2026 Rankings 1.0: Top 10 Analysis

The first edition of the 2026 rankings have released, and it's already a massive class! This debut update has 40 ranked players and 59 on the watch list. Of course, the top 10 are the best of the best and are all considered at this time to be future power 5 prospects. Today, we'll be taking a look at these top 10 prospects. I'll discuss why they're ranked so high and how they can maintain their success!   2026 TOP 10   #1 | [player_tooltip player_id='212358' first='Corey' last='Sadler'] Jr. | QB | Cass Tech   Sadler is the crowned jewel of the 2026 class and the obvious #1 player in the class. A national prospect since his middle school days, Sadler is as talented as they come. This past season, Sadler played more of an "ATH" role for Cass Tech. Offensively, Sadler mostly played WR, where he showcased his elite athleticism. As a receiver, Sadler ran some of the prettiest routes I've seen from a high school player and was able to burn any DB in the state, and he faced some great DBs. His speed, alongside overall athletic prowess, made Sadler recoverable. Sadler returned kicks on special teams, and his return game is elite. Once Sadler gets into space, he's able to weave his way past the defense with incredible vision and, again, athleticism. On defense, Sadler played DB where he proves to be as lockdown as any. As a whole, [player_tooltip player_id='212358' first='Corey' last='Sadler'] is by far the most athletically talented player in this class and would be a shoo-in Power 5 Prospect at any skill position. Rumor has it that Sadler will be the starting Quarterback for Cass Tech next season, and I can't wait to see how he performs in that role. If Sadler is able to throw the ball as well as some of the other top QBs in Michigan, we could be looking at one of the premier talents in America. I can't wait to see how Sadler develops, and he's #1 on my list of players I need to watch in person.    #2 | [player_tooltip player_id='557747' first='Khalief' last='Canty'] | OL | Cass Tech   Canty is riding as high as any prospect, as he just had a great season but has had a great December, being offered by Michigan State after the Rising Stars 250 Showcase. During the season, Canty was a dominant force, starting at LT against many of the best teams in Michigan. He's a mauler who is unapologetically physical, and is not shy about putting your face in the dirt. He has one highlight in particular where he pancakes one guy at the line, then shoves a linebacker into a DB, knocking both of them over. He's a huge, imposing force with elite size and already great fundamentals. What a December it's been for Canty, and welcome to the #2 spot in the rankings!    #3 | [player_tooltip player_id='566880' first='Andrew' last='Knight'] | QB | Sterling Heights Stevenson   Knight is a prospect who is still a tad under the radar, but after reading up on him and watching the film, I see absolutely insane potential. First and foremost, Knight was a starting QB in the MAC Red as a freshman, which is an insane feat to begin with. As Stevenson's starter, Knight posted 1,571 all-purpose yards, 14 touchdowns, and only 1 interception. Knight recently showcased his talents at the Rising Stars 250 showcase, where he was named one of the top performers.   Specifically, Knight has incredible potential as a dual-threat QB and is already an elite playmaker. He has great ability to get outside of the pocket and make things happen, and he's a pinpoint passer on the run. Like any Freshman QB, there are some questions and things to improve, but I'm confident he'll be an improved player come next fall. I would love to see Knight have a great offseason and improve in areas such as snap to pass time.    #4 | [player_tooltip player_id='284003' first='AJ' last='Marks'] | DB | Orchard Lake St. Mary's   Like many of the top freshmen in the state, [player_tooltip player_id='284003' first='AJ' last='Marks'] has been a well-known name since his middle school days. His first season at the High School Varsity level did not disappoint, as he played like a true premier defender. Playing in the difficult Catholic Central league with a grueling non-league schedule, Marks totaled 20 pass breakups, 2 interceptions, 54 tackles, and only 12 watched given up all season. On top of that, he returned 3 kicks, with one going 82 yards to the house.   Marks is ultra-talented with a work ethic that should keep him near the top of the rankings for years to come. The offers are beginning to roll in, and I've already seen a few impressive offseason highlights. There's no doubt that he'll be keeping the competition up this offseason, and I'm excited to see how he's utilized on the field next fall.    #5 | [player_tooltip player_id='318570' first='Marcello' last='Vitti'] | ATH | Divine Child   Vitti is the best player in this class with the "ATH" classification. Mostly playing DB/OLB/RB, Vitti proved to be an elite athlete on both sides of the ball with the stats to back it up. As a defender, Vitti posted 2 interceptions, 10 TFLs, and 64 tackles. I'm incredibly impressed by his aggressiveness on defense and how he dominated the game against a lot of solid seniors. Vitti is the most fearless defender in this class. Offensively, he's a relentless runner with great speed and power. Vitti totaled 651 yards on 94 carries which totals to 6.93 yards per carry. I believe it's clear that Vitti is more versatile and polished on defense than on offense, but will only increase his workload on both sides of the ball next season. From what I've heard, Vitti works his tail off with little rest. This is a relentless athlete that will continue making a name for himself.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/Marcello_Vitti/status/1593745582597836804 </div></figure>   #6 | [player_tooltip player_id='206418' first='Jayden' last='Terry'] | RB | Grandville   Terry is one of the most interesting prospects in this class for many reasons. For one, he's the only West Michigan player ranked in the top 10. Secondly, this is a rare elite prospect from a T-Wing system. When it comes to West Michigan, Terry is already a household name. Playing in the spectacular OK-Red, he totaled 1,357 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns, showcasing blazing speed, elite vision, and excellent athleticism. Specifically, his performances against great playoff teams such as Caledonia (D1 Runner-Up) and Rockford (OK-Red Champions) raise his stock a ton. Against great competition, Terry is electric. If you aren't familiar with [player_tooltip player_id='206418' first='Jayden' last='Terry'], I highly recommend you take a look at his freshman highlights. As long as he continues to work his tail off, this is a Divison 1 prospect.    #7 | [player_tooltip player_id='566881' first='Nathan' last='Gersh'] | LB | Dexter   Gersh has shot up the rankings as of late and is an extremely exciting defender. A starting linebacker on a State-Championship favorite, Gersh totaled 72 tackles, 8TFLs, 1 sack, and 2 fumble recoveries, starting all 13 games. Those stats are great, but his physical traits and off-season competition add to his potential. Gersh is 6'2, 215 lbs, and is a state-qualifying sprinter. Now, Athletic.net has Gersh listed as running a 12.83 100M last spring, but that's vastly improved from 14.04 two years ago (his tape looks faster than 12.8). Being around the elite Dexter program, I've seen Gersh make excellent strides in the past year, and I'm banking on an incredible sophomore season. I fully expect [player_tooltip player_id='566881' first='Nathan' last='Gersh'] to be a power 5 prospect when his high school career is all said and done!    #8 | [player_tooltip player_id='212356' first='Ben' last='Nichols'] | OL | Davison   A few weeks ago, Nichols showed out at the Prep Redzone Stock Up Showcase and was the obvious O-Line MVP. If you keep tabs on young prospects, you may know of [player_tooltip player_id='212356' first='Ben' last='Nichols']. This lineman has been on our radar for a long time, and after his freshman season, it was obvious that this is a future Power 5 prospect.   To be a P5 offensive lineman, there are a few physical boxes to be checked. At 6'5, 315 lbs, you can surely say that size is a strength of his, and he checks all the "physical" boxes. Nichols excels in run blocking and showcases great power and good technique against excellent competition. He isn't the most agile lineman, but he has a few years to improve that aspect. Clearly, Nichols will be a Division 1 prospect and has a chance to help Davison compete for state championships.    #9 | [player_tooltip player_id='284017' first='Tristan' last='Comer'] | TE | Freeland   Comer is an uber-athletic athlete with great natural abilities. This is another prospect that I've been well aware of for over a year and already holds an offer from Central Michigan. The 6'7 Tight End is a well-rounded player with great blocking ability with many flashes of route running and pass catching. I would like Comer to be more reliable after the catch, among several other things, but he has plenty of time to improve his shortcomings.   Comer is also an incredible Basketball player, and I wouldn't be surprised if he considered Basketball as his primary sport. I'm honestly unsure how Comer will develop on the gridiron, but his potential is enough to be extremely excited.    #10 | [player_tooltip player_id='566981' first='Jack' last='Janda'] | TE | Orchard Lake St. Mary's   This past fall, Janda showed some incredible flashes of superior talent. Playing in the Catholic league, Janda was battle-tested and overall performed great. The 6'5, 220lb totaled 6 catches for 61 yards and 1 TD on the season with 11 tackles on defense. I know these stats don't jump off the page, but his highlights and physical traits do. Janda is a great route-runner who knows how to get open and has shown flashes of run-after-catch ability. I see incredible potential with Janda, with his ceiling being as high as [player_tooltip player_id='248962' first='Brady' last='Prieskorn']. Although he didn't have an incredibly productive season when it came to catching the ball, the attention he's getting from colleges and his best highlights paint a picture of a rising star!

The first edition of the 2026 rankings have released, and it's already a massive class! This debut update has 40 ranked players and 59 on the watch list. Of course, the top 10 are the best of the best and are all considered at this time to be future power 5 prospects. Today, we'll be taking a look at these top 10 prospects. I'll discuss why they're ranked so high and how they can maintain their success!