Top college football teams made big recruiting splashes in May, securing top recruits who could help shape the future of the sport. The month’s commitments are led by five-star talents in Jared Curtis and Jackson Cantwell, whose choices rattled the recruiting world—a closer look at the May Top 10 commitments, beginning with these difference-makers.
Breaking Down May’s Biggest College Football Commitments
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Jackson Cantwell – Miami Hurricanes
Cantwell, the top-ranked offensive tackle and a five-star recruit from Nixa High School in Missouri, just committed to the Miami Hurricanes for the 2026 class. At 6-foot-8 and 320 pounds, Cantwell is considered the best overall prospect in his class and brings some serious size, athleticism, and a strong football background to Miami’s offensive line.
Cantwell’s high school career has been nothing short of dominant, both on the football field and track and field. He started at left tackle for Nixa and earned the title of 2024 Missouri Gatorade Player of the Year, plus he was a finalist for the Gatorade National Player of the Year.
2. Jared Curtis – Georgia Bulldogs
Curtis is a name widely discussed as a young player who came from Nashville Christian School in Tennessee. In his junior year, 2024, he had outstanding statistics, like 2,830 yards and 40 touchdowns through the air and 637 yards and 18 additional scores on the ground.
He not only led his team to the state championship but also won many honors, such as Tennessee Mr. Football and Gatorade Player of the Year. Of course, the 2026 class will notice him, as he is a 5-star recruit and one of the top prospects.
Curtis first committed to Georgia, but things got interesting when he reopened his recruitment in October. In May 2025, he decided to stick with the Bulldogs, choosing them over Oregon. His decision is a huge boost for Georgia’s recruiting class, and head coach Kirby Smart couldn’t be happier to land the nation’s top quarterback.
“Go Dawgs!!” — Kirby Smart, Georgia head coach, celebrating Curtis’s commitment.
Go Dawgs !!
— Coach Kirby Smart (@KirbySmartUGA) May 5, 2025
3. Mark Bowman – USC
Mark Bowman is a super-talented tight end from Mater Dei High School in California. What sets him apart is how smoothly he runs routes—honestly, he moves more like a wide receiver than a typical tight end. He’s a big guy, too, standing at 6’4″ and weighing in at 225 pounds.
Last season, as just a sophomore, Bowman caught 32 passes for 435 yards and scored eight touchdowns. That’s pretty impressive, and it didn’t take long for people to start talking about him as one of the top prospects for the 2026 class. With his athleticism and the way he can play all over the field, he’s a total headache for defenses to try to cover.
Bowman recently committed to USC and chose the Trojans over powerhouse programs Georgia, Texas, Alabama, Oregon, and Ole Miss. This made him one of the Trojans’ biggest recruiting wins and solidified their No. 1-ranked 2026 class.
Bowman’s ties to the USC coaching staff and the vision for his role in the program were a significant part of his commitment, and he should be an immediate contributor to what Lincoln Riley’s offense will look like.
4. Elbert Hill – USC
Elbert Hill is turning heads as one of the top defensive players in the 2026 class. He’s a five-star cornerback from Archbishop Hoban High School in Akron, Ohio, and people can’t stop talking about his sharp technique, great instincts, and serious speed. During his junior year, he snagged four interceptions and broke up three more passes, so he’s always making plays under the Friday night lights or out on the 7-on-7 circuit.
When it came time for recruiting, things got pretty intense. Big-name schools like Alabama, Ohio State, and Oregon all wanted him on their teams, which shows how much talent Hill brings to the table.
Hill finally chose USC to accompany other top defensive back recruits in the class of 2026. Hill attributed the welcoming atmosphere and the fact that his future was clear at this major college to be one of the reasons why he joined USC.
He added that one final element persuading USC’s excellence was being made subjectively apparent: how it made his family a priority. With Hill on board, USC will bolster its national recruiting presence and continue to build a fine secondary.
5. Jordan Smith – University of Georgia
Jordan Smith is a big-time safety out of Houston County High School in Warner Robins, Georgia. He’s 6’2″, weighs about 185 pounds, and he’s already made a name for himself as a four-star recruit and one of the top 100 players in the country.
What stands out about Smith is his athleticism, ability to cover a ton of ground, and just how sharp his football instincts are. It’s no wonder he’s one of the most wanted defensive backs in the 2026 class.
Smith recently decided to commit to the University of Georgia. He picked the Bulldogs over some pretty big schools, like Alabama, Tennessee, and Florida State.
Since he grew up in Georgia, he already knew about the program’s winning ways and high standards. He mentioned that he chose Georgia because of the strong team bonds and the super competitive vibe in Athens.
Now, he’s joining a talented group of defensive backs in Georgia’s 2026 class, and folks expect him to impact the Bulldogs’ secondary significantly.
6. Jermaine Bishop Jr. – Texas Longhorns
Jermaine Bishop Jr. is one of those rare athletes who can seriously do it all. He’s from Willis High School in Texas and stands out as a cornerback and a wide receiver in the 2026 class. People are always talking about his crazy quickness, his knack for making big plays, and just how versatile he is.
The numbers say it all—he’s racked up over 2,900 receiving yards, scored 35 touchdowns, made 112 tackles, and grabbed 13 interceptions. On top of that, he’s a standout kick returner and even plays varsity basketball. Honestly, he’s just a playmaker through and through, and he’s got the confidence to match.
Bishop Jr. recently decided to commit to the Texas Longhorns, picking them over some big-time schools like Texas A&M, Florida, Oklahoma, and USC. Austin coaches are pumped to have him and can’t wait to see whether he shines more on offense or defense—or maybe both!
PluFootballns in his family—hi, and his uncle is Chael Bishop, a star at Kansas State. With that kind of pedigree and his competitive fire, Bishop Jr is bringing a lot of excitement to a Texas 2026 class that’s already turning heads across the country.
7. Izayia Williams – Ole Miss
The 2026 class has a new star in the making. Izayia Williams is a talented linebacker from Tavares High School in Florida, a four-star recruit. At 6-foot-1 and 215 pounds, he has deadly speed and athletic qualities, which he uses to good effect.
In his junior year of high school, he recorded 125 tackles, four sacks, and an interception, which was terrific. His ability to decide and move quickly from one point to another on the field and do almost everything has contributed significantly to making his name known to people.
Williams’ recruiting journey has been quite the ride. He’s been committed to Louisville, Syracuse, Florida State, and Florida before finally landing with Ole Miss in May 2025. Now he’s the highest-ranked guy in the Rebels’ 2026 class, and people think he’ll be able to step right in and make a difference in the SEC.
8. Keenyi Pepe – USC Trojans
Keenyi Pepe is a five-star offensive tackle from IMG Academy in Florida, but he’s originally from Long Beach, California.
On May 1, 2025, he committed to USC Trojans, whom he chose as his school over serious challenges from Georgia, Florida, Texas, and Miami. He has called off his recruitment ever since, explaining that he is connected with the Trojan staff and wishes to return to California.
It is a big deal for USC’s 2026 recruiting class because Pepe’s decision already puts them at the top of the country. By the way, there is a nice family tie—his big brother Kobe is in the NFL and is playing for USC, so they can now be professional together.
9. Kayden Dixon-Wyatt – Ohio State
Kayden Dixon-Wyatt, a standout wide receiver from Mater Dei High School in California, possesses the size, speed, and playmaking ability that every college football fan and any recruiting analyst should notice.
Just 6-foot-2, 180 pounds, Dixon-Wyatt has firmly established himself as one of the top recruits in the 2026 class after finishing his sophomore season with 50 catches for 693 yards and five touchdowns against the nation’s elite high school talent.
KEEP READING: Ohio State’s WR Room Adds 2026 4-Star Kayden Dixon-Wyatt From Mater Dei
Recently, Dixon-Wyatt committed to Ohio State, joining an elite class of 2026 recruits that also includes Alabama, Oregon, Texas, and USC. He added another explosive weapon to the Buckeyes’ recruiting class while back with his Mater Dei teammate Chris Henry Jr.
Dixon-Wyatt will be a name to follow as he progresses through high school and to the top. He carries himself confidently and has enough football playmaking ability, speed, and size to create and make plays at the next level.
10. Javian Osborne – Notre Dame
Javian Osborne is a four-star running back from Forney High School (Texas) and is regarded as one of the best backs in the class of 2026. He’s 5-foot-10, 200 pounds, and is a tough, straight-ahead runner with a quick burst and a back who can carry a team. Osborne’s junior year was big — 1,227 rushing yards and 25 touchdowns — but he was even better as a sophomore: 2,231 yards and 39 touchdowns.
On May 3, 2025, he committed to Notre Dame and received more than 40 offers from power programs like Alabama, Georgia, and Texas. He said Notre Dame’s culture, academics, and genuine relationships with the coaches won Osborne over. He is expected to have a significant impact on the Irish over the next few years.
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