The 2026 recruiting class rankings are here, loaded with offensive talent.
Over the past ten or so years, football has become increasingly offensive. To win at any level, you must be able to score points and move the ball efficiently.
The good news for college teams who need an influx of offensive talent is that, according to ESPN, the 2026 recruiting class is loaded with just that.
9 of the Top 10 Players in ESPN’s 2026 Recruiting Class Play Offense
ESPN dropped their top 300 players in the 2026 recruiting class, and nine of the top 10 recruits were on the offensive side of the ball.
The UC Report, a well-known recruiting service, pointed out the difference in positional talent in 2026 compared to just four years ago in 2022.
The ESPN 3️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ today versus just four years earlier. Always wild to look back on the rankings 🤯 @TomLuginbill @CraigHaubert @DemetricDWarren pic.twitter.com/SJ1sgHmMg1
— Billy Tucker (@TheUCReport) March 23, 2025
As you can see, in 2022, the top 10 had way more positional disparity, with six of the top 10 players playing defense. Now, in 2026, that number has jumped to nine.
While this is just one class and a very small sample size, it may be a sign of things to come in college football as teams and recruiting sites continue to value offense more and more.
Every national champion since 2016 was in the top fifteen for points per game. What that translates to is that to win a national title, you must be able to score points. The offense is at a premium in college football now more than ever, and ESPN’s 2026 recruiting rankings reflect that.
Not only is there a trend toward offensive talent being valued higher, but specifically, the quarterback position is being valued more. In 2022, no quarterback was listed in ESPN’s top ten, but since then, each of their class rankings has had at least two signal-callers.
KEEP READING: Top 10 Recruits of 2026: Where Are They Headed?
Again, it isn’t a direct sign of things to come, but there is a pattern building in college football: offense is beginning to be valued more than defense.
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