What to know about five-stars and top QBs in the class of 2026

Chris Henry Jr. [608x342]

With the 2025 recruiting cycle effectively closed after Wednesday's national signing day, it's time to turn our attention to the class of 2026.

As things stands, there are 12 five-star prospects in the ESPN Junior 300, led by Ohio State wide receiver pledge Chris Henry Jr. Among that group, seven of the nation's top recruits remain uncommitted, including five-star offensive tackles Jackson Cantwell (No. 2 overall), Lamar Brown (No. 3) and Immanuel Iheanacho (No. 7), as well as former Georgia pledge Jared Curtis, ESPN's No. 1 quarterback in the 2026 cycle.

That group of five-stars also features a pair of quarterback commits between Dia Bell (Texas) and Faizon Brandon (Tennessee). Across the 2026 class, there are eight uncommitted ESPN Junior 300 QBs with Keisean Henderson (Houston), Will Griffin (Florida) and Jaden O'Neal (Oklahoma) headlining the list of passers holding commitments as the latest recruiting cycle comes into full swing.

With coaches off the recruiting trail in February after a busy contact period, ESPN spoke with the nation's top recruits and industry sources for the latest recruiting intel on the 12 five-star prospects across the country and 10 more quarterbacks you need to know in the 2026 class.

Jump to a section:
Five-stars | 10 QBs to watch

Five-star prospects

Listed in order of ESPN Junior 300 rank.

1. Chris Henry Jr., WR (Ohio State commit)

Background: The son of the late former Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry, Henry Jr. became the No. 1 prospect in the 2026 class when five-star defensive end Jahkeem Stewart reclassified into the 2025 cycle.

What's the latest: Originally from Cincinnati, Henry has been committed to the Buckeyes since July 2023. That pledge remains firm, but Oregon is pushing hard to flip him while Miami, LSU, USC and West Virginia continue to stay involved in Henry's recruitment.

"I'm real locked in with Ohio State but I'm still open to being recruited," he told ESPN. "I let all the schools know that it's going to be hard for me to flip because the situation with Ohio State is so good for me."

Where it's headed: Henry has attended junior days at USC and Oregon in recent weeks, and he could take spring trips to Miami and Oregon. However, Henry remains in near-daily contact with newly promoted Ohio State offensive coordinator Brian Hartline, and Henry's pledge to the Buckeyes is going to be tough to shake.


2. Jackson Cantwell, OT

Background: The lineman from Nixa, Missouri, pairs elite size and length -- 6-foot-8, 316 pounds, 80.9-inch wingspan -- with superb mobility on the offensive line.

What's the latest: Cantwell visited Michigan and Ohio State in December, hit Texas A&M in early January and met with 20-plus schools during the contact period before narrowing his recruitment to six programs on Feb. 2: Georgia, Michigan, Miami, Missouri, Ohio State and Oregon.

"I cut it down to every school I could see myself signing with," Cantwell told ESPN. "All those schools win games. All of them have good offensive line development. It was the right group for me."

Where it's headed: Cantwell intends to visit campuses in March and April before scheduling a run of late spring official visits. As he eyes a potential summer commitment, Cantwell's recruitment remains wide open, at least among his six finalists.

Georgia has long been a leader for Cantwell, while Oregon has emerged as a strong contender offering elite opportunities in both football and track. In-state Missouri has made Cantwell a priority, while Michigan, Ohio State and Miami can't be counted out, either, though the Buckeyes program Cantwell visited in December looks quite different now following the departures of offensive coordinator Chip Kelly and offensive line coach Justin Frye.


3. Lamar Brown, OT

Background: Scouts view Brown as an impact Power 4 talent on either side of the line of scrimmage, but Louisiana's No. 1 junior prospect sees his future on the offensive line, where Brown holds positional flexibility and high developmental upside.

What's the latest: His list of finalists has fluctuated over the past year, and Brown will take time to evaluate his options in 2025 following renewed interest from the likes of Alabama, Texas and USC, among others, and recent visits to LSU and Tulane.

"I really don't have a top six anymore," he told ESPN last month. "I'm really just taking the recruiting slow. You never know what school might come back into play."

While Brown's recruitment remains open, he's locked in official visits to Alabama, Miami, Florida State, Texas A&M and LSU between May 30 and June 22.

Where it's headed: Brown plans to attend a handful of junior days across this spring prior to his series of officials. LSU holds home ties and has gained significant momentum with Brown in recent months alongside Texas A&M and Alabama, two programs who have long been primary contenders for Brown's pledge.


4. Jared Curtis, QB

Background: ESPN's No. 1 quarterback in the 2026 cycle, he guided Nashville (Tennessee) Christian to a state championship in his junior season last fall.

What's the latest: Curtis pulled his commitment from Georgia in the fall and wants to learn more about other programs.

"I knew I wanted to take other visits," he told ESPN. "I'm enjoying getting to talk about football and the most important thing is building relationships with these coaches."

The Curtis family hosted a parade of Power 4 coaches in January including Bill Belichick, Kirby Smart and Kalen DeBoer, and Curtis closed the month with the top six of Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, Ohio State, Oregon and South Carolina.

Where it's headed: Georgia held Curtis' pledge for seven months and still remains a leading contender in his recruitment. However, no program has made up more ground since his fall decommitment than Oregon.

Both schools will host Curtis for late-spring official visits, along with Auburn and South Carolina. Meanwhile, Alabama continues to push hard for Curtis following his trip to the Crimson Tide last weekend, and Curtis is also expected to visit North Carolina in early April.

Curtis told ESPN that he expects to make a commitment following his slate of official visits in June.


5. Dia Bell, QB (Texas commit)

Background: Bell completed 70.6% of his passes for 2,597 yards with 29 touchdowns and six interceptions in his junior season at American Heritage (Florida) before suffering a season-ending leg injury that required surgery. The son of Raja Bell, a 12-year NBA veteran, he will graduate as a three-year starter who has poise in the pocket and solid mechanics that power his impressive downfield passing ability.

Recruiting latest: Bell has been committed to Texas since last June and remains firm in his pledge to the Longhorns amid frequent contact from other programs and following January visits from Georgia, Alabama, LSU and Arkansas.

"I haven't shut down my recruitment," he told ESPN. "I'm for sure in this moment locked in with Texas -- that's where I want to be and that's why I chose it. But I'm still open in my recruitment because we live in a world where coaches can move anywhere the next day."

Where it's headed: Barring a major change, Bell will be a Longhorn when the early signing period rolls around in December. He attended the program's junior day last month and is anchored by his relationships with coach Steve Sarkisian and Texas quarterbacks coach A.J. Milwee. Bell is still weighing whether he'll visit other schools this spring, but any inclination to look elsewhere was diminished last month when Sarkisian signed a seven-year extension.

"That was big for me," Bell said. "I'm not sure I'm ready to mess up what I have going on at the school I really want to be at to go see other schools right now."


6. Kendre' Harrison, TE (Oregon commit)

Background: A coveted two-sport star, Harrison told ESPN that his recruitment has been fairly quiet since he committed to play football and basketball at Oregon just after Thanksgiving.

What's the latest: The new coaching staffs at North Carolina and Wake Forest checked in on the tight end from Reidsville, North Carolina, last month, as did Duke and Miami, but Harrison is no longer seriously engaging schools outside of Oregon.

Where it's headed: The Ducks built a deep connection with Harrison before he picked Oregon over Tennessee, North Carolina, Miami, Penn State and Florida State. Those ties have only grown in the months since, and the Ducks hold Harrison's only scheduled official visit in June for a reason.

"I feel strong about my commitment," he told ESPN. "The relationships that I've built with Coach Lanning and them and the relationships they've built with my family, especially my mom, are legit. It feels like an unbreakable bond right now."


7. Immanuel Iheanacho, OT

Background: The 6-foot-7, 350-pound recruit from North Bethesda, Maryland, packed trips to Texas A&M, Maryland and Auburn, and visits from coaches, into a busy January.

What's the latest: Iheanacho plans to trim a long list of offers to 10 finalists in the coming weeks with Georgia, Oregon, LSU, Texas A&M, Miami, Florida, Auburn and Maryland among the leaders in his recruitment.

Where it's headed: As with Cantwell and Curtis, Georgia and Oregon stand as early front-runners. Iheanacho has a spring practice visit with the Ducks on the calendar along with an official visit to Georgia and trips to LSU, Miami, Florida and Texas A&M, among others.

Immanuel Iheanacho [600x600]

The state's No. 1 prospect in 2026, Iheanacho visited Maryland for a basketball game last month and has spent plenty of time around the Terrapins program. And while Iheanacho's recruitment remains centered primarily on blue bloods across the country, he has been looking at Maryland differently since five-star defensive end Zion Elee committed to the Terps in December.

"After Zion committed, it made me realize I could stay home," Iheanacho told ESPN. "Maryland has a couple of five-stars right now. If we all stay home, that's a top-15 recruiting class. What's stopping us? It's about where you can get developed best. But there's also part of me that would love to bring a Big Ten championship home and for my parents to be able to see it."


8. Zion Elee, DE (Maryland commit)

Background: Elee, a polished defensive end from Baltimore, became Maryland's highest-ranked commit in the ESPN recruiting rankings era when he made his surprise pledge to the Terps over Oregon, Alabama and Penn State late last year.

What's the latest: USC and Texas joined those three runner-ups among the programs who came to see Elee during the contact period, and Auburn has entered into Elee's recruiting following his late January visit with the Tigers.

"Auburn definitely surprised me," Elee told ESPN. "Everyone has talked good about it. I didn't think it would be all that but it was a really good experience to be down there."

Where it's headed: Elee currently has a slate of official visits to Maryland, Auburn, South Carolina and Penn State in the spring as programs battle to pry his commitment from the Terps.

Despite contact with other programs, Elee told ESPN he remains locked in with Maryland. He has strong relationships with Terps assistants Aazaar Abdul-Rahim and James Thomas Jr., and Elee has been a frequent visitor on campus for workouts and recruiting events since his commitment.

"If I wasn't committed there I would have decommitted already," Elee said. "I want to go to college in a place I feel like I can live in and a place where I can have a future. I want it to be a place that feels like home. Maryland is already home."


9. Tyler Atkinson, OLB

Background: The country's top-linebacker, Atkinson totaled 166 tackles with 13 sacks and 46 hurries this past fall on a state championship defense at Georgia's Grayson High School.

What's the latest: Atkinson has a long list of suitors including Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Florida State, Miami, Ohio State, Oregon, Tennessee and Texas, and he spent time on a Zoom call with Colorado coach Deion Sanders this past weekend.

Where it's headed: Atkinson will aim to trim that list this spring with an eye on hitting Alabama and Texas early after missing both programs during the contact period. In-state Georgia might hold an edge for now, but Atkinson's next few months of campus trips will be pivotal as he works to hammer out a schedule of official visits for later in the spring.


10. Faizon Brandon, QB (Tennessee commit)

Background: Brandon was named North Carolina's Gatorade Player of the Year after he threw for 2,159 yards with 27 touchdowns and one interception in his junior campaign at Grimsley High School in Greensboro, North Carolina. Brandon has been committed to Tennessee since last August.

What's the latest: Brandon's recruitment remains effectively closed while college coaches rolled through campus during the contact period last month.

"You never know what can happen so I'll talk to them but they know I'm locked in with Tennessee," he told ESPN. "They're just checking up. I'm not in contact with any other programs."

Where it's headed: Brandon told ESPN he stays in frequent contact with Vols coach Josh Heupel and Brandon's focus in 2025 is on recruiting a strong class around him at Tennessee. He plans to make several trips to campus for recruiting events this spring with four-star running back Savion Hiter (No. 20 in the ESPN Junior 300), wide receiver Tristen Keys (No. 21) and offensive tackle Darius Gray (No. 59) among the targets Brandon says he's leaning on.


11. Brandon Arrington, ATH

Background: Arrington is one of the fastest high school sprinters in the country, carrying elite football speed that could translate at wide receiver, cornerback and in the return game at the next level.

What's the latest: Arrington has taken recent visits to Alabama and Oregon, and he plans to narrow his recruitment soon from this list of 12 schools: Alabama, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Michigan, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Oregon, Penn State, Texas A&M, UCLA and USC.

"I'm interested in coaches who have a history of developing kids and getting them to the league," he told ESPN. "I want to get smarter and get better at a program that not only gets me to the league, but gets me ready for the league so I can stay in the league."

Where it's headed: Texas A&M was once a leader, but Alabama and Oregon separated themselves with Arrington after his pair of impressive visits to the respective programs. Penn State and USC have upped their efforts with Arrington in the new year, and he has trips planned to Georgia and Oklahoma this spring before the official visit season.


12. Elbert Hill, CB

Background: The nation's top cornerback, from Akron, Ohio, has Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State, Alabama, Texas A&M, Missouri, Oregon, USC and UCLA all jockeying for position in his recruitment.

What's the latest: Oregon and USC got Hill on campus most recently among that group as competition for his pledge mounts and Hill works to cut down his list of finalists.

"I'm looking for the best relationship with a coach who I can trust," Hill told ESPN. "I want to see who has a plan for me and what school can see me coming in early and making an impact. I just really want a chance."

Where it's headed: USC wowed Hill and his family on his January visit, while the Oregon coaching staff continued to push hard with 2025 Ducks signee Trey McNutt -- from nearby Cleveland -- keeping in touch with Hill and pitching the program.

USC and Oregon are joined by Ohio State, Alabama, Michigan, Penn State and Texas A&M among the leaders for Hill, who plans to take his time and plenty of visits over the next six months.

"I really want to hit all of those schools twice before I make any decisions and figure out where home is for me," Hill said.

10 more QBs to watch

Keisean Henderson (Houston commit)

ESPN 300 rank: No. 14 (No. 2 ATH)

Recruiting latest: After a standout freshman high school season at wide receiver, Henderson has spent the past two years working to convince college programs that he's a quarterback. A stellar junior season and an MVP performance showing at last month's Navy All-American Bowl have helped, and Henderson enters the spring as one of the nation's most intriguing athletes and quarterback prospects in 2026.

Houston quarterbacks coach Shawn Bell was at Baylor when he became the first coach to offer Henderson as a quarterback. Tulane was another school that recognized Henderson's ability under center early on. And months after Willie Fritz took over the Cougars with Bell and former Tulane offensive coordinator Slade Nagle on his staff, Henderson committed to the program last May as the highest-rated offensive pledge in school history.

"I wasn't thinking of committing anywhere at all until they both got to U of H," Henderson told ESPN. "They had that belief in me before anyone else. The stars lined up with them and when they got to Houston they just went full pedal on the metal to get me there."

Where it's headed: Henderson's profile is rising and Houston will have to fight to keep his pledge.

The schools maintaining frequent contact with Henderson include Alabama, Auburn, Florida State, Georgia, Oregon and SMU. The quarterback from Spring, Texas, intends to take visits with other programs this spring, but told ESPN that he is still locked in with the Cougars and focused on helping the program build a deep class around him in the 2026 cycle.


Brady Smigiel

ESPN 300 rank: No. 36 (No. 4 pocket passer)

Recruiting latest: A three-year starter at Newbury Park (California) High School, Smigiel largely shut down his recruitment after he committed to Florida State last June. But the offseason reshuffle of coach Mike Norvell's Seminoles staff -- headlined by the arrival of new offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn -- shifted the equation for Smigiel, prompting him to pull his pledge from Florida State on Jan. 26.

"At the end of the day, this is a business and I have to put myself in the best situation to succeed at the next level," Smigiel told ESPN. "I just didn't feel like Florida State was that spot for me anymore. I committed to Coach Norvell calling the plays and now that he's not, it's a completely different situation."

Brady Smigiel [576x324]

Where it's headed: Smigiel met with more than a dozen programs last month and is moving forward with Michigan, Ohio State, South Carolina, Auburn, Washington and UCLA among his top schools.

The Wolverines finished as the runner-up for Smigiel last summer and are the likely team to beat. However, Smigiel holds a long-standing relationship with Washington coach Jedd Fisch, and UCLA sits close to home as an appealing destination under new offensive coordinator Tino Suneri. Auburn and South Carolina represent a pair of intriguing relative newcomers in Smigiel's recruitment, while his connection to Ohio State has shifted since Kelly's departure for the Las Vegas Raiders.

Smigiel intends to take full advantage of his spring trips and official visits, but he has not closed the door on making a commitment before the summer if the "right place" emerges.


Ryder Lyons

ESPN 300 rank: No. 45 (No. 5 pocket passer)

Recruiting latest: Lyons recorded 56 total touchdowns in his junior season at Folsom (California) High School and met with USC, Oregon, Michigan, Ole Miss, BYU and Utah last month while new offers rolled in from Ohio State, North Carolina and Arizona.

Where it's headed: After flirting with a commitment this past fall, Lyons enters the spring with USC, Oregon, Michigan, Ole Miss and BYU as the leader of his recruitment.

Lyons' brother is a tight end at USC, and the Trojans have long been viewed as front-runners for his pledge. Yet Lyons has been impressed by Big Ten rivals Oregon and Michigan while Ole Miss impressed on its latest visit to see Lyons and BYU remains in the mix following his fall visit to the school.

Of note, Lyons plans to take a mission trip following his high school graduation and will not enroll in college until 2027. Up ahead, Lyons expects to have a light spring before taking official visits to each program with eyes on a decision sometime before his senior season.

"I'm going to wait for all my officials before I make a decision," Lyons told ESPN. "I think that'll help me a lot. I'll probably try to commit in June or July."


Will Griffin (Florida commit)

ESPN 300 rank: No. 58 (No. 6 pocket passer)

Recruiting latest: Pledged to Florida since last June, Griffin impressed as one of the junior invitees to the Under Armour All-America game last month, and he promptly shut down his recruitment at the start of the year, affirming his pledge to the Gators with no plans to visit other schools in 2025.

Where it's headed: If Griffin felt any uncertainty about Florida in the fall, those concerns were calmed when the school backed coach Billy Napier in early November.

Napier's job security, helped by the Gators' late-season wins against LSU, Ole Miss and Florida State, vaulted the program to a top-10 2025 recruiting class that includes ESPN 300 pass catchers Dallas Wilson, Vernell Brown and Naeshaun Montgomery. Up ahead, Griffin's campus visits will be confined to recruiting weekends at Florida this spring as the Gators seek to build on their late surge in the 2025 cycle.

"It was really awesome that they ended the season on a high note especially with the recruits because those are the guys I'm going to be playing with," Griffin told ESPN. "When recruits see other high recruits commit, they want to be part of that. They see something special happening and that's what's happening in Gainesville."


Jaden O'Neal (Oklahoma commit)

ESPN 300 rank: No. 63 (No. 7 pocket passer)

Recruiting latest: Plenty has changed about the Sooners since the 6-foot-3 passer from California committed to Oklahoma last June. Most crucially, there's a new offensive coordinator in Norman. O'Neal has spent the past two months acquainting himself with 29-year-old playcaller Ben Arbuckle while overcoming initial concerns about the Sooners' efforts to recruit a second quarterback in the 2026 class, most recently offering three-star passer Bowe Bentley.

Jaden O'Neal [600x600]

"It felt like it was a little dishonest," O'Neal told ESPN. "They'd told us when I first committed that they were only going to take me in the class. But once they explained to me that they needed arms, it all made sense. They're just trying to stack quarterbacks."

Where it's headed: Despite the speed bump, O'Neal has been encouraged by his conversations with Arbuckle, the coordinator's track record for quarterback development and the overall direction coach Brent Venables has presented for the program moving forward.

O'Neal once considered Georgia a dream school and the Bulldogs' Jan. 31 offer could be a head-turner. But for now, O'Neal is focused on the Sooners with a trip to Oklahoma as the only upcoming visit on his calendar.


Landon Duckworth

ESPN 300 rank: No. 108 (No. 1 dual-threat)

Recruiting latest: Once committed to South Carolina, Duckworth is generating plenty of interest after throwing for 3,109 yards and 34 touchdowns in his junior season at Jackson (Alabama) High School. Duckworth visited Ole Miss this past weekend and counts Georgia, South Carolina, Missouri and Florida State among his leaders entering the spring.

Where it's headed: Duckworth left his recent trip to Ole Miss high on head coach Lane Kiffin and offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr., who sold him on the program's development of former Rebels quarterback Jaxson Dart. But Duckworth also remains among the many quarterbacks being targeted respectively by Georgia, South Carolina and Florida State this spring. As the 2026 quarterback shuffle heats up, expect Duckworth -- ESPN's No. 1 dual-threat quarterback in the cycle -- to be involved with some of the nation's top programs.


Jonas Williams (Oregon commit)

ESPN 300 rank: No. 138 (No. 2 dual-threat)

Recruiting latest: The mobile quarterback from Bolingbrook, Illinois, pledged to Oregon in early August before totaling 2,926 passing yards and 42 touchdowns with six interceptions in his debut season at Lincoln-Way East High School.

That junior campaign has drawn Williams renewed interest from summer runner-up LSU and recent offers from Georgia, Ole Miss and USC. Coach Lincoln Riley and the Trojans have been pushing especially hard for Williams since the start of the year, visiting him in Illinois last month and hosting Williams on campus this past weekend.

Where it's headed: Williams hasn't shut down his recruitment and Oregon hasn't stopped pursuing other quarterbacks in the 2026 class, so there could be movement here.

"I'm still committed but I'm open," Williams told ESPN. "In recruiting nowadays, things can happen so I always have to keep my eyes open. I'm still exploring my options."

LSU made an at-home visit to Williams last week and he holds a yearslong connection with Tigers offensive coordinator Joe Sloan. Georgia, Ole Miss, Ohio State and North Carolina are involved in potential flip efforts as well, but no program is working harder than USC as Williams weighs spring trips and a series of official visits in June.


Jake Fette (Arizona State commit)

ESPN 300 rank: No. 160 (No. 3 dual-threat)

Recruiting latest: The dynamic playmaker from Del Valle, Texas, saw the promise of Arizona State earlier than most did, committing to the Sun Devils in September before the program's surprise run to the College Football Playoff under second-year coach Kenny Dillingham.

"I saw the direction the program was going in," Fette told ESPN. "I didn't know Coach Dillingham would turn it around that quick. I figured I'd help rebuild. But he's already got it rebuilt and that's cool to me."

Arizona State's 2024 season, including the rise of quarterback Sam Leavitt, showed Fette everything that's possible for him with the Sun Devils. Meanwhile, recent offers from LSU, Ole Miss and Mississippi State have exposed Fette to what else might be out there for him.

Where it's headed: Fette has the same dual-threat ability that's helped Leavitt thrive at Arizona State, and that success is a key piece in Fette's continued commitment.

LSU and Ole Miss, however, have made respective visits in the new year. Fette is firm in his pledge and has not yet scheduled any visits up ahead, but the pair of SEC schools have given Fette something to think about this spring.

"I'll just be exploring my opportunities in the future and figure it all out," he said. "It's a good problem to have."


Peyton Falzone

ESPN 300 rank: No. 199 (No. 4 dual-threat)

Recruiting latest: Falzone's November decommitment from Virginia Tech made for a frantic January that included visits from more than 25 programs in to see the speedy and big-armed quarterback from Nazareth, Pennsylvania.

Penn State, Iowa, Utah, West Virginia and Rutgers have all been involved in Falzone's recruitment in the past year and each checked in last month. From the pack of newcomers, Alabama, Iowa State, Kansas State, Virginia, Cincinnati and Pitt have emerged as the programs the 6-foot-5 passer plans to explore this spring.

Where it's headed: Falzone visited West Virginia and Rutgers prior to the dead period and will take a number of trips in March as he works to recalibrate his recruitment in 2025.

The schools that have been involved in Falzone's process longest -- particularly Penn State and Iowa -- hold the edge. But as Falzone prepares to see a slate of new schools in the spring with official visit slots to fill, programs such as Iowa State, Kansas State and Virginia stand among those that could rise quickly in the recruitment of one of the country's most athletic quarterbacks in 2026.

"I'm only just starting to build a rapport with some of those schools and we'll see who cuts through," Falzone told ESPN. "I didn't even know I was on some of their radars. It's really come out of the blue."


Derek Zammit

ESPN 300 rank: No. 296 (No. 11 pocket passer)

Recruiting latest: After a late invite to the Under Armor All-America game last month and an impressive 2,582-yard, 35-touchdown junior campaign while leading New Jersey's DePaul Catholic to a state title, Zammit's profile is rising.

Zammit closed 2024 with Mississippi State, Boston College, Syracuse and Rutgers leading his list of schools. But 2025 has brought Zammit a flood of new interest with North Carolina, Washington and Virginia making the most consistent contact over the past month-plus.

Where it's headed: Among those recent newcomers, Zammit told ESPN that North Carolina separated itself between a visit to New Jersey from coach Bill Belichick and Zammit's subsequent trip to see the Tar Heels last month.

"I have an idea of who is pushing for me the most and who really wants me at their place," he said. "I'd say North Carolina is a big one in the conversation right now."

North Carolina might be the new leader in Zammit's recruitment, but he also has an upcoming visit to Washington. Zammit also expects to get to Mississippi State, Syracuse and Virginia this spring, with a goal of making his decision before June.