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ESPN Staff Writer- National recruiting analyst and analyst for ESPNU
- More than a decade of college and pro coaching experience.
- Graduated from Indiana and Nebraska-Omaha
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ESPN Analyst- Senior National Recruiting Analyst for ESPN.com
- Coached in four professional football leagues
- Graduated from Eastern Kentucky and Marshall
As members of the 2026 recruiting class embark on their senior seasons, we officially welcome them to the ESPN 300 rankings. This first edition features a new top prospect and the most five-stars ever recorded in an initial release.
Among the risers, several dominant linemen have our attention, as do three quarterbacks who look like great fits for their future programs and two uncommitted five-stars who could make an instant impact as freshmen.
Jump to a section:
New No. 1 | QB breakdown | Five-star fits | College-ready players
Who's No. 1? DT Lamar Brown
Uncommitted
After previously ranking fifth, Brown has emerged as the new No. 1 prospect in the country following an outstanding performance at the Under Armour New Orleans camp. Brown already ranked as a five-star on the strength of his two-way versatility, but his skill, competitiveness and overall value shined through during our in-person evaluation and helped him cut through a talented group of top names.
At over 6-foot-4 and 285 pounds, Brown ran a 4.86 40-yard dash. He has outstanding flexibility and pairs his excellent length with good power. His competitive demeanor was clear as he sought out reps on both sides of the ball in New Orleans.
Lamar Brown is a freak of nature 🔥 @lamar1brown
— Billy Tucker (@TheUCReport) March 9, 2025
The No. 5 prospect in the ESPN 300 took reps on defense and offense and showed why he's one of the top recruits in the nation at UA Next in New Orleans. Dude is special‼️#UANext pic.twitter.com/nYWIF8Gj7f
There's some debate over which side Brown fits best -- he plays both offensive and defensive tackle in high school -- but he's more likely to focus on defense in college.
Brown has explosive burst, good change of direction and active hands. He wins the leverage battle and should emerge as a tough run defender with effective range and a disruptive pass rusher. He's arguably an even better offensive line prospect and has the tools to become a potential first-round NFL draft pick if he ends up on that side of the ball.
Brown is uncommitted, with in-state LSU the front-runner and Texas A&M, Miami and Florida State in the mix. Regardless of position, his blend of size, mobility and versatility is rare for a lineman, and the reason he has pushed his way to the top of the list.
How the top committed QBs fit
ATH/QB Keisean Henderson
ESPN 300 ranking: 16
Committed to: Houston Cougars
It'll be interesting to see if Henderson pans out at quarterback or another position. He's very similar to Duke transfer quarterback Darian Mensah, whom coach Willie Fritz recruited to Tulane before taking the Houston job.
Landing Henderson is a huge pickup for the Cougars, even if he's not polished enough to make an immediate impact. He's a developmental player who needs more consistency in the passing game. Henderson has 20.6 mph max speed, which is a very good time for a quarterback. He has a high ceiling regardless of his position.
QB Dia Bell
ESPN 300 ranking: 6
Committed to: Texas Longhorns
Bell can hope to take a page out of Arch Manning's blueprint for quarterback development, which requires the proper amount of patience and focus. Bell will only get bigger, stronger and more mature before being thrown into the fire. Like Manning before him, Bell fits well with Texas. He's a naturally gifted passer with better speed than Quinn Ewers. Bell consistently performed well against high-level competition, and he gives the Longhorns another signal-caller they can groom to eventually make the jump to a starting role.
ESPN 300 ranking: 8
Committed to: Tennessee Volunteers
Brandon joins a quarterback-friendly system in Knoxville and, like Bell at Texas, he doesn't need to play right away. Brandon, current starter Nico Iamaleava and former Vols quarterback Hendon Hooker all have similar stature and arm strength, and Brandon is much more accurate than former Volunteer Joe Milton was. He's not quite as polished at the same stage as Iamaleava, but Brandon throws a great deep ball, which coach Josh Heupel requires from every quarterback in his scheme.
QB Kayd Coffman
ESPN 300 ranking: 239
Committed to: Michigan State Spartans
Coffman's skill set and upside catch scouts' attention. The ball jumps out of his hand with the type of snappy, quick release that isn't easily coached. The ball carries and finishes well, especially in the vertical passing game, and he can create plays with his speed and agility. He's a true dual threat, and coach Jonathan Smith has a track record of developing high-quality quarterbacks.
How top committed prospects fit
DE Zion Elee
ESPN 300 ranking: 2
Committed to: Maryland Terrapins
Maryland's success is closely tied to how well it fends off competitors to keep top talent in the region. In this case, Elee is a puzzle piece who fits quite nicely. The last time Maryland signed the state's top prospect was in 2021, and the Terps have never landed the No. 1 prospect in the Greater DMV footprint during the ESPN 300 era. Elee checks both of those boxes early in the process and is a foundational block for Maryland's class.
Maryland notched just 14 sacks last year and was among college football's least-effective teams at rushing the passer. The Terps took steps to remedy that deficiency by signing ESPN 300 defensive end Zahir Mathis in 2025. Elee, another impact pass rusher, is coming right behind him. Elee has elite length, a quick first step and the tools to develop into a top-tier edge rusher.
ESPN 300 ranking: 11
Committed to: Oregon Ducks
Oregon featured one of the top passing attacks in college football in 2024. Tight end and current NFL draft prospect Terrance Ferguson played a key role with 43 receptions. Though Harrison won't arrive until 2026, he will give Oregon an explosive weapon who could be even more productive than Ferguson. An excellent basketball player, the 6-6 Harrison offers height, length and range, giving the Ducks a massive target with a wide catch radius.
His route running needs development, but Harrison's frame and basketball background make him a potential mismatch in the red zone. The presence of receivers Tez Johnson and Evan Stewart made Ferguson even more dangerous, and with Oregon's high-level recruiting, including 2025 No. 1 wide receiver Dakorien Moore, Harrison should benefit from a strong group around him to create favorable matchups and ease the pressure early.
Most college-ready players
ESPN 300 ranking: 7
Uncommitted
Cooper is comparable to 2014 ESPN 300 five-star Leonard Fournette, who made an instant impact at LSU rushing for more than 1,000 yards as a freshman. Both are (or were) big backs at roughly 6-1 and more than 200 pounds during high school with an impressive blend of speed and power. The versatility is similar as well. Fournette could have been one of the best linebackers in his class. Cooper, for his part, could also be an excellent defensive back.
Sharing similar traits to one of the top college running backs of the past decade is a strong indicator of success, but it's not the only reason Cooper is ready for college. With further development as a blocker, he could quickly become a three-down multipurpose back because of his excellent ball skills and good route-running ability. His competitiveness and willingness to be coached were apparent in several in-person evaluations. Wherever Cooper lands, he should make an impact on day one. Auburn, Miami, Alabama, Georgia, Penn State and Ohio State will host upcoming visits.
5 ⭐️ for a reason @DerrekCooper80
— Billy Tucker (@TheUCReport) March 2, 2025
There's no stopping Derrek Cooper Jr. 1-on-1‼️ #UANext pic.twitter.com/ICMVHFGXAM
ESPN 300 ranking: 3
Uncommitted
Both of Cantwell's parents were Olympic athletes, so unsurprisingly he has been groomed as a high-level talent with rare size and agility. He has already faced elite competition as an underclassman at the Under Armour All-American game. Cantwell can play both tackle positions. He will increase his chances of playing right away if he enrolls early and acclimates to the rigors of college football by participating in winter conditioning, spring ball and summer workouts leading up to training camp. His final six are Georgia, Michigan, Miami, Missouri, Ohio State and Oregon.