Class of ‘26: Welcome to the Rankings Part III
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Before we pivot away from the Class of ’26, we can’t move on without highlighting the third group of newcomers featured in Part III of Welcome to the Rankings. Through this welcoming party we’ve had the pleasure of introducing folks to…
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Continue ReadingBefore we pivot away from the Class of ’26, we can’t move on without highlighting the third group of newcomers featured in Part III of Welcome to the Rankings. Through this welcoming party we’ve had the pleasure of introducing folks to several players, and now the spotlight is turned to the final five. Although this group wasn’t amongst the highest-ranked newcomers, they’re still a promising bunch that has the potential to flourish over the next few years.
A few of the prospects from this final group head into the ’23 campaign with some varsity experience, and the other three will look to find a role during their sophomore year. These five may be ranked in the back half of the Top 50, but they’re all capable of climbing the rankings in future updates.
Starting us off first is a prospect that could be one of Class 2A’s biggest breakout players this fall. Carter Hajek Carter Hajek 6’0″ | 210 lbs | ATH Nemaha Central | 2026 State KS of Nemaha Central joined the rankings at No. 37 overall, and is the 7th ranked athlete in the class. His last name may be familiar to some, as he’s the younger brother of 2022 Class 2A OPOY, Cooper Hajek Cooper Hajek 6’2″ | 215 lbs | ATH Nemaha Central | 2023 State KS . With Cooper graduating, Nemaha Central’s staff could look to Carter to take over his brother’s role during the ’23 campaign. The 5-foot-11, 200-pound prospect possesses the size and athleticism to become the Thunder’s next Swiss Army Knife.
Highlights
This upcoming sophomore class is headlined by quite a few prospects from Class 6A and 5A. However, small-town prospects such as Carter Hajek Carter Hajek 6’0″ | 210 lbs | ATH Nemaha Central | 2026 State KS and this next newcomer prove that there is talent throughout all classification levels. Zane Farney Zane Farney 5’11” | 175 lbs | RB Sterling | 2026 State KS of Sterling made his debut as the 7th ranked running back in the class, and the 39th ranked prospect overall. Similar to Hajek, Farney also made his varsity debut in 2022, but Farney would see a larger role during his freshman season. As a freshman, Farney led the Black Bears in rushing with 1,270 yards and 12 scores; all while averaging over five yards per carry.
In Part II of this three-part series, folks were introduced to two of the three quarterbacks that cracked the rankings in the recent update. Now in Part III, everyone gets the opportunity to meet the third newest signal caller from the Class of ’26 rankings. Solomon Hirsch Solomon Hirsch 5’11” | 150 lbs | QB Bishop Miege | 2026 State KS of Bishop Miege debuted at No. 42 overall, and is the 7th ranked quarterback in the class. What Hirsch lacks in physical tools he makes up for with his clean mechanics and accuracy. He’ll likely have to wait his turn behind Marco Rodriguez Marco Rodriguez 6’5″ | 180 lbs | QB Bishop Miege | 2025 State KS , but given Miege’s track record under center, the Stags will develop Hirsch into a solid quarterback prospect.
There’s a few defenders from this class that folks should be excited about this season. Some have already been mentioned, but another to keep in mind is Xavier Tafoya Xavier Tafoya 6’2″ | 210 lbs | LB Liberal | 2026 State KS of Liberal. Tafoya is one of the more physically imposing players in the class, and his weight room numbers can back that up. His early development helped earn him some varsity time in 2022, as he recorded 22 total tackles in four games. Tafoya is currently listed as a defensive end on Liberal’s roster, but his frame fits the mold of a linebacker. Liberal is sure to use the 6-foot-2, 210-pound prospect in a variety of ways on defense. He checked in at No. 44 overall in the recent update.
Closing out the Welcome to the Rankings for the Class of ’26 is Vaughn Overton Vaughn Overton 6’2″ | 170 lbs | DB Olathe West | 2026 State KS of Olathe West. Overton was one of the final additions in this update, as he landed just inside the Top 50 at No. 46 overall, and he’s the 4th ranked defensive back in the class. The Olathe West product flashed his talent a few times this spring; competing with Emp1re’s 15U squad during 7-On-7 season. Olathe West has excelled at developing their defensive backs in recent years, and they’re sure to maximize Overton’s rangy frame. His first snaps at the varsity level may come from special teams, but his length could be a valuable asset to the Owl’s secondary.