Maryland 4A Football’s Next Wave: 2026 Evaluations - Part 1

Prep Redzone Maryland will evaluate top returning prospects in Maryland's 4A high school football classification. The focus of these articles will be on the Class of 2026. There's a lot of talent returning for the 2025 season. We'll be evaluating prospects that are both on the radar of college coaches and prospects that are underrated and underrecruited in some cases.   This is Part 1 of this series.     [player_tooltip player_id='1697439' first='Zach' last='Boyd'] | 6-2 | 305 | Annapolis | Offensive Tackle | 2026   [player_tooltip player_id='1697439' first='Zach' last='Boyd'] plays left offensive tackle and excels as a dominant run blocker. He constantly uses his size and strength to overpower defenders. Many of Boyd's highlights show his ability to pancake defensive ends and drive them away from the point of attack. He's effective at moving to the second level and neutralizing linebackers, which helps his team's run game. Boyd also displays quick footwork in his pass sets. He does a good job of using his hands to neutralize pass rushers.   While he currently plays left tackle, his frame and skill set suggest he's more suited to play offensive guard at the next level. He'll have to work on things like adjusting his stance and footwork to adapt to the responsibilities that an offensive guard has. Boyd can fit in a run-heavy school because he can drive defenders off the line. He'll need to keep improving his lateral agility and overall quickness. With his dominant run-blocking and solid pass protection, Boyd has established himself as one of the top offensive linemen in Class 4A.   Tristan Cabugwas | 5-11 | 270 | Quince Orchard | Offensive Guard | 2026   Tristan Cabugwas consistently demonstrates excellent strength, as shown in plays where he obliterates defensive tackles or pancakes defenders. He's physical and finishes blocks. Cabugwas has a quick first step, which is noticeable in pulling plays. He transitions smoothly and gets to his assignment. He plays with a low pad level, which allows him to get leverage against the defensive linemen he goes against. Cabugwas does a solid job of sustaining blocks as well.   Cabugwas's size may hinder him as an offensive lineman prospect trying to get looks at the Division I level. I think he should also show a few more highlights of him in pass protection. He's a high-motor offensive lineman who would thrive in a run-heavy scheme. Cabugwas would have to play for a school that would look past his size and focus on his quickness and physicality. His athleticism, technique, and high motor make him one of the top returning offensive linemen in Class 4A.   [player_tooltip player_id='1313535' first='Chris' last='Moore'] | Northwest | 6-6 | 330 | Offensive Tackle | 2026   [player_tooltip player_id='1313535' first='Chris' last='Moore'] is a physically dominant player who uses his size and strength to his advantage. His ability to consistently finish blocks and pancake defenders is showcased a lot in the run game. Moore has the agility to get to the second level and overwhelm linebackers. A few plays of him pass-blocking show him using good hand usage and an ability to stay anchored against pass rushers.   I'd like him to become more explosive with his first step and engage defenders more quickly. He has the size to be an FBS prospect. Moore's natural ability and further development suggest that the potential is there for him to get on more college radars this upcoming offseason.   Kacey Gilliam | Quince Orchard | 6-2 | 230 | Edge | 2026   Kasey Gilliam has an explosive first step, which allows him to penetrate the backfield quickly and disrupt plays. His ability to bend around the edge is one of his standout traits. Gilliam has a few plays on his highlights where he uses his bend and balance to get around offensive tackles and pressure the quarterback. Even when initially stopped as a pass-rusher, he stays active and eventually makes a play.    I'd like to see a few more highlights of him against the run and plays of him in pass coverage since he's also being recruited as a linebacker. With his quick first step, bend, and relentless motor, Gilliam shows great promise as an edge rusher. He sacked the quarterback 15 times this past season. Gilliam might best fit in with a program that doesn't shy away from recruiting undersized defensive ends.   [player_tooltip player_id='1606175' first='Javaine' last='Palmer'] | Northwestern | 6-4 | 240 | Defensive End | 2026   [player_tooltip player_id='1606175' first='Javaine' last='Palmer'] is a dynamic and versatile defensive lineman whose ability to play both inside and outside makes him an asset for any defensive scheme. His quick first step and explosiveness off the snap allow him to disrupt plays in the backfield against both the run and pass. Palmer consistently puts offensive linemen in recovery mode from the start of the play.   Palmer's versatility as a defensive lineman enables him to line up at both defensive end and tackle. As a defensive tackle, he showed a knack for exploiting interior gaps. Palmer's highlights show that he can diagnose plays early and isn't easily fooled by misdirection. His power and determination are shown in one play where he fights through two blockers and finishes the play with a sack. Of course, he'll need to bulk up some more once he gets to the next level. Palmer has the perfect frame to add good muscle and weight to it. I'd like to see what his pass-rush arsenal looks like as well. With added strength and continued technique improvement, Palmer will have an even more significant impact this upcoming season.   <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/01/maryland-4a-footballs-next-wave-2026-evaluations-part-1/">Maryland 4A Football's Next Wave: 2026 Evaluations – Part 1</a>   <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/01/maryland-4a-footballs-next-wave-2026-evaluations-part-2/">Maryland 4A Football's Next Wave: 2026 Evaluations – Part 2</a>   <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/12/2025-season-souther-maryland-skills-players-to-know-part-1/">Southern Maryland  2025 Season Players to Know - Part 1</a>   <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/12/meet-some-of-the-iacs-offensive-stars-in-the-2026-class-pt-1/">Meet some of the IAC's offensive stars in the 2026 Class – Pt . 1</a>   <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/12/maryland-d-c-2027-prospects-already-on-the-radar-pt-1/">Maryland/D.C. 2027 prospects already on the radar – Pt. 1</a>   <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/01/maryland-d-c-2027-prospects-already-on-the-radar-pt-2/">Maryland/D.C. 2027 prospects already on the radar - Pt. 2</a>   <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/01/maryland-d-c-2027-prospects-already-on-the-radar-pt-3/">Maryland/D.C. 2027 prospects already on the radar – Pt. 3</a>   <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/12/2025-season-western-maryland-skill-players-to-know-part-1/">2025 Season: Western Maryland Skill Players to Know – Part 1</a>

Prep Redzone Maryland will evaluate top returning prospects in Maryland's 4A high school football classification. The focus of these articles will be on the Class of 2026. There's a lot of talent returning for the 2025 season. We'll be evaluating prospects that are both on the radar of college coaches and prospects that are underrated and underrecruited in some cases.