Henderson arrives with elite production against top Texas competition and a feel for the game that can't be coached. With Conner Weigman returning, Henderson doesn't need to be "the guy" on Day 1, but he's too talented to keep off the field. Expect Henderson to be involved in situational packages, red zone wrinkles and some possible momentum-swing snaps.
Increasingly, the nation's top recruits are also stepping onto campus as some of the highest-paid members of their respective rosters, some with six- and seven-figure financial deals before they've played a single college snap. Whether it's providing instant impact or showing early signals of future promise, the pressure is rising on college football's highest-rated (and best-compensated) freshmen to deliver immediate return on investment.
JAMES FRANKLIN DIDN'T have any answers. Instead, minutes before Virginia Tech's Nov. 22 home game against Miami, he was asking for a considerable leap of faith. Roughly a dozen of them, actually. It had been just 38 days since Penn State made the decision to fire Franklin six games into his 12th season with the program. Now, sporting a maroon hoodie inside the Hokies' team room, he was pitching a collection of high school prospects on why they should join him in Blacksburg.
As college football teams take the field Saturday, a potentially hectic final month before the early signing period for the 2026 recruiting class will already be officially underway. Thirty-two days remain before the Dec. 3-5 early signing period, the first opportunity class of 2026 commits have to sign with programs. Between now and then, the temperature is set to rise as top uncommitted prospects and flip targets visit campuses over the final four weeks of the college football regular season.
Demetrice Martin built an early, practically insurmountable lead. Landing six defensive backs by Christmas, the UCLA secondary coach added two more before the spring transfer portal window closed, making this race appear to be a runaway. Before long, a formidable challenger emerged. Closing fast in the battle to become the Bruins' top recruiter on an almost entirely new coaching staff was Andy Kwon. Having helped snag four transfers - a few of whom committed before his hiring - the offensive line coach went on to secure verbal commitments from two four-star high school prospects from Florida, the kind of highly coveted out-of-region talent that UCLA had seen go elsewhere in recent years.
Nolan Wilson, a four-star defensive end from Mississippi, pledged to Alabama, making him a key addition to their 2026 recruiting class. He is ranked No. 53 in the ESPN 300 and has been a high-profile commitment following several recent additions to Alabama's lineup.
