The Hurricanes were the only team to sign a top-10 class in the 2026 cycle, according to the Rivals Industry Team Recruiting Rankings. Six ACC schools earned a top-30 class. Looking at the 2027 cycle, Miami once again leads the way.
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Rivals is taking a look at the top-ranked commitment in the ACC at each position. Rankings are courtesy of Rival industry classificationa weighted average used by all major recruiting media companies.
Rival Industry Ranking: No. 45 NATL. (#3 quarterback)
School: Montini Catholic (Sick.)
Exploration Summary: “Strong-arm quarterback with a quick release and the ability to carry the ball to all levels of the field. He has a long, lean build, standing north of 6-foot-4 and weighing about 190 pounds with a 9.75-inch hand entering his senior season. He plays with a noticeable twitch as a passer. He appears to have one of the strongest arms in the 2027 cycle. He offers a quick release, demonstrating the ability to pick up the ball and make Long throws with ease, allowing his offense to access the full width of the field at multiple levels. He moves quickly in the pocket and makes second-reaction plays when pressured.
Rival Industry Ranking: No. 466 NATL. (No. 36 RB)
School: Academy of Saint Frances (Maryland.)
About: Brooks committed to the Orange on January 24. The 5-foot-11, 185-pounder also has offers from teams like Michigan State, West Virginia, Rutgers, Pitt, Wisconsin and Maryland. Play for one of the best high school football programs in the country. Last season, St. Frances finished as the No. 2 team in the Composite rankings of rivals.
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Rival Industry Ranking: No. 26 NATL. (Record No. 6)
School: carol city of miami (Florida)
Explorer Opinion: “Nick Lennear elevated his game during the most competitive periods of Navy All-American Bowl week and made impactful plays when the lights were brightest. The rising senior showed outstanding explosion on his routes, roasting corners during the 1-on-1 period of Wednesday’s joint practice. He came up big once again on Saturday, making the catch of the game, with a magnificent diving grab in the end zone to put East up early. Lennear continues to shine when targeted, then rises for a ball over the middle of the field. The Miami native’s performance in the Navy All-American Bowl creates positive momentum heading into the offseason.”
Rival Industry Ranking: No. 242 NATL. (No. 14 TE)
School: Cardinal Gibbons (Florida)
Deroche over Miami: “I’m closing out my recruitment. I’m locked in to Miami,” DeRoche told Rivals’ Chad Simmons. “Miami just feels like home to me. They make me feel comfortable, so I just want to stay home. This week, they just said I’m a top priority. Not only have they said it, but they make me feel like it.”
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Rival Industry Ranking: No. 894 NATL. (No. 68 AT)
School: oak grove (NORTH CAROLINA)
About: The 6-foot-5, 255-pounder chose the Demon Deacons on Feb. 5 and is currently the top-ranked prospect in Wake’s 2027 recruiting class. The Deacs were Reece’s first Power Four offer and he quickly secured with Jake Dickert and the state ACC program.
Rival Industry Ranking: No. 232 NATL. (LIO no. 15)
School: Texas High (Texas)
Ford on his commitment: “They’ve been recruiting me quite a bit,” Ford previously told Rivals about SMU. “They spent some time with them last month and they came and saw me, and they just showed me good love and told me I’m a big priority for them.”
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Rival Industry Ranking: No. 196 NATL. (EDGE N° 23)
School: Sutter (California)
Exploration Summary: “Bowens is a strong edge framer who probably projects best as a 3-4 wing or moving inside in a four-man front. A productive player with positional versatility and even played some receiver as a rookie before playing solely defense the past two seasons. He is not a high-strung athlete and can continue to improve athletically, but he has a physical edge to his game with strong hands and displays a non-stop motor. He shows good straight-line speed and closes the ball well. He has the multi-sport experience which we like. A solid track profile in shooting and arguing. There are a lot of long-term advantages here and, if he hits, Bowens has a ceiling in the NFL.”
Rival Industry Ranking: No. 543 NATL. (No. 61 DL)
School: Cy Ranch (Texas)
Vickerson on his commitment: “What excites me about this decision is that it’s genuine and they really want me for me,” Vickerson told Rivals. “SMU has made me their top school and made me a priority because they want to build around me. SMU showed me how to compete and be successful without a big logo on their polo!”
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Rival Industry Ranking: No. 277 NATL. (No. 22 pounds)
School: Lee County (Georgia.)
Batson in the former Soviet Union: “I enjoyed my experience there today!” Batson previously told Rivals’ Steve Wiltfong. “The way the staff is able to sell their vision for their team and the standards they have set for themselves really excites me.”
Rival Industry Ranking: No. 109 NATL. (No. 13 CB)
School: Trinity (Kentucky.)
Evans on his engagement: “I think Louisville is the place for me,” Evans told Rivals. “It’s the best fit for me in terms of my development and where I feel most comfortable and where I can grow… I feel like Coach Brohm is a great coach. He puts his guys in position to be successful. I feel like he knows a lot about college baseball and how to take guys to the next level and I feel like he can help me achieve my goal in the future of playing in the NFL.”
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Rival Industry Ranking: No. 153 NATL. (No. 14S)
School: Lennard (Florida)
Williams on her engagement: “Florida State was always my school growing up,” Williams told Rivals. “Being from Florida, you always like one of the Florida schools and for me it was FSU, I had that connection with the Noles.”
Rival Industry Ranking: No. 237 NATL. (ATH No. 8)
School: Villa Angela-St. José (Ohio)
White on his commitment: “You know, it’s the culture around the coaches, I feel like family when I’m around and it was great hospitality,” White told Rivals. “How much they care about me as a person and my development during my time in college and how they would use me on offense.”