The 2026 recruiting class is signed, sealed and nearly delivered; and to fully wrap it up, Rivals has released its final player rankings for this cycle, the Rivals300.
The list includes more than 40 new additions, including 12 new five-stars to complete the cycle with 32 — which matches the number of first-round selections in the NFL Draft. It also features a new No. 1 overall prospect and some major shakeup at the top of the rankings.
The full list will be released later Tuesday morning, but to kick off the final release, Rivals is counting down each of the five-stars in the class with insights from our national scouting and rankings team on each player:
32) 5-star QB Dia Bell – Texas
School: American Heritage (Fort Lauderdale, FL)
Scouting Summary: “Precision passer with the arm talent, size, and athleticism to translate to college football and beyond. Measured in at around 6-foot-2.5, 215 pounds with a 10-inch hand before his senior season. Mechanically clean with a smooth throwing motion that he replicates with consistency. Has polished footwork that is married to his upper body. Shows high-level arm talent, delivering well-placed passes to multiple levels of the field. A dangerous operator from the pocket. Able to evade pressure, reset his feet, and fire. Throws a pretty deep ball. Was a first-year starter as a sophomore and showed marked improvement while playing top competition as a junior. Flashed an added playmaking element and rushing component to his game down the stretch of his junior season. Ripped off long runs, including two 40+ yard touchdown runs against top programs. Completed 70.6% of his passes for 2,597 yards (11.4 yards per attempt) and 29 touchdowns against six interceptions in 2025. Also rushed for 561 yards and five touchdowns. Was tabbed as the Elite 11 MVP prior to his senior season. Also has a basketball background. Is the son of long-time NBA veteran guard Raja Bell. The level of improvement displayed throughout his junior season should be taken as an encouraging sign of his long-term upside.” — Charles Power, Rivals Director of Scouting and Rankings
31) WR Chris Henry Jr. – Ohio State
School: Mater Dei (Santa Ana, CA)
Scouting Summary: “Jumbo receiver with a rare combination of size, athleticism, and coordination as a young prospect. Continued growing and adding size throughout his high school career, checking in at around 6-foot-5 and over 200 pounds going into his senior season. Has good length, with arms around 34 inches. Tests as a strong athlete with good speed at his size in the combine setting. Flashes functional movement skills at his size, showing the ability to sink his hips and change direction with ease. Touts good ball skills and catch radius. Tracks the ball over his shoulder and can win in jump ball situations. Sustained a season-ending knee injury as a junior, missing most of the year. Heading into his senior season, his production was below average for a top wide receiver prospect. Has a strong pedigree as the son of the late NFL wide receiver Chris Henry. Will need to capitalize on more extensive reps and continue developing, but has a very high physical upside.” — Charles Power, Rivals Director of Scouting and Rankings
30) ATH Salesi Moa – Michigan
School: Fremont (Ogden, UT)
Scout’s Take: “Moa is one of the more interesting prospects among the five-star group in that he could be an impact player with NFL draft-ability at three different positions. He was a star receiver in high school, also a hyper-physical safety, but what really got us excited was seeing him play corner at Polynesian Bowl practices. He was Rivals’ MVP at the Polynesian Bowl and really locked down his side of the ball in man coverage and I think that adds another layer to his evaluation. It’s very possible that we could see him play on both sides of the ball in his career at Michigan. When you look at his size and athleticism, he’s around 6-foot-2, 175 pounds, tests as an outstanding athlete.
… The fluidity and instincts make me not rule out Moa being a first-round type of corner if that’s where he ends up sticking. But regardless, a phenomenal player and one who we wouldn’t be surprised to see make an impact on both sides of the ball in Ann Arbor. A lot of prospects will say they want to play both ways, but Moa actually has that ability.” — Charles Power, Rivals Director of Scouting and Rankings
29) EDGE Richard Wesley – Texas
School: Sierra Canyon (Los Angeles, CA)
Scouting Summary: “Versatile edge defender that wins with power and speed as a pass rusher that possesses advanced hand usage for his age. Verified 6-foot-4.5, 245 pounds with above average length. Impressive athlete in the combine setting as well as on the track running 11.67 in the 100m during his sophomore track and field season. Variety of pass rush moves including swims, rips, long arms and a ghost move. Stout run defender that can set the edge and displace blockers at the point of attack. Collected 16 tackles-for-loss and 9 sacks during his sophomore season. Reclassified from the 2027 cycle to the 2026 cycle so will be a year younger than most of his peers in the class. Versatile skillset allows him to project to a strong-side or weak-side end. Has the ability to play with his hand in the dirt or stand up off the edge and should excel as a three-down edge defender at the next level.” — Charles Power, Rivals Director of Scouting and Rankings
28) WR Corey Barber – LSU
School: Clay-Chalkville (Pinson, AL)
Scout’s Take: “Barber is a prospect that’s been on a steady rise, dating back to the start of his senior season. He’s a receiver who can impact the game in several ways, he’s very versatile and reminds me a good bit ofMakai Lemon, with his ability to pick up yards after the catch while also being able to win at the catch point. At around 6-foot-1 and 180 pounds, he’s a good athlete but also a hyper-competitive player who really finds ways to impact and make big plays in key moments. Physical, aggressive, competitive and can get open at all levels. We project Barber to be a big-time weapon inLane Kiffin’s offense. When we were taking stock of this receiver group, it felt like he was worthy of a big rise and ultimately landing as a five-star.” — Charles Power, Rivals Director of Scouting and Rankings
27) TE Ian Premer – Notre Dame
School: Great Bend (Great Bend, KS)
Scout’s Take: “Premer fits the mold of the modern tight end prospect. He stands at nearly 6-foot-5, 230 pounds, and he plays both ways on offense and defense with a background in basketball and baseball. His size and movement skills for the tight end are tremendous. His ability to get in and out of his breaks allows him to create separation at every level of the field. Bigger defenders can’t run with him and smaller defenders don’t have the length or physicality to effectively attack the ball against him. Plus, he’s a willing blocker who plays with physicality and strong leverage at the point of attack.
…But Premer’s ability to catch the football and make defenders miss in space is undoubtedly his greatest strength. He can turn first downs into touchdowns nearly every time he touches the football. He has one of the highest ceilings of any offensive prospect in the country.” — Cody Bellaire, Rivals National Scout
26) LB Cincere Johnson – Ohio State
School: Glenville (Cleveland, OH)
Scouting Summary: “Johnson is the definition of a downhill warrior. His ability to trigger and detonate ball carriers on contact is exceptional,” Rivals’ National Scout Cody Bellaire writes. “After seeing him process and diagnose what opposing offenses were doing all week at Under Armour All-American, it was clear that Johnson is the most ready-made backer in the 2026 cycle. His size, burst and ability to trigger to the football is so advanced for his age. He can stack and shed blockers with ease and hold his own against the run. He even has the power to set the edge as an on-ball defender if he’s ever asked to fill that role. But he also has the suddenness and flexibility to rush the passer as an edge rusher as well. Johnson’s versatility and intangibles should allow him to see the field early and his ability to hunt ball carriers will keep him out there too.” — Cody Bellaire, Rivals National Scout
25) S Joey O’Brien – Notre Dame
School: La Salle College (Glenside, PA)
Scouting Summary: “Tall safety with elite instincts and ball skills. Measured at 6-foot-4, 180 pounds with 32.5-inch arms and 9.75-inch hands at Rivals Five-Star before his senior season. A two-way star at the high school level, showing his playmaking ability as a safety and wide receiver. One of the more dominant players we’ve seen on the 7-on-7 circuit over the years. Has elite coverage instincts. Seems to see routes before they develop. Jumps passes and comes down with remarkable interceptions. An absolute menace when defending intermediate routes over the middle of the field. Has sticky hands, making him a walking turnover. Smart player who understands how defenses work. Showing encouraging physicality as a senior. Doubles as a good high school basketball player. Lacks recent verified speed, but showed good play speed in man coverage against top wide receivers on the camp circuit. Will benefit from time in a college strength program, as he will need to add mass and strength. Playmaking ability and instincts make him one of the top safeties in a deep cycle at the position.” — Charles Power, Rivals Director of Scouting and Rankings
24) QB Jett Thomalla – Alabama
School: Millard South (Omaha, NE)
Scout’s Take: “The more and more we watched the quarterback group, outside of the top two being Jared Curtis and Keisean Henderson, we felt more and more that Jett Thomalla made a really strong case as the No. 3 quarterback in the cycle. Thomalla had a fantastic senior season, threw for 58 touchdowns, he’s the best QB prospect to come from Nebraska in recent memory. While he played on a loaded team that really didn’t play many close games in 2025, when you watch the arm talent and the ability to make difficult throws, I’m not sure that anyone besides Curtis and Henderson put better difficult throws on film than Thomalla. He has a loose arm, is willing to take chances with the football, he’ll challenge tight windows and most of the time he’ll deliver with accuracy.
… At his best, when he can sit back and challenge defenses, I thought he was very aggressive and willing to take those chances. That, combined with the arm talent and the projectable size at around 6-foot-4 and 200 pounds — he has a big frame and will continue filling out. He’s a quality athlete who plays high school basketball, too. There’s a lot of positives with Thomalla, it’s not every day you see a five-star QB come from Nebraska. When you really dive into the film, we felt like he put more on film than the majority of the other top quarterbacks in the cycle.” — Charles Power, Rivals Director of Scouting and Rankings
23) CB Khary Adams – Notre Dame
School:Loyola Blakefield (Towson, MD)
Scouting Summary: “Toolsy corner prospect with the size, athleticism, and ball skills to develop into a top cover man. Measured in at over 6-foot-1 and around 180 pounds before his senior season. Has quality length with 31.5-inch arms and big hands that measure over 10 inches. A strong athlete in the combine setting and a talented sprinter. Ran a personal best of 10.70 seconds in the 100 meters as a junior. Won the state title in the 200 meters with a 21.83-second mark as a sophomore. Lines up as a corner and wide receiver at his high school. A long strider with a natural gait. Shows the ability to run with receivers on vertical routes and has make-up speed when he finds himself out of phase. Experience as a receiver helps with his ball skills as a defensive back. Shows the ability to adjust to the football and make plays in-air. Finished his junior season with three interceptions and 34 catches for 562 yards and six touchdowns. Lacks technical polish in coverage and shows some rigidity in his change of direction and short area quickness. Will need to continue honing the technical side of his game, but has a high upside as an outside corner.” — Charles Power, Rivals Director of Scouting and Rankings
22) DL Khary Wilder – Ohio State
School: Junipero Serra (Gardena, CA)
Scouting Summary: “Pass rushing demon with tremendous burst off the line of scrimmage and hip fluidity that plays with his hair on fire to chase down ball carriers. Verified 6-foot-4, 255 pounds with excellent length. Charged up athlete that possesses such explosive movements off the line and in space. Does a great job shooting his hands and keeping his chest clean when engaging with blockers. Has serious shock in his hands when punching blockers at the point of attack. Totaled 11 tackles-for-loss and 4.5 sacks as a junior. Could develop into a knifing interior defender with phenomenal twitch and upfield burst that can stay on the field as an interior pass rusher on third downs and excel as a stout run defender off the edge on early downs.” — Cody Bellaire, Rivals National Scout
21) OT Immanuel Iheanacho – Oregon
School: Georgetown Preparatory School (Baltimore, MD)
Scout’s Take: “Immanuel Iheanacho is a mammoth of an offensive lineman and is simply a roadblock for oncoming defenders. His size is tremendous: nearly 6-foot-7, 350-plus pounds, with an over-7-foot wingspan. After seeing him against some of the top competition in the country at the Under Armour All-American game, it was clear that even though he doesn’t possess elite foot speed and flexibility, he is more than a functional mover in the run game and in his pass sets in order to sit down nearly every defender that went up against him.
…His raw power and length let him manhandle defenders at the point of attack and maintain leverage consistently. He may be an exception to the rule when it comes to mobility at tackle, as he possesses rare traits that simply do not appear at the position in every cycle.” — Cody Bellaire, Rivals National Scout
20) CB Brandon Arrington – Texas A&M
School: Mount Miguel (Spring Valley, CA)
Scout’s Take: “I’m not sure another cornerback prospect in the 2026 cycle has the physical traits to compare to Brandon Arrington. Corner is a traits position, it’s one where size and particularly speed are of utmost importance. Arrington, at around 6-foot-2 and close to 190 pounds with extremely long arms and some of the best speed in the cycle, really has a lot of physical ability. Seeing him in person throughout the week of practice at the Navy All-American Bowl showed us that he’s further along as a player than we thought, just in terms of his technical ability. He showed the wherewithal to carry receivers on vertical routes, he was able to stay in-phase.
…He showed really exceptional make-up speed on the occasions he was beaten off the line, he was able to quickly close any kind of cushion once the ball was in the air. I think his ability to track the football was also encouraging. Arrington is far from a finished product, but when you look at his physical tools, we think he has immense upside. This is a guy who certainly has the athleticism of a future first-rounder if he can continue to develop once he gets to college.” — Cody Bellaire, Rivals National Scout
19) RB Ezavier Crowell – Alabama
School: Jackson (Jackson, AL)
Scouting Summary: “Three-down dynamo of a running back with impressive production combined with top-tier athletic ability and wiggle to win between the tackles and in space. Verified 5-foot-11, 210 pounds with excellent weight distribution. Has excellent top-end speed for the position running personal bests of 10.73 in the 100m and 22.38 in the 200m. Phenomenal wiggle and acceleration when he sticks his foot in the ground. Has the ability to hit the home run every time he touches the ball. Violent runner between the tackles and rubs with excellent pad level. Averaged nearly 12 yards per carry on 168 carries for 1,964 yards and 31 touchdowns. Reclassified to his proper age group from the 2027 cycle to the 2026 cycle. Want to see more from him as a pass catcher and in pass protection but looks comfortable catching the ball in the flat and plays with a tough mindset. A threat to score every time he touches the football at the next level due to top-tier athletic ability and vision and can win in short-yardage scenarios with his leg drive and tenacity.” — Charles Power, Rivals Director of Scouting and Rankings
18) DL Richard Anderson – LSU
School: Edna Karr (New Orleans, LA)
Scouting Summary: “Explosive interior defensive lineman with immense power and ability to two-gap in the middle of the defensive front. Verified size at 6-foot-3.5, 355 pounds with over 33-inch arms and carries the weight very well. Great burst off the line of scrimmage for his size. Plays with excellent pad level and vision into the backfield. Understands leverage and sheds blocks with ease. Totaled 15 tackles-for-loss as a junior along with 10 sacks. Will need to to maintain quality combination of size and movement skills as he continues to physically develop. Older for the cycle. Projects as a space-eating, two-gap nose tackle at the next level but has the athletic ability to one-gap if needed.” — Cody Bellaire, Rivals National Scout
17) WR Jerquaden Guilford – Ohio State
School: Northrop (Fort Wayne, IN)
Scout’s Take: “Guilford has been on a steady rise dating back to the fall. He put together a great senior season, essentially doubling his production year over year. He carried that momentum into the week of practice at the Navy All-American Bowl, where he looked like one of the top receivers on hand. What really impresses us about Guilford is his combination of size, athleticism and functional movement skills. This is a guy who is close to 6-foot-3, 190 pounds, tests as a phenomenal athlete, but he can really harness that speed. He is a smooth, fluid route runner. He has the potential to be an elite route runner when you look at his ability to get in and out of his breaks and change direction, but also open up and separate on his vertical routes with top-end speed.” — Charles Power, Rivals Director of Scouting and Rankings
16) EDGE Carter Meadows – Michigan
School: Gonzaga (Washington, DC)
Scout’s Take: “Checking in at over 6-foot-6, around 225 pounds, and arms that measure over 35 inches, Meadows is on the short list of the most physically-impressive prospects in the 2026 cycle. The Washington (D.C.) Gonzaga pass rusher pairs his monster frame with elite functional movement skills. The ability to bend as a young prospect of his size is rare. Meadows is highly loose and fluid. He makes impressive plays while tracking down plays in pursuit and shows strong hands while working as an edge setter. A developmental prospect, we currently view Meadows’ physical upside as one of the highest in the cycle.“ — Charles Power, Rivals Director of Scouting and Rankings
15) EDGE Julian Walker – South Carolina
School: Dutch Fork (Columbia, SC)
Scout’s Take: “Walker is one of the rarer blends of body type and movement skills for the EDGE position. He possesses prototypical size, standing at over 6-foot-5, 245 pounds with nearly 35-inch arms. The frame and build he possesses will also allow him to add significant mass if necessary. He could potentially get up to 265 pounds with ease while maintaining his tremendous bend and twitch. At the Navy All-American Bowl, he showed he is much more refined in his pass rush and has more burst than we initially expected, especially for his frame. …Walker is a prospect who is much more polished than we expected, which raises his floor. But also has one of the highest ceilings of any prospect in the country, thanks to his blend of size and athleticism.” — Cody Bellaire, Rivals National Scout
14) WR Jalen Lott – Oregon
School: Panther Creek (Lucas, TX)
Scouting Summary: “One of the most explosive athletes in the entire class, Jalen Lott has proven as a senior that he’s one of the most dynamic pass catchers in the cycle. The Oregon commit stands in at 6 feet, 170-plus pounds, Lott has absurd athletic ability. A former National Junior Olympian, Lott has personal bests of 6-foot-10 in the high jump, nearly 24-foot-4 in the long jump and 10.99 in the 100m. You see the track and field athleticism shine on the football field in his route running and with the ball in his hands. Lott’s explosiveness and change of direction is electric. He separates from defenders at every level of the field and has the ability to go up and attack the football as good as anyone in the country. He needs to continue his polish as a route runner, but with his strong hands and top-tier athletic ability Lott’s ceiling is borderline unlimited.” — Cody Bellaire, Rivals National Scout
13) RB Savion Hiter – Michigan
School: Louisa County (Mineral, VA)
Scouting Summary: “Gifted runner with an advanced blend of athleticism, fluidity, and instincts as a high school underclassman. Physically developed, measuring in at over 5-foot-11 and around 200 pounds prior to his senior season. Registers as a strong athlete, running an 11.11 second mark in the 100-meters as a freshman. Also jumped close to 45 feet in the triple jump – an outstanding mark. Turned multiple dominant seasons as a high school underclassman, including a 1,698-yard, 26-touchdown junior campaign that saw him run for 10.8 yards per carry. Looks to be a natural runner. An extremely fluid and smooth mover who changes directions effortlessly. Shows excellent acceleration. Cuts on a dime and makes defenders miss in space. Runs with pace and instincts. A strong tackle-breaker who runs through contact due to a strong leg drive. A phenomenal high school football player who also makes big plays on defense. Has the potential and upside to be one of the best running back prospects in several cycles.” — Charles Power, Rivals Director of Scouting and Rankings
12) Jay Timmons – Ohio State
School: Pine-Richland (Pittsburgh, PA)
Scouting Summary: “Hyper-instinctual defensive back with playmaking ability, physicality, and athleticism that make him one of the top pure football players in the 2026 cycle. Measured at around 5-foot-10.5, 185 with 30.5-inch arms before his senior season. Improved his athleticism between his junior and senior seasons, running a 10.90 in the 100 meters and testing as an elite athlete in the combine setting. A two-way star at corner/safety and wide receiver for one of the top high school programs in western Pennsylvania. Highly instinctual in coverage. Loose mover with elite reactive quickness. Reads and jumps routes. Excellent at locating and making plays on the football. A football magnet and defensive playmaker who looks to force turnovers. Super physical and plays bigger than his size. Throws his body around as a run defender and looks to decleat ball carriers. Outstanding in the camp setting, with a great showing at Under Armour’s New Jersey camp. Also flashes his ball skills and playmaking on offense. Finished his junior season with four interceptions and 10 pass breakups, along with 755 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. Does not have plus size for the position, but is not severely undersized by any means. The son of former 1st round pick and Pro Bowl linebacker, Lawrence Timmons. Younger for the cycle, turning 17 years old in April of his junior year. Offers high-end athleticism, instincts, and physicality with the potential to be an impact player in the secondary at corner, nickel, or safety.” — Charles Power, Rivals Director of Scouting and Rankings
11) Jaimeon Winfield – USC
School: Richardson (Richardson, TX)
Scout’s Take: “Winfield has been a prospect for us that has continued to trend upward throughout his senior season, and he put a cherry on top of an incredible high school career with a stellar performance in the Navy All-American Bowl. Winfield earned the number two spot on the Rivals Navy All-American Bowl final top performers list by being a completely unstoppable force along the defensive front throughout the week. His combination of size and burst off the line of scrimmage allows him to knife through blockers with vertical disruption.
…The pad level, paired with his length, allows him to gain leverage at the point of attack consistently in the run game and makes him so tough to remove from his spot. Winfield has every opportunity to walk into a college program and become a three-down enforcer capable of being a disruptor in the run and pass game the moment he steps on campus.” — Cody Bellaire, Rivals National Scout
10) DL Lamar Brown – LSU
School: Erwinville (La.) University Lab
Scout’s Take: “The rare prospect with five-star ability on either line of scrimmage. A true jumbo athlete. Measured in at around 6-foot-4, 285 pounds before his senior season. Has a plus length with arms around 34 inches. A mega athlete in the camp setting, posting some of the best testing numbers on the national camp circuit for a lineman. Lines up at right tackle and defensive end for his high school. Elite athleticism and movement skills show up on both sides of the ball. Fires off the snap from his right tackle position. Flashes outstanding twitch in pass protection and working to the second level. Can take defensive linemen for a ride once engaged. Shows disruptive ability as a big defensive end. Has the power to hold his ground and sift through the trash to make plays in the backfield. Can close quickly on the quarterback. He touts a strong background as a thrower in track and field, winning an indoor state title in the shot put (56-2.75 feet) and an outdoor gold medal in the discus (151-6 feet) as a junior. Entered his senior season more proven as an offensive lineman than defense on Friday nights. Would be the top interior offensive line prospect in the 2026 cycle if he wanted. Should be considered a high-upside, developmental defensive line prospect who will need to make strides in his overall technique as he gains more experience on that side of the ball.” — Charles Power, Rivals Director of Scouting and Rankings
9) OT Ekene Ogboko – Georgia
School: South Garner (Garner, NC)
Scouting Summary: “Mauling offensive tackle who plays with a physical edge and shows encouraging movement skills. Measured at 6-foot-6, 310 pounds with arms over 34 inches and big hands before his senior season. Added considerable mass over the final two years of high school. Lines up at left tackle and defensive line on Friday nights. Shows signs of dominance as a run blocker. Locks on to defensive linemen and works to finish with authority. An emphatic block finisher. Increased play strength and overall confidence over his final two seasons of high school football, developing into a bully on contact. Effective working to the second level. Solid movement skills and agility on offense. Also flashes the athleticism on defense, showing impressive closing speed. Solid in pass protection, but will benefit from more reps in passing situations at the college level. Has an upward trajectory as a prospect, given his steady improvement. Could end up being one of the top offensive tackles in the cycle.” — Charles Power, Rivals Director of Scouting and Rankings
8) EDGE Rodney Dunham – Notre Dame
School: Charlotte (N.C.) Myers Park
Scouting Summary: “Athletic pass rusher with the skill set and functional movement skills that point to a high upside. Measured at around 6-foot-4, 215 pounds with good length as a junior. Lines up on the edge for his high school team, rushing the passer out of two and three-point stances. Limber athlete who has very smooth movements. Displays outstanding get-off, bursting off the snap. Has excellent curvilinear movement skills, showing the ability to accelerate while rounding the edge. Dips his shoulder to shirk contact with offensive tackles. Closes quickly on ball carriers once in the backfield. Play speed is evident as he stalks down ball carriers from behind. Shows burgeoning power at the point of attack, shedding offensive linemen once engaged. Will need to continue developing from a physical and technical standpoint. Could stand to improve his production. A younger prospect for the cycle, turning 18 years old in July before his freshman season of college football.” — Charles Power, Rivals Director of Scouting and Rankings
7) OT Grayson McKeogh – Notre Dame
School: Glenside (Pa.) La Salle College
Scouting Summary: “Developmental offensive tackle prospect with one of the higher upsides at the position in the 2026 cycle. Measured at nearly 6-foot-7.5 and over 275 pounds prior to his senior season. Has plus length with arms that measure over 34 inches. Touts a big frame adding a good 30 pounds in the off-season.Former tight end and defensive end who grew into an offensive tackle prospect during his junior season. A smooth, effortless athlete with excellent movement skills for the position. May move the best of any offensive tackle prospect in the cycle. Has advanced flexibility in his lower body. Sinks his hips and creates a wide base on contact. Keeps his feet grounded and shows outstanding balance as a pass protector. Natural understanding of leverage allows him to get underneath the pads of pass rushers. Shows quality pop in his hands and is already a good finisher. Shows the ability to locate and get his hands on defenders at the second level. Technically advanced considering his limited experience at offensive line. Also shows his athleticism lining up as a defensive end. Doubles as a talented basketball player. Will need to continue adding good mass to his frame while getting stronger. Played his junior season at around 250 pounds. If he can continue progressing physically, has one of the higher ceilings among 2026 offensive tackle prospects and could develop into an early round NFL Draft pick.” — Charles Power, Rivals Director of Scouting and Rankings
6) EDGE Zion Elee – Maryland
School: Baltimore (Md.) St. Frances Academy
Scouting Summary: “Electric speed rusher with an elite combination of athleticism and length off the edge. Measured around 6-foot-3, 220 pounds prior to his junior season. Has truly elite length, with arms that measure 35.5 inches. Pairs the rare length with top-shelf athleticism. A standout in the combine setting who transfers the speed over to the field. Plays with an eye-popping burst, dating back to his sophomore year at Joppatowne (Md.) High. Explodes into the backfield with high-end first-step quickness. Transferred to Baltimore power St. Frances Academy for his junior season and turned in a strong campaign, racking up 28 tackles for loss and 10 sacks against top competition. Showed game-wrecking tendencies in showcase games. Often plays as a standup pass rusher. Has blow-by speed off the edge. Play strength and ability to set the edge is solid but will need to continue improving. Rare athletic and physical traits combined with consecutive years of high-level production.” — Charles Power, Rivals Director of Scouting and Rankings
5) OT Kelvin Obot – Utah
School: Fruitland (Idaho)
Scouting Summary: “A hyper-athletic offensive tackle who has one of the highest upsides at the position in the 2026 cycle. One of the top prospects from the state of Idaho in recent memory. Measured at over 6-foot-5.5, 300 pounds with arms over 34 inches before his senior season. Lines up at both offensive tackle spots for his high school team. Truly dominates the level of competition. A fantastic functional athlete who is an effortless mover. Shows outstanding reactive quickness in pass protection, quickly resetting his feet. An effortless mover to the second level. Drives undersized defensive linemen off the ball at will. Plays with strong leverage, sinking his hips and firing up through the defensive linemen. Plants the opposition in the dirt at a high rate. Also lines up at defensive line, racking up 52 tackles and six sacks. Plays for former first-rounder and All-Pro offensive tackle Jordan Gross at Fruitland High School. Also a top thrower in track and field, winning state titles in the shot put (54-3 feet) and discus (155 feet) as a junior. Unproven in a neutral setting, and plays a lower level of competition in rural Idaho. May need some time to adjust to the speed of the game at the college level, but has the upside to develop into a top college offensive tackle and eventual early-round NFL Draft pick.” — Charles Power, Rivals Director of Scouting and Rankings
4) QB Keisean Henderson – Houston
School: Legacy SSS (Houston, TX)
Scout’s Take: “Henderson is the highest senior riser among quarterbacks after making a massive improvement in his on-field play from his junior to senior seasons. A gifted athlete, Henderson has embraced development as a quarterback and went from the least productive Rivals300 signal caller as a junior to the most productive as a senior. The Houston commit lit up scoreboards at Houston Legacy SSS this fall, completing 74.5% of his passes for 3,880 yards and 45 touchdowns against six interceptions, along with 522 rushing yards and 10 more scores. His per game averages of 440 total yards and 5.5 touchdowns are the best marks of any Rivals300 quarterback. Henderson’s rise as a senior reminds us some of what we saw from Alabama quarterback Keelon Russell in the 2025 cycle. Most importantly, the film matches the production. Henderson is a toolsy quarterback with a plus arm, aggressive mindset, and improved pocket presence.” — Charles Power, Rivals Director of Scouting and Rankings
3) OT Jackson Cantwell – Miami
School: Nixa (Mo.)
Scout’s Take: “Jackson Cantwell is a big-framed offensive tackle with eye-popping athleticism and functional strength as a high school underclassman. Measured at over 6-foot-7, 205 pounds prior to his sophomore season. Has solid length with 33.5-inch arms and big hands. Owns a phenomenal athletic profile as one of the top shot put throwers in the country for his age group. Posted a personal best throw of over 64 feet as a freshman. Also posted strong testing numbers in the college camp setting. Transfers those gifts over to the football field where he shows strong coordination and function strength. Moves well laterally and plays with a good anchor. Initially began his career as a tight end and has grown into an offensive tackle. Has deep athletic bloodlines with both parents being Olympic track and field athletes as throwers.” — Charles Power, Rivals Director of Scouting and Rankings
2) QB Jared Curtis – Vanderbilt
School: Nashville Christian (Tenn.)
Scouting Summary: ““At 6-foot-3.5, 225 pounds, Curtis pairs a big frame with an elite arm and plus movement skills. He improved his accuracy and efficiency as a junior, and no quarterback in the 2026 cycle makes more impressive individual plays on a weekly basis than Jared Curtis. He has a quick, elastic arm and regularly hits small window throws over the middle of the field. The arm talent allows for Curtis to access and attack all areas of the field. The improvisational skills also stand out.””Elite arm talent with creative playmaking ability. Has a big frame, measuring in at around 6-foot-3.5, 225 pounds with a 9.5-inch hand prior to his junior season. Looks like the top arm talent in the 2026 cycle. Ball explodes off his hand. Generates considerable velocity on throws to all areas of the field. Has a loose, natural throwing motion. Capable of delivering impressive passes from several arm angles. A pure rotational athlete who does not need his feet set to throw accurate passes. Plays with a gunslinging mentality and is not afraid to drive the football into tight windows over the middle of the field. A fluid athlete who is tough to corral in the backfield. Dangerous playmaker and improviser. Had some unbelievable second-reaction plays as a junior, evading pass rushers and uncorking throws 50+ yards downfield. Made impressive strides with his accuracy and decision-making as a junior. Completed over 70% of his passes for 2,830 yards (11.1 yards per attempt) for 40 touchdowns and 3 interceptions while leading his team to a state title. Also rushed for 637 yards and 18 scores. Does not play top competition and is older for the cycle. Will need to continue improving his consistency, but the pure arm talent and playmaking ability give him one of the highest upsides in the 2026 cycle.” — Charles Power, Rivals Director of Scouting and Rankings
1) EDGE Luke Wafle – USC
School: Middletown (N.J.) Hun School
Scout’s Take: “The most ready-to-play top EDGE prospect in the 2026 cycle. Measured over 6-foot-5, 255 pounds with arms over 33 inches and big hands prior to his senior season. More physically mature than many of his highly-rated peers. Combines play strength and motor with functional athleticism. Wins at the point of attack with a powerful punch and the ability to convert speed to power. Uses quick power swipes to disengage from offensive linemen. Shows multiple pass-rush pathways and closing speed to finish behind the line of scrimmage. Nimble mover who breaks down well in space. A violent finisher who drives ball carriers into the ground. Strong, consistent run defender due to physicality and effort. Logged 18 TFLs and 8 sacks in nine games as a junior. Best fit as a true defensive end in a four-man front at the college level. First-step quickness remains an area for improvement. Touts a strong multi-sport background with above-the-rim bounce on the basketball court and a 45-6 foot shot put mark. Slightly older for the grade, common for northeastern prep school prospects. Could be primed for an impact as a true freshman given his level of development and physical maturity.” — Charles Power, Rivals Director of Scouting and Rankings
