WPIAL Preview: 2026 Prospects Outside The Top 100 To Check Out

[player_tooltip player_id='388091' first='Ryan' last='Messina'] is a good quarterback prospect who is a nice blend of being in the pocket and going outside to make a play. Messina has great size, standing 6'3 inches tall. Messina has excellent mechanics when throwing the ball. He does a nice job sitting in the pocket and delivering a good football. He shows a strong arm, especially when he throws a deep ball. Messina is also a good runner. He can be used in design run plays or when the play breaks down by scrambling around to make a play. Messina is a talented quarterback in the 2026 class.      [player_tooltip player_id='388092' first='Cameron' last='Walter'] is a classic pocket quarterback who does a good job of throwing the ball inside the pocket. He has excellent footwork and mechanics in the pocket. He also does a nice job of sitting in the pocket and knowing he gets hit, but he still delivers a good football. Walter can also run with the ball in designed plays and when the play breaks down but prefers to sit in the pocket and throw a good football. Walter is a talented prospect in the 2026 class.     [player_tooltip player_id='647820' first='Deaubre' last='Lightfoot'] plays linebacker well even though he is undersized. He makes up for the lack of size by using his athleticism and his instincts to make plays. He is excellent at blitzing. He does a nice job of waiting and finding an opening and then exploding into the backfield. Lightfoot also does a good job of running sideline-to-sideline chasing down plays all over the field. He also showed a good ability to cover in the passing game. Lightfoot should improve next season and also get some playing time at running back as well.     [player_tooltip player_id='646782' first='Joseph' last='Work'] is a good linebacker with the instincts to play the position. Work does a nice job of reading his keys and triggering downhill. He is excellent at reading and making run plays. Work is also a terrific tackler, especially in the open field. When a ball carrier gets tackled by Work they feel it from his physical tackling ability. He also shows good hustling by constantly chasing down plays all over the field. Work is a talented prospect at linebacker.     [player_tooltip player_id='388094' first='Colt' last='Sprankle'] is someone I am familiar with because he has attended two of our Showcases. Sprankle is a natural thrower of the football. He has excellent mechanics and good footwork. Sprankle also shows a competitive spirit and you see it in the way he raises to the competition. He is also a good athlete that moves well. Sprankle has elite skills at quarterback and unfortunately, his season was cut short because of an injury that occurred. He should be healthy and ready to go this year.