Five Awesome Players From the Class of 2026

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last season, there were several Freshmen who made a big impact on their team. Here are five of those players to keep an eye on this fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["574328"],"_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":"Last season, Levi's very good play was a bright spot in the 4-7 season of the Olentangy Orange Pioneers. He effectively reads the defense and delivers an accurate ball to all three levels of the field with solid arm strength on short and intermediate routes and with good touch on the deep ball.  He displays good ability to pass the ball on the move when rolling out. He exhibits very good poise in the pocket as he delivers an accurate pass with a defender in his face. He displays solid mobility as he uses his good play speed and athletic ability to pick up a first down on his own.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["402337"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"In 2022, Jamier helped the Winton Woods Warriors to a 12-win season where they held opposing offenses to 14.1 points per game and advanced to the 3rd round of the playoffs. He plays as an OLB. Against the pass, he shows good quickness to penetrate the LOS quickly. He displays good play speed combined with a great motor in pursuit and finishes up with a sack. Against the run, he quickly reads run/pass and displays excellent instincts as he takes the correct angle in pursuit. He plays with very good range before making the tackle behind the LOS for a TFL.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["402318"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"In 2022, Chad was a star on the Freshman team of the Dublin Coffman Shamrocks. In 2023, he will help the Shamrocks as they try to improve upon their 7-4 season from last year. He plays as a CB. Against the pass, he does a good job of keeping his man in front of him and quickly locates the ball in the air. He then times his hands well and disrupts the trajectory of the ball for a PBU. Against screen plays, he quickly reacts to the QB and uses his good play speed in pursuit. He shows solid explosiveness as he makes the tackle preventing a gain of significant yardage.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["815895"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"In 2022, Kavontae had a great year on the Freshman team of the La Salle Lancers. As a Sophomore this fall, he will help the Lancers as they try to improve upon their 2-9 season from 2022. He plays as an OLB. Against the pass, he does a good job of reading the QB and displays excellent range in pursuit. He displays very good play strength and physical toughness as he makes the tackle on the TE with ease preventing a first down. Against the run, he quickly reads ruin/pass and uses his good quickness to penetrate the LOS. He does a great job of pursuing the RB from the backside and makes the tackle behind the LOS for a TFL.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["402345"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"In 2022, Malachi helped the Pickerington North Panthers to a 7-win season where they advanced to the 2nd round of the playoffs. He lines up in the backfield and in the slot. When running the ball, he displays very good burst through the hole and accelerates to top speed quickly. He exhibits quality play speed as he scores on a long touchdown run. As a receiver, he does a good job of getting behind the DB on vertical routes and tracks the ball well in the air. He displays good hands as he makes the catch over his shoulder. On defense, he plays as a Safety. Against the run, he quickly keys and diagnoses the play and exhibits good closing speed before making the tackle preventing a big gain.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64716c3ff3252"} /-->