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 Virginia using data from 247Sports. Players are ranked by the 247Sports Composite ranking. Here's the players from Virginia set to dominate Saturdays (and potentially Sundays) for years to come.
You may also like: Car insurance rates in Virginia August 2025
MaverickZ85 // Shutterstock
1 / 20#20. Markel Dabney (ATH)
- National rank: #694 (3 stars)
- Position rank: #52
- College: Michigan
- Offers: Michigan, Pittsburgh, Virginia Tech, SMU, Arizona
- High school: Huguenot (Richmond, VA)
SEALANDSKYPHOTO // Shutterstock
2 / 20#19. Zaevion Cleveland (CB)
- National rank: #662 (3 stars)
- Position rank: #56
- College: Virginia Tech
- Offers: Virginia Tech, Syracuse, Virginia, Delaware, Duke
- High school: Green Run (Virginia Beach, VA)
David Lee // Shutterstock
3 / 20#18. Alex Dunn (CB)
- National rank: #629 (3 stars)
- Position rank: #51
- College: Virginia
- Offers: Virginia
- High school: Rustburg (Rustburg, VA)
Hannah Leigh Barnes // Shutterstock
4 / 20#16 (tie). Brandon Murray (CB)
- National rank: #555 (3 stars)
- Position rank: #43
- College: Rutgers
- Offers: Rutgers, Army, Brown, Cornell, Maine
- High school: Battlefield (Haymarket, VA)
Bobby Stevens Photo // Shutterstock
5 / 20#16 (tie). Jaziel Hart (CB)
David Lee // Shutterstock
6 / 20#15. Chase Geter (CB)
- National rank: #532 (3 stars)
- Position rank: #42
- College: Syracuse
- Offers: Syracuse, Wisconsin, Duke, Virginia, Boston College
- High school: Stone Bridge (Ashburn, VA)
Andrew Angelov // Shutterstock
7 / 20#14. Mathieu Lamah (LB)
- National rank: #462 (3 stars)
- Position rank: #32
- College: Penn State
- Offers: Penn State, Virginia, Rutgers, Central Michigan, East Carolina
- High school: Patriot (Nokesville, VA)
zoff // Shutterstock
8 / 20#11 (tie). T-Ron Richardson (DL)
- National rank: #415 (4 stars)
- Position rank: #47
- College: Oklahoma
- Offers: Oklahoma, Virginia Tech, Penn State, Syracuse, Auburn
- High school: Hopewell (Hopewell, VA)
Guzel Studio // Shutterstock
9 / 20#11 (tie). Isaiah Simmons (LB)
- National rank: #415 (4 stars)
- Position rank: #29
- College: Pittsburgh
- Offers: Pittsburgh, Charlotte, Delaware, Duke, East Carolina
- High school: Maury (Norfolk, VA)
Stuart Monk // Shutterstock
10 / 20#11 (tie). Kedric Golston II (Edge)
- National rank: #415 (4 stars)
- Position rank: #42
- College: Tennessee
- Offers: Tennessee, Virginia Tech, Rutgers, Boston College, Duke
- High school: Stone Bridge (Ashburn, VA)
You may also like: Best private colleges in Virginia
Andrew Angelov // Shutterstock
11 / 20#10. Thomas Wilder (OT)
- National rank: #348 (4 stars)
- Position rank: #35
- College: not committed
- Offers: Maryland, Virginia Tech, Penn State, Alabama, Auburn
- High school: Green Run (Virginia Beach, VA)
Ron Alvey // Shutterstock
12 / 20#9. Amare Gough (WR)
- National rank: #337 (4 stars)
- Position rank: #53
- College: Syracuse
- Offers: Syracuse, Virginia Tech, Maryland, Virginia, Boston College
- High school: Thomas Jefferson (Richmond, VA)
kuzmaphoto // Shutterstock
13 / 20#8. Carter Scruggs (IOL)
- National rank: #246 (4 stars)
- Position rank: #15
- College: Clemson
- Offers: Clemson, Alabama, Boston College, Charlotte, Duke
- High school: Loudoun County (Leesburg, VA)
aspen rock // Shutterstock
14 / 20#7. Dyzier Carter (WR)
- National rank: #240 (4 stars)
- Position rank: #40
- College: Rutgers
- Offers: Rutgers, Cincinnati, East Carolina, Florida State, Georgia
- High school: Louisa County (Mineral, VA)
Pell Studio // Shutterstock
15 / 20#6. Davion Brown (WR)
- National rank: #193 (4 stars)
- Position rank: #31
- College: not committed
- Offers: Penn State, Auburn, Boston College, Duke, Florida State
- High school: Trinity Episcopal (Richmond, VA)
You may also like: Best public colleges in Virginia
Andrew Angelov // Shutterstock
16 / 20#5. Andre Clarke Jr. (S)
- National rank: #154 (4 stars)
- Position rank: #13
- College: Michigan
- Offers: Michigan, Kentucky, SMU, Appalachian State, Campbell
- High school: Hermitage (Richmond, VA)
Fabricio Barili // Shutterstock
17 / 20#4. Valdin Sone (DL)
- National rank: #137 (4 stars)
- Position rank: #17
- College: Georgia
- Offers: Georgia, Florida, Nebraska, Auburn, Alabama
- High school: Blue Ridge School (Dyke, VA)
Andy Dean Photography // Shutterstock
18 / 20#3. Travis Johnson (WR)
- National rank: #123 (4 stars)
- Position rank: #13
- College: Michigan
- Offers: Michigan, North Carolina, Penn State, South Carolina, Indiana
- High school: Oscar Smith (Chesapeake, VA)
Ron Alvey // Shutterstock
19 / 20#2. Darius Gray (IOL)
- National rank: #33 (5 stars)
- Position rank: #2
- College: South Carolina
- Offers: South Carolina, LSU, Ohio State, Tennessee, Clemson
- High school: St. Christopher's School (Richmond, VA)
WoodysPhotos // Shutterstock
20 / 20
