Top Big Ten commits in the 2026 Rivals Industry Ranking

The Big Ten, now 18 teams deep, continues to make its presence felt on the recruiting trail.

Nine of the top 30 classes in the 2026 Rivals Industry Team Recruiting Rankings belong to the conference, as of Oct. 7. That includes three top-10 classes, headlined by USC, which continues to hold the No. 1 spot with the early signing period eight weeks out.

All 32 five-stars in this class are currently committed, and 10 are pledged to one of the league’s 18 teams. After the latest Rivals Industry Ranking updates, as well as new rankings from other services, we break down the top prospects set to head to the Big Ten next year.

EDGE Zion Elee — Maryland

Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 2 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.”

OT Immanuel Iheanacho — Oregon

Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 6 NATL.
School:Georgetown Prep (Md.)
Scouting Summary: “Mountain of an offensive tackle prospect. Has truly rare dimensions for a young offensive tackle. Checked in at nearly 6-foot-7, 350 pounds with startlingly 36-inch long arms and big hands prior to his junior season. Shows good flexibility and functional movement skills at his immense size. Owns one of the more powerful punches we’ve seen among offensive tackle prospects in the past few cycles. Absolutely stones defensive linemen at the point of attack. Length, hand strength, and girth create a nearly unmovable anchor. Played on the defensive line early in his high school career, showing off some nice athleticism. Also has a basketball background. Turned in a strong showing at the Under Armour All-America Game before his senior season. Gained nearly 40 pounds as a junior, weighing in at over 380 pounds on official visits. Will need to trim down and maintain his movement skills. Must also continue improving his overall consistency in the high school football setting, but has considerable upside given his physical gifts.”

RB Savion Hiter — Michigan

Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 8 NATL.
School:Louisa County (Va.)
Scouting Summary: “Gifted runner with an advanced blend of athleticism, fluidity, and instincts as a high school underclassman. Physically developed, measuring in at over 5-foot-11 and around 200 pounds prior to his senior season. Registers as a strong athlete, running an 11.11 second mark in the 100-meters as a freshman. Also jumped close to 45 feet in the triple jump – an outstanding mark. Turned multiple dominant seasons as a high school underclassman, including a 1,698-yard, 26-touchdown junior campaign that saw him run for 10.8 yards per carry. Looks to be a natural runner. An extremely fluid and smooth mover who changes directions effortlessly. Shows excellent acceleration. Cuts on a dime and makes defenders miss in space. Runs with pace and instincts. A strong tackle-breaker who runs through contact due to a strong leg drive. A phenomenal high school football player who also makes big plays on defense. Has the potential and upside to be one of the best running back prospects in several cycles.”

TE Mark Bowman — USC

Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 16 NATL.
School:Mater Dei (Calif.)
Scouting Summary: “Technical pass-catcher who is one of the best route-running tight end prospects we’ve seen in recent years. Measured in at 6-foot-4, 235 pounds with 31.75-inch arms and 9.75-inch hands before his senior season. Has elite quickness, which he uses to separate off the line of scrimmage and within his routes. Able to snap off defenders at will. Has very reliable hands and consistently finishes at the catch point. Quickness and speed allow for the ability to pick up big yardage after the catch. The type of tight end who can be a movable weapon within an offense’s passing game. Backs up the skill set he shows on Friday nights, with dominant showings on the 7-on-7 circuit and in camps. Punches well above his weight as a blocker and is a strong, physical presence in the run game. Finished the 2024 season with 32 catches for 435 yards and eight touchdowns in 15 games. Reclassified back into the 2026 cycle before his final year of high school football. Has less varsity experience and production than some of his highly-rated peers and a less robust multi-sport profile. Has the potential to develop into a high-volume target and early-round draft pick.”

S Jett Washington — Oregon

Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 18 NATL.
School:Bishop Gorman (Nev.)
Insider’s Take: “Las Vegas (Nev.) Bishop Gorman standout Jett Washington altered the way quarterbacks attacked Lo-Pro with his length and range. Washington was in passing lanes and got his hands on a couple football as well including a pick on a hail mary heave to end the morning session. He had two picks erased by penalty elsewhere on the field. — Rivals’ Steve Wiltfong on Washington at Overtime’s OT7

WR Chris Henry Jr. — Ohio State

Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 19 NATL.
School:Mater Dei (Calif.)
Scouting Summary: “Jumbo receiver with a rare combination of size, athleticism, and coordination as a young prospect. Continued growing and adding size throughout his high school career, checking in at around 6-foot-5 and over 200 pounds going into his senior season. Has good length, with arms around 34 inches. Tests as a strong athlete with good speed at his size in the combine setting. Flashes functional movement skills at his size, showing the ability to sink his hips and change direction with ease. Touts good ball skills and catch radius. Tracks the ball over his shoulder and can win in jump ball situations. Sustained a season-ending knee injury as a junior, missing most of the year. Heading into his senior season, his production is below average for a top wide receiver prospect. Has a strong pedigree as the son of the late NFL wide receiver Chris Henry. Will need to capitalize on more extensive reps and continue developing, but has a very high physical upside.”

TE Kendre Harrison — Oregon

Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 22 NATL.
School:Reidsville (N.C.)
Scouting Summary: “Freakish two-sport athlete who is one of the most physically imposing prospects in the nation, regardless of class. A true ‘first off the bus’ type. Listed at 6-foot-7, 230 pounds. Plays both tight end and defensive end for his high school team. Moves like a much smaller player. Runs well and shows the ability to separate from linebackers. Has considerable mismatch ability as a pass catcher. Does not lumber unlike many players of his size. Also flashes intriguing upside as a pass rusher on defense. Doubles as a national basketball prospect with high major offers. Averaged over 21 points and 15 rebounds per game as a high school freshman on the hardwood. Has genuine positional ambiguity at this stage in his evaluation, but owns one of the higher physical upsides in the 2026 cycle early on.”

EDGE Anthony Jones — Oregon

Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 23 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.”

OT Keenyi Pepe — USC

Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 25 NATL.
School:IMG Academy (Fla.)
About: Pepe saw playing time as a freshman on a loaded IMG squad in 2022, and was named to All-American teams both of his first two years on a really deep offensive line. This fall, he took over as the team’s starting left tackle and helped anchor one of the country’s best lines. In May, he committed to the Trojans over Miami, Oregon, and a host of other programs.

EDGE Carter Meadows — Michigan

Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 30 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.”