Biggest Recruiting and Transfer Storylines Heading into 2026 National Signing Day
These days, February's National Signing Day is an afterthought. All the heavy lifting is done in December, and then there's the January chaos of the one-time transfer portal.
By the time February's late signing period for high schoolers rolls around, all that's missing is a tumbleweed rolling across the vacant wasteland of what used to be one of the most fun days of the year. Kids simply don't wait to sign, as a general rule.
So, Wednesday won't have much fanfare. There's one old-fashioned decision slated that many are interested in, and there are only three of the top 600 prospects left uncommitted. But between those three dudes and some late transfer portal fallout, there's still some storylines we should pay attention to.
Here are some of the hot topics on the college football slate this week. It's not as exciting as it used to be, but there are still things we should pay attention to.
Darian Mensah Lands with Hurricanes
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As much as it benefits players looking for fresh starts and teams needing rebuilds, the transfer portal is a mess.
It's a financial free-for-all, and clear haves and have-nots have emerged.
One team not afraid to spend the big bucks on their roster template is Miami, whose blueprint is spending big on a top-tier transfer quarterback every year.
It paid off as Carson Beck led them to the title game. A year ago, it was Cameron Ward having a huge year before getting picked No. 1 overall.
With their focus on the Hoosiers, all the big targets were off the board when the 'Canes heated up the hunt. No matter. Coach Mario Cristobal dangled a huge paycheck, and Duke's Darian Mensah entered the portal at the 11th hour.
According to On3's Pete Nakos, Mensah and Duke reached a settlement agreement to resolve a breach of his two-year, $8 million contract to transfer. Now, he's set to play in Coral Gables.
Mensah could put the U right back in the playoffs. His late entry may represent everything that is wrong with the portal, but can you really blame him for taking life-changing money and going to an offensive coordinator (Shannon Dawson) who has catapulted quarterbacks to the NFL? No, you can't.
Where Will Dylan Berymon Go?
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These days, there simply aren't any star prospects left on the board in February. So, when a guy like Dylan Berymon is sitting there ready to make a national signing day decision, the recruiting world is captivated.
It's expected to be a two-team race for the Monroe (Louisiana) Ouachita Parish High School product who is a 6'2", 330-pound stopgap lineman who has the potential to be a run-stuffer early in his career.
Right now, it looks like Kentucky and new coach Will Stein is right in the mix to earn his signature along with a Nebraska program that has been stagnant under Matt Rhule and needs a spark.
The nation's No. 197-ranked overall player and 22nd-rated defensive tackle according to the 247Sports composite rankings is rated even higher by some services. He seemed all set on going to the Texas Longhorns but decommitted in December, reopening his recruitment.
Since then, the Wildcats and Cornhuskers have emerged as frontrunners, and though Berymon could pull a surprise, his decision is almost certainly going to come down to those two in an old-fashioned, hat-choosing ceremony Wednesday.
It'll be worth watching.
LSU's Portal Power Under Investigation
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When it came to breaking open the pocketbook, LSU had no issues with firing Brian Kelly, paying his buyout, paying to steal Lane Kiffin from Ole Miss and then equipping him with the best portal roster money can buy.
The Bayou Bengals went portal-bonkers, essentially reshaping their roster, led by elite players such as quarterback Sam Leavitt (Arizona State), edge Princewill Umanmielen (Ole Miss), offensive tackle Jordan Seaton (Colorado) and multiple 4-stars in a portal class that swelled to 40.
It's a truly awesome group for Kiffin—the self-proclaimed portal king.
LSU is serious about winning big right now. The Tigers may be among the top two or three in the SEC with a roster like this.
It hasn't come without controversy, though. The NCAA appears to be setting up house for an investigation, and we may see if the governing body of college athletics has any teeth at all anymore.
The Athletic further reports LSU has come under scrutiny of pursuit of quarterbacks Demond Williams (who stayed at Washington) and Leavitt (who they ultimately landed).
Was it worth it, though? If everything holds, LSU is built to compete for titles right now.
Anthony Jones' Saga Ends
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Things have been very tumultuous for Anthony Jones during his recruitment, but given the twists and turns of the past year, you can't really blame a kid for being indecisive.
The 6'4.5", 285-pound defensive lineman from Irvine, California, was set on signing with the UCLA Bruins before they parted ways with coach DeShaun Foster after a rough start to the season. After Jones took some visits, though, he re-committed to the Bruins.
However, during the early signing period, Jones elected not to go through with signing his scholarship papers, thus reopening his recruitment once again.
While UCLA still could land him, the team that looks like it's in the best shape to grab him away is the Arizona State Sun Devils, which really turned up the heat on Jones and got him to hold off.
Now, it appears the Sun Devils are going to close on one of the biggest remaining prizes in the high school ranks. Would Jones really be set on UCLA all this time, then go somewhere else?
Right now, that's how it's looking for the No. 510-ranked overall player who is rated a 4-star by 247Sports. But, either way, his recruiting drama will end one way or the other this week.
Big Ten Flex
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There hasn't been much movement in the recruiting rankings over the late signing period. So, one thing that's coalesced over the last few months is how the top of the team rankings look.
In the past—just like on the field—the SEC has ruled the recruiting world. But, now—just like on the field—the Big Ten has seized control.
Only one of the top five teams in the 247Sports composite rankings hails from the SEC, and that's second-rated Alabama. Meanwhile, three of the top-five teams are Big Ten members.
The USC Trojans built an incredible class of 35 high school players, amassing the top-rated group of prospects this year. Dan Lanning's Oregon Ducks are third, and Ohio State is fifth, just behind Notre Dame.
Those three classes have nine 5-star players, meaning not only has there been a power shift northward, the talent is beginning to gravitate that way, as well.
Don't feel sorry for the SEC, though. Six of the top 11 teams in the rankings are from that conference, and there will be no shortage of talent in the league. But the Big Ten is financially flush and going nowhere in the NIL era.
Ole Miss Tampering Allegations
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s much crowing as Ole Miss fans did about Lane Kiffin leaving Oxford, making things about him during the Rebels' playoff run and then "tampering" with players, Pete Golding's glass house may be cracking, too.
We've already mentioned the NCAA's investigation into LSU's NIL dealings, but the buzziest name in the tampering allegations is Ole Miss.
First, Clemson coach Dabo Swinney—never one to be mistaken as a transfer portal fan, anyway—accused Golding of "blatant tampering" of Luke Ferrelli, a transfer linebacker from California who committed to Clemson, was taking classes and then bolted for Oxford to make more money.
That's not where it ends, though.
According to the Ole Miss Spirit's Ben Garrett, "NCAA investigators contacted Fresno State regarding allegations that a member of the Ole Miss football staff had 'improper contact' with Bulldogs wide receiver Josiah Freeman. 'Fresno State has receipts,' the report claimed."
Much like the LSU situation, it's going to be interesting to see what, if anything, comes of this. Tampering is happening all over the place, and it's not some big secret. Is it against the rules? Sure, but what are the "rules" these days in sports' version of the Wild, Wild West?
This is further proof there are no guardrails.
Did Powerhouses Do Enough in Portal?
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If you aren't going a-portaling, your roster is stagnating; you won't keep up in this day and age.
Several of this year's playoff teams had portal-heavy rosters and are going that direction again. They simply haven't stockpiled talent like powerhouses such as Georgia and Ohio State, so they're throwing major dollars at veterans.
Texas Tech added 21 players, including the big, early splash with Cincinnati signal-caller Brendan Sorsby, and the Red Raiders are trying to replenish a roster that is losing a ton of senior leadership.
The national champion Indiana Hoosiers have the eighth-rated class, just ahead of Texas Tech. Coach Curt Cignetti's team has to replace waves of leadership, including Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza. They did so with former TCU signal-caller Josh Hoover.
Ole Miss needs Trinidad Chambliss to get granted a sixth year of eligibility, but if he does, a second-rated portal class of 29 players could have them right back in the playoffs. National runner-up Miami's 12 commits is highlighted by Darian Mensah and rated fourth overall, and Ohio State is right behind them at No. 5.
These playoff teams aren't playing around, but you've got to hit the jackpot with the right concoction of talent. Did they do enough to be back next year?
Damaad Lewis's Decision
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Like a lot of indecisive kids, 3-star defensive end Damaad Lewis appeared all set on his college destination when he was committed to Florida State.
But he decided not to enroll at FSU, and now, there are several teams in the mix for the Myers Park High School defensive lineman, who teamed with Notre Dame 5-star commitment Rodney Dunham for a formidable duo in high school.
The 6'4", 245-pound prospect is the nation's No. 468-ranked overall player and 49th-rated edge rusher. That may not sound like an elite prospect, but Lewis' offer sheet is very strong, and many teams have coveted him throughout the process.
His older brother is Carolina Panthers' player Damien Lewis, and it's possible that Damaad ultimately could stay in his North Carolina stomping grounds to play his college ball. North Carolina State and coach Dave Doeren are hot on his trail.
Lewis ultimately signed with the Seminoles in the early period, but he didn't enroll in school and was released from his scholarship papers. The two teams trying to lure him away were the Nebraska Cornhuskers and the Wolfpack, and it looks like the latter may ultimately get him in the fold.
Lewis isn't ready to compete in college yet, but he's got a high upside, so this would be a big, late pull.
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