Where the top defensive line recruits in the 2026 class signed

The nation’s top defensive line recruits are signed, sealed and delivered with the Early Signing Period in the books.

This group had no shortage of late drama, particularly a pair of LSU commits, but each of the top 10 players at the position ultimately signed with the school they were pledged to. It’s a class that features just one Rivals Industry Ranking five-star, but the crop is deep with 10 ranked among the top-100 prospect nationally.

Here are the top defensive linemen in the class and where they’re headed to play next season:

1. 5-star Richard Anderson — LSU

School: Edna Karr (La.)
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 24 NATL.

Scouting Summary: “Explosive interior defensive lineman with immense power and ability to two-gap in the middle of the defensive front. Verified size at 6-foot-3.5, 355 pounds with over 33-inch arms and carries the weight very well. Great burst off the line of scrimmage for his size. Plays with excellent pad level and vision into the backfield. Understands leverage and sheds blocks with ease. Totaled 15 tackles-for-loss as a junior along with 10 sacks. Will need to to maintain quality combination of size and movement skills as he continues to physically develop. Older for the cycle. Projects as a space-eating, two-gap nose tackle at the next level but has the athletic ability to one-gap if needed.”

2. Khary Wilder — Ohio State

School: Junipero Serra Gardena (Calif.)
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 41 NATL.

Scouting Summary: “Interior pass rushing demon with tremendous burst off the line of scrimmage and hip fluidity that plays with his hair on fire to chase down ball carriers. Verified 6-foot-4, 255 pounds with excellent length. Carries his weight very well for his size and should add substantial mass at the next level. Charged up athlete that possesses such explosive movements off the line and in space. Does a great job shooting his hands and keeping his chest clean when engaging with blockers. Has serious shock in his hands when punching blockers at the point of attack. Totaled 11 tackles-for-loss and 4.5 sacks as a junior. Will need to maintain his athletic ability as he adds significant mass to his frame. Should develop into a knifing 3-technique with phenomenal twitch and upfield burst that can stay on the field as a dominant pass rusher on third downs and excel as a stout run defender on early downs.”

3. Deuce Geralds — LSU

School: Collins Hill (Ga.)
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 48 NATL.

Geralds on his decision: “LSU has always been where I wanted to be,” Geralds told Rivals. “It’s bigger than football because of my family and our roots in Baton Rouge. I’m coming to leave a legacy at this program and bring back the winning tradition they are known for. I also love what support they give to student-athletes when it comes to NIL brand and development.”

4. Jaimeon Winfield — USC

School: Richardson (Texas)
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 49 NATL.

Scout’s Take: “Winfield has really eye-popping first-step quickness, he’s in the backfield often times before the offensive linemen are even out of their stance. Uncanny snap timing, his ability to disrupt on the interior, he’s been dominant and is one that USC fans should be really excited about.”

5. Tony Cumberland — Oregon

School: Willamette (Ore.)
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 57 NATL.

Scout’s Take: “Tony Cumberland is a prospect that has done some rollercoasting for us on the rankings side of things throughout his high school career, but after turning on his senior film he has beyond deserved his senior bump. The Oregon commit has put on a show every time he’s stepped between the white lines as a senior wreaking havoc in opposing backfields all year long. He’s collected over 25 tackles-for-loss and nearly 15 sacks this season. His ability to get vertical and knife through blockers at a verified 285 pounds makes him one of the more destructive interior defenders in the 2026 cycle. Plus, he still possesses the ability to eat blocks and stuff gaps as a run defender. If he needs to two-gap, he has the raw strength and anchor in order to maintain gap integrity. Cumberland has secured his spot as one of the more versatile interior defenders in the cycle due to his blend of athletic ability and pure power at the point of attack. If he can polish his hand usage and pad level, he has a chance to become an early draft selection when that time comes.”

6. Nolan Wilson — Alabama

School: Picayune Memorial (Miss.)
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 69 NATL.

Wilson on his decision: “I feel like it’s a dynamic around Alabama,” he told Rivals’ Steve Wiltfong. “I heard it a few times last year, people say ‘Bama is on the downfall having a 9-3 season. Even though that was a really good season, 9-3 is not bad, people saying that about ‘Bama means we’re in the back of their head, which means they’re scared of ‘Bama. If you have people fearing you that makes me want to go to ‘Bama even more.”

7. Keshawn Stancil — Miami

School: Clayton (N.C.)
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 86

Stancil on his commitment: “I’ve always liked the coaches at Miami,” Stancil told CaneSport. “Being down there multiple times just feeling at home, but Clemson also felt like home so I made a hard decision and I chose Clemson, but things happen and I’m a Miami Hurricane. No disrespect to Clemson either. Clemson’s a great school. I still love the Clemson staff, still love everybody over there.”

8. James Johnson — Texas

School: Northwestern (Fla.)
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 87 NATL.

Scouting Summary: “Well-rounded prospect with many positive indicators that make him the early favorite for the top defensive lineman in the 2026 cycle. Has a compact build at over 6-foot-2 and around 285 pounds. Owns compensatory length with arms that measure around 33.5 inches. Lives in the backfield on Friday nights. Uses first-step quickness to gain an early advantage on offensive linemen. Shows excellent power at the point of attack, uprooting offensive linemen and disengaging to find the football. Has the skill set to develop into a dangerous interior pass rusher. An elite finisher in the backfield. One of the most productive defensive linemen in the cycle on a per-game basis, racking up 29 tackles for loss in nine contests as a junior. Posted an elite 60-4.5 shot put mark as a junior. Does not have the most imposing frame, but one that is in line with many recent top draft picks at the position. Younger for the cycle, turning 17 years old in June before his senior season.”

9. Aiden Harris — South Carolina

School: Weddington (N.C.)
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 93 NATL.

Harris on his commitment: “It just always felt like home here. Even though I had my ups and downs with certain colleges, they were just one of the main schools to always be there for me,” he said.”t was just there to prove to me that I was one of the main priorities.”

10. Jamarion Carlton — Texas

School: Temple (Texas)
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 99 NATL.

Scouting Summary: “Physically-gifted prospect with the dimensions and athleticism that point to a high upside. Measured in at 6-foot-4, 240, with arms close to 35 inches with 10-inch hands as a junior. Has a big-time frame that should be able to easily tack on weight once in a college strength program. Lines up at defensive end for his high school. Flashes the athleticism, showing glimpses of first-step quickness. Impressive play speed, tracking down ball carriers in pursuit. Has the size to set the edge as a run defender. Finished his junior season with 11 tackles for loss and five sacks. Athletic, above-the-rim basketball player also throws the shot put in track and field. Still figuring things out from a technical standpoint. Must improve his hands and ability to get off blocks, while also growing in his pass rush technique. Less developed and productive than most other highly touted prospects, but has the upside to develop into an early round draft pick if he shows steady improvement in college.”

Where the other top defensive linemen are signed

11. Titan Davis – Michigan
12. PJ Dean – Georgia
13. Valdin Sone – Georgia
14. Tomuhini Topui – USC
15. Derek Colman-Brusa – Washington

16. Carter Gooden – Tennessee
17. JaReylan McCoy – Florida
18. Elijah Golden – Notre Dame
19. Earnest Rankins – Florida State
20. Howie Johnson – Minnesota

21. Alister Vallejo – Michigan
22. Damari Simeon – Ohio State
23. Danny Beale III – Arkansas
24. JD Hill – Washington
25. Kendall Guervil – Florida