How First-Year College Football Coaches Fared in the 2026 Recruiting Class
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College football rosters can now be finished on the fly in the transfer portal. Both national championship games in the 12-team College Football Playoff era proved that as all four starting quarterbacks did not start their college careers with their respective programs.
Still, pretty much any coach will tell you that the backbone of roster building happens out of high school. The portal is a great place to add a finishing touch, like a proven quarterback or veteran defender. But high school recruiting — followed by development and retention — is still paramount to sustained success.
The early signing period in December was the first opportunity for the dozens of first-year coaches hired in a whirlwind of a coaching cycle to make their mark on their new program. Much of the steam has been taken out of national signing day, with most top prospects already signed or even enrolled, though its passage finalizes the recruiting classes for the 32 head coaches in new jobs.
Unlike a year ago when there was a spring portal window still to come, national signing day essentially marks the end of roster building for the 2026 season. There are still ongoing eligibility lawsuits and a few stragglers in the portal, but how teams look today will be more or less the same groups that take the field in the fall. Here’s how first-year coaches performed on the recruiting trail.
(Data via 247 Sports Composite.)
Lane Kiffin, LSU
Composite Ranking: 11
SEC Ranking: 6/16
The Portal King built a large chunk of the Tigers’ 2026 roster with transfers ready to play right away — several of whom followed him from Ole Miss. Still, Kiffin landed a decorated crop of high school recruits, headlined by athlete Lamar Brown (Louisiana) and defensive lineman Richard Anderson (Louisiana), both five-star prospects and the two highest-rated players in the state. Kiffin’s first LSU signing class, which includes 17 signees, also ranks higher than any of his classes at Ole Miss.
Kyle Whittingham, Michigan
Composite Ranking: 12
Big Ten Ranking: 4/18
Whittingham’s debut class in Ann Arbor is a step below what the Wolverines have grown accustomed to, but it’s a step up from what he made do with at Utah. Michigan plucked a pair of five-stars from the mid-Atlantic in edge Carter Meadows (Washington, D.C.) and running back Savion Hiter (Virginia). Holding onto quarterback Bryce Underwood, the top prospect in 2025, was a coup for Whittingham. Still, he’s looking to the future as he signed two more signal-callers in four-star Tommy Carr (Michigan) and three-star Brady Smiegel (California) as part of a 22-player class.
Jon Sumrall, Florida
Composite Ranking: 16
SEC Ranking: 8/16
The name of the game for Sumrall’s first offseason as the Gators coach was retention. And despite coaching Tulane into the College Football Playoff, Sumrall signed a 19-player recruiting class heavy on four-star talent. Wide receiver Davian Groce (Texas) was the highest-rated player in the class, but Sumrall also kept home some top talent from the Sunshine State, including cornerback CJ Bronaugh, athlete Justin Williams and quarterback Will Griffin.
Pete Golding, Ole Miss
Composite Ranking: 22
SEC Ranking: 10/16
The Rebels hardly missed a beat after Kiffin’s departure as Golding parlayed a deep playoff run into a successful roster reload. Ole Miss’ portal class ranks No. 2 only behind LSU, and Golding also held onto a top-25 high school recruiting class. Four-star wide receiver Jase Matthews and four-star running back Damarius Yates headline a 20-player group that’s heavy on talent from the Magnolia State.
James Franklin, Virginia Tech
Composite Ranking: 29
ACC Ranking: 6/17
Franklin’s first haul for the Hokies is full of former Penn State commits. As one of the first high-profile fires and hires of a chaotic coaching carousel, Franklin had time to woo away several players he had recruited to Happy Valley, including four-star linebacker Terry Wiggins (Pennsylvania) and four-star athlete Messiah Mickens (Pennsylvania). Franklin also convinced three-star quarterback Troy Huhn (California) to follow him to Virginia Tech as part of a 23-player class that stacks up well in the ACC.
Alex Golesh, Auburn
Composite Ranking: 30
SEC Ranking: 12/16
In addition to the many Bulls who followed Golesh from South Florida to the Loveliest Village on the Plains, Golesh also reeled in 21 high school recruits. His first Auburn class is led by Jaquez Wilkes and Shadarius Toodle, two four-star linebackers who opted to stay home in Alabama and honor their commitment to the Tigers. Still, this is Auburn’s lowest-rated recruiting class in years after back-to-back top-10 groups.
Morgan Scalley, Utah
Composite Ranking: 33
Big 12 Ranking: 4/16
Scalley’s first cycle in charge of the Utes saw him sign a better class than Whittingham did in his final season in Salt Lake City. Holding onto five-star offensive tackle Kelvin Obot (Idaho) was crucial to maintaining that high rating. However, Scalley also saw four-star cornerback Salesi Moa (Utah) hit the transfer portal soon after enrolling to follow Whittingham to Michigan.
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Tavita Pritchard, Stanford
Composite Ranking: 36
ACC Ranking: 8/17
Pritchard was quick to pull together a talented class soon after his hire. Four-star wide receiver Zion Robinson (Texas) decommitted from Michigan a week after Pritchard returned to Stanford and signed with the Cardinal the same day. Robinson was one of four four-star recruits that Pritchard landed in a 23-player class that was heavy on out-of-state additions.
Ryan Silverfield, Arkansas
Composite Ranking: 45
SEC Ranking: 15/16
Silverfield did an exceptional job of keeping talent from the Razorback State home. His first recruiting class at Arkansas includes five of the state’s top 10 players and nine overall. Four-star defensive lineman Danny Beale was a big pickup after he decommitted from Oklahoma State, and Silverfield also flipped four-star running back Terry Hodges from Missouri and defensive lineman Anthony Kennedy Jr. from Miami.
Pat Fitzgerald, Michigan State
Composite Ranking: 47
Big Ten Ranking: 12/18
Fitzgerald’s hire breathed some life into a program that’s struggled to win consistently since Mark Dantonio’s retirement in 2020. His first recruiting class was a step up from Jonathan Smith’s last one, largely thanks to a handful of four-stars he hung onto. Offensive Collin Campbell (Arizona), quarterback Kayd Coffman (Michigan), wide receiver Samson Gash (Michigan), tight end Joey Caudill (Ohio) and offensive tackle Eli Bickel (Michigan) are the foundation of Fitzgerald’s 21-player class, which complements a hefty transfer portal haul.
Collin Klein, Kansas State
Composite Ranking: 53
Big 12 Ranking: 9/16
Klein’s first recruiting class in the Little Apple is devoid of any blue-chip talent. The crown jewels are three-star wide receiver Maxwell Lovett (Colorado) and three-star cornerback Josiah Vilmael (Texas). Klein also snagged two of the top players from Kansas in three-star linebacker Lawson McGraw and three wide receiver Derrick Salley Jr. In total, he brought in more transfers (23) than high school players (21), evidence of the ecosystem that drove his predecessor to retirement.
Jimmy Rogers, Iowa State
Composite Ranking: 55
Big 12 Ranking: 10/16
Rogers needs all the warm bodies he can get after the mass roster exodus in Ames. Accordingly, he’s bringing in a 27-player class. Three-star wide receiver Jeffrey Roberts is one of the top recruits in Iowa and the only player in-state to commit to play for the Cyclones. Rogers also convinced four-star offensive tackle Benjamin Makelala to follow him from Washington State.
Tosh Lupoi, California
Composite Ranking: 56
ACC Ranking: 15/17
It might take some time for Lupoi, who has a reputation as an elite recruiter, to make his mark at Cal. But he’s already landed a well-regarded transfer portal class chock full of former Oregon players in addition to one of the better high school hauls the Golden Bears have seen in recent years. Four-star offensive tackle Daniel McMorris (Oklahoma) and four-star running back Victor Santino (Florida) were the only blue-chip players in Lupoi’s first class, which naturally drew heavily from California and Hawaii.
Will Stein, Kentucky
Composite Ranking: 59
SEC Ranking: 16/16
Stein was intentional with his first Wildcats group. He only brought in 16 high school prospects, including three-star wide receiver Kenny Darby (Louisiana), who flipped from LSU. Three-star running back Jay’Quan Crawford is the only player to stay home from the Bluegrass State. Kentucky instead prioritized transfers, bringing in a 29-player class that ranks 10th nationally.
Matt Campbell, Penn State
Composite Ranking: 62
Big Ten Ranking: 15/18
Campbell’s late hire in Happy Valley resulted in a disastrous recruiting class by Nittany Lions standards. Penn State reeled in just 15 players and only three blue-chip recruits in a group that finished well outside the top 50. The good news is that four-star edge Jackson Ford stayed home, and fellow Pennsylvania native and four-star quarterback Peyton Falzone flipped from Auburn. The silver lining for Campbell is a highly rated, 36-player transfer portal class that should help Penn State be competitive in his first year at the helm.
Bob Chesney, UCLA
Composite Ranking: 63
Big Ten Ranking: 16/18
Chesney, like Sumrall and Stein, was coaching a playoff team while simultaneously trying to build out a roster at his new post. The timing of his hire — just after the early signing period — forced the Bruins to hit the transfer portal hard with 40 newcomers. Chesney’s first UCLA class includes four-star wide receiver Kenneth Moore (California) and three-star offensive tackle Zaheer Young (California). It also ranks much higher than either of his hauls at JMU.
Eric Morris, Oklahoma State
Composite Ranking: 67
Big 12 Ranking: 15/16
Will Hall, Tulane
Composite Ranking: 69
American Ranking: 2/14
Jim Mora, Colorado State
Composite Ranking: 73
Pac-12 Ranking: 3/8
Charles Huff, Memphis
Composite Ranking: 76
American Ranking: 3/14
Jason Candle, UConn
Composite Ranking: 83
Billy Napier, James Madison
Composite Ranking: 83
Sun Belt Ranking: 5/13
Brian Hartline, South Florida
Composite Ranking: 91
American Ranking: 6/14
John Hauser, Ohio
Composite Ranking: 105
MAC Ranking: 5/12
JaMarcus Shephard, Oregon State
Composite Ranking: 106
Pac-12 Ranking: 7/8
Ryan Beard, Coastal Carolina
Composite Ranking: 114
Sun Belt Ranking: 11/13
Blake Anderson, Southern Miss
Composite Ranking: 118
Sun Belt Ranking: 12/13
Mark Carney, Kent State
Composite Ranking: 119
MAC Ranking: 9/12
Mike Jacobs, Toledo
Composite Ranking: 123
MAC Ranking: 10/12
Kirby Moore, Washington State
Composite Ranking: 126
Pac-12 Ranking: 8/8
Casey Woods, Missouri State
Composite Ranking: 128
Conference USA Ranking: 8/11
Alex Mortensen, UAB
Composite Ranking: 136
American Ranking: 11/14
Neal Brown, North Texas
Composite Ranking: 143
American Ranking: 13/14
Related: The 8 Most Intriguing Teams in College Football for 2026
Related: College Football Playoff 2026: Athlon’s Way-Too-Early Picks and Predictions
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Feb 5, 2026, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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