We’re still a few months away from Friday night lights, but as temps heat up across Washington, so too does high school football recruiting. The spring and summer months are a crucial time for recruits to get in front of recruiters and college coaches and pull in coveted offers.

Across the state, a new crop of blue-chip prospects is turning heads and making verbal commitments. Whose stock is rising as the summer nears? Here are five players who have made a jump in recent months, with thoughts on each player from Rivals national recruiting analyst Brandon Huffman.

The list is presented in alphabetical order, by last name.

WR Jayce Halasz, Graham-Kapowsin (Graham), 2028

Halasz had a breakout season with the Eagles last fall, emerging as one of the state’s top receivers. Recruiters took notice of the smooth-striding, 6-foot-2 wideout, who has recently pulled in offers from Cal and Stanford. Expect other big-name programs to line up over the summer and in the fall, as G-K’s offense will be electric.

What Rivals national recruiting analyst Brandon Huffman says: “He came to the Under Armour camp in Arizona, ran a 4.5 (second) 40, laser time. There were some questions about what his top-end speed looks like. He showed that he has really good top-end speed. A lot of schools like him as a safety, so he could end up being classified as an ‘athlete.’ Schools think he can be an elite ‘center fielder’ because of those ball skills. I think he’s open to it.”

OL Kyler Harden, O’Dea (Seattle), 2028

O’Dea has had a good run of interior offensive linemen in recent years, but Harden looks like a pure offensive tackle with his frame. The 6-foot-6, 300-pounder has been pulling in offers left and right. Auburn, Colorado State, Penn State, Cal, Oregon State, UW and Oregon have offered Harden in 2026.

Huffman: “His OL trainer was the old o-line coach at Rainier Beach. He told me that he’s not gonna say he’s the next Josh Conerly, but he’s got a chance to be really good. You know he’s gonna be very well-coached at O’Dea. He had the baby face but had this length you want offensive linemen to have. His sophomore tape was really good. … Harden is a true tackle prospect with his length, he’s flexible, natural knee bender. … He isn’t even done growing yet. How much stronger can he get? That’s where I can see the comp to Josh Conerly. He was very lean, also, and you knew there was time to put weight on.”

Defensive Back MVP at the @max_xposurecamp@Kadenjohnson_db Way to work KJ pic.twitter.com/BpsbyS6Zbc

— Kevin Jones (@KevinJones206) April 5, 2026

CB Kaden Johnson, Bellevue (Bellevue), 2028

It’s been a busy 2026 for this 6-foot, 165-pound corner. Since January, Johnson has pulled in offers from Auburn, Texas A&M, Kentucky, Colorado State, Oregon State, San Diego State, Idaho, UNLV, New Mexico and WSU. Now considered the No. 3 recruit in the state in the 2028 class by Rivals.

Huffman: “He’s another kid, the speed markers (at camps) were significant for him. He’s got the ability as a defensive back, he can cover, he’s pretty physical. There’s a good history of DB’s at Bellevue. Why go these camps? There’s questions a lot of times about your speed. If you record elite testing times and the film backs it up, that makes a big difference. He can play corner, nickel. He’s super smooth, super explosive.”

4 OL Rashaun Lavata’i (@Rashaun_2 ) is a man of steel! Rashaun is the #1 Ranked O Lineman on the West Coast for the class of 2027 and his stock just continues to rise! Keep an eye out for him! #GridironAiga#BuiltOnGodpic.twitter.com/8XmdhJlFox

— DeQuin Evans (@CaliDQ) April 28, 2026

OL Rashaun Lavata’i, Curtis (University Place), 2027

The younger brother of San Diego State signee Robby Lavata’i, the 6-foot-6, 265-pounder has picked up offers from Oregon State, Idaho, UW, UCLA, Arizona and Utah in the new year and has moved to No. 4 in the state on Rivals’ 2027 board. One reason for the sudden jump? Age. Lavata’i, 16, won’t turn 17 until the summer. The skill set appears to be developing on schedule.

Huffman: “He was overshadowed by his older brother at Curtis. He had decent junior film. Then he came to the Under Armour camp in Phonenix in March and he was dominant. He was the offensive line MVP. With how tall he is, his wingspan, hand size, athleticism — his testing numbers for his size were in the top 3% for offensive tackles nationally. … Put some good weight on him, and he has the chance to be an elite offensive tackle.”

End of my first year ever playing football, so blessed for every opportunity I’ve had this season @WipeMeDownBoyz@XavierBanner_@BrandonHuffman@JordanJohnsonD1@EvansRankings@GregBiggins ⁦@BlairAngulo⁩ ⁦@Ryan_Clary_⁩ pic.twitter.com/9rtWtrKLos

— Achilles Reyna (@reyna_achilles) November 18, 2025

DL Achilles Reyna, Rainier Beach (Seattle), 2028

Believe it or not, the 2025 season last fall was Reyna’s first season playing football. But what Reyna lacks in polish, he makes up for with measuarbles: 6-foot-7, 240 pounds and athletic, to boot. Big-time programs have quickly taken notice. In fact, all of his offers have come in 2026: Idaho, Arizona, UNLV, Boise State, Fresno State, Utah, WSU, San Diego State, Cal, LSU, Texas A&M, Oregon State, UW and San Jose State.

Huffman: “I was looking for a picture of him, I was talking to a Big 12 school that was interested in him. Everything I could find was from AAU hoops, EYBL (Elite Youth Basketball League), nothing football related. Last August, I got a tip from a coach who told me this kid’s coming out for football and we’re gonna offer him just for football alone. He’s raw as all get-out, but you cannot teach that size. … (Colleges) like him as a true edge (rusher), puts his hand down. Maybe he grows inside to be a three technique. But they like his explosiveness off the edge.”

Commitments are flying left and right and a massive one is now locked and loaded for later this week.

Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) St. Thomas Aquinas Five-Star Plus+ offensive tackle Mark Matthews, the No. 1 OT in the 2027 cycle, tells Rivals’ Hayes Fawcett that he will announce his commitment this Friday, May 15.

Matthews will choose between four schools: LSU, Miami, Georgia and Texas A&M.

In addition to being the top-ranked tackle in the 2027 cycle, Matthews checks in as the No. 6 overall prospect, according to the Rivals Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all major recruiting media companies.

This is another twist in a recruitment that has taken a couple of turns across the last few weeks. When speaking with CaneSport’s EJ Holland earlier this month, Matthews, who looked to be closing in on a decision, said that he wasn’t going to make a decision until after taking his official visits.

That is no longer the case, signaling that the coveted 6-foot-5 trench monster has seen what he’s needed to see. Miami and Texas A&M have been the two programs wrestling for momentum in Matthews’ recruitment this spring.

This story will be updated.

Scouting Mark Matthews

Rivals’ Scouting and Rankings team previously wrote this of Matthews as a prospect:

“High-upside offensive tackle prospect with top-notch physical and athletic tools for the position. Measured in at 6-foot-5.5 and around 285 pounds with plus length before his senior season. Added nearly 15 pounds to his frame early on in the offseason before his junior year. Has an ideal build for an offensive lineman with little bad weight and considerable mass in his lower body, helping to create a strong base. Tests as an athlete in the combine setting, with a 4.98 second 40-yard dash and 4.69 short shuttle at the Miami Rivals Camp after his junior season. Relatively new to football, first playing the sport as a freshman in high school. Took over the left tackle spot at South Florida powerhouse St. Thomas Aquinas as a sophomore before moving to the right side as a junior. A twitchy athlete with outstanding movement skills. Flashes an effortless kick slide and movement when working to the second level. Projects as a high-end pass protector. Played defensive line as a freshman before becoming an offensive lineman. Shows competitiveness in the camp setting.”

Commitments big and small are rolling ahead of official visits starting later this month, and the Rivals Industry Team Recruiting Rankings are seeing daily changes throughout the top 25 classes.

The final few weeks of April saw some major commitment announcements — including a couple of five-stars — and May is off to an equally hot start as recruits look to lock in their spots. Miami, which sat outside the top 10 heading into the weekend, now holds down the No. 5 spot after flipping five-star cornerback Donte Wright and landing four-star defensive lineman Ezekiel Ayangbile.

Texas A&M, Texas Tech and Oklahoma have each held the top spot at various points this cycle, but it’s the Aggies running away with the No. 1 class as of May 11. The top 10 is loaded with usual suspects like Ohio State, USC, Georgia and Oregon. But don’t sleep on UCLA and Florida, two huge movers in the past month.

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Rivals breaks down the top 25 classes below:

1. Texas A&M — 95.526

13 total commits
4 five-stars | 8 four-stars | 1 three-star
Top Commit: SAF Kamarui Dorsey, No. 11 NATL. (No. 1 SAF)

Texas A&M is in prime position for an historic recruiting class, which would mark the Aggies’ second all-time class in the past five cycles. In 2022, they signed what was at the time — and still is — the highest-ranked class ever in the modern recruiting era. A&M already has four five-star commitments, double what any other program in the country has at this point in the cycle. They’re trending for even more, and should they land them, we could be talking about a new No. 1 class in the history books.

2. Texas Tech — 94.437

9 total commits
2 five-stars | 6 four-stars | 1 three-star
Top Commit: DL Jalen Brewster, No. 1 NATL. (No. 1 DL)

The Aggies’ former Big 12 rivals has become a dominant force in the transfer portal and now on the recruiting trail. Joey McGuire and his staff signed a pair of five-stars last cycle. And they already have two committed in this one: No. 1 overall prospect Jalen Brewster and five-star edge rusher Anthony Sweeney. Of their nine pledges, eight rank among the top 150 recruits in the class, and high three-star EDGE Brody Pfannenstiel is another who could make a move to blue-chip territory in the coming months.

3. Oklahoma — 94.092

21 total commits
2 five-stars | 12 four-stars | 7 three-stars
Top Commit: OT Cooper Hackett, No. 17 NATL. (No. 2 OT)

The Sooners nearly have their entire class filled out before official visits even start, already landing 21 commitments. Brent Venables and Co. have been busy identifying and locking down their top targets, and none have been bigger than their pair of five-star offensive linemen. Hackett and fellow bookend tackle Kaeden Penny project to be big-time players in Norman, and they also have three other top-100 commits in Seneca Driver, Cooper Witten and Taven Epps.

4. USC — 93.578

13 total commits
1 five-stars | 7 four-stars | 5 three-stars
Top Commit: ATH Honor Fa’alave-Johnson, No. 18 NATL. (No. 1 ATH)

Fresh off the No. 1 class last season, the Trojans are again the mix in 2027 with another really good group. Fa’alave-Johnson, one of the most dynamic athletes in the country, is the headliner. But USC has also prioritized rebuilding its receiver room with four-stars Quentin Hale, Eli Woodard and Roye Oliver. Much like last cycle, the trenches are also at the top of mind with Rivals five-star EDGE Mekai Brown, coveted offensive tackle Drew Fielder, and in-state defensive lineman Alifeleti Tuihalamaka leading the way.

5. Miami — 93.134

11 total commits
2 five-stars | 6 four-stars | 3 three-stars
Top Commit: CB Donte Wright, No. 8 NATL. (No. 2 CB)

Miami skyrocketed into the top 5 over the weekend after landing Wright, who was previously committed to Georgia and was strongly considering Oregon. He teams up with wideout Nick Lennear to give Mario Cristobal and Co. two five-stars in this class, something they last did in 2024. The ‘Canes also have a pledge from the nation’s No. 2 quarterback Israel Abrams, as well as blue-chippers Sean Tatum, Ezekiel Ayangbile, Ty Keys, Demarcus Deroche and Jaylyn Jones.

6. Ohio State — 93.083

11 total commits
2 five-stars | 7 four-stars | 2 three-stars
Top Commit: EDGE David Jacobs, No. 4 NATL. (No. 1 EDGE)

Ryan Day and Co. are one of five schools with at least two five-star commits early on: EDGE David Jacobs and wide receiver Jamier Brown. Offensive lineman Kellen Wymer is the other top-100 commit in the class, and could legitimately challenge for five-star status by the time things are said and done. Nine of their 11 total commitments are blue-chippers, tying OSU for the fourth-most nationally this cycle.

7. Florida — 92.931

14 total commits
1 five-star | 9 four-stars | 4 three-stars
Top Commit: IOL Maxwell Hiller, No. 3 NATL. (No. 1 IOL)

The Gators already landed 12 early commitments, led by Maxwell Hiller, the nation’s No. 1 interior offensive linemen. Sumrall and Co. are in the mix for some other big-time names, but have already hit with coveted quarterback Davin Davidson, wide receiver Tramond Collins, and four-star offensive lineman Peyton Miller. Four-star cornerback Aamaury Fountain, rated by Rivals as a top-25 overall prospect, could turn out to be one of the steals of this entire recruiting cycle.

8. Oregon — 92.720

12 total commits
0 five-stars | 10 four-stars | 2 three-stars
Top Commit: QB Will Mencl, No. 49 NATL. (No. 3 QB)

Up in Eugene, the Ducks are again focusing on quality over quantity. Across the 2025 and 2026 classes, they signed just 41 high school prospects but had the highest average rating per commit in each cycle. Early on this year, 10 of their 12 pledges are blue-chips. The group is led by Rivals five-star quarterback Will Mencl, the No. 1 QB in the class. Five of their 12 pledges rank in the top 150 nationally.

9. LSU — 92.643

5 total commits
2 five-stars | 3 four-stars | 0 three-stars
Top Commit: TE Ahmad Hudson, No. 16 NATL. (No. 1 TE)

While plenty of other peer schools have upwards of 10, 15 or even 20 commits that feature some blue-chip prospects and a number of three-stars, all five of the Tigers’ commits are ranked among the top 300 recruits nationally. That includes a pair of five-stars in tight end Ahmad Hudson and edge rusher Jaiden Bryant, the latter of which just committed earlier this week. That duo joins four-stars Peyton Houston, Braylon Calais and Ah’Mari Stevens in the fold for the Bayou Bengals.

10. Notre Dame — 92.210

14 total commits
0 five-stars | 11 four-stars | 3 three-star
Top Commit: CB Xavier Hasan, No. 47 NATL. (No. 7 CB)

Marcus Freeman and Co. are coming off arguably the best recruiting class in school history after finish to No. 2 in last year’s team rankings. That group included 21 blue-chippers, one of the highest marks in the country. And this crop is on its way to a similar number if ND’s momentum holds up. The Fighting Irish have loaded up early on at running back (four-stars Isaiah Rogers, Lathan Whisenton), cornerback (four-stars Xavier Hasan, Ace Alston) and along the offensive line. They also just landed their quarterback for the class in blue-chipper Champ Monds.

Classes 11-25 in the Rivals Industry Team Rankings

11. UCLA — 91.612
12. Georgia – 91.259
13. Texas — 90.715
14. Penn State — 90.129
15. Nebraska — 90.096

16. Kentucky — 89.935
17. Michigan — 89.397
18. Washington — 89.385
19. Louisville — 89.227
20. Clemson — 89.139

21. Wisconsin — 89.033
22. California — 89.002
23. Tennessee — 88.880
24. Auburn — 88.834
25. Virginia Tech — 88.810

The wild world of recruiting always moves quick once dominoes start to fall. As we head into the summer and official visit season, that’s once again evident by looking at the top-end prospects in the 2027 cycle.

As of May 10, there are already 19 five-stars — according to the Rivals Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all major recruiting media companies — off the board. Those 19 commitments have dispersed among 11 college programs.

Six schools have landed multiple five-stars thus far. Rivals is breaking down the programs that have won out for five-star talent two or more times early on this cycle:

Texas A&M

Mike Elko and the Aggies are well-positioned to land the No. 1 class in the Rivals Industry Team Recruiting Rankings. That’s a bold claim to make with the December signing period still over six months away, but it’s easy to make when looking at the top of Texas A&M’s haul.

The Aggies have now landed four five-stars, two more than any other program to date.

November brought a pair of them in safety Kamarui Dorsey and cornerback Raylaun Henry, both of whom were four-stars upon committing and have since acquired that coveted fifth star. Dorsey is now the No. 11 overall prospect and top-ranked safety, while Henry now sits at No. 30 overall and No. 5 at corner.

At the end of March, EDGE Zyron Forstall made a surprise pledge to A&M, sparking a big run of spring pledges that helped lead to interior offensive lineman Kennedy Brown jumping in the boat last month. Forstall is the No. 19 recruit and No. 2 EDGE, while Brown checks in as the No. 15 recruit and No. 2 IOL.

Those four headline a class that features three more top-100 recruits and 13 commits in total.

Texas Tech

The emergence of Texas Tech on the blue-chip recruiting trail has turned heads. The Red Raiders are currently set to bring the nation’s No. 1 overall prospect to Lubbock next year.

Five-Star Plus+ defensive lineman Jalen Brewster opted not to waste any time and committed to in-state TTU back in early October. He’s remained locked in, though plenty of other programs have continued to push and are receiving official visits.

Flanking Brewster atop the nation’s No. 2 class is EDGE Anthony Sweeney. The elite disruptor out of St. Frances Academy in Baltimore committed last month and is now the No. 21 recruit and No. 3 EDGE in the cycle.

Ohio State

The last time Ohio State didn’t sign multiple five-stars was the 2024 cycle. Ryan Day and Co. have a pair in the mix early on this time around.

Wide receiver Jamier Brown is a tailor-made Ohio State recruit. The local five-star pass-catcher made a very early commitment to the Buckeyes back on Nov. 23, 2024. He’s remained rock-solid and says his recruitment is shut down. Brown is the No. 20 prospect and No. 3 WR in the cycle.

One of the biggest surprises of the cycle saw the Buckeyes beat out Miami for EDGE David “DJ” Jacobs. The Hurricanes were considered the favorites in the hours leading up to Jacobs’ Dec. 29 decision, but a late pivot saw Ohio State land the nation’s No. 4 recruit and top-ranked pass-rusher. His recruitment remains one to monitor until National Signing Day.

Miami

Fresh off an appearance in the College Football Playoff national championship game, Miami is rolling on the recruiting trail and currently has the nation’s No. 5 class. It also just landed the latest five-star decision.

Cornerback Donte Wright was pledged to Georgia for months, but the Hurricanes were one of a few teams in heavy pursuit of a flip. He pulled the trigger on that flip and locked in with Mario Cristobal and Co. this weekend and now headlines the class as the No. 8 recruit and No. 2 corner in the nation.

Miami went out to California to land Wright, but it barely had to travel to land five-star wide receiver Nick Lennear. The Carol City standout committed in March and has seen his stock soar ahead of a big senior season. He’s the No. 5 WR in the cycle.

LSU

Lane Kiffin is building his first recruiting class at LSU and there’s a pair of five-stars in the class early on, highlighting what’s currently a top-10 haul.

The addition of defensive line coach Sterling Lucas paid immediate dividends as he helped the Tigers land EDGE Jaiden Bryant back in January. The one-time South Carolina lean is locked in with Lucas and now ranks as the No. 4 EDGE in the cycle.

Earlier this month, tight end Ahmad Hudson made a surprise pledge to the in-state Tigers. The No. 16 recruit and top-ranked TE has long had LSU at the top of his process, and instead of announcing a commitment date and building up his decision, he opted not to waste any time and made his decision public on May 3. Hudson also doubles as a blue-chip basketball prospect and plans to play both sports at the next level.

Oklahoma

Oklahoma has the No. 3 class in the Rivals Industry Team Recruiting Rankings and its two biggest wins of the cycle thus far came on the same day back in September.

Five-star offensive tackle Cooper Hackett originally committed to Texas Tech, but OU stayed on the prowl and flipped him away on Sept. 25. Hackett told Rivals’ Steve Wiltfong that he took “a good chunk less” on the NIL front in choosing the Sooners. He’s the No. 17 recruit and No. 2 OT in the cycle.

Touted Oklahoma O-line coach Bill Bedenbaugh wasn’t done that day, either. Tackle Kaeden Penny is the No. 2 prospect in the Sooner State and he’s set to stay close to home. Penny committed as a four-star and has since acquired five-star status, now checking in as the No. 4 OT overall.

Oxford (Ala.) three-star interior offensive lineman Jaxon Elston has committed to South Carolina, according to Rivals’ Hayes Fawcett.

He chose the Gamecocks over Arkansas and Georgia Tech.

Elston is the No. 1,105 overall prospect and No. 86 IOL in the 2027 cycle, according to the Rivals Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all major recruiting media companies. He’s also the No. 38 recruit in Alabama.

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The 6-foot-4.5, 320-pounder was offered by head coach Shane Beamer and Co. back in February and got over to Columbia for a spring visit. He had originally locked in a June commitment date but has now opted to take his name off the board.

“South Carolina is definitely really high on my list right now,” Elston told Rivals’ Chad Simmons in March. “This visit most definitely helped Carolina and I love the school a lot, especially knowing I can have the chance to reunite with past teammates. The atmosphere was amazing and the coaches and recruiters showed great hospitality.”

This story will be updated.

Cristobal and the Miami Hurricanes earned a huge win on Saturday that should pay dividends for years to come.

Mario Cristobal and the Miami Hurricanes are on a heater lately. After making it all the way to the program’s first national championship game appearance in almost a quarter century, the Hurricanes appear poised to make a run at a title again in 2026 and beyond.

Duke transfer QB/WR duo Darian Mensah and Cooper Barkate, Missouri EDGE Damon Wilson II, and Boston College DB Omar Thornton highlight some big pickups that Cristobal landed that should help ease the blow of some major NFL losses this offseason (nine players).

Success also breeds success in high school recruiting, and Cristobal picked up a big piece of the puzzle for his 2027 class, flipping the commitment of five-star cornerback Donte Wright from Georgia to the Hurricanes.

Wright is a recruiting class headliner for any program in the country. He checks in as the No. 2 CB in the 2027 class, as well as the No. 1 player in the state of California and the No. 8 overall player in the national according to On3 Sports’ industry rankings. He also holds offers from Oregon, Oklahoma, USC, Ole Miss, Tennessee, Nebraska, Washington, and Cal, among others.

His commitment isn’t out of left field by any means. He visited Miami last month and came away impressed. He spoke highly of his relationship with safeties coach Will Harris and cornerbacks coach Terry Jefferson, who was recently promoted to the position following the departure of Zac Etheridge to the Arizona Cardinals earlier this offseason.

Wright becomes the highest-ranked recruit in Miami’s 2027 class, joining WR Nick Lennear (Miami Carol City HS) as the class’s two five-star commits. The Hurricanes are currently ranked No. 5 in the country by On3/Rivals following Wright’s commitment.

West Virginia its adding more star power to its 2027 recruiting class.

The Mountaineers added a commitment from touted quarterback Andre Phillip, who was in Morgantown earlier this spring after an early offer from the coaching staff.

West Virginia continued to zero in on the Spring (Texas) Klein Oak passer, who boasts 10.5 speed in the 100-meter and accounted for 12 touchdowns in 3.5 games as a junior last fall.

He wasted no time jumping on board with Rich Rodriguez, Rhett Rodriguez, and the Mountaineers.

“They’ve been on me quite hard with their recruitment,” said Phillip, who recently had members of the West Virginia staff by the school to watch him throw.”

“My relationship with Coach Rhett is solid,” he continued. “Also, having someone like Pat White on staff is exciting. Him having experience in Rich Rodriguez’s program is a plus. The fact that he excelled at a high level is helpful and encouraging to me as I look to transition from a similar high school offense to the college level.”

Phillip committed to the Mountaineers over Iowa State and others.

He will officially visit Morgantown on June 5-7.

“Some highlights were discussing their vision for me and how I would fit into their offense,” Phillip has said. “I also enjoyed sitting down with the creator of the zone read, discussing how it’s evolved over time. I enjoyed watching the competition between offense and defense and seeing similar plays that I’ve run in the past. I also paid close attention to how the quarterbacks led and executed the offense. I liked seeing the quarterbacks operate the offense, as well as the connections that I have with the coaching staff.”