"BYU baby" "CU of course!": Football fans debate potential destination for top 2026 prospect Brandon Arrington Jr.

Brandon Arrington Jr., a five-star athlete from Mount Miguel High School in La Mesa, California, is garnering widespread attention as one of the most coveted recruits in the 2026 college football class.

Measuring 6-foot-2 and 180 pounds, Arrington excels both as a wide receiver and cornerback while demonstrating elite speed on the track. His dominance in the 100-meter and 200-meter dashes earned him state titles.

As of January 2025, Arrington holds nearly 40 scholarship offers from powerhouse programs including USC, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, LSU and Alabama. The conclusion of the NCAA Dead Period has intensified recruiting efforts, with top programs working to make an impression on Arrington.

Among college football fans, debates over his future are lively, with quips like,

“BYU baby”

and,

“CU of course!”

Here is how other fans reacted:

"If you visited Eugene you know," a fan quipped.

"Come play both ways at CU," another quipped.

"Boulder is nice this time of year," another remarked.

Arrington’s versatility is evident in his high school football statistics. Offensively, he has recorded 48 receptions for 953 yards, averaging 19.9 yards per catch, with 11 touchdowns.

In defense, he has registered 51 tackles, three defended passes, one pick, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery in the last two seasons.

LSU faces a competitive battle for Arrington’s commitment, with schools like Oklahoma, Texas A&M and USC also aggressively pursuing the talented athlete. LSU’s 2026 recruiting class currently ranks in the top five nationally and No. 2 in the SEC with six commitments.

USC maintains strong position in Brandon Arrington Jr.’s recruitment

USC has emerged as a prominent contender in the recruitment of Brandon Arrington Jr. The Trojans’ coaching staff, led by Lincoln Riley, visited Mount Miguel to strengthen their relationship with the athlete.

Arrington has visited USC several times, including a November game where the Trojans dominated Nebraska.

“I had a great experience at USC,” Arrington told On3. “It was a great game and I had a great time with the players and the coaches. The atmosphere was fun. The band, the people, the DJ’s – everything was fun.”

The young athlete has long admired USC’s rich football history.

“Growing up, I just liked USC,” Brandon Arrington told On3. “I’ve seen their history. I went to Helix and Reggie Bush went to Helix, so I looked up to Reggie Bush. I looked up to Adoree Jackson. I looked up to all those guys. I used to watch them a lot, so they’ve influenced me to always want to go to USC.”

USC’s recruiting class has gained momentum with commitments from Southern California four-stars RJ Sermons and Brandon Lockhart.