2026 Rankings: Small School Staying Power

There are no sophomore slumps in our rankings of the 2026 class. These guys are more along the lines of a sophomore splash.   Across the state, there are a number of 10th-graders who are stepping up for their teams in a big way. But, if you look a little deeper, a bunch of them look like they'll make a difference for years to come.   Nowhere is that more evident than in the small-school classes, where guys are often called upon to perform on both sides of the ball.   Here's a look at some 1A, 2A, and 3A guys who are already making their mark, and who we expect to be writing about for quite a while.   [player_tooltip player_id='816734' first='Terry' last='Radford'] DL, Chester   Radford is an absolute terror for the Cyclones, and he's not going anywhere for quite a while. He had 27 tackles for loss playing end as a freshman, and his sophomore season has backed that up. He's already recorded 12 tackles for loss this season to go with nine sacks and 23 QB hurries. He takes on (and beats) double-teams, he sheds blockers to find the ball, and he does an outstanding job of working outside-in.    [player_tooltip player_id='473021' first='Caden' last='Ramsey'] DB, Cross   Ramsey (pictured) uses his length and athleticism to his advantage, and he's been incredibly good at it so far for the Trojans. He plays a little bit at receiver, where his ability to high-point the ball has led to 10 catchers for 180 yards and a score. But defense is where he really shines. He covers a lot of ground, is solid in coverage, and is good in run support. His 13 total tackles include 10 for loss and a sack, and he's already intercepted four passes and knocked down two more this season.    [player_tooltip player_id='895754' first='Steven' last='Pickard'] OL, Philip Simmons   The Iron Horses like to run it, and then run it some more. They've got two backs who will almost assuredly finish with more than 1,500 yards each, with a shot at 2,000. And starting at right tackle is a sophomore. Pickard holds down the right side of the Philip Simmons line with a physical edge. He's big, strong, and has the nasty streak that coaches love in a lineman, finishing plays by burying his guy at the line or by ranging way downfield looking for somebody else to block. When you consider Pickard and fellow sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='473030' first='Quamaine' last='Vaughn'] play such a big role for the Iron Horses, they seem solid on the offensive line for years to come.    [player_tooltip player_id='473015' first='Tyleek' last='Dukes'] DB, Kingstree   Like most 2A skill guys, Dukes is counted on to contribute both ways for the Blazers. He's recorded a carry, and he's the team's second-leading receiver, with nine catches and a score. But he's making his mark at defensive back. There, Dukes has notched 26 solo tackles, four tackles for loss, two sacks, two pass deflections, and a blocked punt already this year. He's a physical player with a nose for the ball, and he's only going to get better.    [player_tooltip player_id='816740' first='Marcus' last='Cann'] WR, Bamberg-Ehrhardt   The Red Raiders do a bunch with Cann. He's listed at WR, but he's taken a bunch of snaps at RB, too. Wherever he lines up, one thing is clear: he's a nightmare to match up with in space, and the Raiders are doing all they can to get it to him in those situations. He's fast, he's got great hands, and he's a physical runner, especially after contact.

There are no sophomore slumps in our rankings of the 2026 class. These guys are more along the lines of a sophomore splash.