2026 MD/DC/DE Rankings: Need to Know Prospects Outside the Top 100 - Part 1

<p>Let's take a look at some players in the recent 2026 rankings who are outside the Top 100 but are names that should be on everyone's radar. These guys are all players who could have huge rating rises with a strong junior season and will be strong looks for many college programs. Most of these prospects I have gotten to see live over the last year and feel confident they are names who will blow up over the next year in terms of their recruiting. </p>    <p class="text-gray-700">I have seen Thomas multiple times over the last year, both at practice and workouts with Coach Breen at Hawg Performance. Over said year Thomas has taken big strides, improving and developing into a D1 level OL. He has really improved his body this off season as well, trimming down extra weight and putting on good muscle. Thomas is now a thick build yoked up strong dude with good length ready to take defenders out of the play. He's a natural knee bender who can drop his weight, sink, and create a strong base. Coates fires off low and has a strong hip roll that allows him to get nice leverage on the defender, hands powering up into the chest and using his legs to drive DL down the field. A high level athlete for the position as well, Thomas is light on his feet and can run. Gets up to the second level with acceleration and explosiveness, while also having fluid lateral movement. He can open up his hips/re-direct to turn run.</p>   <p>Thomas is a powerful athletic OL prospect who should get a lot of strong college interest after next fall. He mainly plays OT for Urbana but I see him best inside as an OG for the next level. With his ability to move and run, he can slide inside easily and be dominate. I can Mr. Coates to being an All Area lineman this fall and is a must see player.</p>    <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/ThomasCoates310 </div></figure>    <p class="text-gray-700">Walker transferred to Gonzaga this spring after previously being at Robinson HS (VA) and making 2nd Team All District there this past fall. He will be a strong addition to an already loaded Gonzaga defensive backfield.</p>   <p>Walker is a versatile, physical Safety. Capable of playing over the top or down in the box, he is a rocked up well slapped together player. He will consistently run the alley and attack the ball carrier, and will lay a hit tackling through the offensive player and making them feel it. Littleton plays fast, quick to the ball and is all over the field. He is fast & athletic enough to get sideline to sideline and cover lots of grass whether in coverage or coming up to support the run. He shows good ball skills as well, always around the ball to break up the pass or snag an Int. I like Walker as a SS option or even a rover DB as a prospect. With his strong tackling ability and the ability to play multiple spots on the field and being effective in multiple roles, colleges will value his versatility. </p>    <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/WalkerLittleton/status/1721300535054143757 </div></figure>    <p class="text-gray-700">Benji is an exciting prospect heading into the 2024 season and is a player who could make a huge jump in rankings after this season. He has high level size at 6'6" 265 and is a big time athlete. Along with football, Benji plays lacrosse and basketball, can dunk a basketball, and backgrounds in both those sports usually translates to great footwork. He's got the strength and mobility to be a LT at the next level, just needs to continue developing his game. He plays with good bend and lateral mobility. Light on his feet, he can get out and run at times as well. Benji shows well in pass pro with a powerful punch and good hand work. A quick kick step and set, he can handle a speed rush on the edge. </p>   <p>I see all the tools required to be a G5/P4 Tackle in Benji's game, he just needs to continue to polish his game and continue to fill out the frame. If he plays up to his potential this year, Benji will be a player on a lot of colleges boards.</p>    <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/bwil23/status/1729644697369321670 </div></figure>    <p class="text-gray-700">Ryan really got on my radar after his strong performance at the National Preps Showcase earlier this summer. He transferred this summer from one elite Delaware program (Middletown to HS) to another elite team in Salesianum HS. He mainly played OLB last season, but worked out at both LB and DL at the NP camp. He is a good athlete, can cover a lot of ground and is strong in pass coverage as a LB. However I feel he will eventually be best as an athletic DL prospect in the future. He has a frame that can carry 240lbs+ easily and measured a nice 76" length at the showcase as well. That along with his athleticism makes him an impact rush edge player in my mind. Ryan has great get off and fluid hips. Can get going quickly to close down on the ball, re-direct and go, and chase down the ball carrier. In DL 1v1s at the NP Camp, he showed a wide array of pass rush moves. Was able to slap away the OL's hands and showed effective hand work. He flashed a nice spin, swim, and out & in move as well, dominating his reps at DE at the event. Pair that with his high energy play, physicality, and explosiveness you got a dominate player to fear. </p>   <p class="text-gray-700">Ryan is also a high academic prospect with a 4.1 GPA and is a 2x Academic All State player.I look forward to see how Sally uses his this upcoming season and feel he will surprised people in his production on the field. If he shows out this fall like he did at National Preps, I see him getting interest from a lot of high academic schools and programs at the FBS/FCS level.</p>    <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/RyanVanK2026/status/1774458128030937117 </div></figure>    <p class="text-gray-700">Allen is a player in line to have a breakthrough junior campaign with a reloaded MSJ offense. With a lean frame, arms to his knees and a long smooth stride - Gillis is a WR with big playmaking ability. He is best as a vertical threat, being able to stretch the seam from the slot or push deep and an X receiver. He runs like a gazelle with a stride that eats up grass allowing him to get down the field and over the top of the defense. Once the ball is in the air, he tracks the ball well running under it and snatching the ball out the air. Along with his length that allows for a big catch radius when he tracks the ball down as well. Allen is also effective in the jet sweep game, showing good speed to get around the edge and run big gains. Look for Mr. Gillis to have a strong season this fall and put up some big numbers.</p>    <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/AG_1_4 </div></figure>    <p class="text-gray-700">Noah is a playmaker on both sides of the ball at both RB & LB, but I feel as his continues to fill out his frame LB will be his best position going forward. At 205lbs right now, he has a frame that can hold 220lbs+ easily, just needs to continue to hit the weight room and get stronger over these next couple years. He is explosive off the edge as an OLB. Has nice burst and is a high motor, high energy guy. Flying to the ball and being able to chase down ball carriers all over the field. That play style is backed up with his speed as he is a self reported 4.6 40 player. Noah also shows quick choppy feet and fluid hips, able to re-direct and turn & run flat down the line. A tough and physical player, Noah does not shy from coming down hill and bringing the contact. I can see him playing either ILB or OLB and he is also a high academic prospect with a reported 3.9 GPA. With his explosiveness and continued bulk/strength, Noah will be a must see prospect on the FBS/FCS camp circuit come next summer. </p>    <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/NoahKeglovits </div></figure>

Let's take a look at some players in the recent 2026 rankings who are outside the Top 100 but are names that should be on everyone's radar. These guys are all players who could have huge rating rises with a strong junior season and will be strong looks for many college programs. Most of these prospects I have gotten to see live over the last year and feel confident they are names who will blow up over the next year in terms of their recruiting.