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On300 No. 4 RB Brian Bonner names top eight schools

hunterby:Hunter Shelton•02/25/25•

HunterShelton_

brian-bonner-penn-state-football-recruiting-1-on3
Running back Brian Bonner. (Credit: Chad Simmons | On3)

Santa Clarita (Calif.) Valencia four-star running back Brian Bonner Jr. has trimmed his list of top schools down to eight.

The Golden State burner told On3’s Hayes Fawcett on Tuesday that Georgia, Michigan, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Penn State, UCLA, Stanford and Washington are his top programs moving forward.

Bonner is the No. 103 overall prospect and No. 8 RB in the 2026 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He’s also the No. 13 player in California.

On3 ranks the 6-foot-1, 185-pounder higher than other recruiting services. He checks in as the No. 54 recruit, No. 4 RB and No. 8 player in California in the On300.

As a junior for Valencia High, Bonner acquired 197 carries and tallied 1,493 yards and 25 touchdowns on the ground, per MaxPreps. He also managed 40 catches for 498 yards and an additional four scores.

Throughout his process he’s gotten out to see the likes of UCLA, Nebraska and Georgia. Huskers head coach Matt Rhule was among those that visited the blue-chipper last month. Bonner has locked in an April visit to see Penn State, too.

“I think I could fit well with their offense,” Bonner told Husker Online after visiting Lincoln in November. “They like to run the ball, and when they pass, they like to involve the running back in the passing game.”

Bonner continues to rise in the On300

Last summer, Bonner initially made his jump up in the On300, climbing from just inside the top 300 to No. 94. He’s continued to rise and is now nearing the top 50 following Monday’s update.

On3’s Scouting and Rankings team previously wrote this of Bonner in 2024:

“Brian Bonner is one of the more unique studies when it comes to running back prospects in this 2026 cycle. He has a late summer birthday which means he won’t turn 18 until right before his freshman year of college. As one of the younger prospects in the cycle and from a physical development standpoint, it makes his 10.56 100m and 21.84 200m times that much more impressive given the fact he has yet to turn 16. And at 6-foot, 185 pounds, Bonner has plenty of time and room to fill out his frame and continue to increase his explosive ability.”