Checking In On 2026's Top-Ranked Prospects

<p>Prospects in the class of 2026 all across the state are seeing offers pour in, and for good reason. These juniors have shown talent, resilience, and an exceptional drive that sets them apart from the rest. As they near the postseason, their skills are being honed to perfection, catching the eyes of scouts and coaches looking to secure the next generation of talent. From explosive plays to game-changing moments, let's check in on 2026's top-ranked prospects at each position.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Offense</h2>   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Quarterback</h3>    <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='739440' first='Tait' last='Reynolds'] has rolled an impressive offseason — where it seemed like he had another Division 1 offer coming in every other day, eventually committing to Clemson to play both football and baseball — into an even more impressive junior season for Queen Creek. The 6'4" 205 lb quarterback has some incredible speed that currently has him as the fifth leading rusher in all of 6A. Also tied for fourth in rushing touchdowns, his legs are a dangerous weapon around the goal line. Throwing the ball with effortless power and consistent accuracy, Reynolds has the Bulldogs rolling at 6-1 and it doesn't look like he'll be slowing down any time soon. </p>    <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Wide Receiver</h3>    <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='401155' first='Daylen' last='Sharper'] is a real weapon on the outside for Brophy's offense. A player with tremendous upside, he moves so smoothly across the field that it often looks like he's gliding. Just last week, I took a look at Sharper's most recent highlights and broke down some of what has him as our top-ranked 2026 wideout:</p>   <blockquote class="wp-block-quote"> <p>His long arms and impressive body control allow him to haul in passes that seem out of reach. A two-sport athlete with immense upside, Sharper is not just a playmaker; he's a game-changer for Brophy. With 340 receiving yards and 5 touchdowns this season, his ability to adjust mid-route and make acrobatic grabs has made him a key target in the offense.</p> </blockquote>    <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Running Back</h3>    <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='992823' first='Jacob' last='Brown'] is coming off an impressive sophomore season at Saguaro. Now running the rock for Hamilton, Brown has seven total touchdowns so far this year. He has really impressive burst that allow him to fly through the trenches, quickly working his way to the second level. When the offense gets near the goal line, he lets his aggressiveness take over and is often the one delivering the big contact, rather than receiving it. His ability to maintain balance while absorbing hits in the open field make him tough to tackle for defenders. As Hamilton looks to make a push for the Open, Brown is going to be a big part of thier success.</p>    <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Tight End</h3>    <p class="text-gray-700">A short while back I gave some insight on how [player_tooltip player_id='992764' first='Aveon' last='Williams'] — the big 6'6" 240 lb tight end — is able to get behind the defense as often as he does:</p>   <blockquote class="wp-block-quote"> <p>He has no problem finding open space down the field and outrunning defenders when he sees grass in front of him. He's shown great body control around the sideline and his secure hands make him a target his quarterback can truly trust when it matters most. He already received an offer from ASU back in April of 2023, which will only continue as he works through the rest of his high school career. With six total touchdowns so far this season, Williams is showing everyone why he's our top-ranked 2026 tight end.</p> </blockquote>   <p>Casa Grande has a chance make some noise in the 5A playoffs. Currently 16th in the AIA rankings, they have a lot of firepower on offense that's going to be hard for any defense to shut down.</p>    <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Offensive Line</h3>    <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='401165' first='Jalayne' last='Miller'] is the total package playing tackle for Desert Edge's offense. Starting with his quick feet, he doesn't seem to struggle against the speedy pass rushers because he quickly get's depth and has the strength to get them so far off track that they're out of the play. When his opponent is more a tachnician who treis to throw multiple pass rush moves at Miller, his active hands allow him to keep them at arms length and attacks their torso. Bringing it all together with a strong base that gives him incredible great drive in the run game, and you're left with a player who's going to be making a real impact on Saturdays in the future. </p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Defense</h2>   <p>If you were wondering why the Liberty Lions were getting so much attention through the offseason, below is a pretty good indication of why. Liberty has our top-ranked 2026 prospect at all three levels of the defense!</p>   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Defensive Line</h3>    <p class="text-gray-700">After watching [player_tooltip player_id='992813' first='Paz' last='St John'] at the PRZ Arizona Combine during the offseason, I knew he was a player I should keep a close eye on as he continues to get more and more experience under his belt. After just his first three games of the season, I was already impressed with what I had seen: </p>   <blockquote class="wp-block-quote"> <p>Standing at 6'3″ 260 lbs going into his junior year, his size alone makes him a force in the run game. Adding in his strength and really refined footwork, he becomes an incredibly disruptive force against both the run and the pass. He possesses the kind of power that can completely blow up double teams and then has surprising quickness to make sure the quarterback can't get away.</p> </blockquote>   <p>Now sitting with 7.5 sacks through the team's first seven games, St. John is likely in for a busy offseason after he finishes helping the Lions defend their Open Division state championship. </p>    <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Linebacker</h3>    <p class="text-gray-700">Now with 10 sacks through seven games, [player_tooltip player_id='992770' first='Hudson' last='Dunn'] is becoming one of the most highly touted prospects in the nation. Adding another 14 tackles for loss, his combination of speed and physicality is jaw-dropping. Adding in his top-tier football IQ, you have a dominant force from the linebacker position. After having 7.5 sacks through his first three games, I took a look at his tape and weighed in on the early success he was having:</p>   <blockquote class="wp-block-quote"> <p>[Dunn] has a deep rolodex of pass-rushing moves to get him into the backfield. Dunn is simply too fast for linemen to stay in front of and quarterbacks to scramble away from. To be able to move all 6'2″ and 215 lbs of him that fast and get up to speed so quickly is a scary sight for any offense. He does a great job when tackling in open space and with his agility, it's no easy task for ball carriers to have to make him miss. Dunn already holds a plethora of Division 1 offers including Michigan, Washington, Oregon, Penn State, and others; he could easily rack up many more if he continues to play the way he has been.</p> </blockquote>    <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Defensive Back</h3>    <p class="text-gray-700">The junior standing guard in the back end of Liberty's defense is the incredibly athletic [player_tooltip player_id='739441' first='Zeth' last='Thues']. Able to affect the game in a similar way to how a hybrid safety would be able to, he does so while still being excellent with his pass coverage responsibilities. Thues spends way more time in the opposing offense's backfield than most safeties with nine tackles for loss, three sacks, and two more quarterback pressures. As would be assumed with a safety that gets asked to blitz as often as he does, Thues is a physical player who's not afraid to put his body on the line to make a game-changing play — evident in his five forced fumbles so far in 2024. </p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">ATH</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='992763' first='Mason' last='Lewis']' impact on Casteel cannot be overstated. Making a big impact on both sides of the ball, his versatility has multiple layers to it. As On defense, he's a physical defensive back with incredible makeup speed that allows him to cover a massive part of the field on his own. Offensively, Lewis' versatility gets taken to another level where he's not only an effective receiver but can also really hurt a defense when he takes a handoff as well. He currently has 431 all-purpose yards and five touchdowns on offense, while adding six passes defensed on defense. With the different ways he can completely change the momentum of a game, Lewis is a player to watch closely as he works through the rest of his high school career. </p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Kicker</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1360479' first='Isaac' last='Rhonehouse'] has been a reliable leg for Ironwood Ridge all season, consistently putting up points and pinning opponents deep with his kickoffs. On extra points, he's connected on 22 of 24 attempts. Althoguh he hasn't had the most opportunities, he's nailed 2 of 3 field goal attempts, including a long of 30 yards to help secure a narrow 30-27 victory over Tucson. Beyond his point-scoring duties, he has totaled 1,913 yards on 34 kickoffs, averaging a strong 56.3 yards per kick with 15 touchbacks. Rhonehouse's leg strength and accuracy ahve made him a real weapon in the kicking game. </p>    <p><em>*[player_tooltip player_id='401149' first='Bastian' last='Vanden Bosch'] is technically our highest-listed defensive lineman, but has seemingly made the switch to linebacker. Thriving at the position, he's still incredibly physical but has had more of an opportunity to show his elite instincts and athleticism.</em></p>   <p><em>*[player_tooltip player_id='1177550' first='Aaron' last='Thomas'] is the second-highest listed defensive lineman but seems to be playing solely on the offensive side of the ball for the Pride in 2024. </em></p>

Prospects in the class of 2026 all across the state are seeing offers pour in, and for good reason. These juniors have shown talent, resilience, and an exceptional drive that sets them apart from the rest. As they near the postseason, their skills are being honed to perfection, catching the eyes of scouts and coaches looking to secure the next generation of talent. From explosive plays to game-changing moments, let's check in on 2026's top-ranked prospects at each position.