6 2026 Defenders Who Could Rise in the Next Rankings Update

Our rankings updates are timed strategically: We start a class after its freshman season on the field in December/January, update each class in late spring after seeing guys in camps, do a small update before the season to reflect depth chart changes and summer camp performances, then cover the season and start over after the playoffs.   So, while we just released our May rankings update, I have one eye on the end of summer. In this unique piece, I'm looking forward to August to give a few players I think could be huge risers then and what I need to see from them between now and the start of the season.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Potential August Rankings Risers</h2>    It's all about health for one of the most talented defensive backs in the state. Two years ago, teams were scared to test him. Last year, he missed most of the season with an injury that lingered into the winter. Now fully healthy, Dula is moving to safety which could be his best position. Teams won't be able to avoid him and his closing speed and coverage skills should give him some great film as a senior.     Ravin's academic abilities will open a lot of doors for him, as D2s and D3s will be all over a guy who could probably get the majority of his scholarship money in the classroom. On the field, he's all over the place on the back end, able to cause plenty of havoc with the ball in the air. I wouldn't be surprised to see him get a flurry of offers as he hits his scheduled summer camps.     Kelly has long been on our radar because of potential and now, he has the experience to convert some of that into success on the recruiting trail. He got better and better last season and he's a guy who looks great in camp settings. At college camps, he could turn some heads and add to a growing offer list. If he does that, we'll be monitoring closely as we think he could have a huge senior season.     Burns is a guy I think is one offer away from blowing up on the recruiting trail. He's a high-academic, high-motor interior defensive lineman who is an elite run-stuffer. The pass-rushing moves will come along in time and I think he's a strong Ivy League/high-academic FCS candidate. If he starts to flash more as a pass-rusher, he could move up into the FBS range.     I love Manson's demeanor and the way he plays the game. He flies around the back end and delivers big hits, playing bigger than his frame would suggest. Now, I just need him to add a bit more weight and show out at college camps this summer and I'll be ready to rocket him up the rankings. He plays with such great instincts and with his academic success, Ivy and Pioneer League teams should be all over him.     One of the nice things about rankings updates is that I get to dive into a ton of film. For a few rankings updates, I just haven't known what to do with Britt. He's an excellent player but I'm not sure where he fits at the next level. The more I dive into not just Britt's film, but the film of other defenders, I find myself coming back to the fact that Britt is just a flat out football player. I'll leave the position projection up to his future college coaches and allow myself to simply enjoy a hard-hitting ballhawk of a linebacker/safety/slot corner. Assuming everything checks out over the summer, I'm already trying to figure out how far I can move him up the rankings.

Our rankings updates are timed strategically: We start a class after its freshman season on the field in December/January, update each class in late spring after seeing guys in camps, do a small update before the season to reflect depth chart changes and summer camp performances, then cover the season and start over after the playoffs.