Al Pops Trail Mix: Midwest 2026's Jumping On My Radar 5/3

As middle school athletes, new studs are hopping on the radar almost daily at Prep Redzone Next. With so many different age groups, weight limits, division, etc. there’s no exact science to finding middle school athletes, but they’re certainly out there. Let’s take a look at a few 2026’s that have opened my eyes, as their film has come across my desk. <strong><img class="alignleft wp-image-331816 size-thumbnail" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/05/Trent-Wolpert-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" />[player_tooltip player_id="284108" first="Trent" last="Wolpert"] | Ohio | Wide Receiver</strong> Encouraging size for a 2026 prospect, already at 6-foot-1 and 170 pounds. Very good athlete who would be WR1 on most eighth grade teams in the country. Runs a verified 4.9 in the forty yard dash and at the recent Rivals combine in Indianapolis, ran a 4.427 in three-cone drill. Good combination of speed, size and ability.   <strong><img class="alignleft wp-image-331817 size-thumbnail" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/05/Caiden-Dessart-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" />Caiden Dessart | Wisconsin | Quarterback</strong> Wisconsin is a state that doesn’t get a lot of love when it comes to recruiting and exposure on the high school level--forget the middle school level. However, Dessart out of East Troy in southeast Wisconsin is a prospect to keen an eye on. He’s a dual-threat Quarterback at 6-foot-1 and 155 pounds. Runs a verified 4.872 in the forty yard dash and threw for 38 touchdowns as an eighth grader. <iframe src="https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/2368326/612d5f117bd31603d4eec577" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong><img class="alignleft wp-image-331821 size-thumbnail" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/05/CamThomas-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" />Cam Thomas | Kentucky | Athlete</strong> Kentucky is both a borderline southern state and a borderline midwest state. Same can be said for Thomas, as he’s somewhere between an Outside Linebacker and Defensive End. He’s 5-foot-11 and can straight up get after the Quarterback. Using 4.781 forty-yard dash and 4.337 three-cone speed, he can beat Offensive Tackles with a speed rush on nearly every play if he wanted to.   <strong><img class="alignleft wp-image-331828 size-thumbnail" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/05/KellerStocks-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" />Keller Stocks | Illinois | Athlete</strong> From the stands, it’s hard to miss Stocks with his golden locks sticking out the back of his helmet. The 5-foot-11, 160-pound prospect can do a lot of positive things on the field. Offensively he plays Quarterback and while he’s a bit raw mechanically, there’s no arguing with the production he creates. Defensively, his size and 4.8 speed in the forty, make him an excellent safety. He’s a ball player.   <strong><img class="alignleft wp-image-331831 size-thumbnail" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/05/BradyBallart-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" />[player_tooltip player_id="320277" first="Brady" last="Ballart"] | Indiana | Linebacker</strong> Ballart is a Tight End/Linebacker getting a lot of early hype ahead of his upcoming freshman season at. South Dearborn High School. Ballart recently had his size verified at 6-foot and 185 pounds at the Rivals combine in Indianapolis. I like him defensively due to the powerful lower half his plays the game with. Already has a 26.3 inch vertical. Plays fast and brings it on every play. <iframe src="https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/14659799/61281dc9b5362908ec647756" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong><img class="alignleft wp-image-254208 size-thumbnail" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/12/Silhouette-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" />Quieris Barnslater | Minnesota | Defensive Back</strong> An unassuming prospect from the "Land of 10,000 Lakes", Barnslater shows flashes of what could be coming down the line. Encouraging size at 5-foot-10 and 131 pounds right now. He’ll need to spend significant time the weight room as he enters high school but there’s certainly ability. He’s a tough kid that does a great job keeping contain on run plays to his side. He’s not afraid to come up and hit.   <strong><img class="alignleft wp-image-254208 size-thumbnail" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/12/Silhouette-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" />Nick Mcclellan | Missouri | Quarterback</strong> The younger brother of class of 2024 four-star Wide Receiver, <strong>Jeremiah Mcclellan, </strong>Nick is the next Mcclellan in line. While Nick doesn’t have the 20+ offers his older brother does, the eighth grade Quarterback is starting to heat up. Verified at 5-foot-10 and 156 pounds, he has the same stark playmaking ability his brother does. He’s raw fundamentally right now, but you can see the potential.   <strong><img class="alignleft wp-image-331205 size-thumbnail" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/05/Reyzhian-Shears-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" />Rey’zhian Shears | Kansas | Linebacker</strong> Shears stands at an unverified 5-foot-11 and 170 pounds is an intriguing prospect because of what the future holds for him. There’s no question he’s a defensive player with his tenacity and quickness on blitzes. However, the question is what position will he play? He has ideal Outside Linebacker size right now for this level, but has been working hard this off-season on pass drops as a Defensive Back. <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/cpV7EIn37rA" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong><img class="alignleft wp-image-331202 size-thumbnail" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/05/OwenSutter-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" />Owen Sutter | Nebraska | Tight End</strong> Sutter is a good looking prospect out of the corn fields of Nebraska. Already 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds, he move very well for a kid his size at this stage. Trains at Warren Academy and is a two-sport athlete (basketball). Athletically I like where he’s at. Not many prospects his size can pop out of a three-point stance and score on an end around. He must get faster if he wants to maximize his next level ability. <iframe src="https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16661122/61b6436a8cd3ce054c5957f7" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong><img class="alignleft wp-image-331848 size-thumbnail" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/05/Khalief-Canty-Jr.-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" />Khalief Canty Jr. | Michigan | Offensive Line</strong> Canty Jr. jumped on to our radar this past December, after reaching the AYF National Championship tournament with the Motor City Jaguars. Our scouts marveled at his "solid hand placement and good drive and generally relied on his overwhelming strength to win in run and pass defense. Heavy initial punch that froze blockers and noticeably knocked them backwards." Recently picked up his first offer from Kentucky.      