Class of ‘26: Cracking the Rankings Part V

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We're closing out the month of July with the final piece of bonus coverage for the recent Class of '26 rankings update. The <em>Cracking the Rankings</em> series has been a great opportunity for folks to get acquainted with the latest newcomers from the July update, and now there's just one last group to breakdown. This group featured in Part V were some of the final additions to the rankings, and although these prospects still have much to prove, they're an intriguing bunch nonetheless. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["904446"],"_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":"u003cp style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eThe highest debut from this final group of newcomers came from [player_tooltip player_id='904446' first='Bryan' last='Hayes'] of Seaman High School. Hayes made his debut at No. 66 overall and he's the 5u003csupu003ethu003c/supu003e ranked linebacker in the Class of '26. He didn't have much film from his freshman campaign, but there are some things to like about this backer. Hayes boasts a 6-foot-1, 200-pound frame as just a sophomore, and he's already reached a squat max of over 400 pounds. Additionally, Hayes possesses the athleticism to make plays in coverage.u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["904444"],"_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":"u003cp style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eNext up is not only one of the largest newcomers from the recent update, but one of the largest prospects from this upcoming sophomore class in general. [player_tooltip player_id='904444' first='Matt' last='Rosen'] of Holcomb came in one spot behind Hayes at No. 67 overall and he's the 5u003csupu003ethu003c/supu003e ranked offensive lineman in the class. The Holcomb product is an absolute unit, as Rosen measures in at 6-foot-5, 295 pounds. He immediately passes the eye test, and could draw early interest with a strong sophomore campaign.u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["904438"],"_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":"u003cp style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eFellow offensive line prospect, [player_tooltip player_id='904438' first='Wyatt' last='Hendricks'] of Lawrence, follows behind Rosen as the 68u003csupu003ethu003c/supu003e ranked player overall, and the 6u003csupu003ethu003c/supu003e ranked offensive lineman in the class. Lawrence has quietly been a hotbed for offensive line talent over the past few years, and with Hendricks' debut, there are now two Chesty Lions sitting inside our Class of '26 rankings. Hendricks is another lineman with quality size for his age, as he is listed at 6-foot-2, 230 pounds. He may have to wait his turn for varsity action this season, but he has a great coaching staff and group of upperclassmen to learn from.u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["904451"],"_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":"u003cp style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003e[player_tooltip player_id='904451' first='Malachi' last='Brown'] of Wyandotte High School became the first prospect from the Kansas City, KS., area to crack the Class of '26 rankings in the recent update. The KCK school district is an area that has been severely overlooked in recent years, but Brown is a prospect that shouldn't be slept on. Brown joined the rankings at No. 69 overall, and he's the 9u003csupu003ethu003c/supu003e ranked running back in the class. He's one of the more stockier backs in this class, as he's measured at 5-foot-8, 200 pounds. While Brown has a small sample size of film from his freshman year, there's still plenty to like about his game. He runs with a good pad level, and his low center of gravity can make him very difficult to bring down.u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["904439"],"_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":"u003cp style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eAfter breaking down each of the latest additions to the 2026 recruiting class, the u003cemu003eCracking the Rankingsu003c/emu003e series ends with [player_tooltip player_id='904439' first='Trace' last='Rudd'] of Blue Valley Northwest. Rudd became the first specialist to debut in the rankings, as he is currently the top-ranked kicker in the class. The 5-foot-11 lefty earned u003cemu003eAll-Leagueu003c/emu003e honors during his freshman year after connecting on 35 of 41 PAT's, and he also booted 21 touchbacks. He's had a strong summer as well, putting together solid camp performances at u003cemu003eIowa Stateu003c/emu003e and the u003cemu003eUniversity of Nebraskau003c/emu003e.u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64c85ed985a9c"} /-->