Rivals Rankings Week: Storylines To Follow With Top 2026 Athletes

Naturally, the athlete projection serves a number of functions at Rivals. One, it permits for two-way or undefined athletes to have a touchdown house and even start line with the rankings course of. Two, it creates a bubble for versatile prospects on one aspect of the ball who could also be in between two positions. Three, it may be the true projection for a prospect enjoying out of place on Friday nights for the betterment of his highschool crew.

Meaning there may be going to be quantity early in any rating and for the 2026 class, athlete checks in because the second-biggest place within the Rivals250, with 32 spots occupied. Solely broad receiver (38) has extra members of the highest group at the moment.

It additionally means a whole lot of the names and numbers will quickly change. The purpose is to lean into a particular place projection by the point the cycle involves a detailed, to the purpose the place the undefined are actually what’s left over with ATH tag hooked up. Nonetheless, prospects like Wadley (Ala.) Excessive College star Jaquez Wilkes have scholarship presents at tight finish, defensive finish and linebacker at 6-foot-4, 225 kilos – so the “place” is vital at this stage of the sport.

Three of the highest 4 athlete projections hail from the Lone Star State in London Smith, Jalen Lott and Kaydon Finley. Every is uncommitted at this stretch and stands to someday occupy a talent place at a high-level program whereas already standing 6-feet or higher.

Smith is being courted most at broad receiver, the place he shined brightest within the fall with practically 900 yards and 11 touchdowns to his identify. Lott is a multi-sport standout who additionally appears destined to probably catch passes on the subsequent stage. Finley might also line up primarily at broad receiver in school, although his body suggests a contemporary tight finish function is also on the desk relying on how he bodily develops.

Simply 15 members of the 2026 Rivals250 are verbally dedicated to a school program, and three of them – every from Florida – are projected at athlete at the moment. The very best-ranked of the bunch is Efrem White, the Vero Seaside (Fla.) Excessive product, who’s dedicated to Florida State. White is a pressure at each broad receiver and defensive again, the place physicality and ball abilities put his recreation on the map.

The Seminoles additionally snagged the pledge of one other blue-chip athlete in two-way Miami Lakes (Fla.) Barbara Goleman star Darryl Bell III. The third, Jordan Campbell, starred at American Excessive College in 2023 and has been dedicated to the Miami Hurricanes since November. He’ll now prep at Miami (Fla.) Carol Metropolis and work quite a lot of positions on the protection from move rusher to off-ball linebacker.

A top-100 standout who’s rising on the nationwide recruiting scene as properly, Derek Cooper is a prospect that’s starting to command true consideration as a do-it-all projection early on. He’s listed at broad receiver by Hollywood (Fla.) Chaminade-Madonna however may line up at operating again, tight finish, linebacker or security this spring and fall. He labored out at operating again on the Beneath Armour Miami occasion and received positional MVP at 6-foot-1, simply north of 200 kilos.

Cooper has the body and actually versatile recreation to proceed to ascend as he good points expertise. At Ft. Lauderdale (Fla.) Cardinal Gibbons in 2023, he was a standout security who flashed together with his instincts and ball abilities. His pace, excessive soccer IQ and tangible athleticism (verified 4.6 40-yard sprint, elite lengthy jumper in monitor) will proceed to create intrigue not solely on what place Cooper might play in school, however after all which school he might attend. Georgia, LSU, Florida State, Miami and a number of other others have jumped in on the athlete early this yr.