2026: Clutch Competitors

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When games are close late, the best players rise to the challenge. These four always bring their A-game when wins are on the line.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='402750' first='Kaue' last='Akana'] || WR || 6'2 || 190 || Orem High School || 2026</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Akana is an incredible receiver and one of the best in the class of 2026. He's an elite athlete who can go over the top of defensive backs to make miraculous grabs. Akana has one of the class's best verticals, and he does a great job adjusting to balls in the air. He can make contested catches and has excellent hands. Akana can take the top off a defense and possess elite speed. He runs good routes, and his ability to get in and out of his breaks will make him a problem on the outside for years to come. Akana should be in for a monster 2023 season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='402753' first='Timote' last='Kinikini'] || RB || 5'11 || 195 || Alta High School || 2026</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kinikini possesses one of the class's best stiff arms. He loves to shove defenders into the turf when they try to take him down. Kinikini embraces the physicality of his position and always lowers his shoulder to try and barrel over defenders. His ball security is always outstanding, and when he runs, the ball is textbook high and tight. Kinikini is also a strong pass catcher out of the backfield, where he slips past linebackers to get open. He never goes out of bounds early and fights for every yard. Kinkini plays both ways, but you would never be able to tell based on the way he runs the ball in the fourth.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='720486' first='Beau' last='Meredith'] || LB || 5'10 || 160 || Desert Hills High School || 2026&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Meredith's sideline-to-sideline quickness is remarkable. As our top-ranked linebacker in the class of 2026, Meredith possesses some rare qualities for a linebacker his age. He reads and reacts to plays at a rate quicker than most players who play his position in the state. Meredith has elite athletic traits and great instincts for the position. His outing speed makes him a strong blitzer. Meredith is a physical linebacker who takes great angles when tracking down ball carriers. In addition, he's an exceptional tackler who does a good job avoiding offensive linemen before making big plays for his team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='718010' first='Santiago' last='Huerta'] || RB || 6'0 || 200 || Mountain Crest High School || 2026</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Huerta impresses with his speed out of the backfield. Once he sees a hole, he explodes through it for significant gains. Huerta is one of the classes hardest running backs to bring down, with his powerful frame making him a tough tackle for any defender. He never shies away from contact and can easily break out of arm tackles. Huerta racks up yards after contact on nearly every touch, and he never stops fighting for yards until the plays are blown dead. He possesses good vision and can make quick cuts to find holes. Huerta is just starting bouncing off defenders and will lead to several touchdowns over the next three years.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->