Shining the Spotlight on 2026 Impact Players

The time is now for the Class of 2026. We are seeing a ton of Junior Day invites, unofficial visits, and official visits getting set and scheduled. Camp invites are popping off and those schedules are also being set. In the coming months we are going to see hundreds of 2026s that are doing what they can to build relationships, impress recruiters, and earn scholarships and roster spots. Today we go back into the Class of 2026 Rankings to look at another strong collection of talent that needs their time in the spotlight of Prep Redzone Wisconsin. College coaches, make sure these kids have those invites to camps and Junior Days!    Sun Prairie East's [player_tooltip player_id='1220792' first='Van' last='Vogler'] can be found all over the SP East defensive backfield. Outside CB, slot corner, safety, but primarily you will see him at one of the CB spots playing tight man coverage. Van has a strong backpedal that gets him great depth before he has to turn and run with his receiver. He has quick hips that allow him to turn and run, mirror receivers in their route breaks, and change direction. Van also flashes solid closing speed when the ball is in front of him and you can count on him as a tackler out on the boundary. The junior is gearing up for a big offseason and senior season.      Wauwatosa West is a staple school when it comes to producing next level talent. The Class of 2026 looks to like it won't be any different with kids like OT [player_tooltip player_id='1610197' first='Elian' last='Albiter']. Elian has a fantastic frame for the college level. The '26 OT plays with overwhelming power, especially in his hands. Over and over you see him throw around or steer DL around the trenches wherever he wants them. Elian also does a solid job of keeping a wide base while driving his feet through his blocks. Don't miss out on this gem of an OL recruit. Size, power, and solid technique like this are not easy to find.      A legitimate hidden gem at the safety position is Appleton East's [player_tooltip player_id='1222038' first='Birk' last='Kozlowicz']. Birk is an aggressive safety. He is quick to trigger downhill and close on short to intermediate passes over the middle. The '26 shows great timing and use of his hands to breakup catch attempts. He also does it in a way that he will still be able to make the tackle if the catch is completed. Birk also has several clips showing that he can read, diagnose, and react to plays as they develop. Birk is a nice piece to look at on the back end of the defense.      Chase was apart of one of the better games I watched live in 2024, and he was a big part of the game. Watching through his season long highlights it is clear that what he did in that game was a common occurrence throughout the season. Chase is a field-flipping deep threat. He has the speed to get behind the defense on go routes or posts and reel in the over the shoulder catches. Rogers also shows a quick release off the line when he faces press coverage. Chase is going to be a nightmare if teams try to play him 1 on 1 this coming fall.      It is the WI HS football offseason. So like clockwork it is time to talk about another impressive Hudson HS defensive lineman who has our attention. This time around it is the 6'4" 235 lbs [player_tooltip player_id='1610228' first='Chase' last='Johnson']. The versatile athlete will line up all along the line. DE, DT, on the edge in a two point stance. The kid disrupts plays from every spot too. He is quick out of his stance and instantly gets his hands involved trying to disengage from OL. His strong hands and hips get him to the heels of OL quickly and from there he has the athleticism to chase down the ball. Keep an eye on the 2026 DL.        West De Pere was a pass heavy offense in 2024. That is no secret. But where the secret might be is in the backfield helping keep defenses honest. RB [player_tooltip player_id='1220728' first='Ryan' last='Lutz'] is an interesting option as a change of pace back for the next level. At 5'6" 165 lbs the '26 RB did well running between the tackles. Ryan plays with explosive burst and agility that help him quickly attack those tight running lanes and slip through arm tackle attempts. The '26 is an elusive runner in those tight quarters, and he also offers a threat as a check down option out of the backfield. Check out his cutups.      Another explosive athlete providing depth at the RB position is Abbotsford's [player_tooltip player_id='700148' first='Christian' last='Fuentes']. The junior was a big play waiting to happen in 2024. Over and over you see him weave through defenses with his far superior speed. Christian is patient behind the line, and then explodes as soon as he hits the hole. Fuentes also steps up as a receiving threat. Getting him the ball out in space only makes him more difficult to contain. He is a small school talent that is going to put up strong numbers this fall and potentially be a steal for the next level.      I'm a big fan of [player_tooltip player_id='1610231' first='Jermaine' last='Cark']. He may be undersized for the TE and DL positions, but the kid is a dog. He is aggressive, brings the physicality, and has the power to impact plays without the ball. Jermaine is an effective blocker at TE. He is able to wash DL down the line away from the designed gap. He can pull across the formation and kick out defenders. At just 200 lbs Jermaine creates just as much flow in the trenches as a lot of OL do. The cherry on top is that he is also a receiving threat who runs tough after the catch. Cark performs the same way on the DL. Jermaine is surprisingly strong as he bull rushes DL into the backfield. He has strong hands that help him shed blocks quickly. This kid isn't afraid to handle the dirty work in the trenches. Give him a look.

The time is now for the Class of 2026. We are seeing a ton of Junior Day invites, unofficial visits, and official visits getting set and scheduled. Camp invites are popping off and those schedules are also being set. In the coming months we are going to see hundreds of 2026s that are doing what they can to build relationships, impress recruiters, and earn scholarships and roster spots. Today we go back into the Class of 2026 Rankings to look at another strong collection of talent that needs their time in the spotlight of Prep Redzone Wisconsin. College coaches, make sure these kids have those invites to camps and Junior Days!