Where the top 2026 California recruits signed this cycle

California is still trying to keep its tier-one status when it comes to producing high level talent in the high school football ranks.

Looking at the 2026 cycle, there are 41 blue-chippers in the Golden State, according to the Rivals Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all major recruiting media companies. Of those 41, all but one are signed with a Power Four program.

Below is a look at the top prospects in California this cycle and where they’re headed to play their college football next season:

1. WR Chris Henry Jr. — Ohio State

School:Mater Dei
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 7 NATL. (No. 1 WR)

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.”

2. EDGE Richard Wesley — Texas

School:Sierra Canyon
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 13 NATL. (No. 4 EDGE)

Scouting Summary: “Versatile edge defender that wins with power and speed as a pass rusher that possesses advanced hand usage for his age. Verified 6-foot-4.5, 245 pounds with above average length. Impressive athlete in the combine setting as well as on the track running 11.67 in the 100m during his sophomore track and field season. Variety of pass rush moves including swims, rips, long arms and a ghost move. Stout run defender that can set the edge and displace blockers at the point of attack. Collected 16 tackles-for-loss and 9 sacks during his sophomore season. Reclassified from the 2027 cycle to the 2026 cycle so will be a year younger than most of his peers in the class. Versatile skillset allows him to project to a strong-side or weak-side end. Has the ability to play with his hand in the dirt or stand up off the edge and should excel as a three-down edge defender at the next level.”

3. TE Mark Bowman — USC

School:Mater Dei
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 23 NATL. (No. 2 TE)

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.”

4. OT Kodi Greene — Washington

School:Mater Dei
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 25 NATL. (No. 4 OT)

Scouting Summary: “Nimble offensive tackle who brings a translatable skill set with size and projectable movement skills. Measured around 6-foot-6, and north of 300 pounds before his senior season. Touts average to solid length for his height. Transferred to SoCal powerhouse Mater Dei for his junior season, primarily lining up at right tackle for the Monarchs. A high-level mover. Fluid and balanced. Works to the second level effortlessly. Dangerous as a puller. Shows good pop in his hands and plays with encouraging power. Has a solid understanding of body positioning, walling off defensive linemen. More advanced as a run blocker, but has the skill set to develop into a reliable pass protector over time. Battle-tested and fared well against top competition as a junior. Can continue to improve his hand placement and overall technique.”

5. CB Brandon Arrington — Texas A&M

School:Mount Miguel
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 29 NATL. (No. 2 CB)

Scouting Summary: “Elite athleticism at the corner position with impressive mirror ability for a taller, longer corner prospect. One of the strongest track profiles in the country. Ran a blistering 10.21 in the 100m and a 20.35 in the 200m during his junior track season. Can run with any receiver lined up across from him. Has the length and ball skills to attack the football and play through the receiver’s hands in order to separate them from the ball. Would like to see him gain some mass throughout his frame and become more confident in run support. Boundary corner projection due to his size and speed. Has the length and athleticism to line up against virtually any receiver type at the next level.”

6. DL Khary Wilder — Ohio State

School:Junipero Serra
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 41 NATL. (No. 2 DL)

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.”

7. QB Ryder Lyons — BYU

School:Folsom (Calif.)
Rivals Industry Ranking:

Scouting Summary: “Productive dual threat who makes outstanding high-level improvisational plays as a scramble artist. Measured at a shade under 6-foot-2 and around 220 pounds before his senior season. Hand measures at 9 inches. Added around 15 pounds during his junior year. At the helm of one of the top high school programs in Northern California. Highly productive over his high school career. Most comfortable when making improvisational plays. Lures defenders with his movements and keeps his eyes downfield to find open receivers. Never believes a play is dead. Stocky build and is tough to sack. Quality passer who can deliver with accuracy and touch. Shows the ability to step up in the pocket and deliver well-placed passes with timing when he wants to. Capable on designed runs in addition to scrambles. Shows the ability to break and avoid tackles at the second level. High usage player who will enter college football with a ton of meaningful reps in playmaking situations. Competitive temperament and plays with fire.”

8. CB Davon Benjamin — Oregon

School:Oaks Christian
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 63 NATL. (No. 8 CB)

Scouting Summary: “Athletically gifted defensive back with positional versatility who has the physicality to play down in the box and the movement skills to cover in the slot or on the outside. Verified 5-foot-11.5, 180 pounds with average length. Has personal bests of 10.92 in the 100m and 21.90 in the 200m. Rangy defender that covers from sideline to sideline as a safety. Fluid and loose-hipped when working in coverage as a corner. Very strong ball production and nose for the football. Picked off six passes and tallied 45 tackles as a junior. Would love more length, can be a disservice against bigger bodied pass catchers. Need to continue adding mass to his frame if he is going to be physical around the line of scrimmage at the next level. Older prospect for the 2026 recruiting cycle. Has the versatility and athletic ability to make an immediate impact at every defensive back position early on in his career and should be a three-down defender at corner or nickel throughout his career if he is able to add the necessary mass.”

9. IOL Tommy Tofi — Oregon

School:Archbishop Riordan
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 82 NATL. (No. 4 IOL)

About: Tofi originally committed to Cal, but backed off that pledge at the end of June. Oregon was trending in the summer and that led to him choosing the Ducks just a couple days later on July 2. “No hard feelings against Cal, it actually felt like home, but I feel like my heart was at Oregon,” Tofi told Rivals’ Adam Gorney. “Going back to Eugene made me realize Oregon was the spot for me and I wanted to be in Eugene.”

10. RB Brian Bonner — Washington

School:Valencia
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 84 NATL. (No. 6 RB)

Bonner on UW: “I really like the coaching staff,” he told Rivals’ Adam Gorney. “I like how coach Fisch runs his offense and I really like coach Scottie Graham, the running backs coach. He and I have a really good relationship and we’ve been building that for a long time. I really like coach Fisch, coach Graham and the rest of the coaching staff.”

Other top California signees this cycle

11. CB Havon Finney — LSU
12. RB Deshonne Redeaux — USC
13. CB Brandon Lockhart — USC
14. DL Tomuhini Topui — USC
15. WR Kayden Dixon-Wyatt — USC

16. OT Vlad Dyakonov — USC
17. CB Rahsjon Duncan — Washington
18. EDGE Simote Katoanga — USC
19. QB Bryson Beaver — Oregon
20. DL JD Hill — Washington

21. WR Madden Williams — Texas A&M
22. WR Vance Spafford — Miami
23. QB Oscar Rios — Arizona
24. WR Trent Mosley — USC
25. EDGE Prince Tavizon — Oregon