2026 Rankings – Highest Ranked Newcomers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Get 25% Off Your Subscription By Entering Knight25 In The Coupon Code Area. Enjoy!</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's the month of October and that means it's time for a prospect ranking update! Throughout this month, we have been updating each class ranking and following up those updates with in-depth breakdowns on a ton of prospects in each class. Two weeks ago, we kicked things off with the&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://prepredzone.com/oklahoma/rankings/2028-rankings/">2028 Watchlist.</a></strong>&nbsp;Last week, we continued our updates with the 2027 class, featuring the&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://prepredzone.com/oklahoma/rankings/2027-rankings/">Top 75 Sophomores In Oklahoma.</a></strong>&nbsp;This week, it's time to take a look at the state's 2026 class. The latest ranking update now features the&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://prepredzone.com/oklahoma/rankings/2026-rankings/">Top 150 Juniors In Oklahoma.</a></strong>&nbsp;In this breakdown, we're taking a look at the five highest ranked prospects who are new to the 2026 rankings. You can make the argument that some should have already been here but others are debuting after enjoying breakout seasons this fall. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["402381"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-671fe49eea457"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Union defensive back [player_tooltip player_id='402381' first='Oliver' last='Smith'] has really impressed us this year when we've gotten a chance to watch him in person. Whether it was in 7v7 tournaments back in the spring, team camp in May or in the regular season this fall, Smith has always found a way to make an impact and a way to stand out on the field. We think that he has the potential to be one of the better true cover cornerbacks in the state's 2026 class and this is a DB class that is absolutely loaded. But in this ranking update, Smith is the highest ranking newcomer and his stock is definitely pointing up. We have a feeling that it could be a very busy offseason ahead for Smith the more his junior film makes the rounds with coaches at the next level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1403519"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-671fe49eea4ca"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Rejoice Christian wide receiver [player_tooltip player_id='1403519' first='Xavier' last='Okwufulueze'] is the perfect example of why we do a "newcomers" spotlight with every ranking update. Hand up, we didn't know anything about Okwufulueze three months ago but that's definitely not the case now. The Rejoice Christian junior has emerged as arguably the top target in the Rejoice passing game and definitely the biggest mismatch problem for opposing teams. Okwufulueze is listed at 6'5 and is a standout in multiple sports now. The Eagles are one of the top teams in Class A-1 and they've had a few players that are enjoying breakout seasons this fall. The Rejoice junior is just one of them and he's going to be a name to watch moving forward at the wide receiver position.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1202137"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-671fe49eea510"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Eight-man football prospects are prospects too and Empire junior linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1202137' first='Cutter' last='Rochell'] is one of the top linebackers in all of eight-man football. You can now make the case that he's one of the top linebackers in the state's junior class. Rochell is debuting in the rankings in the top 50 and as the number four linebacker prospect. His production so far this season is absolutely off the charts. And the truth is you can't lean on that alone when looking at an eight-man prospect but you throw on the film and you see a long and athletic linebacker that tracks the ball at a high level and gets there in a hurry. Rochell has also stood out to us in various 7v7 tournaments in the past and he definitely belongs as one of the top 2026 linebackers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["595698"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-671fe49eea552"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Broken Arrow offensive lineman [player_tooltip player_id='595698' first='Tristan' last='Silva'] is the only offensive lineman on this breakdown and we're very excited about his potential moving forward. Silva is starting for the Tigers at center and he's had some really good performances against some of the better competition in the state this season. And we've also made no secret about how we've really liked the Broken Arrow offensive line as a whole with the young talent they have on the line of scrimmage. Silva is just one part of that and he could end up being the anchor of that position group moving forward. Silva has good size and technique and like we mentioned at the top, he's performed really well when he was matched up with some of the better defensive tackles in 6A-1.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1451368"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-671fe49eea593"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The second Union Redhawk on this breakdown is linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1451368' first='Tucker' last='Koch'] and we didn't know much about him before watching him in person against Jenks back in September. In a game where the Union defense held the Trojans out of the end zone, it was Koch leading the way from the linebacker position, making their front seven an absolute nightmare to go up against. Koch has had more solid performances than just one game and is a name to know moving forward in this class. He has a nose for the football and has been able to produce at a very high level already this season. This Union defense has quite a few names that should end up playing on Saturday and Koch is just one of them to know moving forward.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->