ten program out west.

8. Javian Osborne — Notre Dame commit

School: Forney (Texas)
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 102 NATL.

Despite not being in the Midwest, Osborne saw Michigan and Notre Dame emerge as the top contenders in his recruitment. The Wolverines were the first to nab the momentum ahead of his May 3 decision, but the Fighting Irish leaped to the front late and won out. Osborne and Jonaz Walton are an elite RB duo for Marcus Freeman and Co.

9. Shahn Alston — USC commit

School: Harvey (Ohio)
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 105 NATL.

USC’s top-ranked recruiting class has been built by landing commitments from all over the country and Alston, an Ohio product, is a prime example of that. The No. 5 recruit in the Buckeye State jumped in the class back in January and has remained solid with Lincoln Riley and Co. since. He’s one of two four-star RBs in the class alongside Deshonne Redeaux.

10. Damarius Yates — Ole Miss commit

School: Kemper County (Miss.)
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 113 NATL.

Yates originally chose the other Magnolia State SEC program early on in his recruitment, but backed off his Mississippi State pledge in December. Others pushed, but Ole Miss got Yates to Oxford for a May official visit and that led to his commitment. Rebels RBs coach Kevin Smith was instrumental in his decision and the 5-foot-9.5, 195-pounder has only seen his stock rise since.