2026’s Up Next: WRs and TEs to Watch in 2025

<p>With national signing day approaching, all eyes will focus on the class of 2026. This evaluation will examine the top talents and under-the-radar prospects who can make a significant leap in 2025.</p>    <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1560974' first='Paxton' last='Strong'] is one of the best tight ends in the class. He is a versatile and athletic tight end who can line up in various positions, including inline, in the slot, or as an H-back. Strong displays a solid release off the snap, due to his good acceleration and foot quickness. He is a willing blocker, capable of setting the edge with good pad level, upper body strength, and leg drive to displace defenders or get out in space. As a pass catcher, he exhibits good hand-eye coordination, body control, and strong hands, allowing him to adjust mid-route or catch the ball in contested situations. A true Red-Zone threat at the next level. Keep an eye on him throughout 2025.</p>   <p class="text-gray-700">Note – 4.2 GPA</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/PaxtonStrong/status/1863961392224612752 </div></figure>     <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1609929' first='Cooper' last='Billingsley'] can line up either inline or at the H-back position and excel as both a blocker and a receiver. He consistently establishes control on outside-zone runs by maintaining good pad level, angles, and hand placement, all while driving with active feet. Billingsley can quickly get to the second level and create running lanes. He demonstrates good hand-eye coordination and body control, allowing him to adjust mid-route and gain yardage after the catch.</p>   <p class="text-gray-700">Note - 3.5 GPA</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/billingsley2026/status/1882261267118968956 </div></figure>     <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1609933' first='Jermaine' last='Conway'] is a formidable blocker at the tight end position, also lining up inline and in the H-back role. He is a willing blocker who can move into space to create running lanes along the edge and near the boundary. Conway is an athletic tight end capable of dominating at short to intermediate levels on the field. Additionally, he possesses good hand-eye coordination and body control.</p>   <p>Note - 3.7 GPA</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/JermaineC2026/status/1870223853370183783 </div></figure>     <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1509132' first='Ja'Marcis' last='Morning'] should be higher on your recruiting board. He is a big-bodied receiver and a true red-zone threat. He consistently attracts attention and faces double teams, yet he still excels at making contested catches. Morning has a quick release and eats up space quickly due to his good foot speed, foot quickness, and acceleration. He creates separation off his breaks due to his good change of direction, balance, dip, and burst. He also demonstrates very good hand-eye coordination, strong hands, and the body control to adjust mid-route, allowing him to high-point the football or make contested catches, especially on third down or inside the RZ. </p>   <p>Note - <em>46 receptions, 582 yards and 6 touchdowns in 2024.</em></p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/JamarcisM/status/1877028497350181279 </div></figure>     <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1596286' first='Conrad' last='Schmitz'] is one of the most underrated wide receivers in the state of Arkansas. He is a versatile pass catcher who can stretch the field and become a vertical threat. He has an extensive route tree and runs routes fluidly with no wasted motion. Schmitz demonstrates a quick release, due to his good footwork, acceleration, and foot quickness, which allow him to eat up space quickly. He effectively creates separation off breaks due to his good COD, balance, and burst off his plant foot, not giving the defender time to recover. His good hand-eye coordination, body control, and strong hands enable him to adjust mid-route and make contested catches. He will hurt you in space as he can become elusive after the catch. </p>   <p class="text-gray-700">Note – 4.5 40</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/ConradSchmitz/status/1876036934671511632 </div></figure>

With national signing day approaching, all eyes will focus on the class of 2026. This evaluation will examine the top talents and under-the-radar prospects who can make a significant leap in 2025.