2026 Rankings Newcomers: Orange County (Part 2)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prep Redzone updated its class of 2026 rankings recently and there are many new faces who earned spots in the rankings.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here is a look at some of the players from Orange County who are new to the rankings or Watch List.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["401253"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Baker leads all returning receivers for Los Alamitos with 494 yards and five touchdowns as a freshman.rnrnHe has really good ball skills and goes up to get 50/50 balls. He's good at making plays after the catch and has some burst. He's a good cornerback too.rnrnBaker has offers from Georgia, Tennessee and Miami among others.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-646562b010848"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/jjbdagreat/status/1651612050609811463?s=20","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/jjbdagreat/status/1651612050609811463?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["401232"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"I saw Lavender flash his impressive speed when he returned an interception for a touchdown in a game this season.rnrnHe's one of the top cornerbacks in the class but his versatility makes him an even better prospect. He can play safety, be a nickel in the slot or even come up into the box in certain packages.rnrnLavender has offers from Michigan State, Oklahoma, Oregon and Tennessee among others.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-646562b0108ea"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/Cory_LavenderJr/status/1658307707768799232?s=20","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/Cory_LavenderJr/status/1658307707768799232?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["401228"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Leinart got some playing times late in games for Mater Dei last season and backed up star quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='683642' first='Elijah' last='Brown'].rnrnHe threw for 137 yards on just 18 attempts with a touchdown. He is a solid athlete who moves fluidly and plays basketball. His release is a little long but he is accurate on the intermediate level throws and has some arm strength.rnrnLeinart is the son of former Heisman quarterback Matt Leinart and has four offers already.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-646562b010971"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/Cole__Leinart/status/1657544134754971648?s=20","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/Cole__Leinart/status/1657544134754971648?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["401257"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"O'Neal got significant playing time at Los Alamitos as a freshman when USC signee [player_tooltip player_id='25419' first='Malachi' last='Nelson'] went down with injury.rnrnI saw him at the Under Armour Camp and he's a big guy at 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds. He can really let it fly and has a nice throwing motion.rnrnO'Neal has 9 offers including Arizona, Oregon and Penn State among others.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-646562b010a41"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/Sunset_Rewind/status/1653987116542726145?s=20","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/Sunset_Rewind/status/1653987116542726145?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["780266"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Utu started at right tackle for Orange Lutheran last season and even slid in and played guard a bit.rnrnHe's a good run blocker who uses his first step to gain leverage and uses his body to get between the defender and the ball carrier. He's a strong guy who defends the bull rush well and can bury guys if they caught leaning.rnrnUtu has 13 offers including BYU, Colorado, Notre Dame, Texas and USC among others.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-646562b010b00"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/utukayden2/status/1658277996627894272?s=20","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/utukayden2/status/1658277996627894272?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed -->