Recruiting battles for the nation's top pass-catchers are raging.
Grant Hughes
The scouting department at247Sports updated its class of 2026 rankings this week, resulting in some major movement among the class' top 10 wide receivers. Top-ranked receiver Chris Henry Jr. is the only pass-catcher in the top 10 already committed. He pledged to Ohio State on July 18, 2023, but comes off recent visits to LSU and Oregon and is interested in scheduling a trip to Texas.
Benjamin Russell (Ala.) receiver Cedarian Morgan jumped from No. 20 overall to No. 7, checking in as the No. 2 wideout behind Henry. He's turned into a major priority for a number of elite programs over the last few months. National recruiting analysts predict that in-state rivals Alabama and Auburn are at the forefront of the battle.
Four-star wideout Tristen Keys out of Hattiesburg (Miss.) was one of the class' biggest risers, shooting up 119 spots from No. 163 to No. 24 in the update. He lists LSU, Ole Miss, Michigan and Florida State as serious contenders.
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Here is the latest recruiting information for the class of 2026's top 10 wide receivers:
10. Davion Brown | Uncommitted
National Recruiting Ranking: Four-Star | 91 Rating | No. 64 OVR
Brown holds offers from Auburn, Florida State, Miami, Michigan and Penn State, among others. The Top247 wideout from Richmond (Va.) Trinity Episcopal School hasn't named favorites but told national recruiting analyst Tom Loy that the Nittany Lions are doing the best job recruiting him.
"I love Penn State," Brown said last week. "They're up there. There are a few other schools up there, though — Auburn,Virginia Tech,USC, Tennessee."
Brown said he wants to attend games this fall at Virginia Tech,Ohio State, USC and Auburn. His "dream offer" is Ohio State.
9. Zion Robinson | Uncommitted
National Recruiting Ranking: Four-Star | 91 Rating | No. 62 OVR
Robinson has steadily picked up elite offers since Houston extended his first Power Four offer on Oct. 18, 2023. The Mansfield (Tex.) wideout has landed offers from Ole Miss, TCU, Michigan, Texas, Texas A&M and Oklahoma since the start of 2024. There's little news on Robinson's recruitment as he lets the process play out. He made camp trips to Oklahoma and Texas A&M in the last month.
8. Joel Wyatt | Uncommitted
National Recruiting Ranking: Four-Star | 91 Rating | No. 61 OVR
The four-star receiver out of Bell Buckle (Tenn.) has received offers from Auburn, Georgia, LSU, Penn State and in-state Tennessee, among others. He made camp trip to Knoxville in June and exited with the Volunteers firmly on his radar.
"I can't say it's going to be top (on my list). But Tennessee, I like it a lot," Wyatt told 247Sports.
Wyatt "most definitely" plans to visitTennessee again this season, but the Vols could face stiff competition from SEC elite for the talented, in-state prospect.
7. Kayden Dixon-Wyatt | Uncommitted
National Recruiting Ranking: Four-Star | 91 Rating | No. 55 OVR
Horns247 reported that Dixon-Wyatt is one Texas' top preferences at wide receiver in the 2026 cycle and is treating his recruitment at such. The Mater Dei (Calif.) wideout visited with Steve Sarkisian and Co. at the Texas Elite Camp in May and has also made trips out to Texas A&M and UCLA. He also holds offers from Alabama, Georgia, Ohio State, Michigan and Notre Dame, among others.
6. Devin Carter | Uncommitted
National Recruiting Ranking: Four-Star | 91 Rating | No. 34 OVR
Carter has been staying in contact with a lot of schools and isn't in a rush to commit any time soon. However, he's shown plenty of interest in Ohio State since making his first trip to Columbus in November of 2022. He returned in early April for a spring practice with seven family members and plans to take another visit this fall. The Douglasville (Ga.) native holds offers from dozens of elite programs and is expected to take time to decide. It would be unwise to count in-state Georgia.
5. Jabari Brady | Uncommitted
National Recruiting Ranking: Four-Star | 92 Rating | No. 26 OVR
Brady's recruitment is expected to be a dogfight. The elite wideout from Chaminade-Madonna Prep (Fla.) is among the top targets for a host of college football elite, including Ohio State, Tennessee and Oregon. He's already made trips to Florida State, Miami, Tennessee, Florida, Ohio State, Georgia, Maryland and turned heads at Oregon's Saturday Night Live camp in July. Brady is also getting attention as a basketball player.
4. Tristen Keys | Uncommitted
National Recruiting Ranking: Four-Star | 92 Rating | No. 24 OVR
Keys out of Hattiesburg (Miss.)shot to No. 24 in the rankings update from No. 163. He already has a star-studded offers list and named seven standouts to Inside the Rebels on July 31. He also said having a chance to play year one is an important factor in his recruitment
"As of right now, schools like LSU, Ole Miss, (Mississippi) State, Florida State, Miami, Louisville, Michigan, schools like that are standing out," Keys said.
3. Calvin Russell | Uncommitted
National Recruiting Ranking: Four-Star | 95 Rating | No. 8 OVR
Russell drawns comparisons to former Texas and Georgia star AD Mitchell since first cracking the top 10 in April. He checked in at No. 8 in the update. National recruiting analysts noted the Northwestern (Fla.) wideout is "warm" on in-state Miami and Florida State, along with a potential wildcard in Syracuse. He's made three visits to Miami since March and other trips to Florida State, Auburn and Oregon during that timeframe.
2. Cederian Morgan | Uncommitted
National Recruiting Ranking: Four-Star | 95 Rating | No. 7 OVR
Morgan is "warm" on Alabama, Auburn, Florida State and Ohio State but national recruiting analysts are predicting it will come down to the Crimson Tide and Tigers for the elite wideout from Benjamin Russell (Ala.). Morgan has two Crystal Ball picks for Auburn and one for Alabama. He visited Auburn for Big Cat in late July and told AuburnUndercover that the Tigers are high on his list.
"It was a great experience," Morgan said. "I had a lot of fun. They made me feel like I was at home. I just enjoyed the players and the coaching staff."
1. Chris Henry Jr. | Ohio State
National Recruiting Ranking: Four-Star | 98 Rating | No. 3 OVR
The top-rated receiver pledged to Ohio State on July 18, 2023. National recruiting analyst Tom Loy reported that the Buckeyes are still in a good spot with Henry, though he recently visited LSU and Oregon and is looking to get a trip to Texas on the books soon. He told Loy Tennessee is also making a big push. Henry spoke on his current relationship with Ohio State offensive coordinator Chip Kelly with Loy.
"Everything has been great," Henry said. "Every time we see each other, we chop it up. We talk football; we just have genuine talks."
