Midwest 2026 Rising Stars on the Recruiting Trail

We're quickly heading towards the Dog Days of Summer, and in terms of the offseason, this is one of the most exciting times during the grueling 9 months without football. With the rapid-firing, nonstop action of the summer camp circuit right around the corner, we just saw a busy live contact period and transfer portal window filled with recruiting news and movement. With the dust beginning to settle and only a few days left before we move into the Dead and Quiet periods of the recruiting calendar, PrepRedzone is here to give our subscribers the most comprehensive report on Midwest prospects from every graduating class and from Minnesota down to Missouri, and everywhere in between. With all the offers going out, we've identified 14 Midwest 2026 Rising Stars on the Recruiting Trail gearing up to take over your TVs on a Saturday afternoon. Let's dig in!   --    The state of Kansas is one of the hottest up-and-coming areas in the Midwest and arguably nationally, and we have yet another 2026 player to add to the state's growing list of P4 recruits. After a terrific sophomore season that resulted in some eye-popping film, as well as owning a great frame with a high ceiling in terms of potential growth, Galbreath saw Iowa State - always a great evaluator of Midwest talent - pull the trigger for offer #1 in early May. He also took a visit to Oklahoma State in mid-April as well.   Possessing long arms, a lean 200 lbs., positional versatility, a three-phase contributor prospect as an OLB/EDGE in particular, and with a frame that suggests he could add 40-50 pounds and retain his athleticism, Galbreath has a clip around 1:20 into his sophomore film that was special. RB gets loose through the middle of the line at the 25-yard-line and Galbreath, from a dead stop, hawks him down on a fantastic pursuit angle, clean running technique, and a long, fluid gait, and showing some excellent top-end speed to save a TD at his 10-yard-line. great rep that leaves a lasting impression in a scout's mind. Looked like a 100M sprinter as well as some impressive motivation and motor. Galbreath displays a get get-off and attacks blockers but can beat them with quickness or a bit of bend, but speed is the name of his game right now. His burst, acceleration, and closing speed are eye-catching and impressive, and he's a natural turnover creator and disruptive behind the LOS. The 200 lber. gets downhill and takes space with so much speed he can consistently meet ball carriers behind the LOS and create production in the turnover, TFL, sack, and splash-play department. He's also a powerful tackler who is patient and comfortable tracking the hip and closing in space. Galbreath doesn't wear gloves which I like - can play off-ball OLB or standup EDGE, but also operates as a hybrid rover around the box, and he's comfortable operating in a zone coverage scheme and finding success around the hook/curl and flats in pass defense. He also took a punt back to the house in 2023 to showcase some quickness and elusiveness with the ball in his hands and is instinctive, fast, long, athletic, dynamic, it's a great mix that screams gifted and top-tier for a sophomore. Once again, another move by Iowa State that I'm a big fan of. Galbreath is a dude.     Sticking with the Sunflower State and talent-rich Derby High School, who just produced now-Kansas State RB Dylan Edwards and is home to 2025 near 5-star TE Da'Saahn Brame, 2026 mauler of an OL [player_tooltip player_id='1226637' first='Maxwell' last='Robinson'] is continuing the trend of prolific Panthers products. 6'4, 270 lbs. and already possessing a 330 lb. bench, 275 lb. hang clean, and 475 lb. squat, as well as a reported 5.0 40, Robinson experienced one of the biggest recruiting blowups of any 2026 in the Midwest this spring. However, the Minnesota Gophers do deserve their credit for offering first, as they reached out in February for his first P4 offer after Marshall offered in December, but things really got going in April. Once that live period opened up, Robinson heard from Kansas, Oklahoma, Utah, Iowa State, and Arkansas, adding multiple SEC and Big12 offers to what will eventually be a massive haul of scholarships.   Robinson checks the all-important wrestling background box that I love to see in OL prospects, especially high-level ones, as well as a nasty streak I love to see as well, and he really puts the wrestling background to good use on the gridiron. The LT is bendy and excellent at adjusting and using leverage to his advantage to win reps and manhandle defenders in both the run and pass game. Displays great technique in the run game, leg drive is noticeable and consistent, plays whistle to whistle and plays with an edge, and shows off his strength when he locks out and extends his arms. Also demonstrated eye-popping burst for his size, flies out of his stance and into the second level like he's shot out of a cannon and I like watching Robinson operate and work in space. Athletic and dominant for his size as a still-developing sophomore. Also laterally quick and explosive, nimble, light on his feet, agile, balanced for 280 lbs., and a great mix of athletic and physical. Don't find big bodies who can move like Robinson too often, he's going to have quite the list of suitors when it's all said and done.     The third and final Wheat State Rising Star on the Recruiting Trail, Topeka product and Shawnee Heights High School sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='780113' first='Tyren' last='Parker'] was another recipient of Iowa State's impressive evaluation sweep of the state of Kansas, earning his first overall and first P4 offer from the Cyclones in early May. A culmination of years of hard work, Parker is also blessed by Mother Nature, already measuring in at 6'3, 175 lbs. as a WR and DB with more room to grow and fill in.   Off the bat, I love that he's a three-sport athlete who also competes in basketball and track, also has a 3.7 GPA, and he's also a three-phase contributor with good things going for him as a WR, CB, and returner. Parker took a kick to the house in 2023, and almost took a second, and he's explosive in space. His long legs help him cover significant ground with each step and the smoothness in the gait makes him look like he's going slower than he is, until he's by you. Kind of floats by pursuers and seems to surprise them with his pace. The burst and top-end speed pop off the screen as soon as he touches the ball.   As a WR, he displays ample length, great ball skills, strong hands, and YAC ability, especially balance and strength. He can also get to top speed quickly and shows the ability to finish big runs and burn pursuit angles. He also eats up DBs cushions and can break off his routes smoothly. Defensively, as a CB, he owns premium length for the position, especially at CB, is disruptive at the catch point, shows he can get out of his breaks and compete on passes to the first and second levels of the field, and will come up and support the run. I think he projects to safety at the next level, and his versatility as a prep prospect stands out very well in his resume as a recruit. More offers coming!     A well-known name in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, Roman Voss is representing the small school, small town MN ranks but is bound for the big lights of P4 football. The brother of a former South Dakota State QB, Voss has been a baller since his days as a well-built freshman, and is one of the most pound-for-bound most dynamic and interesting players in the state. A prep QB and DB who is primarily being recruited at LB and TE, the 6'4, 215 lber. became only the second 2026 instate prospect to earn an offer from the home state Gophers, which came in early May, and a couple weeks later on the 21st, a 1-on-1 meeting with Head Coach Luke Fickell led to a second B1G offer from Wisconsin. Not a bad spring for the sophomore,   There are a ton of examples of high schools throwing their best athlete at quarterback, and Voss is repping this trend, and in the first handful of plays in his sophomore tape he also played OLB, WR, and nickel in addition to QB. With game-breaking speed for his size as a ball carrier that can take the top off the defense and torch pursuers once he gets the edge, he also is rangy defensively and can cover ground and make plays in both and pass defense. He changes direction well and utilizes speed turns effectively in coverage, and is a quick and powerful ball carrier with great balance in space and 1-on-1 settings. Plus, he made some solid throws as a QB showing a strong arm, touch, and accuray, validating his tag as an "Athlete" into the next level projection, and overall he's a mobile and dynamic multi-sporter with a good basketball background to boot. Too much going for him, both on and off the gridiron, at too good of a size for P4s to wait on. Repping the home state well, young man!     Big-time P4 programs are following up on what PrepRedzoneWI and Lead Scout Mark Johnson saw in his early evaluation of Simpson, who is one of the big winners of the spring contact period after earning his first P4 offer from Kansas before his junior year kicking off off. River Falls, also home to 2025 Iowa Hawkeyes TE commit Eli Johnson, is going to be busy fielding meetings, workings, and offers for Simpson this fall, as he's a bull of a right tackle with an emphatic, high-motor, powerful, and at times dominant play and blocking style with strength and quickness as a 6'4, 285 lb. 15/16 year old.   Displays a little bit of bend, explodes out of his stance, has great leg drive, and can send opponents flying when he locks out his arms, I like the way Simpson bursts and fires out of his cuts and into contact pops on tape. He's a powerful kid who can generate force behind his movements and is going to be especially forceful with a couple more offseasons of weight room work behind him. Brings his hips into contact, is aggressive and physical at the point of attack, looks to dominate in 1-on-1 blocks, climbs to the second level quickly and smoothly, and can maneuver and break down in space well enough to eliminate LBs and DBs effectively and consistently. Has a great rep of him firing off the ball so low and getting up and under the DL chest pads so well that he lifts the kid off his feet and then fires him back into the ground in a punishing fashion. Solid pass set with a good base and an effective puller as well. Comes out of a state known for producing high-quality OL, good size, good tape, and really thrives in the physical contact parts of the game. The instate Badgers are watching closely and his recruitment could get really big if the junior tape is a notch above his sophomores and he continues to improve. Very excited future for the young man from the Badger State.     Pretty fun and unique prospect and storyline out of the Land of Lincoln here. Coming out of the talent-factory that is Wheaton, Illinois' St. Franci High School, who possess an Olympic-sized swimming pool of athletic and desirable college football prospects, almost all of whom are already well known and solidified onto college radars, we didn't expect a new name to emerge from basically thin air. 6'6, 240 lb. DE Gavin Mueller passes the eye test with flying colors and has a decorated athletic background as a basketball player and thrower on the track team, and to sweeten the pot of raw athletic ability as a football recruit, Mueller hasn't played a down of high school football yet. It may sound like a big hurdle on paper, but we've seen plenty of P4-talents find additional popularity on the recruiting trail due to rawness and a lack of football experience. A little backwards logically, but football works different than other sports, and the lack of experience equates a lack of bad habits, and college coaching staffs are so high-end these days that they can really develop, sharpen, and get the most out of a player who is more of a moldable ball of clay.   It also helps when that moldable ball of clay has one of the best shot put throws in the nation in 2024 (55', 2.25" for 17th best in America as of last week), and reports a 10' broad jump and eye-catching 40. The quality of Illinois high school football players only sweetens the pot, and as a testament to both the Land of Lincoln and St. Francis High School, Mueller has been one of the most popular prospects in the Midwest this spring window. Starting with Marshall, Mueller added Akron, Toledo, Kent State, Minnesota, Purdue, Indiana, and Cincinnati offers. Also took an unofficial to Illinois! I'm itching to see this kid in pads, the size, athletic numbers, and multi-sport background indicate a successful future on the gridiron. Could be one of the hottest and most popular prospects in Illinois this fall.     Year after year it seems like there's a Big12/B1G prospect or two coming out of the Sioux City area, and 2026 Bishop Heelan Catholic High School ATH Kasen Thomas is the upcoming name-to-know in the area. Despite him already holding an offer from Iowa State - which rolled in on the 5th - there isn't a ton known about the sophomore in terms of size and verified athletic data, and all I could find in regards to any contextual data is a baseball profile on a third-party site listing him at 5'11, 155 lbs. Always good to be a multi-sport athlete, and Thomas was also productive on both sides of the ball in 2023, posting 56 tackles, 17.5 TFLs, 7.5 sacks, an INT, and 442 rushing yards at a 6.2 YPC average and 3 TDs. This helped him earn First Team All-District, Second Team All-State, and First Team All-Area honors for his efforts, and I'll tell you right now, Thomas isn't 5'11, 155 lbs., and is a big, strong, long, muscular, and intimidating presence on the edge of the LOS. A standup EDGE who can align as a 5T and as far as a Wide9, Thomas opens his tape with an impressive rep of him high-pointing and intercepting a pass almost right out of the QBs hand after taking a step into the backfield. That's a hard play to pull off, and speaks to his coordination, instincts, playmaking ability, vert, and overall athleticism.   Bendy, can beat OTs at the top of the arch, and I like how he can unlock and flip his hips as well. Shows some twitch, utilizes a chop/rip effectively, and is aggressive and physical when attacking blocks, keeps his outside shoulder free, and plays with good leverage. I also like Thomas' closing speed, he plays with good angles, keeps things tight off blockers' hips and backsides, and doesn't round his movements or waste steps/space. Also a powerful tackler with great technique who halts ball carriers in their tracks and can lift them off their feet by the contact he creates. Thomas is well-built for both run and pass defense and love his skillset for rushing the passer. Still some needed info on the 2026er, but the film shows an impressive athletic skillset and toolkit, with production and size to strengthen his case, that Iowa State did a great job of evaluating and offering early. Great job, Cyclones!     This spring, it seems like P4-worthy prospects from Michigan, Missouri, and Ohio were materializing in droves, and a sophomore offensive tackle who caught my eye out of The Mitten is North Branch's 6'6, 260 lber. Eli Bickel. His recruitment got going in April of 2023 after the Central Michigan Chippewas became his first offer, but it took nearly a year for #2 to roll around when Miami (OH) offered around a month ago. Toledo followed, and then on May 7th, Bickel earned P4 offer #1 from the Cincinnati Bearcats!   A lean 260 pounds with room to fill in, as well as a four-sport background where he competes in basketball, wrestling, and track & field, not to mention his 3.8 GPA. Bickel has already posted good track numbers (46'4" shot, 149' discus), and as an LT is a strong, flexible 6'6, 260 lber. with a notable amount of reps of him lining up out of a four-point stance and a really bruising blocking style, especially in the run game. Displaying a wide build, broad shoulders, and a lean frame that still carries some mass in his upper body, Bickel uses good pad level and fires off the ball well, and his strength at the contact point and crushing finishing ability made DL and LB lives hell in 2023. He demonstrates good leg drive and does a good job of staying engaged with an opponent, a good base in pass pro that absorbs and redistributes contact well, and some change of direction ability and body control in space. I like his leg drive, and his feet are never inactive, and the 260 lber. can capitalize on and take advantage of defenders when he gets them off balance or out of position. The physical tools and play style, not to mention the size, are getting a good foundation for Bickel to continue to improve, develop, and broaden his ability as an offensive tackle. Good move by the Bearcats getting in early.       Add another FBS prospect to the list of powerhouse St. Louis University High current players, as 2026 WR/DB [player_tooltip player_id='392814' first='Zachary' last='Allen'] is having himself a good month of May. The 6', 160 lber. earned his first FBS offer to start the month off, when Miami (OH) hit up the sophomore in their wide-reaching sweep of the Show-Me State. Kent State followed two days later. The first of many, Allen is one of the best route runners in the state of Missouri, showing a fluid and nuanced route running skillset who can create separation against a variety of coverages, defenders, and schemes. Allen does a good job of getting out of his breaks quickly, is easy and consistent in hitting his landmarks, and can get DBs to open their hips, overextend, bite on the route, and stop their feet at a variety of points throughout a route. He also has the speed to take the top off the defense and create splash plays for six in the passing game, posting 35 catches for 538 yards and 6 TDs against top-tier competition in 2023, and his overall COD ability is smooth and sudden. Good acceleration, effective at the top of the route, and shows quick feet and good vision after the catch. Allen is superbly comfortable and effective at beating man-coverage and is poised for a monster season in 2024 as a junior. FBS and P4 programs better take notice!     Sticking with the Show-Me State and what is trending to be a fantastic 2026 class in Missouri. Kirkwood's stud sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1130114' first='Jacob' last='Eberhart'] certainly catches the eye as a 6'3, 215 lb. wideout with a great track background. The 2026 standout has PRed with an 11.26 100M and 23.34 200M time this outdoor track season, as well as a nearly 6m long jump. Eberhart saw his recruitment start off in exciting fashion this month, earning his first offers from Ball State, UNLV, and Kent State, as well as raising his stock and getting on the radar of major P4 programs and media scouts.   Not a ton of available film from 2023, but you can still gather that Eberhart is a three-phase contributor (WR, S, kickoff coverage) who possesses sideline-to-sideline pursuit range, gets downhill and closes with pace, and can tackle in space and 1-on-1 situations. Also elusive in space as a ball carrier and shows a great frame with long arms and significant room to fill in and add weight. The combination of size and track speed/ability were big catalysts to Eberhart raising his stock as a recruit despite limited reps as a sophomore, and if the junior film can impress, he's going to see his stock shoot up and into the stratosphere. You don't find that kind of frame with that pure speed very often. Going to be a big fall for the Kirkwood product.     An emerging name in what looks like a tremendous TE class in the Show-Me State, particularly their 2026 class, Rock Bridge High School's 6'6, 230 lb. sophomore Garrett Essner is still at the genesis of what could develop into a lengthy and popular recruiting road. On May 8th, the University of Nevada-Las Vegas became Essner's first overall and first FBS offer, and if he can continue to grind, develop, and improve, he's going to be a nightmare for opposing DCs to try and handle.   Long, lots of room to fill in, and uses it well in the pass game, high-pointing the ball in contested catches and 50/50 situations and displaying a big catch radius. Essner generally aligns flexed out on the LOS but does have reps of him as an inline TE or as a wingback, and he shows strong hands that can catch the ball away from his body and is an effective blocker who is strong enough to move bodies at the LOS and nimble enough to corral second and third-level defenders in space. The 6'6 target did a good job of recognizing and capitalizing on off-man cushions and space afforded to him by defenders and demonstrates good balance and will run behind his pads and his size after the catch. Still a lot more to show on tape, but the potential and upside are present like the gifts under the Christmas tree on December 25th, and if you want a fun name to watch who is close to moving into that next realm as a recruit, keep an eye on Columbia Rock Bridge's [player_tooltip player_id='1270488' first='Garrett' last='Essner'].     A big sophomore season on St. Louis area gridirons in 2023 has transferred into recruiting trail momentum for Ft. Zumwalt North's [player_tooltip player_id='1125463' first='Xavier' last='Jackson']. At a still-growing 6'3, 245 lbs., Jackson posted 82 tackles (51 solo), 8 TFLs, and 7 sacks as a sophomore for some serious production as an underclassman, and schools like Ball State and Kent State were impressed enough to offer the DE earlier this month. Also took an unofficial to Coral Gables and the Miami Hurricanes in April, a P4 trend of visits and attention that will only increase if Jackson can continue to improve and develop his body and skillset.   A traditional 5T who operates out of a three-point stance, Jackson's game is all about power, and he can use that power to win reps, 1-on-1 blocks, and even doubles with ease. Jackson shows a heckuva bull rush that puts OTs on skates and can shed defenders quickly once he gets them on their heels. However, he also can win with bend, and he has some solid reps of him winning at the top of the arc. He also wins with his great hustle and good speed for 250ish pounds. Jackson has an impressive rep around :45 into his sophomore film where he runs down a loose QB 30-40 yards downfield on sheer motor and want alone to save a TD, and another play of him running down a speedy RB out to the sideline. The 250 lber. is also patient, keeps his feet active, and can defend the read-option well, as he doesn't fly upfield with no direction, instead extending and locking out his arms, reading, and reacting to what the offense is doing.     It wouldn't be a true Midwest-focused recruiting article without the fertile grounds of the Buckeye State. Representing Streetsboro High School and Streetsboro, Ohio, a suburb of Akron, 6'5, 250 lb. sophomore lineman Cooper Richmond had a big start to his recruitment when May rolled around, hearing from MAC competitors Toledo, Kent State, and Central Michigan early this month. Still a bit under-the-radar, Richmond is lacking in available film, but what he does have on Hudl it's obvious that he's a big body that can move, coming out of a state known for quality prospects, with present size and a lot of runway left in his development. Richmond is a towering presence on tape, carries his 250 well but isn't skinny, and has some bulk on him. He's a nimble and effective puller, shows good balance, and can start/stop and change direction well in space. He has a good rep of him looking and finding work after finishing his pass set and picking up a blitzer coming from the backside of the LOS. There's evidence of him demonstrating body control and agility in space for his size, and as a 15/16 year, it's worthing betting that's only going to improve. Still a lot of time left, but a big junior season would be a huge boost in his recruitment. More on Streetsboro below!     Another big body with lots of room for growth and youth on his side, Scott III kept his Streetsboro High School coaches busy earlier this month, hearing from Toledo, Miami (OH), Kent State, Akron, and Central Michigan. This came after an impressive sophomore campaign that saw him earn First Team All-Conference, First Team All-District, and Third Team All-Ohio honors, Scott III is the RT of Streetsboro's exciting tackle duo, showing a ton of strength and a consistent finishing ability in the run game. As a RT, he's a noticeably strong kid at the point of attack and a pancake machine as a run blocker, using great hand placement, leg drive, and an ability to stay engaged with a defensive lineman while using subtle pulls and leverage advantages to get defenders on their backs. Scott III is an effective puller, plays whistle to whistle, and has a real knack for run blocking. Some verified size would be nice, as would some kind of info on how strong he actually is. Projects to guard in college. As a DE, he displays a variety of ways to beat OTs, particularly with his quickness and motor. Still a lot of questions to be answered, but the carnal physicality, strength, and 1-on-1 dominant ability are present as an underclassman, providing a good base to continue building. Streetsboro is going to be popular with OL coaches the next couple cycles!     Sticking with the Buckeye State for another big-bodied and still-growing offensive line prospect! Always-fertile Canton area and Canton McKinley High School have a good one in 6'5, 270 lber. Logan Hayes, who has gained 55 pounds since last season ended and owns a 78-inch wingspan. Last week, the sophomore earned offer #1 from SEC competitor Kentucky, an excellent and high-profile start to what could be a popular recruitment when it's all said and done. The left guard looks and plays like an underclassman in his sophomore tape. Tall, and that length is noticeable, but he's skinny and lean and although he does have some pop and strength as a blocker, another offseason in the weight room, as well as his aforementioned 55 lb. gain, make me very excited for his junior film. Hayes is definitely an athletic 6'5 interior OL though, uses body positioning well, is balanced, and is very agile and proficient at zone blocking and comboing up to the second level. He's an effective puller, executed a couple big reach blocks impressively in his sophomore tape, comes aggressively into contact, and doesn't mind playing with physicality. The mobility, small lateral ability, and change of direction smoothness resemble a power forward on the hardwood, in all the best ways. That's an exciting skill set for an interior OL prospect. More P4 offers coming!     Hillcrest High School in Country Club Hills, Illinois, continues to be a must-know destination for top-end Land of Lincoln talent. The home to 2024 Tampa Bay 4th Round pick Bucky Irving, and home to current established prep football talents like McHale Blade (Top-150 prospect in the nation, according to 247Sports), Erimus Wright, Maurice Garrett, and Jazarri Jackson, we got a new name added to the mix in explosive fashion. A representation of a common recruiting trend in high school football, 6'7, 220 lb. TE/DE Maximilian Carmicle has a P4 frame, plus-length, multi-sport basketball background, and two-way ability, and the athleticism and potential culminated in a B1G scholarship coming in as his first offer. Over Memorial Day Weekend, Carmicle heard from the Indiana Hoosiers for offer #1, a can't-miss move by the B1G competitor despite limited tape on the gridiron. Obviously, Indiana can get game film behind the scenes, and his basketball highlights are impressive, so it's safe to say the athleticism has been evaluated and verified. Carmicle has a chance to really blow up as a summer camp circuit performer and once the junior tape starts to come out as well. Can't wait to get more info on this kid as it comes out.

We're quickly heading towards the Dog Days of Summer, and in terms of the offseason, this is one of the most exciting times during the grueling 9 months without football. With the rapid-firing, nonstop action of the summer camp circuit right around the corner, we just saw a busy live contact period and transfer portal window filled with recruiting news and movement. With the dust beginning to settle and only a few days left before we move into the Dead and Quiet periods of the recruiting calendar, PrepRedzone is here to give our subscribers the most comprehensive report on Midwest prospects from every graduating class and from Minnesota down to Missouri, and everywhere in between. With all the offers going out, we've identified 14 Midwest 2026 Rising Stars on the Recruiting Trail gearing up to take over your TVs on a Saturday afternoon. Let's dig in!