Early national signing day, when high school football players can officially signal their intent to play for a certain college, is only days away.
While most of The Dallas Morning News’ top 100 Dallas-area recruits in the Class of 2026 are committed, there are still some who haven’t made a decision. And last-minute flips could always happen.
Here are five Dallas-area storylines to follow ahead of Wednesday, Dec. 3.
Who’s staying in Texas?
Some players will only be a few miles from home next year.
At least 12 athletes ranked in The News’ area top 100 are committed to schools in Dallas-Fort Worth, with nine pledged to SMU. Three players are headed to TCU.
High School Sports
Flower Mound’s Drew Evers — the 14th-ranked recruit in the Dallas-area Class of 2026 — headlines the Mustangs’ prospective signees. The offensive lineman is the 11th-best interior offensive lineman, according to 247Sports. Evers will be joined by Kaufman’s Aljour Miles, who is a four-star wide receiver. Miles had 592 receiving yards and five touchdowns this season.
SMU’s class also includes Lake Highlands’ Christian Rhodes, Duncanville’s Zach Turner, Euless Trinity’s Pupungatoa Katoa, North Forney’s Ryan Gilbert, Mesquite Poteet’s Keith Dotie and Garland’s Ty Crethers.
TCU boasts Arlington Martin’s Jesse Ford, Duncanville’s Ayson Theus and Argyle’s Braden Bach.
SMU has seen recent Dallas-area recruiting success, signing seven players in 2024.
Who are the top uncommitted players?
Several players have yet to commit to a school, including Melissa’s three-star linebacker Payhton Porter. Listed as the 39th-best recruit in the Dallas area, Porter has 16 offers, including from programs like Texas, Baylor, Texas A&M and Pittsburgh.
After decommitting from Baylor, Southlake Carroll running back Davis Penn has not selected a school yet. The senior has 759 rushing yards this season and 17 touchdowns, averaging 6.1 yards per carry. Penn suffered an injury during Carroll’s playoff run in 2024 but has not slowed down this year. Penn has 14 offers, including ones from Tulane, Colorado, Wisconsin, Kansas State and Sam Houston. He took an official visit to Tulane in June.
Forney’s three-star quarterback Nelson Peterson Jr., who threw for 2,257 yards and 20 touchdowns, has received offers from Texas Tech, Ole Miss and Wake Forest.
Other top uncommitted players include Anna’s Ziondre Williams, Wylie East’s Amarean Porter, Richland’s Jaylen Gordon and Arlington Bowie’s Keidric Osunde-Brown.
Which college will win the D-FW recruiting battle?
SMU has a narrow lead with nine commitments for The News’ top 100 while Baylor has six.
The Bears’ signee class includes Plano HSAA’s Jordan Davis, Argyle Liberty Christian’s Quinn Murphy, Mesquite Horn’s Kole Seaton, South Oak Cliff’s Jamarion Phillips, TC Byron Nelson’s Parker Almanza and North Forney’s Marcus Page Jr.
Baylor also has offered spots to Southlake Carroll’s Penn — who decommitted in January — and Richland cornerback Jaylen Gordon.
Checking in with Oklahoma
Although the Sooners have had nine commitments the last two years, Oklahoma only has four this year.
Celina quarterback Bowe Bentley — the seventh-best recruit in the Dallas area’s Class of 2026 — leads the class. The four-star recruit is the sixth-best quarterback in his class and the 68th overall recruit, according to 247Sports. This season, Bentley has thrown for 2,608 yards and 28 passing touchdowns while running for 439 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Midlothian’s Noah Best and Frisco Lone Star’s Ryder Mix have also committed to Oklahoma. Best is a 6-3, three-star offensive lineman who weighs 290 pounds. Mix, who is a three-star tight end, has 348 receiving yards and four touchdowns this year.
On Nov. 26, Lancaster safety Markel Ford changed his commitment to Oklahoma. He had committed to SMU in April. Ford is 6-foot and 185 pounds. In 2023, Ford had a breakout season, finishing with 56 tackles, seven tackles for loss, four interceptions, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
More flips to come?
There have already been several big flips this season. In November, North Forney’s four-star quarterback Legend Bey committed to Ohio State after pledging to Tennessee in June, choosing the Vols over Texas A&M.
Bey is a 5-10, 175-pound dual threat. Bey recorded 1,600 passing yards and 16 touchdowns this season while adding 1,703 rushing yards and 30 rushing touchdowns.
And there could be more flips on Wednesday. Duncanville’s four-star edge Kevin “KJ” Ford Jr. — the eighth-best recruit in the Dallas-area’s Class of 2026 — could flip from Florida to Texas A&M. He took an unofficial visit to College Station in September before visiting officially in October.
Last season, Ford finished the year with 57 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, seven sacks, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and 15 quarterback hurries.
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