A First Look At 4 Compelling WRs In The 2026 Class

<p>We're diving into the 2026 class starting this week and today, we're looking at 4 WRs who are really compelling heading into this fall. All 4 have a ton of talent, and schools always need young players to step up, so they should have their chances early.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='749507' first='Thomas' last='Stewart'] - Avon - 5'9" 150lbs</h2>   <p>Stewart is an incredibly shifty player who has some of the best stop and start agility in the area. He's incredibly flexible and bends extremely well. He is a bit light right now for his lengthy frame, but as he hits the weight room that'll continue to improve. He's only a freshman so we can anticipate the physical development to continue to come. Stewart is a guy with great Slot WR ability. His agility and twitchiness gives him the potential to be one of those route demons who is never covered. They've used him in Jet-sweeps and anything to get him on the outside in open space. Stewart is no doubt a bit raw, but dripping with talent at the same time. With his fantastic ball skills and ability to adjust in air, he's an incredibly reliable target downfield. He's a WR who could easily develop and flourish as one of the better WRs in the class starting this fall. He's looked good on JV, he's working like a mad man this winter, and knows what is ahead moving forward. Stewart is a name to watch closely this fall for all of these reasons, and then some. Avon has the QB to let the WRs feast, so it should be full throttle ahead.</p>   <p>Twitter: <strong>@TJStewart26</strong></p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='749508' first='JJ' last='Lowery'] - Reitz Memorial - 5'7" 130lbs</h2>   <p>Lowery is an upcoming dynamic athlete who can do a lot of good things on the field for both offense and defense. He's even made an impact on Special Teams right away returning kicks. Anything to get the ball in his hands has been the plan to this point. He returned 1 kick for a TD last year and busted a few more long returns. Good vision, great speed, and the ability to accelerate through arm tackles has been key for him. He's good in the slot and really good at picking up the YAC. He's got his moments of being a tough runner to bring down, which should only increase as he hits the weight room. He's got a defensive background and had some good plays there last year as well. A good DB with the ability to cover the backend and make open-field tackles. Lowery is a versatile player who could make an impact on both sides, but either way, seems primed to make a big impact on at least 1 side of the ball this upcoming year.</p>   <p>Twitter: <strong>@JJLowery02</strong></p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='749509' first='Shawn' last='Curry'] - Avon - 5'10" 145lbs</h2>   <p>Curry is a young receiver who has a lot of raw qualities you like in a guy upcoming. There are times it seems like he's absolutely flying down the field. He's got quick acceleration and doesn't waste much movement at the line. His ability to catch the ball in exotic ways has really stood out. Whether it be on JV or his 7 on 7, he's able to bring down some incredible one-handed grabs. On his 7 on 7 team, he's really improved his ability to adjust to coverage and find open spots in the zone. He struggled at first, but got a feel for it as the reps come. He seems like a really quick learner and is very competitive. While explosive, it's been in bursts and if he can work on his endurance a bit, I feel it's one of those things that can help his game to another level. He's got a lot of raw tools, has been working hard this offseason, so it's very possible he's made more progress than I even realize, but one thing is certain. Curry isn't going anywhere anytime soon, and he should be another great addition to a loaded Avon offense.</p>   <p>Twitter: <strong>@ShawnCurry26</strong></p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='407461' first='Mason' last='Baughman'] - Carroll - 6'0" 165lbs</h2>   <p>Baughman may be the most intriguing guy for Carroll this upcoming fall. He's at the big-time program with an elite Varsity QB who took the state by storm last fall. Baughman played Freshman last year and overall, looked pretty good. He's a physical WR for his size, yet has fantastic speed and is fairly thick for his age. He's been able to break some tackles and simply out run other would be tacklers. He's got a nice stiff-arm as well that allows him to break away from some tacklers. If he was at a smaller school, there's no doubt he'd be a starter for them already. However, he had to pay his dues last year and should get more of an opportunity this fall. He's heading into a WR room that is going to need some guys to step up. With 4 of their 5 leading receivers graduating, the door is open for someone to take a big role. Baughman checks a lot of those boxes, has been working this offseason on 7 on 7, and has been preparing for the moment ahead. If Baughman is able to take reins of a job this fall, he's going to fly up boards everywhere. </p>   <p>Twitter: <strong>@MasonXBaughman</strong></p>

We're diving into the 2026 class starting this week and today, we're looking at 4 WRs who are really compelling heading into this fall. All 4 have a ton of talent, and schools always need young players to step up, so they should have their chances early.