A deep look at the top schools in blue chip CB Khary Adams' top 10
Khary Adams, who is the No. 3 cornerback in 2026, has a top 10 and 247Sports takes a look at the players among those programs.
One of the fast players in the 2026 class is Towson (Md.) Blakefield cornerback Khary Adams, who already did one list trim and whose recruitment is starting to take shape.
He has length and size, and then he ran a blazing 6.45 in the 55 meters in mid December, which gave him an updated verified speed marker college programs covet to go with the 10.74 he ran in the 100 meters in the spring.
In communicating with Adams as well as sources familiar with his recruitment, 247Sports takes a look at where things stand:
Khary Adams
Pos: CornerbackRanking: No. 38 overall, No. 2 cornerback
Ht: 6-2 Wt: 175
Status: Uncommitted and has a top 10
Schools involved: Oregon, LSU, Notre Dame, USC, Maryland, Michigan, Auburn, South Carolina, Penn State and Syracuse
Inside slant: Adams has a top 10 but the starting point for Adams is with Notre Dame, Penn State and South Carolina, and Maryland, LSU, Michigan and Oregon could push into the top schools.
Why?
He set official visits to Notre Dame and South Carolina, he ended the winter visit period at Penn State and when looking to make spring official visits, he told 247Sports "I'm going to go to LSU, Michigan and Oregon. I'm not sure when, though."
That does not rule out USC, Auburn and Syracuse but getting to campus is vital to each one being more heavily involved.
As for the other six schools, Adams made several visits to Penn State already, he speaks highly of the Nittany Lions, several members of the coaching staff, including coach James Franklin visited with him in late January and he is in an area the Nittany Lions do very well in when it comes to recruiting.
In regard to an official visit, if there are not date changes, it is vital the Nittany Lions get him on campus for an official visit June 6-8. That is a weekend Penn State is trying to get top targets to visit.
Adams is set for a South Carolina official visit for May 30-June 1. The Gamecocks caught Adams' attention in the fall, and getting to the Columbia, S.C., school was a winter priority, but the trip was cancelled because of weather. Still, the idea he was going to use one of his two scheduled winter visits to see South Carolina is notable, and the Gamecocks are now in position for Adams' first official visit.
Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman, defensive backs coach Mike Mickens and staffer Carter Auman visited Adams at Loyola Blakefield in late January. Adams was on campus in the fall and setting an official visit for June 13-15 is significant. Developing a relationship with new defensive coordinator Chris Ash needs to happen for the Irish to be involved in the end.
Maryland remains heavily involved as well. It is less than an hour from his high school, he made several visits to campus already and coach Mike Locksley visited with Adams last month. Locksley is proven at getting high-level talent on campus for unofficial and official visits so it something to keep an eye on.
The idea of getting to Michigan, Oregon and LSU is meaningful.
Oregon coach Dan Lanning made the cross-country trip to see Adams, and the Ducks were in to see him twice in January.
USC, Auburn and Michigan are newcomers for Adams. Each program offered less than three weeks ago. LSU extended an offer in early December.
How Syracuse fits in has to be determined but he does have relationships with several staff members with ties to the area.
The Wildcard: Can a school come in and surprise Adams? The data points of his recruitment point toward Notre Dame or Penn State as the favorites, but spring visits can change the direction of recruitments.
What 247Sports is hearing: Adams is going to get out and see schools in the spring and everyone is chasing Penn State and Notre Dame.
South Carolina nestled itself in as well and securing the official visit is huge. Getting him on campus in the spring is a must as well.
In Penn State and Notre Dame, key factors exist that puts them in prime position at this point; both are strong academically, both develop defensive backs, both already built strong bonds and both figures to be factors in the college football playoff on an annual basis.
By no means is a decision made nor are others shut out, but there are reasons he made multiple Penn State visits and already set an official with the Irish.
