2026 Rankings Update Offensive Stock Risers

Code PRZWV30 for 30% off your subscription!   The 2024 WV high school football season has completed and now it's time to spotlight the 2026 class with the winter rankings update. Here are the offensive prospects who were previously ranked and had stock-rising seasons.    Nobody in the 2026 class had a better statistical season than Wheeling Park running back Brennack Wack in 2024. The junior moved from WR to RB for the Patriots after a spot opened up and Wack never looked back on his way to a 2,200 yards and 31 touchdowns season which earned him the Curt Warner Award as the state's top running back. Stats alone didn't earn him the highest increase in the rankings from #120 to #23, a near 100 spot rise since the summer. Wack's film and athletic ability were better spotlighted this season at his new position and looks like a natural spot for him. A season like that will open college eyes and his sequel in 2025 could open up some big opportunities for the rising senior.      2026 Parkersburg South WR [player_tooltip player_id='894768' first='Taj' last='Joyce'] built on his strong sophomore campaign with an even better junior year which earned him a big jump in the rankings. The 6'4 190 receiver hauled in 42 passes for 712 yards and 7 touchdowns for the Patriots as a junior and had 2 interceptions on defense as a big corner. Joyce made a big step forward from his sophomore year in all facets of his game, especially athletically. He looked more fluid on film and continues to grow into his large frame as his athleticism catches up to his size. Joyce proved he could use his size and large catch radius to his advantage this season and made several plays on film that smaller receivers simply can't. Joyce is a vertical threat who can also go up and out physical defensive backs for the ball on acrobatic catches.   <blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Temporary Junior season highlight, my hudl isn't working at the moment. <a href="https://twitter.com/Mr_Tanner23?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Mr_Tanner23</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Coach_ThompsonL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Coach_ThompsonL</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/zachwalls45?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@zachwalls45</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/SchulerSam?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SchulerSam</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachRGarrett?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachRGarrett</a> -42 receptions -712 receiving yard -7 TD <a href="https://t.co/NSR46QQyM2">pic.twitter.com/NSR46QQyM2</a>— [player_tooltip player_id='894768' first='Taj' last='Joyce'] (@tajjoyce5) <a href="https://twitter.com/tajjoyce5/status/1875593327887933619?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 4, 2025</a></blockquote>     [player_tooltip player_id='864575' first='Brayden' last='Edwards'] has settled in well at offensive line after seeing time at LS and DL in our rankings and is developing nicely as a center for the Patriots. The junior big man was an All-MSAC and A-State performer this season and still hasn't come close to reaching his ceiling as an OL prospect. Edwards took over the vacant starting center role as a junior and showed true potential for the position with guard ability as well. He handled zero techs well on film and is developing a nasty streak to his game with the want to finish blocks.      2026 Hurricane WR [player_tooltip player_id='894667' first='Ja'lei' last='Burnette'] has steadily moved up in our rankings since his JV days for the Redskins and made his long-awaited debut as a varsity starter this season and made the most of it. Burnette caught 47 passes for 851 yards and 10 touchdowns and had the breakout performance we saw coming for a while now. His play as a junior earned him a spot inside the Top 20 and a Top 5 receiver in the class. Burnette has the versatility to play inside or outside whose size also allows him to play both spots. He's a vertical threat as a slot or wideout and is very good on fades and go balls and could earn some D1 looks during his senior year.      2026 Roane County OL [player_tooltip player_id='894970' first='Hogan' last='Greathouse'] now ranks as a Top 25 offensive lineman in the class after a strong junior year for the Raiders. Roane County leaned on the back of Greathouse and the rest of the OL on their way to the Class AA State Championship as they rushed for over 4,700 yards and 64 touchdowns. Greathouse is a strong run blocker in their Wing-T system and made a nice leap from his sophomore to junior year. We loved the physicality he showed week in and week out as a punishing run blocker. Greathouse does a nice job of playing until the whistle and finishing blocks which resulted in a high number of pancakes each game.      [player_tooltip player_id='1137685' first='Christian' last='Linksweiler'] built on his sophomore campaign with a breakout junior season for the Independence Patriots in 2024 which earned him a spot among the 20 best receivers in the 2026 class. Even with a first-time variety freshman starter behind center, Linkswiler built a strong rapport with his new quarterback and became a reliable target and go-to receiver as a junior. He's a natural playmaker at receiver with innate ball skills that make him a deep play threat. Linksweiler is a natural over-the-shoulder receiver who can do so in stride and off balance. Linksweiler also does a great job catching in traffic and fighting through contact to secure the catch.      Herbert Hoover's [player_tooltip player_id='922040' first='Blake' last='Fisher'] is the top all-purpose back in the 2026 class and is a very good every-down RB who is lethal in the passing game as well. Fisher posted 1,700 total yards as a junior for the state runner-up Huskies with 954 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns coming on the ground and 762 yards and 5 touchdowns coming through the air. Fisher has tremendous footwork and change of direction ability that makes him very dangerous in the open field. He can hit top speed quickly and will often out-race defenders if he gets a step on them while also beating them when they have angles on him.      2026 Spring Valley RB [player_tooltip player_id='1137479' first='Miguel' last='Cain'] was having a very good junior campaign for the Timberwolves before suffering an injury that ended his season early. His efforts didn't go unnoticed by us and now ranks as a Top 5 running back in the 2026 class. Cain rushed for just under 800 yards and 10 touchdowns on a 7.2 YPC average in the 8 games he was able to play. He's a tough hard-nosed runner with the speed to get loose in space who can stay on the field on every down. Cain has the ability to move pile forward and fight out tough extra yards. He'll break first and second contact consistently and is a tough 1-on-1 matchup for defenders, especially in the open field.      Independence's [player_tooltip player_id='1136973' first='Sylas' last='Nelson'] is another 2,000-yard rusher who moves up inside of the Top 60 as the #3 ATH in the 2026 class. Nelson has played all over the field for the Patriots during his first three years lining up at receiver, quarterback, and now running which may just be his best position on offense. He's a well-rounded athlete with good size and athleticism that will give him options at the next level. Nelson is the definition of a "football player" in every sense of the term who has shown selflessness during his career and has made big plays at every spot his coaches put him in.      It was a small increase, but 2026 Spring Mills ATH [player_tooltip player_id='894977' first='Xavier' last='Anderson'] now ranks as a Top 3 prospect in the class. Anderson has been a hot commodity on the recruiting trail positng offers from the likes of Liberty, App State, Cincinnati, and Virginia Tech among others. The 6'6 205 athlete looks the part of a P4 prospect with a great combination of size and athleticism that is rare to find in West Virginia. It feels like TE may be his best spot at the next level and where most colleges like him the most. Anderson is doing a nice job of contuing to grow into a large frame while maintaining his high level athletic ability.      2026 Hurricane RB [player_tooltip player_id='866253' first='Kylan' last='Grace'] stepped right back in as the Redskins' starter at running back this season and had the season we expected from him. He's consistently been a Top 2 RB in the 2026 class since his freshman year and picked up an offer from Marshall back in October. Grace rushed for nearly 1,400 yards and 14 touchdowns this season as a versatile runner who can pound it between the tackles or out race defenders down the sidelines. You could label Grace as a power back but does have quality speed to break loose and is effective in the screen game as well. He consistently breaks arm tackles and brushes off first contact as a strong and powerful runner.

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