2026 Rankings: Predicting College Value for Five Receivers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Rankings are all about projecting college upside. With the receiver position, we have a ton of unoffered prospects who've been balling out, in addition to a few with existing offers who're still trending upward. This article will feature five great receivers, and I'll try my best to project what kind of college potential they'll receive this offseason. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["566878"],"_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-67192a6b15a35"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Braylon has an extremely interesting offseason ahead of him. Honestly, I don't know if he'll earn any more MAC offers </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><em>(D1 schools tend to focus almost exclusively on incoming juniors, sophomores, and freshmen, so it's extremely difficult to earn a D1 offer as a senior). </em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>That said, I am extremely confident that Braylon is a MAC prospect, and I give major props to Central Michigan and Miami for offering Braylon, even though he has yet to have a truly breakout season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He's everything you want in a slot receiver. The route running is an A+, and that of course comes with excellent change of direction. Braylon's hands are also great. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The crazy thing is, I think next year will be Braylon's true breakout season from a production standpoint. IKE has a TON of skill position talent, especially in the Class of 2025. So, next season, Braylon could be a sleeper Mr. Football candidate. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["568193"],"_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-67192a6b15b3d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">I am extremely high on Austin after watching his Week 2 performance against Dexter. With zero offers, I have him ranked as a great division 2 prospect. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I think that D2 coaches will like his tape. Austin's midseason tape is a whopping 9 minutes long and is filled with just about every touch and good block he's had. Condense that down to 3-5 minutes of the best plays against the best competition, and it's going to be gold. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I'll nitpick a little- Austin isn't always super disciplined with his routes, and I still don't know just how good of an athlete he is. Projecting as a slot receiver in college, Austin needs to have good athletic testing numbers, and he needs to run great routes consistently. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Even with average testing numbers, I could easily see Austin's tape being enough for a GLIAC to offer. Time will tell, and I cannot wait to see what colleges think of Austin this spring, assuming he decides to attend camps. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1244363"],"_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-67192a6b15c12"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">East Kentwood is pretty dang deep when it comes to their skill positions. Plus, Ahman seems to have outperformed a few other athletes that I was extremely high on prior to this season. All that combined with my in-person evaluation lands Ahman right in my D2 tier. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ahman has produced at an incredibly high level this season. His week 1-7 tape shows a wide variety routes, catches, and blocks. It's apparent that he's an incredibly explosive athlete who knows how to run detailed routes and get open. On top of that, there are a few good contested grabs plus some good blocking on tape. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As a smaller receiver you need to be a good route runner and you need to have great athletic traits. I think Ahman has both. I'd be surprised if he doesn't land on a GLIAC squad. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1529704"],"_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-67192a6b15ce2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Duda is an incredible example of<em> how</em> I rank players- projection over performance. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the grand scheme of things, Duda is a role player on an uber-talented IKE offense. His opportunities are a bit rarer because of the talent surrounding him. Though, something I think is important to mention is IKE has a senior WR with almost identical measurements- [player_tooltip player_id='247687' first='Conner' last='Temple']. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Conner has been balling out in the IKE offense, and I've seen flashes of Duda doing the same. From watching Duda in person, he definitely seems athletic and competitive enough to fill that X receiver role next season. If he can first have an excellent offseason, he'll be able to parlay that with a breakout senior season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Duda is a Division 2 prospect in my eyes- but he needs to hit the offseason with extra intensity in order for him to live up to the ranking. I even think there's a great chance that Duda doesn't earn that GLIAC offer until he's in the midst of the breakout Senior season that I'm predicting.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1529477"],"_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-67192a6b15deb"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Pierce is already a Class of 2026 sleeper. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's very difficult to earn attention as a U.P. Prospect, and they usually end up earning offers from camps during the spring.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I watched Pierce in person, and I came away impressed with his route running, competitiveness, and leadership. He was consistently winning separation against man coverage, and even when his team was down, he game-planned with his teammates on the sideline. I'm pretty confident in a D3 evaluation- I'd recommend Pierce to any MIAA program. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->