ESPN recently released the latest update to its top 65 rankings for the 2026 college football recruiting class.

Clemson stayed put at No. 16 in the updated rankings.

The Tigers’ 2026 class is comprised of 20 total commits, with nine of them being ranked by ESPN among the nation’s top 300 overall prospects. Eight of those top-300 commits are prospects on the offensive side of the ball.

Four-star offensive tackle Leo Delaney (pictured above) is Clemson’s top-ranked commit according to ESPN, which touts him the No. 72 overall prospect nationally and the 10th-best offensive tackle in the country. Meanwhile, four-star safety Kentavion Anderson (No. 9 safety and No. 117 overall prospect nationally) is Clemson’s top defensive prospect, per ESPN.

Here’s what ESPN national recruiting analyst Craig Haubert wrote regarding the Tigers’ 2026 class:

Clemson is coming off a College Football Playoff appearance, and while another appearance will have to wait, the Tigers are using recruiting to continue their chase of the heights of their mid-2010s success under Dabo Swinney. Despite some on-field struggles, their 2026 group is looking more promising, especially after a red-hot March in which Swinney landed eight verbals, including five SC Next 300 commits.

Much of the talent is currently concentrated on offense. Naeem Burroughs is a burner in the 100-meter dash who can take the top off a defense and has a high football IQ. Fellow receiver Connor Salmin is another big-play threat. With some new offensive weapons, the Tigers are making sure they have the time to get the ball downfield by loading up along the offensive line. Delaney, Carter Scruggs, Grant Wise, Adam Guthrie and Chancellor Barclay give the Tigers multiple SC Next 300 OLs to help reload a senior-heavy unit that is projected to lose multiple starters after 2025.

They could one day protect fellow four-star Tait Reynolds, a dual-threat QB out of Arizona who could push to be part of the long-term solution to replace Cade Klubnik. While the foundation of the class is on offense, Anderson is a key in-state pickup on the other side of the ball. With his frame (roughly 6-2, 190 pounds) and range, he can be a versatile back-end defender for the Tigers.

Southern Cal remains No. 1 in ESPN’s updated 2026 recruiting class rankings, with Georgia, Notre Dame, Oregon and Texas A&M making up the rest of the top five.

Ohio State, Texas, Alabama, Miami and Tennessee round out the top 10, in that order.

After Miami, Florida State (No. 13) is the next highest-ranked ACC team in ESPN’s 2026 recruiting class rankings, followed by North Carolina (No. 14) and then Clemson.

SMU (No. 23) and Syracuse (No. 25) are the other ACC teams in the top 25.

South Carolina is ranked No. 22.

Clemson’s 2026 class is currently ranked No. 15 nationally by Rivals, No. 17 nationally by the 247Sports Composite and No. 18 nationally by 247Sports.