Breaking Through: New ATHs Added to the '26 Rankings

In the ever-competitive world of high school football, versatility can be a game-changer, and thus the creation of the ATH role. As the latest rankings for the class of 2026 roll out, a new group of athletes has emerged, showcasing their ability to excel in multiple different spots. These players have been making noise on the field with their dynamic skill sets, earning them a spot in the rankings. In this article, we'll dive into these new ATHs added to the '26 rankings to discover what makes them stand out and why their versatility could be the key to their future success.    Isaiah Hargrove was a threat both on the ground and through the air for Youngker's offense in 2023. Finishing the year with 125 rushing yards on 21 carries (6 yds/att) and 172 receiving yards on 17 receptions (10.1 yads/rec), he was used very evenly in both throughout the year. At 6'1" 160 lbs with some crisp route running, I could see Hargrove taking on a much bigger role at the receiver spot. He just moves very smoothly across the field and has shown an understanding of how to attack defenses. His physical tools and skillset both seem to be in line with a top-end receiver, and Hargrove could very well be just that in 2024.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/YoungkerFB/status/1631441563569242112 </div></figure>     Looking at him as just a wide receiver/defensive back combo, [player_tooltip player_id='1369440' first='Timi' last='Akinyoyenu'] is a long-armed shifty prospect who has quick lateral movement on the defensive end and an impressive catch radius on offense. Playing at a very solid 5'11" 160 lbs, he can make tough catches in traffic and has the speed to win on the outside. This already makes him a prospect to keep an eye on, but then you add the fact that he's also capable of rushing for 292 yards if you hand him the ball 17 times in a game. (Not to mention his 312 kick/punt return yards.) Akinyoyenu has proven he's a player who will do whatever is asked of him, including throwing a few passes – which he also happened to do last year.      Now, I wouldn't have pegged a 5'6" 150 lbs receiver to be the "go up and get it in traffic" type – and he likely won't play that way at the next level – but in Douglas' offense, [player_tooltip player_id='1309792' first='Justin' last='Hurtado'] is just that. His athleticism extends farther than just his speed, his verticle allows him to get up there with bigger defenders on contested catches and his physicality allows him to come down with the ball. On the defensive end, that physicality gets put on full display. Not at all afraid to make contact with receivers as he's making a play for the ball, he seemingly has a great understanding of how to handle both man and zone assignments. He does particularly well in press man when paying no attention to the quarterback. With his eyes glued to the receiver's hips, he never seems to be more than a step behind.      A prospect that truly seems hungry for more and eager to get better, [player_tooltip player_id='1249969' first='Latavis' last='Walker'] may be listed as an ATH, but he's an incredibly natural linebacker with nice instincts in the run game. His athleticism allows him to cover the pass well being both fast enough to stick with slot receivers and strong enough to rough up tight ends. His long arms give him the reach to make plays on passes when he's seemingly out of the play and with his speed, he can still come up and help in the run game even when his primary responsibility is the pass. I broke down his play against the run in depth the last time I watched Walker's tape, saying:   <blockquote class="wp-block-quote"> Against the run is where you see Walker's motor truly shine. Never giving up on a play, he has no problem going across the field and catching running backs from behind. Even with a lighter frame, he's still able to play physical at the line of scrimmage and has no trouble bringing both shifty and powerful players down in the open field. </blockquote>   Another thing that has really stuck out to me about Walker is his attitude, particularly on social media. Both he and fellow Buena linebacker, [player_tooltip player_id='1682199' first='Cooper' last='Kraus'], do a great job of promoting themselves in a humble way, while still making it clear that they have more to learn. That Buena staff is doing it right down in Sierra Vista.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/TjWalker2026/status/1820872906068443409 </div></figure>     A 455 lbs deadlift from a wide receiver/defensive back that weighs in at 165 lbs himself, isn't something you see every day. That's what [player_tooltip player_id='1329704' first='Synzere' last='King'] can do playing for Mica Mountain, and that's over 2.75x his body weight. Once he gets the ball in his hands, there's no telling what damage he can do. Not only is he incredibly shifty and agile, but he has some really impressive top-end speed which shows with his 40-yard dash time of 4.54. That type of speed and agility will prove to be effective on both sides of the ball as King takes on a more prominent role on a very talented Mica Mountain roster that made it all the way to the 4A semi-finals in 2023.

In the ever-competitive world of high school football, versatility can be a game-changer, and thus the creation of the ATH role. As the latest rankings for the class of 2026 roll out, a new group of athletes has emerged, showcasing their ability to excel in multiple different spots. These players have been making noise on the field with their dynamic skill sets, earning them a spot in the rankings. In this article, we'll dive into these new ATHs added to the '26 rankings to discover what makes them stand out and why their versatility could be the key to their future success.