ACC Highlight: Concern stage for applications lagging behind on 2026 class
Spring official visits have kicked off across the nation and gamers are nonetheless taking unofficial visits to take a look at spring practices. As we enter a really busy time on the recruiting calendar, which applications presently lagging behind ought to be really fearful about their recruiting courses and which ones will likely be simply wonderful?
We proceed with a have a look at the ACC.
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DUKE
ACC rank: No. 8 of 16
Degree of concern: Medium
Garcia’s take: After a nine-win 2024 and an ensuing recruiting class ending simply exterior the highest 30 within the Rivals rankings, Duke holds simply 4 verbal commitments and sits at No. 50. Of the quartet of pledges, none are on board from inside state traces regardless of a loaded prospect yr within the state of North Carolina.
One other space for concern past low quantity is the dearth of a quarterback on board early on; in reality each Duke dedication within the 2026 class is a trench kind participant. It’s going to change in brief order underneath Manny Diaz, but it surely’s considerably stunning to see the Blue Devils not doubling-down on the momentum created by final season. Possibly the switch portal is the precedence in Durham.
FLORIDA STATE
ACC rank: No. 6 of 16
Degree of concern: Medium
Garcia’s take: Mike Norvell and firm salvaged a lot teaching turnover relative to the 2025 class, so it was in all probability going to result in a slower begin in 2026 anyway. Nonetheless, among the early pledges to the Seminoles not solely appear fairly open to different applications, however the class headliner in five-star quarterback Brady Smigiel departed the group in late January.
The main target had been near dwelling since, with eight of the 9 verbal commitments on board from the Sunshine State. Defensive again, the strongest group assembled up to now, was bolstered on Thursday by Maryland native Sean Johnson.
The seek for a quarterback will likely be important to a bounce-back cycle from Florida State, however we’re not hitting the panic button simply but contemplating the on-field product will possible dictate the ceiling of this class.
GEORGIA TECH
ACC rank: No. 12 of 16
Degree of concern: Low
Garcia’s take: The beginning of the cycle for Georgia Tech has been nothing in need of stunning on a number of fronts. There are simply three pledges on board as of this writing, all projected to play within the defensive secondary at that – and neither was on board earlier than March 18. But the extent of concern for the category as a complete is low underneath Brent Key.
There’s simply an excessive amount of expertise near campus forward of the official go to season to foresee GT not ramping up the quantity in brief order. Following up the top-25 class of 2025 was by no means going to be straightforward, however the hill does appear barely steeper than anticipated at this stage.
A minimum of there may be some current momentum following a powerful March, particularly with the win of coveted cornerback Jaedyn Terry, so maybe extra upsets in favor of this system on the Flats lie forward.
SMU
ACC rank: No. 11 of 16
Degree of concern: Medium
Garcia’s take: The Mustangs’ march to the ACC title recreation of their debut season within the league was mirrored in recruiting with a No. 26-ranked class with nationwide headliners and several other blue-chippers signed as much as contribute on the offensive aspect of the ball. The 2026 group bought off to a memorable begin with NFL legacy Cole Leinart leaping on board within the fall, however simply two extra commitments have come on board since, albeit every is a blue-chipper at this stage of the cycle.
However coming off of the ACC title recreation look mixed with the quantity of high expertise within the Lone Star State creates an anticipation to stack up a lot greater than No. 60 nationally at this level.
Most of Rhett Lashlee and firm’s injury within the final cycle got here earlier than the season started, so if there’s a run to be made it ought to be coming sooner quite than later.
STANFORD
ACC rank: No. 14 of 16
Degree of concern: Excessive
Garcia’s take: Sure, that is low-hanging fruit and doubtlessly apparent, but it surely does not imply it is not true. Stanford simply went by means of a late spring teaching change to a one-year rental in faculty head teaching rookie Frank Reich. Andrew Luck may help regular the ship and create some certainty to pair with the distinctive training that Stanford can all the time promote on the recruiting path, however that solely goes to this point.
The Cardinal maintain a trio of three-star commitments so far, all leaping in since February, however the crosshairs from different applications might alter the listing though there has but to be a identified 2026 decommitment for the reason that program moved on from Troy Taylor. Stanford solely took 17 highschool recruits final cycle, so getting close to that quantity would really feel like a relative win till there may be extra readability on the way forward for the teaching employees.
