Northwestern football sees a minor dip in 2026 recruiting rankings as Braun’s program continues its steady rebuild with key signings on both sides.
Northwestern might’ve slipped a couple spots in the recruiting rankings, but don’t let the scoreboard lie to you. The Wildcats dropped from No. 52 to No. 54 in ESPN’s latest update, yet the arrow is still pointing up in Evanston. All of this, despite opening as heavy favorites in the upcoming GameAbove Sports Bowl
They’ve already blown past last season’s win total and are stacking pieces to keep the rebuild rolling. Beating Penn State didn’t just turn heads on Saturdays — it paid dividends on the trail too. Northwestern flipped former Nittany Lions commit Jack Fuchs, and he’s the kind of prospect trench coaches love. At around 6-foot-7 with good feet and bend, plus bloodlines from an accomplished O-line coach, Fuchs looks like a long-term bookend tackle in the making.
The Wildcats also doubled down up front by adding in-state guard Owen Fors, a mauler who pops on tape with his strength and nasty streak. This is clearly a staff building from the inside out.
On the outside, Jaden McDuffie brings some big-play juice. The wideout topped 1,000 receiving yards as a senior and averaged north of 20 yards per catch — legit field-stretcher numbers that translate.
And with defensive-minded head coach David Braun calling the shots, the defense isn’t getting neglected. Edge rusher Nick Zalewski flashes quick hands and solid bend, showing real pass-rush upside. He’s going to need time in the weight room, but the traits are there.
Bottom line: the ranking dip is noise. Northwestern is still winning in the trenches, adding speed on the perimeter, and recruiting to its identity — and that’s how you build something sustainable.
Just a month ago, Northwestern put pen to paper on the biggest recruiting haul of the David Braun era — and it came with zero drama. In November, the Wildcats locked in 21 members of the Class of 2026, officially signing every one of their 20 public commits and sneaking in a late add with defensive lineman Tre Hoskins.
Clean sheet. No flips. No Signing Day chaos.
This class also makes history. The 2026 group is the first in college football eligible to receive revenue-sharing payments following the NCAA House Settlement, ushering in a new era of NIL-meets-contract football. Braun credited Wildcats GM ChristianSarkisian as a key voice in navigating the fine print — from contract language to revenue-share structure — while also helping map out a long-term roster-building plan.
If there was a clear point of emphasis, it was in the trenches. Northwestern’s largest class since 2003 features six offensive linemen, a clear sign Braun and Sarkisian are building this thing the same way NFL teams do: inside-out.
Headlining the class is four-star wide receiver Jaden McDuffie, Braun’s highest-rated recruit to date. The 6-foot-3 playmaker out of Edgewater, Maryland, put up video-game numbers as a senior at South River High — 58 catches, a school-record 1,338 yards, and 21 touchdowns — earning First Team All-State honors and legit WR1 upside.
Not everything went Northwestern’s way on the trail. The Wildcats lost four-star linebackers Brayden Reilly (Clemson) and Jacob Curry (Oklahoma) earlier in the fall, while three-star safety Davis Kinney flipped to Arizona State on Signing Day. That’s recruiting — even the bluebloods take losses.
But zoom out, and the trend line is obvious. Braun’s first class, assembled amid a hazing scandal, Pat Fitzgerald’s firing, and interim uncertainty, finished 73rd nationally. This one represents a steady climb back toward respectability.
You win some reps. You lose some battles. Northwestern is finally stacking more wins than losses — and that’s how you flip a program.