Clemson, Texas A&M in Tug-of-War for 5-Star EDGE Bryce Perry-Wright Ahead of Commitment
A major decision from one of the top defensive prospects in the 2026 class has the Clemson Tigers—and several other powerhouse programs—holding their breath.
Five-star EDGE Bryce Perry-Wright, a 6-foot-2, 250-pound standout from Buford High School in Georgia, is set to announce his college commitment Saturday at 5 p.m. ET, live on CBS Sports HQ and YouTube.
Long considered a Clemson lean, Perry-Wright’s recruitment took a dramatic turn this week. A late surge from Texas A&M, led by second-year head coach Mike Elko, has added suspense to what once looked like a foregone conclusion.
On Wednesday, On3 and Rivals recruiting analyst Steve Wiltfong predicted Perry-Wright would land in College Station. But by Friday, Texas-based Rivals analyst Cody Carpentier issued a contrasting “FutureCast” projection, favoring Clemson once again.
Adding to the intrigue, both the Texas Longhorns and Miami Hurricanes (Clemson’s ACC rival) remain in the mix for the elite pass rusher.
Perry-Wright is ranked as the No. 32 overall recruit in 247Sports’ 2026 national rankings, and the No. 2 defensive lineman. On3 ranks him slightly lower—No. 33 overall and No. 5 among linemen. In Georgia, Perry-Wright is considered the No. 5 overall player, according to 247Sports.
Clemson had strong momentum early, receiving a 247Sports Crystal Ball prediction for Perry-Wright back on May 29. But Texas A&M’s recent push has made this one of the most-watched recruiting battles heading into the weekend.
Clemson’s 2026 Class: Building for the Trenches
Clemson has quietly put together one of the nation’s top 2026 classes, sitting at No. 9 (On3) and No. 10 (247Sports) in the rankings, with ESPN placing the Tigers at No. 6.
In June alone, the Tigers added a strong haul of trench talent, including:
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4-star DL Keshawn Stancil (Clayton, NC) – June 28
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4-star EDGE Dre Quinn (Buford, GA) – June 19
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3-star DL JR Hardrick (South Pittsburg, TN) – June 5
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4-star OL Carter Scruggs (Leesburg, VA) – June 5
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4-star OL Leo Delaney (Charlotte, NC) – June 4
Overall, Clemson boasts 20 total commitments in the 2026 cycle, with a strong focus on both lines of scrimmage.
With Perry-Wright’s decision looming, the Tigers could be poised to make their biggest recruiting splash yet.