​Recruiting in the ACC looks a bit different in 2026, with not every familiar program stacking elite classes and with “local” targets now potentially coming from California and Texas. Right now, Miami is leading the charge on the 2027 cycle. The Hurricanes sit with the No. 4 national class in the Rivals Industry Team Recruiting Rankings, and as of July 9, five ACC programs are still inside the top 25.
The Rivals Industry Ranking, which blends data from all the major recruiting outlets, shows nine top-100 prospects committed to ACC programs. Among them are three five-stars, all eyeing Coral Gables as their destination.
Rivals highlights the top ACC commits as football season approaches. At No. 10 in the national ranking (No. 2 at the cornerback position) is a standout from Long Beach Poly (California). He committed on May 9. Although Georgia secured an early commitment from him last year, it became clear he wouldn’t end up in Athens. Oregon and UCLA pushed for a flip, but Miami gained the momentum and eventually won the race. He visited in the spring and, after an official visit later that month, decided to pull the trigger and shut down his recruitment.
His father, Donte Sr., told Rivals’ Greg Biggins, “This all happened today. In the last two hours, he came to me and said, ‘Dad, I’m doing this now.’ Miami had already been trending for him. Not many people realized it, but Miami was leading; it was a matter of when, not if. For Donte, the process had become tiresome, and he wanted to shut it down, which is what he did.”
Another top ACC commit, No. 17 nationally (No. 4 wide receiver), is from Miami Carol City (Florida). He committed on March 5. No dramatic flip was necessary here—the in-state target had been leaning toward Miami for months during his junior season. After a few more visits, he officially joined The U in March and is regarded as the No. 2 player in Florida for this cycle.
Rivals’ scouting team compares him to NFL wideout Jordan Addison. National Scout Cody Bellaire praised the 6-foot, 165-pound receiver, noting his ability to track the ball well and his natural hands, along with savvy body control that helps him position himself to attack the ball at every level. He’s described as smoother than a purely twitchy athlete, with clean route-running ability that should create separation consistently.
In the national landscape, the Rivals Industry Ranking places this group within reach of staying in the top tier, and the ACC’s current top-25 presence underscores the conference’s evolving recruiting dynamics. The balance of local and national targets, combined with shifting regional emphasis, suggests that the 2027 ACC recruiting class could unfold in unexpected ways as programs adapt to the changing pipeline and broader recruiting strategies.