Arizona State's 2026 Recruiting Efforts Stand Pat

The Sun Devils are set to bring in an impressive array of talent into the new season.

Nov 23, 2024; Tempe, Arizona, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils head coach Kenny Dillingham against the Brigham Young Cougars in the second half at Mountain America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

TEMPE -- The Arizona State Sun Devils are continuing to push forward in their quest to be at the top of the Big 12 on a yearly basis, as year four of the Kenny Dillingham era inches closer to becoming a reality.

The Sun Devils have largely completed their quest to secure a quality 2026 recruiting class, and accomplished just that in December - when they were able to sign all but one prospect that had previously been a commit.

Explore how the Sun Devils have found success over the last several months below with Arizona State on SI.

Arizona State's Recruiting Class Remains Impressive

ESPN's Craig Haubert explained why Arizona State remains ranked 41st in the 2026 recruiting class rankings, which features a pair of top 300 recruits.

"Kenny Dillingham deftly pulled all roster-building levers available to him as he restored the Sun Devils to national relevancy. They have an interesting 2026 class that includes an SC Next 300 QB. Four-star Texas native Jake Fette is a dual-threat playmaker with excellent short-area quickness and a smooth, consistent release. Arizona State has already landed a pair of tight ends alongside him, including Hayden Vercher, who could be a weapon at the position as he possesses excellent ball skills and is a good route runner with more than 1,000 yards receiving in 2024.

Del Valle alum Jake Fette, an incoming Arizona State freshman, throws the ball as Arizona State warms up before facing Duke in the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl at Sun Bowl Stadium in El Paso, Texas, on Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025. | Gaby Velasquez/ El Paso Times / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

On defense, Julian Hugo was a nice pull out of Texas as he is an explosive defender with active hands and posted double-digit sacks as a junior."

Thousand Oaks High's Hayden Vercher makes a leaping reception against Pacifica during the fourth quarter of their CIF-SS Division 4 semifinal game at Thousand Oaks on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. Pacifica won 28-16. | JOE LUMAYA/SPECIAL TO THE STAR / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

All three of the players mentioned above are likely projecting to be more long-term plays rather than instant contributors, although Fette will have an opportunity to earn the starting QB role as a true freshman.

Vercher is a tantalizing talent, but is set to be placed in a TE room that will have a pair of incoming transfers (Anthony Miller, Krisitian Ingman), a returning contributor (Khamari Anderson), a fellow four-star prodigy (AJ Ia), and another intriguing 2026 class member in Landen Miree.

Hugo has been one of the more discussed defensive prospects from the class, as the native of the San Antonio area is going to be placed in a position group that is set to experience as much turnover as anywhere else on the roster.

Quarterback, tight end, and edge rusher have been three spots of emphasis in the class - the Sun Devils were successful in all three departments, while also setting the stage for a 2027 class that already features a pair of four-star commits.

Read more on the bold strategy that head coach Bobby Hurley employed with comments on 1/21 here, and on why Arizona State may have saved the season with the win over Cincinnati on Saturday here..

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