Highest-rated Class of 2026 football recruits from California
Written by:
May 30, 2025
HY-DP // Shutterstock
Highest-rated Class of 2026 football recruits from California
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. Here's the players from California set to dominate Saturdays (and potentially Sundays) for years to come.
- National rank: #120 (4 stars) - Position rank: #15 - College: USC - Offers: USC, Alabama, Arizona, Arizona State, Auburn - High school: Mater Dei (Santa Ana, CA)
7 / 20
aspen rock // Shutterstock
#14. Kayden Dixon-Wyatt (WR)
- National rank: #108 (4 stars) - Position rank: #13 - College: Ohio State - Offers: Ohio State, Alabama, Arizona, Arizona State, Arkansas - High school: Mater Dei (Santa Ana, CA)
8 / 20
Andy Dean Photography // Shutterstock
#13. Brian Bonner (RB)
- National rank: #104 (4 stars) - Position rank: #7 - College: not committed - Offers: Notre Dame, Penn State, Nebraska, UCLA, Washington - High school: Valencia (Valencia, CA)
9 / 20
kuzmaphoto // Shutterstock
#12. Simote Katoanga (DL)
- National rank: #86 (4 stars) - Position rank: #11 - College: USC - Offers: USC, Arizona, Arizona State, California, Central Michigan - High school: Santa Margarita Catholic (Rancho Santa Margarita, CA)
10 / 20
SEALANDSKYPHOTO // Shutterstock
#11. Brady Smigiel (QB)
- National rank: #82 (4 stars) - Position rank: #7 - College: Michigan - Offers: Michigan, Arizona, Arizona State, Auburn, Boston College - High school: Newbury Park (Newbury Park, CA)
- National rank: #74 (4 stars) - Position rank: #9 - College: Georgia - Offers: Georgia, Miami, UCLA, Washington, Colorado - High school: Mission Viejo (Mission Viejo, CA)
12 / 20
WoodysPhotos // Shutterstock
#9. Brandon Lockhart (CB)
- National rank: #61 (4 stars) - Position rank: #7 - College: USC - Offers: USC, Georgia, Illinois, Notre Dame, Texas A&M - High school: Loyola (Los Angeles, CA)
13 / 20
MaverickZ85 // Shutterstock
#8. Havon Finney (CB)
- National rank: #50 (4 stars) - Position rank: #5 - College: LSU - Offers: LSU, USC, Arizona, Auburn, BYU - High school: Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, CA)
14 / 20
Ron Alvey // Shutterstock
#7. Davon Benjamin (S)
- National rank: #36 (4 stars) - Position rank: #5 - College: not committed - Offers: Miami, Ohio State, Oregon, Texas, USC - High school: Oaks Christian (Westlake Village, CA)
15 / 20
Hannah Leigh Barnes // Shutterstock
#6. Kodi Greene (OT)
- National rank: #22 (5 stars) - Position rank: #3 - College: Washington - Offers: Washington, Alabama, Arizona, Arizona State, Auburn - High school: Mater Dei (Santa Ana, CA)
- National rank: #19 (5 stars) - Position rank: #5 - College: not committed - Offers: BYU, Oregon, USC, Ole Miss, Alabama - High school: Folsom (Folsom, CA)
17 / 20
Bobby Stevens Photo // Shutterstock
#4. Mark Bowman (TE)
- National rank: #16 (5 stars) - Position rank: #1 - College: not committed - Offers: Oregon, USC, Georgia, Texas, Miami - High school: Mater Dei (Santa Ana, CA)
18 / 20
zoff // Shutterstock
#3. Richard Wesley (Edge)
- National rank: #14 (5 stars) - Position rank: #2 - College: not committed - Offers: Ohio State, Texas, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas A&M - High school: Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, CA)
19 / 20
Andrew Angelov // Shutterstock
#2. Chris Henry Jr. (WR)
- National rank: #13 (5 stars) - Position rank: #3 - College: Ohio State - Offers: Ohio State, Miami, Oregon, USC, Akron - High school: Mater Dei (Santa Ana, CA)
20 / 20
Pell Studio // Shutterstock
#1. Brandon Arrington (ATH)
- National rank: #10 (5 stars) - Position rank: #1 - College: not committed - Offers: Texas A&M, Oregon, USC, Alabama, Penn State - High school: Mount Miguel (Spring Valley, CA)
