What Does Making the PRZ Next 2026 Watch List Mean?
The Prep Redzone Next 2026 National Watch List is live! What does this mean? I have some answers along with some tidbits of how to proceed further for people who are new to Prep Redzone Next and Prep Redzone. This…
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Continue ReadingThe Prep Redzone Next 2026 National Watch List is live! What does this mean? I have some answers along with some tidbits of how to proceed further for people who are new to Prep Redzone Next and Prep Redzone.
This list is compiled of class of 2026 prospects BEFORE they begin their freshmen school year/season. Being named to the list is based off regular season games, post-season events, camp season performance and 7-on-7 showings before entering high school.
Are there gaps in some of the information? Yes, I may have some athletes listed at different positions then they will play going forward. There also may be some missing height and weight information since finding verified information on prospects this young, can prove to be difficult.
Nearly all information is from my notes, Hudl accounts, and social media. Unfortunately, there is no magical database that has all the necessary information readily available.
What Does a Watch List Mean?
If players are on the watch list, they can be tagged in Prep Redzone articles and are on our radar as the Class of 2026 begins their high school career. Largely during the eighth-grade season is where, from a Prep Redzone Next perspective, is when we start identifying players. I will have people send me information on kids who are as young as 4th and 5th grade. I draw a line where I don’t cover even entertain looking at athletes until they’re in the 6th grade, and even at that point, the 8th graders get nearly all of my time. There are so many great athletes in every corner of this country and athletes at this level are constantly changing. The Prep Redzone Next Watch List is about getting names on the national radar before anyone else and working towards making sure the information is accurate as athletes proceed through high school.
What If There Are Players That Were Missed?
We have roughly 2,400 players on our Watchlist, but we know there are more out there! Whether it be due to lack of film, credible information or any number of reasons we couldn’t verify if an athlete was worthy of selection. Prep Redzone Next will continue to evaluate and make our lists the industry-standard for early identification. We watch countless hours of film, talk to hundreds of coaches/trainers, travel to dozens of events and are constantly locked into social media to keep on adding names to the lists.
Now What For 2026 Athletes?
Class of 2026 athletes are no longer considered “Next” athletes. All class of 2026 athletes, whether or not they made the National Watch List, are now under the traditional Prep Redzone state websites. We have a team of hundreds of scouts around the nation, featuring multiple in each state, all dedicated to covering and promoting high school athletes.
If athletes in the classes of 2026, 2025, 2024 and 2023 want to send film or have questions about watch lists, rankings, events, etc. please reach out to the high school scouts in your state.
As for Prep Redzone Next, we will continue to carry on with an eye towards the future. Prep Redzone Next is now focused on class of 2027, 2028 and 2029 athletes at this point and aim to make bigger, better and more accurate lists every year. Athletes in the 8th grade are camping all over the country, getting recruited and ultimately receiving verbale offers. This change in the recruiting world, is proof that Prep Redzone Next is a valuable tool for prospects and college coaches.
At Prep Redzone Next, we want to be the go-to database for college coaches to get information from an unbiased party in regards to player evaluations and information.
Good luck to the 2026 athletes starting their high school football journeys! In four short years we’ll take a look back at this Prep Redzone Next 2026 National Watch List and celebrate the success that emerges from it.