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Biggest Takeaways from updated Rivals300

by: Evan Vieth07/14/25
Dia Bell 1 copy 1
Dia Bell (Photo by Chad Simmons)

Rivals has officially released its initial 2026 Top-300 player rankings, a yearly tradition that proves college football is right around the corner.

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This update brings some of the biggest shake-ups in the recruiting industry, with events like Elite 11 and regional camps helping the rankers select 12 five-stars and another 298 players to look out for ahead of the 2026 college and high school football seasons. As the season progresses, more players will earn five-star ratings on the way to a total of 32, noting the 32 teams in the NFL. Texas edge commit Richard Wesley, for example, ranks in the top 32 but not the top 12, making him a high four-star likely to end as a five.

With rankings, measurements, and data points all fully updated, Rivals has given us a look at how the 2026 class will shake out and what it means for the Texas Longhorns.

Dia Bell goes straight to the top… almost

Texas QB commit Dia Bell has had quite the start to 2025, winning the Elite 11 MVP and now ranking as the No. 1 quarterback in the nation. This should come as no one’s surprise—no gunslinger has had a better calendar year than Bell—and this rise in stock has Bell as the No. 2 player in the class.

While Bell is solidifying himself as one of the most touted five-star prospects, jumping the likes of Zion Elee and Jared Curtis from previous rankings, there’s still a 315-pound giant in front of him. Miami commit Jackson Cantwell has been a top-three player in this class for years now and is just ahead of Bell for the top spot. But we all know which player Texas believes is the best in the nation.

Disrespect on the Defensive Line

Rivals is not a fan of this Texas defensive line class, at least compared to the industry and our reporters. While Vodney Cleveland and Dylan Berymon are top-100 prospects on other recruiting sites, neither makes the Rivals300 cut ahead of the season. Both Berymon and fellow commit Corey Wells are ranked as three-stars.

While rankings are just rankings at the end of the day, it’s odd to see such a major shake-up and differing opinions based on one offseason. While defensive line coach Kenny Baker isn’t done with this group, he’s likely feeling much better about it than the rankers at Rivals do.

Shake-ups in the state of Texas

Reports of the state having a weaker overall class in the 2026 cycle continue to be endorsed by the Rivals rankings. Texas has zero players in the top 32, and Felix Ojo has fallen all the way down to No. 40 in the nation after a less-than-ideal performance in front of scouts earlier this summer.

Oklahoma QB commit Bowe Bentley skyrockets up the rankings to the No. 2 player in the state, while longtime Houston QB commit Keisean Henderson falls to the No. 13 spot in the state.

Rivals would argue that the state’s best position is currently wide receiver, ranking seven (if you include athlete Jalen Lott) in the top 20. This group includes former Texas targets like Lott and Kaydon Finley, as well as potential flip targets Jayden Warren and Aljour Miles. The state continues to lack top-level talent and depth at tight end, safety, and defensive tackle.

Texas still has some work to do to catch up to SEC powerhouses

With updated player rankings come updated team rankings, marking Texas as the No. 14 class in the nation and sixth-highest among SEC teams.

Of course, recruiting rankings matter much less in July than they do in the final two months of the year, but the Longhorns have some ground to make up. Georgia, currently holding the No. 1 class, possesses two five-star commits and another seven top-100 recruits. Alabama has eight in the top 100, while LSU and Texas A&M both possess six.

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Texas sits at just three top-100 recruits with Bell, Wesley, and John Turntine, but they should be ahead of Florida, which somehow holds the No. 11 class with one top-100 recruit. Texas is still in that third tier of recruiting rankings in the SEC, but is hoping for some boosts with decisions like Derek Cooper’s and Tyler Atkinson’s looming.

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