College football recruiting never stops, and amid a disappointing football season, recruiting is even more important to rebuild for the future.
A former Big 10 commitment to Northwestern, linebacker Brayden Reilly committed to Clemson on Friday. Reilly decommitted from Northwestern on Wednesday and only took two days to select Clemson as his new school. The linebacker from Cincinnati, Ohio, is a three-star recruit, according to 247Sports. Ranked as the 30th linebacker in the class of 2026, Reilly is a great addition for head coach Dabo Swinney and his staff.
Committed. Recruitment closed. Go Tigers!🐅🐅🐅@ClemsonFB @benboulware7 @SorrellsJordan @COACHSPECHT28 @RUNBYU @Coach_TomAllen @1coachmorrison @Brodbeckj02 @ByKyleKelly @GregSmithRivals @247Hudson @AllenTrieu @tsfootball @JaredLuginbill @mlaughma @EFrantzMP @ENQSports @MikeDyer… pic.twitter.com/FyGLSJgpOt
— Brayden Reilly '26 ATH (@BraydenReilly25) October 24, 2025
Reilly chose Clemson over 20 other offers, including from schools such as Cincinnati, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Wake Forest, and WVU. Reilly was the 19th-ranked recruit in the state of Ohio for the 2026 class.
The Tigers will have an incoming class that should impact the team sooner rather than later. Currently, Clemson has 22 commitments from the class of 2026, including 10 four-star recruits, according to 247Sports. Leading the class is offensive tackle Leo Delaney from Charlotte, North Carolina. 247Sports has Delaney as the 105th-ranked recruit in the 26’ class. Other Clemson recruits, Chancellor Barclay (interior offensive lineman from Orlando, Florida) and Kentavion Anderson (safety from Roebuck, South Carolina), also finish in the 247Sports top 150 ranking.
The linebacker from Cincinnati, Ohio, will not be a name at the top of the list of ranked Clemson commitments, but that should not diminish the value that he will bring as a recruit on his way to Clemson. Adding a linebacker who is listed a 6’3” and 200 pounds with room to fill out his frame in a collegiate strength and conditioning program is an underrated add for Swinney and his staff.