2026 Players To Watch? February Edition

Matt Morrow February 21, 2023 @ 10:49 PM

Let's take a look at some players to watch in the 2026 class in this February Edition:   WR [player_tooltip player_id='832280' first='Brody' last='Keefe'] - Marvin Ridge   The first time I saw highlights on Brody, I couldn't believe he was a high school freshman. He is advanced beyond his years at the Wide Receiver position, and he has already earned an offer from Charlotte reflective of that ability. At 6'2 and 185 pounds, Brady can highpoint the ball very well, evidenced by his abilities on the 7-on-7 off-season circuit. He can excel in the quick screen game, and he catches the ball well with his hands, and not a body catcher. He's going to be a big-time recruit before it's over for sure.   DL [player_tooltip player_id='823700' first='Aiden' last='Harris'] - Weddington   At 6'2 and 230 pounds already, Harris has a nice film and contributed on the Varsity level, and made an impact on the defensive line. 54 tackles and 4 sacks on the season are very impressive numbers for a Freshman defensive lineman. He plays very well with his hands at the point of attack, has a quick get-off from the line of scrimmage, and penetrates his assigned gap very well. He already displays some good strength and technique in shedding blocks and tackles well in the backfield on ball carriers or quarterbacks. He already has an offer from Charlotte and interest from other Division 1 schools.   LB [player_tooltip player_id='1321132' first='Dru' last='Drakeford'] - Palisades   Palisades being a new program in the southwest part of Charlotte, you wouldn't think of them as having recruiting attention just yet. But this young man [player_tooltip player_id='1321132' first='Dru' last='Drakeford'] is an impressive player at the linebacker position. He already stands at 6'0 and 200 pounds and made All-Conference as a freshman, a very impressive feat in itself. He is a tackling machine - in the film, I saw he excelled in making open-field solo tackles, something that is a tough challenge on JV as a freshman, much less a starting varsity player. He also shows an ability to be disciplined in man or zone coverage, and forced turnovers in pass coverage - interceptions and forced fumbles most notably. He was also an Army All-American Bowl Combine invite, so he will be a name to watch over the next few years.   RB [player_tooltip player_id='284083' first='Aidan' last='Gallos'] - Providence Day   I featured Aidan in a synopsis of great performances during the season on another media outlet, but I didn't know much about his game until looking at his film. Man, what a tough and strong running back prospect here! At 5'9 and 185 pounds, he just runs through people once he gets going downhill. He also has the speed to run away from you though, which makes it even more impressive. Another strong facet of his game is pass protection - something even the best high school backs doesn't always do well. This kid has a bright future, and Charlotte was smart to jump in and offer him already. He's going to be a talent and fun to watch over the next few years.   WR [player_tooltip player_id='402291' first='Khalil' last='Price'] - North Meck   Now with Khalil, I saw him in person and I was very impressed with him. He is a 6'2 155 pound wide receiver who has the ability to be a really good player on the outside "X" receiver spot for the next few years. He has the ability to get behind a defense and make some big catches on the deep ball. Also impressive is his ability to make pressure catches in traffic when the game is on the line. He wants the ball and the pressure, and he can deliver. With his height and long arms, he can also win the jump balls in 1 on 1 situations. Khalil is also a track athlete, so you know he is only going to get faster as time goes on. Once he is able to add weight in the future offseasons in the weight room, I'm excited to see how he turns out in the end.

Let's take a look at some players to watch in the 2026 class in this February Edition: