WV 2026 Rankings Debut: The Next 30 Ranked (Offense)

Our 2026 rankings made their debut on Tuesday and the Top 10 offensive and defensive players were highlighted but what about the next 30 ranked players? Today and tomorrow we will highlight some of those players ranked outside the Top 10 for offense and defense and further break down the first edition of the 2026 rankings that are sure to change a ton the next three seasons. Here are the rest of the offensive players that made our first 2026 rankings.   [player_tooltip player_id='895722' first='Elijah' last='Krason'] - George Washington | OL | 6'6 300 Overall Ranking: 14 | Position Ranking: 5   There's not much info or film out there right now for George Washington OL [player_tooltip player_id='895722' first='Elijah' last='Krason'] but when you're a 6'6 300 freshman you're going to turn heads. We're taking a flyer on Krason right now and his ranking could change a lot once there's more out there on him. He'll enter the 2026 rankings 14th overall and the #5 ranked offensive lineman. His older brother Zach is entering his sophomore year on Fairmont State's football team so the family pedigree is there for Elijah to also be a good player.   [player_tooltip player_id='908000' first='Aidan' last='Burke'] - Mingo Central | WR | 6'0 175 Overall Ranking: 15 | Position Ranking: 4   Excitement is sky high at Mingo Central for incoming rising sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='908000' first='Aidan' last='Burke'] who will be headed to Mingo from Belfry (KY) to play the rest of his high school career. The 6'0 175 receiver was a freshman starter on a solid Belfry (KY) team in 2022 and follows previous Bourbon County (KY) and current Mingo Central head coach David Jones back to the mountain for his sophomore season. Burke is equally as talented of a defensive back as he is a receiver and may potentially change positions in our rankings. He'll enter the 2026 rankings as a receiver though and comes in as the #15 overall player and #4 ranked wide receiver. Burke looks to help revitalize a struggling Mingo Central program and get them back to their previous success.   [player_tooltip player_id='894973' first='Lyric' last='Berger'] - South Charleston | TE | 6'1 240 Overall Ranking: 16 | Position Ranking: 2   South Charleston's [player_tooltip player_id='894973' first='Lyric' last='Berger'] is another 2026 athlete that has very minimal film and info on him right now but there are enough early signs to show he's likely going to be a player for the Black Eagles in the future. Berger is already 6'1 240 and put together well for a young player. Berger will enter the rankings as a tight end but could play linebacker or even on the defensive line as time goes on. He comes in as the #16 overall player and #2 ranked tight end for the 2026 class.   [player_tooltip player_id='894635' first='Fernando' last='Valdivia'] - Capital | QB | 5'9 150 Overall Ranking: 17 | Position Ranking: 1   One of the very few freshmen starting quarterbacks in WV last season was Capital's, [player_tooltip player_id='894635' first='Fernando' last='Valdivia']. He's not very big right now at 5'9 150 but Capital was in need of a QB and the young Valdivia delivered for the Cougars. He commanded the offense well for a freshman and shows signs of developing into a very good QB in time. Valdivia can make plays in the pocket and use his legs to get downfield when needed. The ball comes off his hand well and he can push the ball down the field. If Valdivia can get a little bigger in the next few years he could further cement himself as one of the top QBs in the state. He'll debut in our 2026 rankings as the #17 player and #1 ranked quarterback.   [player_tooltip player_id='402801' first='Braden' last='Wade'] - Linsly | QB | 5'11 165 Overall Ranking: 18 | Position Ranking: 2   [player_tooltip player_id='402801' first='Braden' last='Wade'] directed the Linsly Cadets' JV team last season and already has a powerful arm that can put a lot of zip on the ball. I've gotten to see him in person a few times and his arm talent is well ahead of most quarterbacks his age in WV. If he doesn't take over the reins this season at QB for Linsly he certainly will in 2024 as a junior. I think Wade will continue to be in the conversation as the state's top 2026 QB by his senior year as more names emerge especially if he continues to grow physically. The potential and upside are there for Wade to warrant the #18 overall ranking and #2 rated QB for 2026.   [player_tooltip player_id='894623' first='Kaden' last='Keener'] - Grafton | RB | 5'10 160 Overall Ranking: 19 | Position Ranking: 3   Grafton's [player_tooltip player_id='894623' first='Kaden' last='Keener'] was a name I was familiar with from my <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2023/07/wv-preseason-spotlight-taylor-county/">Taylor County Spotlight</a> article and likely one of the very few freshmen starting running backs in the state last year. From watching his film I was quickly impressed with his versatility as a running back and even early on he can do damage in the passing game and catches the ball well out of the backfield. Keener will need to keep adding weight to be an every down back but at 5'10 he has plenty of room to grow. He debuts in our 2026 rankings as the #19 overall player and the #3 ranked running back. [player_tooltip player_id='894623' first='Kaden' last='Keener'] is definitely a young running back that you'll want to follow for the next three years.   [player_tooltip player_id='402803' first='Jeremiah' last='Babo'] - Frankfort | TE | 6'4 200 Overall Ranking: 21 | Position Ranking: 3   Frankfort's [player_tooltip player_id='402803' first='Jeremiah' last='Babo'] is another young athlete with very little football info out there right now but he has great size at 6'4 200 for a rising sophomore and a bright athletic future. Babo had a good freshman year on the basketball court and proved he has the athletic ability that many other athletes his age do not have. Babo's father was a D1 athlete and it would not surprise me to see him follow in his father's footsteps in the future. It's going to be exciting to see how he develops and performs on the football field over the next three years.   [player_tooltip player_id='894667' first='Ja'lei' last='Burnette'] - Hurricane | WR | 6'0 170 Overall Ranking: 22 | Position Ranking: 5   [player_tooltip player_id='894667' first='Ja'lei' last='Burnette'] is another young promising Hurricane receiver who showed off some wheels last season as a freshman. The 6'0 170 speedster hasn't played on varsity yet but could see time this year on a loaded Hurricane team. Burnette can really turn on the jets after the catch and has a really quick burst. He also has the twitch to make defenders miss after the catch and is a good YAC receiver. Burnette enters the 2026 rankings as the #22 overall player and the #5 ranked receiver. He's a name to monitor the next three seasons.   [player_tooltip player_id='894993' first='Javon' last='Jones'] - Washington | WR | 5'9 140 Overall Ranking: 23 | Position Ranking: 6   Catch opportunities were limited last year in Washington's offensive scheme where [player_tooltip player_id='894993' first='Javon' last='Jones'] saw time on the freshmen team but the speedy receiver showed early signs of a bright future. I got to see the 5'9 140 receiver at the GCOH Performance Exposure Camp in June and he earned one of my camp standouts spots. I also liked his defensive back film where he was able to shine a bit more last season and his speed stood out. Washington will have a new coaching staff in 2023 so it will be interesting to see if their new scheme better suits Jones. He enters our 2026 rankings as the #23 overall athlete and #6 ranked WR.   [player_tooltip player_id='894638' first='Grant' last='Uldrich'] - George Washington | WR | 6'0 170 Overall Ranking: 24 | Position Ranking: 7   The WV 2026 receiver class is shaping up to be very deep and that continues with George Washington WR [player_tooltip player_id='894638' first='Grant' last='Uldrich']. Uldrich made the JV team as a freshman and already has good size for a young receiver at 6'0 170. The rising sophomore has great hands for a young player and has the potential to really rise in these rankings in the future. He can stretch the field and go up and secure tough contested catches as well. There's a lot of natural ability in his game and Uldrich has the natural tools to develop into a high-level receiver with time. He debuts in our 2026 rankings 24th overall and is the #7 ranked receiver.   The rest of the ranked offensive players:   [player_tooltip player_id='894669' first='Eian' last='Duffy'] - Hurricane | QB | 5'11 150 Overall Ranking: 27 | Position Ranking: 3   [player_tooltip player_id='866670' first='Landon' last='Thomas'] - Doddridge County | WR | 6'2 185 Overall Ranking: 29 | Position Ranking: 8   [player_tooltip player_id='894727' first='Blake' last='Sanders'] - Musselman | RB | Musselman Overall Ranking: 32 | Position Ranking: 4   [player_tooltip player_id='894932' first='Jack' last='McClanahan'] - Poca | WR | 5'11 160 Overall Ranking: 33 | Position Ranking: 9   [player_tooltip player_id='894934' first='Brody' last='Bowen'] - Point Pleasant | RB | 5'8 175 Overall Ranking: 34 | Position Ranking: 5   [player_tooltip player_id='894987' first='Devin' last='Silvas'] - St. Albans | RB | 6'0 185 Overall Ranking: 40 | Position Ranking: 6   [player_tooltip player_id='894978' first='Camrin' last='Perdue'] - Spring Valley | RB | 5'8 185 Overall Ranking: 43 | Position Ranking: 7   [player_tooltip player_id='894632' first='Adam' last='Rippeon'] - Berkeley Springs | TE | 6'3 205 Overall Ranking: 44 | Position Ranking: 4   [player_tooltip player_id='894730' first='Adam' last='Elder'] - Parkersburg | TE | 6'0 200 Overall Ranking: 45 | Position Ranking: 5   [player_tooltip player_id='894670' first='AJ' last='Gregory'] - Hurricane | RB | 5'10 185 Overall Ranking: 47 | Position Ranking: 8   [player_tooltip player_id='894641' first='Tyree' last='Wesley'] - George Washington | RB | 5'8 160 Overall Ranking: 48 | Position Ranking: 9   [player_tooltip player_id='894726' first='Zachary' last='Miller'] - Musselman | WR | 6'0 160 Overall Ranking: 49 | Position Ranking: 10

Our 2026 rankings made their debut on Tuesday and the Top 10 offensive and defensive players were highlighted but what about the next 30 ranked players? Today and tomorrow we will highlight some of those players ranked outside the Top 10 for offense and defense and further break down the first edition of the 2026 rankings that are sure to change a ton the next three seasons. Here are the rest of the offensive players that made our first 2026 rankings.