2026's Ready to Rise From the Shadows

The time is beginning to present itself for the young prospects of the class of 2026. Lathered up with experience this past season, many of these players jumped at their first taste of Friday night action, sending shock waves across the state.   [player_tooltip player_id='1010800' first='Jeff' last='Regan'] | ATH | Rogers   In what was a star-studded wide receiver room for the Rogers Mounties, [player_tooltip player_id='1010800' first='Jeff' last='Regan'] carved out a name for himself during the 2023 season. Standing at 5-8 and weighing 150 pounds, Regan takes pride in his route running, showcasing impeccably timed cuts and sticks. Despite his youth, he excels at playing off defenders' shoulders, creating numerous open opportunities for himself. His excellence extends beyond catching and route running; Regan exhibits impressive speed and a bulldog running style, consistently gaining hard-earned yardage.   Defensively, Regan's exceptional footwork is showcased in his smooth hip movements and quick changes of direction. Opposing receivers struggle to outpace him, thanks to his speed, anticipation, and sure-handedness while patrolling the defensive backfield. With this skill set, Regan has the potential to become a lockdown defender, virtually securing one side of the field.   [player_tooltip player_id='731120' first='Jackson' last='Elam'] | Kicker | Batesville   [player_tooltip player_id='731120' first='Jackson' last='Elam'], who earned all-state honors for the Pioneers, stood out as one of the most impressive specialists statewide this past fall. Standing at 5-9, Elam consistently delivered numerous touch backs and recently achieved a personal record with a long kick of 59 yards. Beyond his kicking prowess, Elam is now showcasing his punting skills, launching attempts ranging from 60 to 65 yards with hang times of 3.9 to 4 seconds.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/JacksonElam2026/status/1733623025143071014?s=20 </div></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='231812' first='Aamonii' last='Wren'] | ATH | Newport   If I were to make a crystal ball pick for an underrated recruit in the 2026 class who could emerge as a prized talent, it would be this six-foot, 165 pound Newport Greyhound. Playing a hybrid role, Aamonni Wren's skill set draws comparisons to Deebo Samuel of the 49ers. In the backfield, he exhibits patience with hand-offs and reads his blocks exceptionally well. His impressive acceleration through gaps results in explosive plays.   As a receiver, Wren's concentration skills in contested catches are unmatched. After the catch, there are few recruits who can turn sheer talent into yardage like he can. Every catch has the potential to turn into a touchdown for this remarkable player.   [player_tooltip player_id='495397' first='Jermal' last='Nalls'] | Receiver | Crossett   The Crossett offense is poised to be guided by [player_tooltip player_id='495397' first='Jermal' last='Nalls'] in the upcoming years. Standing at 6-1 and weighing 160 pounds, Nalls is a substantial possession receiver, adept at winning battles underneath while also making significant gains over the top of the defense. His quarterback-like ability to read defenses is evident as he skillfully finds openings in zone coverage and navigates his routes and even stop his sticks through these openings. Nalls demonstrates a team-first attitude with his exceptional blocking skills in the open field. Defenders who underestimate him quickly find themselves on the turf, as Nalls packs a powerful punch.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/jermal_nalls/status/1713637269293179046?s=20 </div></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='855568' first='Tari' last='Ransom Jr']. | ATH | Pulaski Academy   You'd be hard-pressed to find a more competitive receiver across the middle of the field than Tari Ransom. This hard-nosed pass catcher exhibits no hesitation when going head-to-head with linebackers during his route patterns. Standing at 6-2 and weighing 185 pounds, Ransom, a big-bodied player, anticipates hits as defenders try to disrupt his routes, skillfully taking on contact at the point of the catch. This Bruin possesses all the qualities indicative of the next high-end talent to emerge from this prestigious program.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/RansomJr5/status/1715877409616957467?s=20 </div></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='419938' first='Ty' last='McCormick'] | Quarterback | Beebe   [player_tooltip player_id='419938' first='Ty' last='McCormick']'s skills at the signal caller position are evident from his tape, his combination of velocity and accuracy leaves little to be desired for collegiate scouts. Despite being a sophomore, McCormick displays impressive freedom on route patterns, demonstrating excellent timing and precision underneath the defense while also delivering accurate deep throws that leave receivers in stride.   Standing at 5-10 and weighing 160 pounds, this Beebe Badger has mastered the art of throwing to lead receivers in their steps, particularly benefiting go-routes that lead receivers to the endzone. As a young quarterback, McCormick exhibits a defining toughness, showing a willingness to take hits after the throw and consistently delivering precise passes under pressure.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/TyMcCormick06/status/1718826962746052617?s=20 </div></figure>

The time is beginning to present itself for the young prospects of the class of 2026. Lathered up with experience this past season, many of these players jumped at their first taste of Friday night action, sending shock waves across the state.