UCLA, Notre Dame 2026 Recruiting Classes Rise National Rankings

UCLA's football recruiting has shown significant progress under DeShaun Foster, with the Bruins landing key commitments such as defensive linemen Carter Gooden and Marcus Almada, boosting their 2026 class rankings nationally. Foster’s focus on offensive line talent, including four-star offensive tackles like Micah Smith and Johnnie Jones, has been noted as a crucial factor in the team's ascension. UCLA’s 2026 recruiting class moved up to 20th nationally according to 247Sports, and Jones remains the top-rated UCLA pledge in the new Rivals300 rankings. Meanwhile, Notre Dame also saw notable recruiting success, with two players from the same high school making large jumps in the Rivals rankings, highlighting their growing appeal. UCLA coaches remain active in scouting at key basketball and football events to identify future prospects for 2026 and beyond. The recent merger of Rivals and On3 has produced updated rankings that reflect these shifts, with UCLA commits Jones and Gooden receiving prominent placement.