The Next Wave: Scouting the 2026 class - Film Review Pt. 4

Check out the latest installment of THE NEXT WAVE featuring prospects in the Maryland/D.C./Delaware 2026 recruiting class. Today, we take a look at five receivers that are currently ranked.    [player_tooltip player_id='212347' first='Jayden' last='Kitchens'] stands out as a physically imposing slot receiver with a blend of size, speed, and fluidity in route running. At 6-3 and 193 pounds, he is a significant mismatch for both safeties and corners. Kitchens' highlights show him using his frame effectively to gain leverage and secure contested catches. One of his biggest strengths is generating yards after the catch (YAC). Kitchens consistently breaks tackles, weaves through defenders, and shows balance and toughness. He's a hard dude to bring down.   Kitchens' long speed is evident on multiple plays. He maintains top-end speed throughout routes and outruns defenders in the open field for chunk plays or touchdowns. Kitchens also shows versatility in his route tree. His highlights show him running everything from deep seams and drags to quick flats. He maintains clean breaks and body control in his routes. Kitchens' ability to high-point the ball in traffic and make plays against man coverage shows he's not just a speed threat but also a reliable target against tight coverage. Would like to see more of him in short-yardage or possession situations. Nevertheless, his size, speed, and solid route-running skills are a dangerous weapon from the slot.     Keys is a game-breaking talent whose explosive playmaking ability sets him apart as one of the most dangerous offensive threats in the nation (sorry, saying the state would not do any justice to his talent). He has elite-level speed, sudden acceleration, and high-end route running. Keys is a versatile weapon that can line up outside and in the slot. His ability to manipulate defensive backs (as shown in his highlights)—whether by forcing speed turns, selling double moves, or freezing safeties in space—shows how advanced his route-running is.   Keys is not only a deep threat who can burn defenders for long touchdowns, but also excels in short-yardage situations. His quick-twitch agility helps him make defenders miss in open space with ease. Once Keys gets the ball in his hands, he becomes a blur. His highlights show him turning short passes into long-scoring plays. Keys' burst off the line, and stop-start quickness are elite, making him a matchup nightmare. Add in his special team's impact, and he's the player defenses have to game-plan around. Of course, he's not the biggest target. However, his talent and production against top-tier talent trump all that and make it a non-factor.     Garrett is a physically gifted wide receiver with a potent combination of size, fluidity, and route versatility. He's a significant asset as a deep threat and a red-zone target. At 6-3, 190 pounds, Garrett presents a natural mismatch for most defensive backs. His highlights show consistently winning vertically, particularly on post routes, where his long stride allows him to erase cushion and separate from defenders quickly.   Garrett can catch the ball in stride on deep balls, showing strong ball-tracking skills and smooth acceleration. In the red zone, Garrett is especially effective. A few of his highlights in the red zone show him scoring on a back-shoulder fade, a quick out, and a dig across the goal line. Garrett's body control and awareness allow him to make tough catches in traffic and near the sideline. He also shows reliability in intermediate routes. If there's one thing he could keep working on, it would be developing a bit more suddenness in his short-area quickness. Otherwise, Garrett has a high ceiling with his size, athleticism, and ability to impact the game at all three levels.     Rodgers is an explosive and versatile playmaker who thrives with the ball in his hands and poses a consistent big-play threat from anywhere on the field. He has a lean but athletic frame at 6-0, 175 pounds. Rodgers creates separation through sharp, fluid route running and elite acceleration. His high school offense clearly understands how to maximize his talents, frequently getting the ball to him quickly in space. He can make things happen through bubble screens, short routes, or quick-hitting concepts from the slot. Once he gets the ball, Rodgers turns into an electric open-field runner with a great burst.   Rodgers' stop-and-go moves are polished and deceptive. That helps him beat defenders deep, especially on double moves like hitch-and-go and stop-and-go. Rodgers also maintains impressive play speed through his cuts. Whether he's lined up outside or in the slot, he consistently can create chunk plays and score from a distance. Rodgers' natural play speed, explosive acceleration, and versatility as both a vertical and underneath threat make him a highly valuable offensive weapon with the ability to change a game in a single play.     Rice is an exciting and elusive playmaker who maximizes his touches with dynamic open-field ability and impressive toughness for his size. He plays bigger than his frame suggests at 5-9, 165 pounds. His highlights showcase his ability to win contested catches and absorb contact without going down. Rice consistently finds ways to create big plays. His long speed is evident, whether it's turning a short screen pass into a touchdown, navigating through traffic on a kick return, or stretching the field vertically with deep routes. While he has shown flashes of being a vertical threat and has some route savvy, there's limited evidence of a fully developed route tree in his highlights. If he can showcase his ability to run more routes, it'll help boost his stock. Rice has good quickness, but improving his initial burst and overall explosiveness off the line will help him become even more of a dangerous weapon.

Check out the latest installment of THE NEXT WAVE featuring prospects in the Maryland/D.C./Delaware 2026 recruiting class. Today, we take a look at five receivers that are currently ranked.