{"id":779932,"date":"2026-02-27T13:31:23","date_gmt":"2026-02-27T13:31:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/779932\/"},"modified":"2026-02-27T13:31:23","modified_gmt":"2026-02-27T13:31:23","slug":"scouting-top-college-football-prospects-and-how-theyll-fit-in-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/779932\/","title":{"rendered":"Scouting top college football prospects and how they’ll fit in 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"


The top players in the 2026 recruiting class<\/a> have their new schools<\/a> and, in some cases, will soon be starting spring football.<\/p>\n

The perfect harmony between skill and scheme can lead to production and wins on the field. Here’s how the top 2026 recruits at each position could fit at their new schools:<\/p>\n

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Ranking: SC Next No. 4<\/p>\n

Other thanEd Oliver<\/a>, this is the most high-profile prospect Houston has signed in the modern era — and expectations reflect that.<\/p>\n

Henderson arrives with elite production against top Texas competition and a feel for the game that can’t be coached. With Conner Weigman<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n

For a program still building under head coach Willie Fritz, this is the type of recruit who signals a shift in trajectory. Henderson is raw in spots, but he has the arm talent, athleticism and instincts. He gives Houston a needed explosive dimension.<\/p>\n

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Ranking: SC Next No. 12<\/p>\n

When Vanderbilt wins a quarterback recruiting battle against national powers, it turns heads. Curtis arrives with massive expectations — second only, perhaps, to Arch Manning<\/a> when he first got to Texas. But Curtis isn’t stepping into a perfect, ready-made situation like Diego Pavia<\/a> did. He’ll need time.<\/p>\n

Curtis has the physical tools — arm strength, size, athleticism — but the jump from a lower classification of high school football to the SEC will be steep. The key for Curtis isn’t trying to be someone else. It’s carving out his own identity, weathering early bumps and growing into the role. The upside is obvious. The pace of his development will determine how quickly Vanderbilt’s offense rises with him.<\/p>\n

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Ranking: SC Next No. 13<\/p>\n

If there’s a blueprint for development in Austin, it’s patience — something Arch Manning got early in his career. Bell fits the mold. He’s a pure passer with more mobility than Quinn Ewers<\/a> and the frame to keep adding strength. He has been battle-tested against elite competition and consistently produced.<\/p>\n

The biggest question is durability. Bell has dealt with injuries, and staying healthy will be critical — especially once Manning departs for the NFL. If he develops at the right pace and avoids being rushed, Texas fans could be watching the next polished, NFL-caliber passer in the making.<\/p>\n

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Ranking: SC Next No. 14<\/p>\n

Tennessee has built a system that asks quarterbacks to push the ball vertically. Brandon has a big arm, sneaky athleticism and physical traits reminiscent of Hendon Hooker<\/a>. Though Brandon is not as polished at this stage as Nico Iamaleava<\/a>, his deep-ball ability is tailor-made for this offense.<\/p>\n

With a Tennessee state judge denying Joey Aguilar<\/a> an injunction, he is out of eligibility. There is also limited experience elsewhere among the quarterbacks. Brandon could compete sooner than expected. For Vols fans, that arm talent should be exciting.<\/p>\n

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Ranking: SC Next No. 50<\/p>\n

At BYU, quarterback development is often a long game — and Lyons likely follows that path. A redshirt year and potential mission would allow him to grow physically and mentally before taking the reins. As a passer, he’s among the most polished in the class. He throws one of the best deep balls in the class and is comfortable operating in play-action — perfect for BYU’s offensive identity.<\/p>\n

Lyons is versatile. He is poised under pressure, effective on the move and capable of extending plays. If developed patiently, he could be the next standout in Provo.<\/p>\n

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Ranking: SC Next No. 112<\/p>\n

Bentley has the “it” factor — competitive edge, quick release, fearless mentality. There are flashes of Baker Mayfield<\/a> in his sandlot style and swagger.<\/p>\n

With John Mateer<\/a> returning in 2026 and recent turnover at the position, Bentley could quickly rise to QB2. He’s aggressive, confident and thrives in chaos. The next step? Learning to balance a live arm and gunslinger mentality with structure and discipline. If he does, Oklahoma might have found its next playmaking leader.<\/p>\n

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Ranking: SC Next No. 121<\/p>\n

Thomalla could benefit from time and development. With the job likely between Austin Mack<\/a> and Keelon Russell<\/a>, Thomalla can redshirt and continue to hone his skills. That’s ideal for a player whose upside is immense, but whose technique still needs refinement.<\/p>\n

He’s resourceful, keeps his eyes downfield under pressure and can drive the ball vertically. Sometimes, prospects look better in workouts than film, Thomalla is the opposite. He just knows how to play the position and win.<\/p>\n

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Ranking: SC Next No. 135<\/p>\n

At 6-4, 230 pounds, Griffin looks like a college quarterback the moment he steps off the bus, and he’s no stranger to big stages. He has a strong arm, can attack every level of the field and moves better than his frame suggests. He is similar, stylistically, to Fernando Mendoza<\/a>.<\/p>\n

With a new coaching staff and the departure of DJ Lagway<\/a>, the door could open quickly. If Griffin is forced into action early, his experience and physical readiness give him a legitimate shot to handle it. He has all the physical tools to step in, but there will be an adjustment with processing and progressions, which is the norm for most freshmen.<\/p>\n

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Ranking: SC Next No. 138<\/p>\n

Williams’ creativity draws obvious comparisons to Caleb Williams<\/a>. He’s a play-extender who thrives outside structure, capable of altering arm angles and improvising when things break down. In Lincoln Riley’s prolific system, creativity is a major asset.<\/p>\n

The ideal scenario is a redshirt year with limited action under the four-game rule. Let Williams develop within structure while still flashing that wow-factor. If it all clicks, USC fans will have another must-watch quarterback.<\/p>\n

Copyright \u00a9 2026 ESPN Internet Ventures. All rights reserved.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The top players in the 2026 recruiting class have their new schools and, in some cases, will soon…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":779933,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[2026],"tags":[110470,930,10305,331,1310,12,1301,7,4618,5042,1787,1541,1078,8242,7205],"class_list":{"0":"post-779932","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-football","8":"tag-110470","9":"tag-alabama-crimson-tide","10":"tag-byu-cougars","11":"tag-college-football","12":"tag-daily","13":"tag-espn","14":"tag-florida-gators","15":"tag-football","16":"tag-football-recruiting","17":"tag-houston-cougars","18":"tag-oklahoma-sooners","19":"tag-tennessee-volunteers","20":"tag-texas-longhorns","21":"tag-usc-trojans","22":"tag-vanderbilt-commodores"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nfl\/116142851597577681","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/779932","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=779932"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/779932\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/779933"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=779932"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=779932"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=779932"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}