Deep Diving Our Top Ten ’26 Wide Receivers

The wide receiver position is always a saturated market, and anyone who stands out above the crowd is special. Below are some of those guys in the state of Michigan that are doing enough to stand out.    College coaches love a versatile athlete, and [player_tooltip player_id='1148715' first='Samson' last='Gash'] is one of the most versatile and explosive players in the state. While Gash does shine at the wideout position, he is also able to carry the ball on pitches, reverses and sweeps while also being a reliable return man.   Gash has the ability to absolutely turn on the jets. His acceleration is incredible and I love the way he is able to change direction on a dime. His routes are clean and he shows phenomenal vision to explode for extra yardage. Gash is truly a do-it-all guy that can give defenses nightmares.     This is an extremely interesting prospect. There is a ton to like about the skillset of Jones-Terrell. First, he has pretty good size and plays rather physical on the outside. He has no problem fighting through jams on the line and utilizing his strength. His physicality also shines when blocking, which is an underrated asset in receivers.   On the other hand, his incredibly speed makes him a threat to take the top off the defense. He wastes no movement, firing off the line quickly and getting up to top speed. He has tremendous hands to secure the catch and immediately do some damage on the ground. His versatility and flat-out athleticism make him a top choice in this receiver class.     [player_tooltip player_id='563422' first='Damion' last='King'] quietly had one of the more impactful and productive seasons in the state at the wideout position. Typically doing his damage out of the slot, King is able to fire off with elite speed and run detailed and difficult routes with ease.   Whether it's on a curl or slant, his abrupt change in direction and top-end speed make him impossible to cover in 1-on-1 situations, and if he gets to work a double move, there's not a lot a high school level defensive back can do. He has had elite coaching at De La Salle and has steadily improved every year of his career. He has played a ton of snaps at the high school level and has a ton of great experience against stellar competition.     [player_tooltip player_id='566878' first='Braylon' last='Burnside'] is another versatile athlete that can be effective defensively or as a receiver out of the slot. His hands are great, and the body control Burnside possesses to adjust to the ball is incredible.   He shined last season at Ike and was a huge part of their offense. He's versatile enough to be a threat on the outside as well as in the run game as a speed-in-space guy. Burnside currently holds some offers from MAC schools and could be in line for a few more with a big season this fall.     [player_tooltip player_id='1225746' first='Jacob' last='Johnson'] has started to receiver some D1 attention and watching the tape, it makes sense. His athleticism and ability to take the top off of the defense is next-level.   He can play physical and has shown the ability to be a threat both as a vertical threat or a speed-in-space athlete. He is able to rack up the yardage after the catch with his burst of speed and solid vision. He will benefit with another offseason of work and getting comfortable in the Aaron Marshall system.     [player_tooltip player_id='1290771' first='Deonte' last='Ellington'] is a kid who has received a significant bump in our rankings. Last season at Detroit King, he was able to be fairly productive in his opportunities and show off a solid amount of potential.   Ellington is extremely dangerous out of the slot with his ability to run whip routes, slants and comebacks. He also has a smooth release and is able to get behind the defense on go-routes. This season he will likely be a larger focal point in the offense and will be able to show off his full repertoire.     Utica Eisenhower has had a string of very good wideouts lately. Duda looks like he will be right up there among some of the best. His size, physicality and wide catch radius makes him a threat at any part of the field.   One of the things that stick out immediately is the fact that he is able to haul in a pass and drag defenders for extra yardage. He's a big body and is able to grab 50/50 balls in the end zone or at the sticks. He is likely in for a huge senior season this fall.     [player_tooltip player_id='1244363' first='Ahman' last='Edmonds'] has raised his stock a ton in the last 365 days and has raised his game immensely since getting under the wing of Coach Spencer since he arrived at East Kentwood. In Edmonds, they have found a nice weapon that can deal a ton of damage with his legs.   As a slot receiver, his release is as good as it gets, and he is incredibly difficult to cover in man due to his elite change of direction and acceleration. He runs detailed routes, gets in and out of breaks quickly and doesn't tip off his route early. His upside is as high as any slot receivers in our 2026 class.     While [player_tooltip player_id='568190' first='Cole' last='Novara'] is currently a Michigan State baseball commit, he will still be a major part of the Dexter offense this fall. His flat-out exceptional athleticism out of the slot sets him apart from a lot of wideouts in the state. He has no issue creating separation and then turning it up field.   He's a good route runner and has really good hands. He is able to deal plenty of damage in the open field with his speed and change of direction. Another element of his game that may go overlooked is his ability as a returner. Novara gets up to his top speed quickly and can weave his way through traffic and outrun angles. He's in for a giant 2025.     [player_tooltip player_id='568193' first='Austin' last='Abbate'] is another big-play guy with plenty to offer. Another solid athlete who can run clean routes and deal some damage after the catch. Abbate possesses good hands and the ability to secure some difficult catches.   Typically lining up outside the numbers, Abbate poses a tough matchup for defensive backs as his burst of speed off the line allows him to get position on slants or double moves. After the catch, he has some grit to grind out some extra yardage. Out of the slot Abbate can also deal damage on short and intermediate routes that can go the distance. With a big 2025, Abbate could shoot up the rankings quite a bit.

The wide receiver position is always a saturated market, and anyone who stands out above the crowd is special. Below are some of those guys in the state of Michigan that are doing enough to stand out.