2026 Player Breakdowns: No.1 - No.5

Starting today, we will be taking a look at each player that we have ranked in our 2026 rankings and watchlist. This of course will be an extensive series - today we start with the top five. As we go in these breakdowns, the blurbs will get a bit smaller so we can fit more players in each breakdown. But for the first two posts of the series, we're going to give a bit of a deeper look at each of our top 10 players.   We apologize for the HUDL tapes not embedding properly on this post, we hope to have these fixed soon.   No.1 RB [player_tooltip player_id='402458' first='Messiah' last='Mickens'] | Trinity | 5-foot-11, 190   Pennsylvania use to be a cradle of quarterbacks but these days, it's a running back factory. Just in the last decade, names like D'Andre Swift, Saquon Barkley, Miles Sanders, Journey Brown, Nicholas Singleton, Trey Potts, and Marquise Williams just to name a few. [player_tooltip player_id='402458' first='Messiah' last='Mickens'] is looking to be the next in that long line of running backs.   Mickens is already a physically advanced running back with the frame and size to step into a college locker room tomorrow. Not only does he have the size but he has superb athleticism, speed, and elusiveness. He's the full package and he just might be the best running back in the state of Pennsylvania already. He'll be pushing for high four-star and five-star status across the recruiting industry and will be one of the top running backs in the entire country.   2022 Stats: 123 carries, 961 yards, 18 touchdowns   <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/16247535/63b26f964dec8a0f7c4487fd">https://www.hudl.com/video/3/16247535/63b26f964dec8a0f7c4487fd</a>   No.2 QB [player_tooltip player_id='386284' first='Semaj' last='Beals'] | Roman Catholic | 6-foot-1   Beals is another prospect quickly gaining traction on a national level. Temple, UConn, Boston College, Pittsburgh, Maryland, Duke, and Charlotte have all offered from the FBS level. There's going to be plenty more to come as well for Beals. He's been a prospect who's been on the circuit for a while now and most know his name. He's got the size, arm strength, and accuracy that you love to see all at a super young age as well.   2022 Stats: 90-for-142 (63.4%), 1,269 yards, 11 touchdowns, 1 interception   <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/13912534/6338f024b534d206546449d8">https://www.hudl.com/video/3/13912534/6338f024b534d206546449d8</a>   No.3 LB [player_tooltip player_id='402457' first='Maurice' last='Barnes'] | Bishop McDevitt | 6-foot-2, 195-pounds   Barnes depending on how he continues to grow might end up as an edge defender but as a linebacker right now, there's a lot to love. Very good athlete, and high motor and football IQ makes him a dangerous defender in the middle of the field. Has shown the ability to not just play downhill against the run at a high level but isn't afraid to drop into coverage and be tested by tight ends and running backs alike.   2022 Stats: 43 carries, 302 yards, 3 touchdowns | 40 tackles, 5.0 tackles for a loss, 1.5 sacks   No.4 ATH [player_tooltip player_id='212414' first='Elias' last='Coke'] | Harrisburg | 6-foot-2, 190-pounds   Coke has a chance to be the most exciting prospect of the top five thanks to his versatility. He's an outstanding wide receiver and safety already as a rising sophomore and it's not too hard to project him topping out around 6-foot-4, 6-foot-5, and 220-pounds if he has another growth spurt. Even if he doesn't he already has a very good size for a wide receiver and great size for safety. Very good athlete overall with the speed that makes him a consistent deep threat for Harrisburg.   2022 Stats: 24 receptions, 409 yards, 6 touchdowns   <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/11056599/6344749abd753a0d9cb8cef7">https://www.hudl.com/video/3/11056599/6344749abd753a0d9cb8cef7</a>   No.5 DT [player_tooltip player_id='284124' first='Cameron' last='Brickle II'] | Malvern Prep | 6-foot-2, 265-pounds   Malvern Prep has been producing a lot of great talent lately but Brickle may be the best of them all. He's most likely be a defensive tackle once he reaches the college level but he has a chance to be a dominant one. Every time we watched an updated tape on Brickle this year, the newest tape was more impressive than the last one. He's got a quick first step, his hand-fighting skills are very good for a rising sophomore, and is a great asset when it comes to slowing down the run and clogging rushing lanes.   2022 Stats: 29 tackles, 3.0 tackles for a loss   <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/17418439/6375a8bfbd75390208d73aad">https://www.hudl.com/video/3/17418439/6375a8bfbd75390208d73aad</a>   REGISTER FOR THE PREPREDZONE PROSPECT TOUR IN MANHEIM ON MAY 6   <a href="https://events.prepredzone.com/info?website_id=4&event_id=753">Don't forget to register for our PrepRedzone Prospect Tour on May 6 in Manheim</a>. Spots are limited, so be sure to register as soon as possible to ensure your own spot. College coaches will be in attendance to help run the camp and FBS schools will be receiving your measurables.   Have information regarding a prospect or team that you believe would be useful for us to know? Feel free to contact me at dylanccwriting@gmail.com or on Twitter, <a href="https://twitter.com/RivalsDylanCC">here</a>.

Starting today, we will be taking a look at each player that we have ranked in our 2026 rankings and watchlist. This of course will be an extensive series - today we start with the top five. As we go in these breakdowns, the blurbs will get a bit smaller so we can fit more players in each breakdown. But for the first two posts of the series, we're going to give a bit of a deeper look at each of our top 10 players.