2026 NY Rankings: Watchlist Lineman

There are a couple of different ways to end up on the watchlist, and the main one which a lot of these prospects fall under is they did not have varsity sophomore film. Now, a couple of these prospects did play on varsity but without film, it makes it very difficult for not only myself but college coaches to evaluate their abilities. Below are a few offensive and defensive linemen on the 2026 rankings watchlist who I think have a chance to really become more known commodities across the state. Don't be shocked if, by the time this class graduates, we see multiple division-one caliber players from this list.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Offensive Linemen</h2>    6'8 280 - Basketball player turned offensive tackle. Iyalekhue does have a lot to learn when it comes to just the fundamentals of the game, he did not play last season after being with Iona Prep briefly as a freshman. He has the ideal frame, elite length, and his athleticism from the court translates well. Iyalekhue has a lot of work to do in terms of becoming a division one caliber OT - heading into his Junior year excited to see the progress he has made and what he can put on tape.     McDowell, formerly of Patchogue-Medford, moved to Half Hollow Hills East and, because of transferring, needed to sit out the 2023 season. At 6'5, 345lbs, he is one of the bigger OL prospects in the state, and getting some quality varsity film this year could put him amongst the state's top offensive linemen.     There is pretty much nothing out there to evaluate [player_tooltip player_id='838705' first='Izack' last='Miller'] with, but entering his Junior Season for Maine-Endwell, he is a name to know. Maine-Endwell loses two Division 1 linemen to graduation and, with that, a lot of size. At 6'6 and 330lbs, Miller has that and is part of a program that has a very strong recent history with OL/DL development.     Pratt has some of the elite measurable traits ideal for the tackle position at the next level. Pratt is at a true 6'6 and nearly 300lbs and only has a couple of clips of film on HUDL but the ITC-Syracuse OT prospect has a ton of potential and this Junior season of film will be big for Pratt.     Lane is a player who does not have a HUDL film of his own, but if roster #s are correct, then you can piece together somewhat of an evaluation using other prospects' films. Lane is a big OL prospect at 6'4 300lbs - a lot of natural strength in some flashes of what I saw. Overall, getting 3-4 minutes of a variety of blocking of his own film is what I am on the lookout for from Lane.    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Defensive Linemen</h2>    It is hard to get playing time when there are three seniors (2 D1 commits, 1 D2 commit) defensive linemen and 1 junior (D1 commit) in front of you in a 3-man front as a sophomore. Hughes has been successful in the regional non-padded camps and has the athleticism of a player who can play at the next level - this is the type of player, when it comes to measurables and athleticism, that has a chance to end up as one of the top players in New York with a strong season. E-Hall lost a lot of talent on the DL to graduation, but with guys like Hughes ready to go, it doesn't make the position group a weakness.     Godard has some film from his freshman year at Kellenberg and he flashes as a really strong OG/DT prospect. He since has moved to Holy Cross and really could end as a prospect on either side of the ball. I think there is a chance we will see some strong Junior season tape of our Godard.     There are only a couple of recent clips on his HUDL, and Churchville-Chili actually has one of the more stacked Defensive Line groups in New York. In those few clips, Zimmer's size is evident, and his ability to eat blocks is what you see on tape. More explosive movements with more film could get Zimmer in a good spot after his junior season.     Without varsity film, Guinyard lands on the watchlist as an EDGE/OLB prospect who has a chance to become one of the better pass rushers in the CHSFL in his first year on varsity. Guinyard has the size and body to last in the most physical league in NY but also really good length and natural strength which is often displayed at the point of attack.

There are a couple of different ways to end up on the watchlist, and the main one which a lot of these prospects fall under is they did not have varsity sophomore film. Now, a couple of these prospects did play on varsity but without film, it makes it very difficult for not only myself but college coaches to evaluate their abilities. Below are a few offensive and defensive linemen on the 2026 rankings watchlist who I think have a chance to really become more known commodities across the state. Don't be shocked if, by the time this class graduates, we see multiple division-one caliber players from this list.