’26s Poised to Rise in Next PRZIA Rankings Update

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We published an <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/04/przia-2026-rankings-update-future-stock-risers/">article similar</a> to this one earlier this week in an effort to continue highlighting the 2026 Class following a recent Prep Redzone Iowa <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/04/plenty-of-movement-additions-in-26-rankings-update/">rankings update</a>. That content included position-by-position series of posts.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With almost 200 student-athletes ranked and more of them on a watch list, plenty of intriguing names are worthy of attention. A number of them could rise in our next update.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are seven guys I think could make a leap: </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1238512"],"_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":"JuJu, as he called in the halls of Iowa City West, could be ready for takeoff with two years of high school experience under his belt. The son of former Iowa quarterback and current Hawkeye assistant coach Jason Manson, JuJu is a long, athletic defensive back with good ball skills. His u003ca href=u0022https://www.hudl.com/video/3/17874037/653e93a00c5e6804108621a1u0022u003esophomore highlight videou003c/au003e reveals a 6-foot-3, 195-prospect to dream on if it all clicks. He registered 31.5 tackles (15 solo, 3.0 TFL) with a pair of interceptions as a 10th-grader. He caught six passes for 54 yards as a receiver, and returned four kicks for 118 yards, including one he took 87 yards to the house.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["1241416"],"_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":"Baker jumped into the rankings in this update and shows potential for more upward mobility the next time we conduct this exercise. As you can witness watching his u003ca href=u0022https://www.hudl.com/video/3/17825986/6535b6f6c124290528d4047fu0022u003e10th-grade highlightsu003c/au003e, he's far from a finished product, which is good, but already is an impressive blend of size, skill and athleticism. Those positive traits work for him when he's blocking for the run or setting up in pass protection. It will be fun observing how much he's developed from last season to the upcoming one because he has a chance to be really good.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["1033543"],"_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":"Kirkland is a really interesting prospect. He's a guy that will fill out his frame as he matures but already succeeds with good technique, athleticism and quickness. As we see while viewing his u003ca href=u0022https://www.hudl.com/video/3/18069079/651f4e323452e904f4805de5u0022u003esophomore highlight videou003c/au003e, Kirkland is advanced in pass protection for a team with a balanced offense. He combines that with a good feel for run blocking, utilizing leverage and active hands to move opponents.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["1221955"],"_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":"Southeast Polk has been a factory for producing college prospects. Whinery could be part of the next wave of Rams. The three-time defending state champions graduate a lot of great players during that time. They'll be reloading a bit in '24 with Whinery showing potential to help with that during his u003ca href=u0022https://www.hudl.com/video/3/17765363/65492ca3066ba406b4cfc965u0022u003esophomore highlight videou003c/au003e. If he continues developing physically and maintains his athleticism, it's not hard picturing him being a disruptive edge on the varsity level.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["1240572"],"_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":"Schipper doesn't include football highlights on his u003ca href=u0022https://www.hudl.com/profile/17793257/colt-schipperu0022u003eHudl pageu003c/au003e, only basketball. You can see his agility and athleticism watching him play hoops. He also shows it while u003ca href=u0022https://x.com/TheStrengthU/status/1773905951185047823u0022u003eworking out at Strength Uu003c/au003e. When you combine his work in those disciplines and consider he's 6-foot-4 and 260 pounds as a high school sophomore, it's easy to see why we're keeping an eye on Schipper.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["1221948"],"_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"Paulsrud checks in as the No. 7 quarterback prospect in Iowa for '26. He proves very capable at that position during his u003ca href=u0022https://www.hudl.com/video/3/14884967/655cddf832dc430abcf1b621u0022u003esophomore highlight videou003c/au003e. And he's not a finished product there, by any means. That said, part of what makes him even more intriguing is his athleticism plays at other spots. He racked up almost 900 yards with 13 yards rushing last fall. Paulsrud added 62.5 tackles (45 solo, 8.5 TFL) with a sack. He returned 10 kicks for 358 yards and two scores. He also split punting duties.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_player":["1241404"],"_player_evaluations_6_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"Moore Jr. is another guy who will be looking to replicate his impressive play from the sophomore squad to the varsity this fall. His u003ca href=u0022https://www.hudl.com/profile/18044676/Donault-Moore-Jr/highlightsu0022u003eHudl pageu003c/au003e gives us individual game highlights from last season. They reveal a fluid, instinctual defensive back. He also shows potential as an outside receiver. Valley should be loaded on offense this year, so there might more opportunity for him in the secondary.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":7,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-662af1856c592"} /-->