Don’t Sleep: Hidden Gems in Florida’s 2026 Class

Florida has long been a hotbed of high school football talent. Annually, Florida produces some of the nation's top prospects. Florida athletes are known for their speed, agility, and raw athleticism. These prospects have made names for themselves and have caught the attention of coaches and scouts at the collegiate level. With the 2025 season getting closer, we're looking for players whose stock is rising in the state.   These players are all talented and have college-level abilities. Some of these players have a few offers, but all of them have the ability to play college football at some level.   There are some big-time, highly rated prospects and several sleeper prospects who should all be getting looks for the next level. This list is full of stud prospects.   Prep Redzone Florida will always support every player on their journey to playing college football.   [player_tooltip player_id='1143083' first='Logan' last='Houck'], Inside Linebacker – Lakewood High   Height/Weight: 6'1", 200 lbs   Evaluation: Houck is an instinctive linebacker who plays fast and physical from sideline to sideline. He shows excellent ability diagnosing plays early, reacting quickly to runs and screens. His range allows him to cover a lot of ground, and he's aggressive meeting ball carriers in space. Houck has the motor you look for in a defensive leader and shows strong tackling fundamentals. With added size and continued refinement, he could develop into a high-level inside linebacker at the next level.   [player_tooltip player_id='1632441' first='Jayden' last='Hazzard'], Defensive Tackle – Island Coast High   Height/Weight: 6'2", 290 lbs   Evaluation: A powerful, squatty interior defensive lineman, Hazzard uses his natural strength to control gaps and stuff the run. He plays low and shows heavy hands when engaging offensive linemen, making him tough to move off the ball. His ability to create disruption in the backfield flashes, especially on early downs. Hazzard already has strong lower body strength and will become even more dangerous as he improves his hand technique and pass rush moves. He projects as a nose tackle or 1-tech at the next level.   [player_tooltip player_id='1632434' first='Josiah' last='Grant'], Defensive End/Outside Linebacker – George Jenkins High   Height/Weight: 6'1", 200 lbs   Evaluation: Grant is a versatile defender who plays with quickness and an aggressive mindset off the edge. He does a good job using his hands to disengage from blocks and maintains good pad level when attacking. His first step allows him to gain early leverage, and he shows a willingness to chase plays downfield. Though still developing as a pure pass rusher, Grant's motor and athleticism stand out. He fits well as an outside linebacker or hybrid end in an attacking defensive scheme.   [player_tooltip player_id='1640484' first='Jamarcus' last='Girtman'], Defensive Tackle/Edge – Edison High   Height/Weight: 5'11", 250 lbs   Evaluation: Girtman is a twitchy defensive lineman who specializes in creating chaos at the line of scrimmage. His elite first-step quickness immediately stresses offensive linemen, and he shows natural acceleration into the backfield. He plays with a relentless motor, consistently getting pressure and finishing with power. Girtman's ability to line up inside or on the edge adds valuable versatility. As he polishes his hand techniques and pass-rush counters, his ceiling will continue to rise.   [player_tooltip player_id='1626626' first='Christian' last='Gilbert'], Offensive Tackle – Chaminade-Madonna High   Height/Weight: 6'3", 265 lbs   Evaluation: Gilbert is a smart and technically sound offensive tackle who plays with balance and footwork. He mirrors pass rushers well and shows the ability to sustain blocks in both the run and pass game. Gilbert also shows good lateral quickness for his frame, giving him upside as either a tackle or interior lineman at the next level. As he continues to add mass and strength, he projects as a high-upside collegiate offensive lineman.

Florida has long been a hotbed of high school football talent. Annually, Florida produces some of the nation's top prospects. Florida athletes are known for their speed, agility, and raw athleticism. These prospects have made names for themselves and have caught the attention of coaches and scouts at the collegiate level. With the 2025 season getting closer, we're looking for players whose stock is rising in the state.