Where the top 2026 EDGEs are committed ahead of National Signing Day

As the college football regular season winds down, focus is now turning to recruiting with National Signing Day one week away.

The majority of programs have their classes pretty much set at this point, and more than 95% of the country’s blue-chip prospects are committed. That’s equally true of the nation’s top EDGE recruits, as 49 of the top 50 prospects at the position are pledged to a program. While we could see some changes in the next 10-plus days, the expectation is that most — if not all — of these EDGEs will sign with the schools they’re currently committed to.

Below are the top 25 EDGEs in the class — according to the Rivals Industry Ranking —  and where they’re committed:

1. Zion Elee — Maryland

Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 5 NATL.
School: St. Frances Academy (Md.)

Scouting Summary: “Electric speed rusher with an elite combination of athleticism and length off the edge. Measured around 6-foot-3, 220 pounds prior to his junior season. Has truly elite length, with arms that measure 35.5 inches. Pairs the rare length with top-shelf athleticism. A standout in the combine setting who transfers the speed over to the field. Plays with an eye-popping burst, dating back to his sophomore year at Joppatowne (Md.) High. Explodes into the backfield with high-end first-step quickness. Transferred to Baltimore power St. Frances Academy for his junior season and turned in a strong campaign, racking up 28 tackles for loss and 10 sacks against top competition.

…Showed game-wrecking tendencies in showcase games. Often plays as a standup pass rusher. Has blow-by speed off the edge. Play strength and ability to set the edge is solid but will need to continue improving. Rare athletic and physical traits combined with consecutive years of high-level production make him the top EDGE prospect in the 2026 cycle entering his senior season.”

2. Carter Meadows — Michigan

Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 6 NATL.
School: Gonzaga (D.C.)

Scouting Summary: “Rangy EDGE prospect with a rare combination of frame and movement skills. One of the most physically impressive prospects in the 2026 cycle. Measured in at around 6-foot-6, 225 pounds as a junior. Has vines for arms that measure around 35 inches to go with large hands. Could easily be a 280-pounder before it’s all said and done. Pairs the great frame with impressive functional athleticism A fluid, flexible athlete who has excellent bend. Has the natural tools to develop into a dangerous pass rusher down the line. Length pairs with good play strength to result in an effective edge setter. Also shows his athleticism in tracking down plays in pursuit. Doubles as a good high school basketball player while playing top competition on the hardwood. Will need to continue progressing as a pass rusher while upping his production. Pure physical upside is among the highest in the 2026 cycle.”

3. LaDamion Guyton — Texas Tech

Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 12
School: Benedictine Military (Ga.)

Scouting Summary: “Explosive, powerful pass rusher with elite bend around the edge at an early stage. Flashes high-end first-step quickness. Stays very low while running the arc, dipping his shoulder to shirk offensive tackles. Converts speed to power with ease. Also shows early signs of good hand usage, quickly disengaging on contact. Plays with a high motor and pursues plays from sideline to sideline. Productive in his first two varsity seasons at Savannah (Ga.) Savannah Christian, totaling 33 tackles for loss while playing alongside Five-Star Plus+ defensive lineman Elijah Griffin. Transferred to Savannah (Ga.) Benedictine Military for his junior (now senior) season. Can improve his finishing ability in the backfield, as his ability to disrupt doesn’t always manifest in dominant stats. Length and frame are average for the position.”

4. Richard Wesley — Texas

Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 13 NATL.
School: Sierra Canyon (Calif.)

Scouting Summary: “Versatile edge defender that wins with power and speed as a pass rusher that possesses advanced hand usage for his age. Verified 6-foot-4.5, 245 pounds with above average length. Impressive athlete in the combine setting as well as on the track running 11.67 in the 100m during his sophomore track and field season. Variety of pass rush moves including swims, rips, long arms and a ghost move. Stout run defender that can set the edge and displace blockers at the point of attack. Collected 16 tackles-for-loss and 9 sacks during his sophomore season. Reclassified from the 2027 cycle to the 2026 cycle so will be a year younger than most of his peers in the class. Versatile skillset allows him to project to a strong-side or weak-side end. Has the ability to play with his hand in the dirt or stand up off the edge and should excel as a three-down edge defender at the next level.”

5. Rodney Dunham — Notre Dame

Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 17 NATL.
School: Myers Park (N.C.)

Scouting Summary: “Athletic pass rusher with the skill set and functional movement skills that point to a high upside. Measured at around 6-foot-4, 215 pounds with good length as a junior. Lines up on the edge for his high school team, rushing the passer out of two and three-point stances. Limber athlete who has very smooth movements. Displays outstanding get-off, bursting off the snap. Has excellent curvilinear movement skills, showing the ability to accelerate while rounding the edge. Dips his shoulder to shirk contact with offensive tackles. Closes quickly on ball carriers once in the backfield. Play speed is evident as he stalks down ball carriers from behind.

…Shows burgeoning power at the point of attack, shedding offensive linemen once engaged. Will need to continue developing from a physical and technical standpoint. Could stand to improve his production. A younger prospect for the cycle, turning 18 years old in July before his freshman season of college football.”

6. Anthony Jones — Oregon

Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 32 NATL.
School: St. Paul’s Episcopal (Ala.)

Scouting Summary: “Powerful, physical EDGE prospect who wins with brute strength and high effort. Measured in at around 6-foot-2.5, 245 pounds with 33.25-inch arms before his senior season. Initially began his career as a linebacker before growing into an EDGE prospect. A productive defender who plays with his hair on fire. Very powerful. Converts speed to power, showing the ability to walk offensive tackles into the backfield. Has a dangerous long arm. Makes hustle plays, running down defenders in backside pursuit. A strong finisher behind the line of scrimmage. Also sees time on offense as a tight end and short-yardage ball-carrier.

…State champion in the shot put (58-4.5 feet) and discus (161-5 feet) as a junior. Does not possess some of the overwhelming physical traits or elite athleticism of some of his highly rated peers. A high-floor prospect who should enter college with a level of physical development that could have him primed for an early contribution.”

7. Luke Wafle — USC

Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 39 NATL.
School: Hun School (N.J.)

Scouting Summary: “The most ready-to-play top EDGE prospect in the 2026 cycle. Measured over 6-foot-5, 255 pounds with arms over 33 inches and big hands prior to his senior season. More physically mature than many of his highly-rated peers. Combines play strength and motor with functional athleticism. Wins at the point of attack with a powerful punch and the ability to convert speed to power. Uses quick power swipes to disengage from offensive linemen. Shows multiple pass-rush pathways and closing speed to finish behind the line of scrimmage. Nimble mover who breaks down well in space. A violent finisher who drives ball carriers into the ground. Strong, consistent run defender due to physicality and effort.

…Logged 18 TFLs and 8 sacks in nine games as a junior. Best fit as a true defensive end in a four-man front at the college level. First-step quickness remains an area for improvement. Touts a strong multi-sport background with above-the-rim bounce on the basketball court and a 45-6 foot shot put mark. Slightly older for the grade, common for northeastern prep school prospects. Could be primed for an impact as a true freshman given his level of development and physical maturity.”

8. Jake Kreul — Oklahoma

Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 46 NATL.
School: IMG Academy (Fla.)

About: Kruel opted to transfer from Bishop Moore in Orlando to IMG for his final two seasons of high school football. As a sophomore for the Hornets, he was an absolute menace to offensive lines. Along with 76 total tackles, he notched 34 tackles for loss and a whopping 17 sacks. Playing alongside tons of Division I talent at IMG, he still managed to total 39 tackles, six sacks and 11 QB hurries last fall. He chose Oklahoma over Texas and Ole Miss on Aug. 12 in a massive win for the Sooners. He was then a part of an undefeated IMG squad this fall and put up impressive numbers for the Ascenders.

9. Jamarion Matthews — Alabama

Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 55 NATL.
School: Gainesville (Ga.)

Scouting Summary: “Super productive edge defender with a nose for the football that lives in opposing backfields due to his burst off the line of scrimmage and motor. Verified 6-foot-2.5, 255 pounds with excellent arm length. Impressive explosive metrics in the spring camp setting. Translates to the football field when getting off the line of scrimmage and maneuvering in space. Violent punch and hands at the point of attack when engaging with blockers. Put together an impressive junior season statistically collecting 29 tackles-for-loss and 17 sacks. Possesses a tweener body type, will need to maintain athleticism if adding weight to kick inside. But will need to maintain power and strength if staying lean to play off the edge. Projects to be a hand in the dirt, strong-side edge with three down ability or can kick inside to a 3-technique and become a dominant one-gapper.”

10. Bryce Perry-Wright — Texas A&M

Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 66 NATL.
School: Buford (Ga.)

About: Playing for state and national powerhouse Buford, Perry-Wright has been on the national radar for most of his high school career. He anchors one of the Peach State’s best defenses in 2025, with Buford undefeated at 12-0, ranking No. 3 nationally in the Massey Ratings. Even though he is often facing double teams, he’s totaled 82 tackles, 15 tackles for loss and five sacks for the Wolves. He chose Texas A&M over Texas, Miami and others this summer.

Other top EDGEs and where they’re committed

11. Julian Walker — Michigan
12. Trenton Henderson — LSU
13. Ebenezer Ewetade — Notre Dame
14. Landon Barnes — Ole Miss
15. Jaquez Wilkes — Auburn

16. Tristian Givens — Texas A&M
17. Kosi Okpala — Texas
18. Kevin Ford — Florida
19. Asharri Charles — Miami
20. Khmari Brooks — Georgia

21. Simote Katoanga — USC
22. Hezekiah Harris — Tennessee
23. Jordan Carter
24. Jordan Campbell — Miami
25. Jackson Ford — Penn State