2026 Rankings: Central Valley Newcomers

<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Evaluating the new 2026 prospects from the central valley in the updated PRZ state rankings.</h2>    Sloan's recruitment has skyrocketed this offseason pulling 11 D1 offers before committing to Boise State during the spring contact period. 6'0” 190 lbs. he's got a good frame while being a dynamic, versatile athlete with the rare ability to impact the game from multiple positions on both sides of the ball. His combination of speed, explosiveness, and football instincts make him a true swiss army knife capable of excelling as a RB, WR, and even wildcat QB role. A threat to score any time he touches the ball. Flashes sustained top end speed, sudden acceleration, and the elusiveness in the open field to make defenders miss and get into space. Reads his blocks well on the move and has excellent vision to attack running lanes, can slip through tight creases and shows plus balance to fight through contact. His unique skillset puts constant pressure on defenses to account for him wherever he lines up. Debuts in the rankings inside the top 10 at his position.      Nellum is a force on the interior DL with a massive frame at 6'5” 355 lbs. Physically imposing he creates problems at the LOS for opposing offenses clogging the inside and requiring double teams forcing them to run outside. As a run-stopper, he excels at anchoring the middle, using powerful hands and natural strength to control opponents at the POA. His ability to hold ground and occupy multiple blockers frees up linebacker behind him and consistently disrupts the rhythm of opposing run games. Despite his size, he shows good bend and short area quickness to be more than just a space eater. He flashes a good get off and uses his length/leverage to collapse the pocket as interior pass rush. His bull rush is powerful and can drive the OL straight back into the QB. Committed early to his first offer from UNLV but has since added Sacramento State and San Diego State. Enters the rankings inside the top 20 of 2026 defensive linemen.      Martinez continues his ascent up rankings and recruiting boards now holding nine D1 offers with more P4 programs coming in as of late. His blend of speed and plus route running make him a consistent threat at all three levels of the field. He accelerates hard off the LOS and creates easy separation with excellent change of direction, sharp breaks, and fluid transitions. Advanced release mechanics, using well timed stems and head fakes to get defenders off platform and off balance. Consistently wins at the catch point with strong hands, good concentration, and the body control to adjust to off target throws. His 10.97 100-meter speed translates easily to the field giving him another gear in open space and makes him explosive after the catch. Continues to gain momentum and exposure going into his senior year.      Calderon had a break out junior season going for 1,300 yards and 16 touchdowns on 55 catches. 6'1” 185 lbs. he's got a great skillset to be a quality D1 college prospect. Flashes a hard drive phase off the LOS and accelerates to top speed quickly allowing him to run by coverage and create separation. Smooth in and out of his breaks he's able to make clean cuts without losing momentum or speed. Also does a good job mixing up speeds and tempo to create positional leverage as a route runner. Uses his body well to shield defenders from the ball and establish a throwing lane for his QB. Strong ball judgement skills to track and adjust to mid air ball flight. Has performed well at offseason camps/showcases including being a top performer at the NorCal National Preps Showcase and several college camps to boost his recruiting stock. Picked up his initial college offer from Arizona in January.      Johnson is a pure football player with a downhill and attacking style of play at both RB and LB. 6'0” 210 lbs. he has the ability to play either side of the ball at the college level with the size, athleticism, and speed he possesses. Violent at the POA, he shows natural power and strength to accelerate through contact. On defense, he plays with excellent pad level and leverage. He's able to slip blocks with a quick lateral move and shoulder dip or stack and shed aggressively. His short area burst and efficient angles allow him to close space on ball carriers in a hurry. As a ball carrier, he flashes great twitch and lateral agility with the ability to accelerate out of his cuts. Good field vision and spatial awareness to know where defenders are and use their leverage against them to attack a running lane with speed. He's a high caliber athlete holding five D1 offers but is still under recruited given his talent and ability.