The recruiting race for the Class of 2026 is already heating up — not just on the field, but in the increasingly complex ecosystem of modern college football, where NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) deals are reshaping how programs and players navigate early recruitment. For elite underclassmen, talent alone is no longer the only factor drawing attention; marketability, social media presence, and brand potential are now playing pivotal roles in how offers are extended and decisions are made. The top recruits in the 2026 cycle are not only physically advanced and highly skilled — they're entering high school with endorsement potential and media savviness.
Stacker compiled a list of the highest rated Class of 2026 football recruits from California using data from 247Sports. Players are ranked by the 247Sports Composite ranking. Here's the players from California set to dominate Saturdays (and potentially Sundays) for years to come.
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1 / 20#20. Israel Briggs (TE)
- National rank: #162 (4 stars)
- Position rank: #9
- College: Miami
- Offers: Miami, LSU, California, Alabama, Arizona
- High school: Clovis (Clovis, CA)
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2 / 20#19. Bryson Beaver (QB)
- National rank: #155 (4 stars)
- Position rank: #11
- College: Oregon
- Offers: Oregon, Boise State, Alabama, Auburn, Bowling Green
- High school: Vista Murrieta (Murrieta, CA)
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3 / 20#18. Sam Utu (IOL)
- National rank: #148 (4 stars)
- Position rank: #8
- College: Alabama
- Offers: Alabama, SMU, Washington, Arizona, Arizona State
- High school: Orange Lutheran (Orange, CA)
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4 / 20#17. Kayden Dixon-Wyatt (WR)
- National rank: #142 (4 stars)
- Position rank: #20
- College: Ohio State
- Offers: Ohio State, Alabama, Arizona, Arizona State, Arkansas
- High school: Mater Dei (Santa Ana, CA)
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5 / 20#16. Tommy Tofi (IOL)
- National rank: #141 (4 stars)
- Position rank: #7
- College: Oregon
- Offers: Oregon, California, Utah, Arizona, Arizona State
- High school: Archbishop Riordan (San Francisco, CA)
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6 / 20#15. Vance Spafford (WR)
- National rank: #125 (4 stars)
- Position rank: #14
- College: Miami
- Offers: Miami, Georgia, UCLA, Washington, Colorado
- High school: Mission Viejo (Mission Viejo, CA)
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7 / 20#14. Tomuhini Topui (DL)
- National rank: #116 (4 stars)
- Position rank: #15
- College: USC
- Offers: USC, Alabama, Arizona, Arizona State, Auburn
- High school: Mater Dei (Santa Ana, CA)
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8 / 20#13. Deshonne Redeaux (RB)
- National rank: #115 (4 stars)
- Position rank: #10
- College: USC
- Offers: USC, Alabama, Arizona, Arizona State, Arkansas
- High school: Oaks Christian (Westlake Village, CA)
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9 / 20#12. Simote Katoanga (DL)
- National rank: #105 (4 stars)
- Position rank: #13
- College: USC
- Offers: USC, Arizona, Arizona State, California, Central Michigan
- High school: Santa Margarita Catholic (Rancho Santa Margarita, CA)
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10 / 20#11. Brandon Lockhart (CB)
- National rank: #88 (4 stars)
- Position rank: #10
- College: USC
- Offers: USC, Georgia, Illinois, Notre Dame, Texas A&M
- High school: Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, CA)
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11 / 20#10. Havon Finney (CB)
- National rank: #86 (4 stars)
- Position rank: #9
- College: LSU
- Offers: LSU, Arizona, Auburn, BYU, California
- High school: Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, CA)
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12 / 20#9. Khary Wilder (DL)
- National rank: #79 (4 stars)
- Position rank: #9
- College: Ohio State
- Offers: Ohio State, UCLA, Alabama, Appalachian State, Arizona
- High school: Junipero Serra (Gardena, CA)
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13 / 20#8. Brian Bonner (RB)
- National rank: #71 (4 stars)
- Position rank: #4
- College: Washington
- Offers: Washington, Penn State, Nebraska, UCLA, Arizona
- High school: Valencia (Valencia, CA)
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14 / 20#7. Davon Benjamin (S)
- National rank: #36 (5 stars)
- Position rank: #4
- College: Oregon
- Offers: Oregon, Washington, Texas, Michigan, Arizona State
- High school: Oaks Christian (Westlake Village, CA)
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15 / 20Hannah Leigh Barnes // Shutterstock
16 / 20#5. Kodi Greene (OT)
- National rank: #24 (5 stars)
- Position rank: #3
- College: Washington
- Offers: Washington, Alabama, Arizona, Arizona State, Auburn
- High school: Mater Dei (Santa Ana, CA)
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17 / 20#4. Brandon Arrington (ATH)
- National rank: #21 (5 stars)
- Position rank: #1
- College: Texas A&M
- Offers: Texas A&M, Alabama, Oregon, Washington, Penn State
- High school: Mount Miguel (Spring Valley, CA)
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18 / 20#3. Chris Henry Jr. (WR)
- National rank: #20 (5 stars)
- Position rank: #2
- College: Ohio State
- Offers: Ohio State, Akron, Alabama, Auburn, Boston College
- High school: Mater Dei (Santa Ana, CA)
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19 / 20#2. Mark Bowman (TE)
- National rank: #18 (5 stars)
- Position rank: #1
- College: USC
- Offers: USC, Ole Miss, Alabama, Arizona, Arizona State
- High school: Mater Dei (Santa Ana, CA)
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20 / 20#1. Richard Wesley (Edge)
