Story bySteve WiltfongWed, February 4, 2026 at 8:58 PM UTC·8 min readCollege football programs are certainly buying the nation’s top recruits’ signatures, but relationships and proof of concept still matter on the trail. To even be in position to close a deal financially, you have to have a product these blue-chip prospects are buying into. So while there was certainly a heavy financial investment in landing the top 2026 recruits in the country, there oftentimes was still a strong relationship behind the deal that helped allow things to fall into place. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementWith that, Rivals highlights the top on-field college football recruiters in the country in the 2026 class. Mike Mickens – Notre DameFor a second cycle in a row, the former Irish defensive back coach receives first mention after securing signatures from nearly all of his top targets before ultimately taking a job with the Baltimore Ravens to be their secondary coach. Notre Dame’s No. 2 ranked recruiting class is highlighted by two Rivals300 five-stars in cornerback Khary Adams and safety Joey O’Brien and another Top50 recruit in cornerback Ayden Pouncey. Mickens was also the lead recruiter for four-star cornerback Chaz Smith and coveted safety Nick Reddish. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementMickens did a fantastic job of quickly identifying the nation’s best, and building a strong rapport with them.