Top 3 landing spots for 2026 class DL Preston Carey ft. Penn State

Four-star defensive lineman Preston Carey is a name to watch in the 2026 recruiting class. Since arriving at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, in January, Carey’s profile has seen a huge leap.

According to On3, Carey is ranked as the No. 19 defensive lineman in the nation, the No. 43 recruit in Florida and the No. 240 overall recruit in the 2026 class. The 6-foot-5, 285-pound DL is also rated as the No. 45 overall recruit in the state and the No. 36 defensive lineman by 247Sports.

Preston Carey recorded 33 total tackles, two tackles for loss and a sack last season. He holds nearly three dozen offers from programs like Auburn, LSU, Penn State, Rutgers, Syracuse, Michigan, Tennessee, Texas, Ohio State, Georgia and Texas A&M.

Let's see which three programs can secure Carey's commitment.

Top 3 programs competing for Preston Carey's commitment

#3. Ohio State

According to On3’s Recruiting Prediction Machine, the Buckeyes currently have a 6.1% chance of securing Preston Carey's commitment. While that percentage may seem low, Ohio State has a history of making strong late pushes for top recruits.

Carey and his family visited OSU in March, marking their first trip to Columbus. He concluded the visit with an offer from the program.

"It was an amazing visit,” Carey told Eleven Warriors. “Right when I walked in, the vibes were amazing. There were a lot of people there and I think it was family practice day. I got to see some familiar faces. The vibes were immaculate."

The prospect spent time with Ohio State coach Ryan Day and offensive line coach Larry Johnson during the visit.

“Being able to learn from them from such a short time was really an honor," Carey said. "Ohio State is one of the best places for defensive linemen in the country, if not the best.”

Ohio State has only five-star wide receiver Chris Henry Jr. committed to the 2026 class.

#2. Rutgers

Rutgers may not be the first program that comes to mind when thinking about top recruiting destinations, but the Scarlet Knights have made huge strides in Preston Carey's recruitment. The program holds an 8.5% chance of earning his commitment, and it has done an excellent job of establishing strong relationships with him since extending an offer over the summer.

Carey has praised both coach Greg Schiano and defensive line coach Marquise Watson for their recruiting efforts.

“They are great, coach Schiano, and coach Watson continue to recruit and I am grateful!” Carey told Rutgers Wire. “They are just telling me how they will make sure I become a great man not only a great player.”

Rutgers has four-star wide receiver Dyzier Carter and three-star quarterback Gavin Sidwar committed to its 2026 class.

#1. Penn State

Leading the race for Preston Carey’s commitment is Penn State, with a 27.5% chance. Carey’s talent relationship with the school dates back to July 2022, when he attended a camp and earned an offer from the Nittany Lions. Since then, it has consistently remained high on his list, and also made an unofficial visit to Happy Valley in April 2023.

Penn State’s recruiting success in the 2026 class has also played a role in Carey’s interest. The class recently jumped from No. 16 to No. 3 in the nation following the commitments of blue-chip prospects like Kevin Brown, Messiah Mickens and Troy Huhn. It features six committed players, including Daniel Jennings, Jahsiear Rogers and Lavar Keys.