2026 Wide Receivers On The Rise

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Who are some fast-rising 2026 receivers in Georgia?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prep Redzone has the details...</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Rhari “King” Thomas - Peachtree Ridge</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A quick, shifty receiver who is dangerous with the ball in his hands, Thomas may be on the smaller side, but he's an easy playmaker who can help in different ways. Whether he's catching the ball downfield or getting the ball handed to him, Thomas has the chance to make a big play whenever he's given the opportunity to do so. This PEchtree Ridge pass-catcher is coming off a strong sophomore season where he caught 58 passes for 567 yards and three touchdowns. If he can add some weight and continue working hard this off-season, Thomas has a chance to have a giant junior season. He shows quick feet, the ability to change directions, and enough speed to get to the perimeter and up the field. He's a prospect on the rise bound for a big 2024 season in 7A.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='283860' first='Jonathan' last='Stafford'] - Grayson</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the best 2026 receivers not only in Gwinnett County, but across the state, Stafford Jr. is without a doubt one of the top returning pass-rushers across the 7A class. A natural receiver with strong hands and the ability to create separation down the field, Stafford is a crisp, athletic weapon who can line up in the slot or on the outside for the Archer offense. The 5-foot-10 170-pounder was an easy go-to option all season long and lit up the stat sheet with 86 receptions for 837 yards and six touchdowns. He has an impressive route tree for his age and made a big impact for a sophomore against quality 7A defenses all season long. As a junior this fall, look for Stafford's number to only increase. He's an easy D1 talent who could be one of the leading receivers across Gwinnett County in the fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><a href="https://www.maxpreps.com/ga/dacula/dacula-falcons/athletes/kobe-adeleke-hokes/football/stats/?careerid=u4521llja9i88">Kobe Adeleke-hokes</a> - Peachtree Ridge</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A former Dacula playmaker who will play his junior season at Peachtree Ridge, this 6-foot-0 170-pound pass-catcher is coming off a strong junior season for the Falcons where he caught 41 passes for 507 yards and three touchdowns. That's an average of over 12 yards per catch. His best game last year came against Tucker where he caught 12 passes for 167 yards. He's quick, shifty, and can even make big plays on special teams. He's a prospect on the rise in the area who showed last year that he's one of the more promising 2026 receivers in Gwinnett County. His best football is still ahead of him, and if he can continue to work hard on his craft while adding good muscle and mass, Adeleke-hokes could have a true breakout junior season next fall. He can get open, he can play in the slot and has the ability to make big plays down the field. Look for him to give the Peachtree Ridge offense a big boost in 2024.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->