Diamonds in the Depth: Outside the Top 100 Athletes

We have been diving into the Class of 2026 all week after the updated rankings came out Monday afternoon. It was a massive project with a ton of talent added into the mix. That influx of talent did a great job of showing just how deep this Class is. Even outside the Top 100 we have so many athletes that I am confident will be heavily pursued by D2 programs and potentially higher than that depending on what they show this summer. So we need to shine the spotlight on that depth and breakdown the tape of some of the dudes sitting outside the Top 100. Do not sleep on these kids. Let's get it started!    Defenses around the Midwest and possibly beyond are going to be led by this ILB Class. [player_tooltip player_id='773293' first='Sawyer' last='Brooks'] of Wisconsin Rapids is another outstanding example of the depth at the position. The 6'1" 200 lbs athlete excels against the run game. He has an instant trigger to attack the second he reads run. The junior flies through gaps with aggression and power that allows him to either rip through freely or drive the OL into the backfield before shedding and making the tackle. Every tackle he makes on tape is a punishing one that slams ball carriers to the ground. Sawyer also does a great job of mirroring the movement of RBs until they meet in the hole where he quickly brings them down. You have to love the violence and aggressive defense this kid plays. Check out the highlights.      I have been a huge fan of Ryan's since the start of the season when he quickly began piling up stats for Eau Claire Memorial. The DB finished with an elite 102 tackles while lining up at CB and safety for the Ole Abes. Ryan is very talented when it comes to reading the QB's eyes while in zone coverage and he has the range to be able to bait them into bad throws before quickly closing in to make a play on the ball. Ryan also has the quick feet and fluid, smooth movements to be able to cover man to man and stay tight to the receiver. The rising junior also is able to flip the switch from an athletic coverage corner/safety to a downhill thumper against the run game. Ryan is going to continue to climb the rankings at his position and overall. You need to check him out.      Corbin was on the Watch List during the season, but makes the rankings this time around with the junior film he produced. The '26 is a massive OT at 6'5" 280 lbs and the kid plays like he knows he has the size and power advantage. Clip after clip, the LT mauls his man. Corbin is packs a punch on contact and he doesn't let his feet stop until the whistle or because he is driving his man into the ground. While engaged, Demo also shows off the ability to regather himself from some awkward twists and angles without having to lose the power he is driving his man with. Corbin is a raw prospect, but has the size, aggression, and power to mold into a next level player.      A top west- central WI playmaker to have on your radar is the RB out of La Crosse Central. Rudrud spent time at QB this season and handled a lot of designed runs including making great reads running the read option. As a runner, Christian shows off an explosive burst of acceleration that gets him to his top gear. A gear that is able to pull away in the open field and get the edge on the defense. The '26 RB/ATH plays with reliable instincts and vision behind the line. Rudrud is also patient right up until the hole opens then flips the switch to attack. The RB also plays with surprising elusive running between the tackles. You see him make people miss with lateral moves or a spin. Plus he will break 1 on 1 tackles. Keep an eye on Rudrud as his role continues to grow.      Despite being 235 lbs, much less than the guards/OCs he usually faces, Kingston was a problem on the interior. The 6'3" 235 lbs junior wins with an effective combo of power and quickness. The '26 attacks with a plan and with a variety of moves from a rip to a spin move and will also counter off one move seamlessly. Kingston has also shown that he can slip through gaps with his quickness off the snap. Finally, Steward also shows strength in his upper body to toss blocks to the side before corralling a ball carrier. I'm excited for the Sheboygan athlete to make a name for himself.      I understand that McCoy is undersized for the DL position at the next level, but a DC needs to get creative and find a way to use this kid. At 5'10" 220 lbs the '26 DL was extremely disruptive all season long. He comes out of his stance shot out of a cannon resulting in him getting tons of penetration and blowing up plays early in their development. Smith has fantastic range as well to chase down QBs or RBs from behind. The kid is strong and violent too. There are clips of him splitting a double team without giving up ground and still making the tackle. He wins with that power, quickness, and leverage. I recommend checking this kid out and finding a way to utilize his talents.      We end with an intriguing athlete at the LB position. Kaiden brings the physicality to the field. He drops the hammer when he tackles, running through the man and putting them down hard. Kaiden also displays impressive range to roam the field in coverage and when pursuing the ball downfield. Kaiden does well playing in space. He closes quickly, can tackle 1 on 1, and he has the athleticism to be able to be out there vs RBs, TEs, and WRs. He has a future as a safety/LB hybrid. Check out the highlight reel.

We have been diving into the Class of 2026 all week after the updated rankings came out Monday afternoon. It was a massive project with a ton of talent added into the mix. That influx of talent did a great job of showing just how deep this Class is. Even outside the Top 100 we have so many athletes that I am confident will be heavily pursued by D2 programs and potentially higher than that depending on what they show this summer. So we need to shine the spotlight on that depth and breakdown the tape of some of the dudes sitting outside the Top 100. Do not sleep on these kids. Let's get it started!