More Waves of Newcomers: 2026 Rankings Update

With such a massive wave of additions during the recent rankings update for the Class of 2026 we couldn't get by with just one article looking at the top newcomers. So we are back and looking at another talented group of juniors that need to be on recruiting boards all across WI, the Midwest, and potentially beyond. This article is also going to do a great job of demonstrating how deep this class has become. Let's dive right in!    The left side of the Chippewa Falls OL in 2024 has given us a pair of highly debuting linemen in the Class of 2026. Left guard [player_tooltip player_id='1601657' first='Carson' last='Parker'] is our focus today. The 6'4" 280 lbs athlete brings a very well rounded skillset to the field. Carson is light on his feet and shows that he can quickly pull and kick out defenders across the formation. On contact, Parker is one earth mover. Once he gets those strong hands and is churning those legs he is able to drive any opponent off the line and if he isn't getting a big surge it is usually because he is burying them in the dirt right there. Carson also has developed a strong anchor to help secure a safe pocket for his QB to step up into. There is a lot to like here with the Chippewa Falls IOL.     One way I have heard scouts describe building a WR room is like building a basketball team. You need the quick guy, possession receiver, and the kid you can go to who will provide a mismatch with his size and strength over DBs. [player_tooltip player_id='1610036' first='Jackson' last='Connor'] of Verona fills that last void. The 6'4" 195 lbs WR is at home in the redzone and in all situations where his length and catch radius can overwhelm a DB. Jackson does a great job of adjusting and corralling the ball with his wide wingspan and he uses his reach to take the ball off the top of the head of DBs. Jackson is a target that you can just throw it up to and he finds a way to get his hands on it, box out, and reel it in. I'm excited to see him take a step forward this summer/fall.     Another standout WR to know made a name for himself during a game I attended live. The 6'2" 180 lbs playmaker showed what the rest of his tape from the season also was putting out. That he is a dominant WR1 for his offense. He is able to attack every level of the field with success. In the short area he can turn the quick catch into a 20 yard gain with his surprising elusive agility. He is able to open up separation with his route running in the intermediate level and Xavier surprises with his speed and long strides when he looks to take the top off the defense. Edwards' ball skills jump off the tape too, high pointing the ball or catching it through hands, and hanging on through its. Xavier dominates on the outside and has the talent to continue doing it at the next level.     You can't talk about tone setting, physical, downhill MLBs from WI without mentioning Hudson's [player_tooltip player_id='1610038' first='Liam' last='Mayer']. Once again we are writing an article about this Class and once again another stud ILB has made the list. Liam thrives against the run game. Especially the inside run game where he can read and trigger and then use his power to fight through the trenches to get to the ball carrier. That power and quickness also allowed the junior to be an impact when lined up on the DL. Liam is a stout presence wherever you align him. Keep an eye on him this summer and check out his tape.     Similar to the LBs in this Class, QB is another extremely loaded group. One of those top talents is St. Joseph Catholic Academy's [player_tooltip player_id='1603927' first='Zach' last='Rizzo']. The junior has great size and strength packed in the 6'4" 225 lbs frame. As you can see on the tape, Zach has a high level of arm strength. The kid will barely have his feet set at time while facing pressure in his face and rip it 40 yards downfield to a receiver. Rizzo doesn't just grip it and rip it every snap, though. He understands when he needs to take some off and use touch to drop it in a bucket to his receiver. The rising junior also has the required accuracy. He does well with where he puts it on his man so they can instantly make a play after the catch while not putting the ball at risk. The All State QB is poised for a big season in 2025.     Germantown has a loaded roster of 2026 athletes. Today's focus is on newcomer to the rankings [player_tooltip player_id='1610074' first='Griffin' last='Stein'] at WR. The 6'1" 180 lbs athlete excels at WR because he is able to win in multiple ways. First off, he is a talented route runner who can set up DBs, come out of breaks with a burst resulting in plenty of separation. The junior also wins by using his size. You will see in his highlights that he understands body positioning and leverage as he cuts in front of DBs to secure the catch or box out to give his QB a safe place to target. Griffin also flashes the soft hands and body control to make the last second snag or catch while spinning around or falling to the ground. Stein has a variety of ways to make the catch. Very excited to see what he does this summer vs DBs.     We have the 6'5" 295 lbs OL debuting as a Top 75 player in this Class and we are still potentially sleeping on him. Nolan is massive, yet brings explosive range to the field as he pulls across the formation to devastate contain defenders or DTs. The big man is also able to move laterally while engaged as Craig will move the pocket on offense. The power is equally as impressive as the mobility and agility. Nolan devastates opponents when he gets hands on and gets that strong lower body driving. The big man also has been dominating on the basketball court. You can scroll through the highlights and see him repeatedly scoring 20+ in games. The massive lineman is an all around athlete.     One of the top cornerbacks that we have come across for the Class of 2026 is [player_tooltip player_id='1610093' first='Joc' last='Hamilton'] of Sun Prairie West. Joc has the length to be able to play outside CB with the athletic profile to match. He has a quick backpedal and is able to very easily flip his hips and acclerate to close on a short route breaking in front of him. The rising '26 also shows really good awareness in zone coverage, making sure not to bite on underneath routes that are trying to pull him in. It is also great to see how aggressive he is early in the route as he tries to get the receiver off their route path. Hamilton has the tools for the next level and am excited for him to show those talents off this summer at camps.

With such a massive wave of additions during the recent rankings update for the Class of 2026 we couldn't get by with just one article looking at the top newcomers. So we are back and looking at another talented group of juniors that need to be on recruiting boards all across WI, the Midwest, and potentially beyond. This article is also going to do a great job of demonstrating how deep this class has become. Let's dive right in!