Five Star Lamar Brown and Four Star Jararion Carlton will make their commitment decisions today

Today, two of the most high-profile recruits in the 2026 class — Lamar Brown, a five-star cornerback from Miami, and Jararion Carlton, a four-star linebacker from Baton Rouge — will end months of speculation, home visits, and social media buzz by announcing where they’ll play their college football. Their decisions will not only bolster the programs they choose, but also shift momentum across the entire college football recruiting landscape.

This is more than a pair of commitments — it’s a turning point for elite programs battling for national titles and future NFL talent. With Alabama, LSU, Georgia, Miami, Texas, and Florida State all in the mix, the ripple effects from today’s choices could echo into Signing Day and beyond.

When people talk about the next great college defensive back, the name Lamar Brown keeps coming up. And for good reason.

At 6-foot-1, 190 pounds, the cornerback from Miami Central High School is the definition of a lockdown defender — blazing speed (4.38 40-yard dash), fluid hips, and a nasty competitive streak that scouts rave about. A two-time All-State selection and Under Armour All-American, Brown has long been at the top of every major program’s board.

He’s rated the No. 2 overall cornerback and a top-10 player nationally in the 247Sports Composite Rankings for the 2026 class.

“I model my game after guys like Sauce Gardner and Patrick Surtain,” Brown said. “But I want to be better. I want to shut down one side of the field entirely.”

Brown’s recruitment has been a battle of blue bloods. Alabama, Georgia, Texas, and Miami have made his final four, with the Hurricanes pushing hard to keep the local star home. Brown took his last official visit to Alabama, where sources say head coach Kalen DeBoer made a strong final impression.

“He has that Nick Saban-type mentality,” said 247Sports director of scouting Andrew Ivins. “Even though Saban retired, Alabama is still recruiting like he’s there — and Brown would be the next great in a long line of DBs from Tuscaloosa.”

Texas and Georgia, meanwhile, are pitching early playing time and NFL prep. Miami offers family, familiarity, and the opportunity to become the hometown hero.

Brown is set to make his announcement at 3:00 PM ET, live on his Instagram and at a private event hosted at his high school. Wherever he lands, one thing is clear: a potential freshman All-American is about to make a contender significantly better.

While Brown has drawn the national spotlight, Jararion Carlton has become one of the fastest-rising linebackers in the country — and for good reason.

At 6-foot-3, 225 pounds, Carlton is built like a future NFL WILL linebacker: rangy, instinctive, and explosive. He piled up 132 tackles, 18 TFLs, and 5 sacks as a junior at Southern Lab in Baton Rouge, showcasing a blend of physicality and sideline-to-sideline speed that recruiters covet.

Rated as the No. 8 linebacker in the class and a top-100 overall prospect, Carlton’s decision carries weight not only in SEC recruiting circles, but for a Louisiana football culture that’s always deeply personal.

A lifelong LSU fan, Carlton has been courted heavily by Texas A&M, Florida State, and Oklahoma, but most insiders believe this has been a battle between LSU and Texas in the final stretch.

“He’s been incredibly mature during the process,” said his head coach Byron Houston. “He’s heard from everyone — Jimbo, Sark, Norvell, you name it — but he’s stayed focused on fit and development. That’s rare in a kid this young.”

LSU is pitching tradition, local hero status, and a chance to become the next in a long line of elite Tiger linebackers like Devin White and Patrick Queen. Texas, on the other hand, has emphasized early playing time in a rapidly improving defense, NIL structure, and a player development pipeline that’s taken off under Steve Sarkisian.

Carlton is set to announce at 5:30 PM CT, live from the Southern Lab gymnasium, where hundreds of fans, classmates, and media are expected to attend.

“This was never about hype or cameras,” Carlton said this week. “It’s about where I can grow as a man and a football player.”

The impact of today’s commitments goes well beyond two names.

• If Alabama lands Lamar Brown, it strengthens their hold on the No. 1 recruiting class and keeps their momentum rolling in the post-Saban era under DeBoer.
• If Texas pulls both Brown and Carlton, Steve Sarkisian might leapfrog Ohio State for the No. 2 class and edge closer to their first No. 1 finish in nearly 15 years.
• If LSU keeps Carlton home, it reaffirms Brian Kelly’s control of in-state talent and bolsters their defensive core in a loaded SEC.
• If Miami lands Brown, it would mark their first five-star DB since Jaquan Johnson and send a message that the “State of Miami” fence is back up under Mario Cristobal.

Recruiting insiders believe Brown’s choice could affect several other top defensive backs still uncommitted, including Kellen Reese, Troy Simmons, and Daylen Hurd.

Likewise, Carlton’s decision could shape linebacker boards across the Southeast — especially for schools like Florida and Auburn, who remain in the hunt for other top targets.

Both Brown and Carlton have been relatively quiet on the NIL front, focusing interviews on development and coaching rather than endorsement deals. But behind the scenes, sources suggest the financial packages on the table are substantial.

Texas, Alabama, and Miami have all made significant investments in defensive stars through their NIL collectives, while LSU’s in-state business network has offered robust support to local standouts like Carlton.

“There’s no denying NIL matters,” said recruiting analyst Steve Wiltfong. “But these two guys seem dialed in on football and future, not just finances. That’s refreshing.”

The Player Profiles

📌 Lamar Brown – CB – Miami Central (FL)

• Height/Weight: 6’1” / 190 lbs
• 247 Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (No. 9 overall)
• Strengths: Press coverage, recovery speed, instincts
• Comp: Patrick Surtain II
• Finalists: Alabama, Georgia, Texas, Miami

📌 Jararion Carlton – LB – Southern Lab (LA)

• Height/Weight: 6’3” / 225 lbs
• 247 Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (No. 92 overall)
• Strengths: Block shedding, range, tackling form
• Comp: Roquan Smith
• Finalists: LSU, Texas, Florida State, Texas A&M

Commitment Day Coverage Plan

• 3:00 PM ET – Lamar Brown announces via Instagram Live
• 5:30 PM CT – Jararion Carlton announces in Baton Rouge (local news + streaming)

Both decisions are expected to trend heavily on social media, with national reporters, On3, Rivals, and 247Sports all providing live updates and instant class impact rankings.

For elite programs chasing College Football Playoff contention, recruiting is the fuel that drives the future. Today’s commitments aren’t just about two teenagers choosing schools — they’re about power shifts, message sending, and building rosters that can beat Georgia, Ohio State, and Alabama in January.

Whether it’s Brown shutting down one side of the field or Carlton filling a gap on third and short, today’s decisions will ripple across college football for years.

Who wins? We’re about to find out.