2026 Rankings: Grading Offensive Position Groups

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Now that we have dived into every position group in the new 2026 rankings we wanted to take a larger view of the class grading out the position groups as a whole along with looking at the top tier and depth.  Here is <strong>2026 Rankings: Grading Offensive Position Groups</strong>!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><u>Quarterback</u></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Class Grade:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>B<br><br>Top Prospect:<br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='800191' first='Jonas' last='Williams'] (Lincoln Way East)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Top Tier:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The top tier of this class is very strong.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='800191' first='Jonas' last='Williams'] (USC), [player_tooltip player_id='212320' first='Owen' last='Lansu'] (Minnesota), and [player_tooltip player_id='499431' first='Johnny' last='O'Brien'] (Northwestern) are all inside the top 20 overall and are legit power 4 level signal callers with the chance to be impact Big 10 quarterbacks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Depth of Position:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Depth of the class at the group of 5 and FCS level isn't super strong.&nbsp; Four other QBs rank inside the top 125 in [player_tooltip player_id='1669962' first='Mason' last='Atkins'], [player_tooltip player_id='801994' first='CJ' last='Gray'], [player_tooltip player_id='1627970' first='Steven' last='Armbruster'], and [player_tooltip player_id='819662' first='Andrew' last='Bonvechio'].&nbsp; We will be looking for one of these to break out as a senior.&nbsp; A lot of small college signal callers after that.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><u>Running Back</u></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Class Grade:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>C<br><br>Top Prospect:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1669537' first='Maxwell' last='Warner'] (Whitney Young)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Top Tier:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The top tier is one player in [player_tooltip player_id='1669537' first='Maxwell' last='Warner'].&nbsp; He is an explosive game changer at the running back spot that has Power 4 potential.&nbsp; There are some other nice backs, but no one comes close to him.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Depth of Position:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There are a few sleepers that I like at the position in [player_tooltip player_id='401606' first='Greyson' last='Kelly'], Craig Peacock, [player_tooltip player_id='1585217' first='Reggie' last='Gray'], [player_tooltip player_id='1585253' first='Madden' last='Wilson'], and [player_tooltip player_id='1585196' first='Brody' last='Gish'] that could find homes at the high FCS or low group of 5 levels.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><u>Wide Receivers</u></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Class Grade:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>B+<br><br>Top Prospect:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='212322' first='Zachary' last='Washington'] (Wheaton St. Francis)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Top Tier:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Washington is the headliner as a big time downfield threat that can also win on short routes and in the kick return game.&nbsp; Strong group right behind him in [player_tooltip player_id='1404803' first='Devyon' last='Hill-Lomax'], [player_tooltip player_id='1399944' first='Stephen' last='Brown'], [player_tooltip player_id='1669549' first='Kortez' last='Rupert'], [player_tooltip player_id='283926' first='Kai' last='Owens'], and [player_tooltip player_id='401609' first='Jamari' last='Brown'].&nbsp; All are P4 prospects.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Depth of Position:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Like the depth overall of this group with different body types and games across the board.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='212314' first='Jacob' last='Harvey'], [player_tooltip player_id='1128408' first='Armaad' last='Sharp'], [player_tooltip player_id='1585141' first='Trenton' last='Walker'], Sheko Gjokaj Jr, [player_tooltip player_id='802439' first='Adrian' last='Jones'], [player_tooltip player_id='283929' first='Oliver' last='Thulin'], and [player_tooltip player_id='1454184' first='Matthew' last='Osterman'] are a few of my favorite upside plays down the board.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><u>Tight End</u></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Class Grade:<br><br>A-<br><br>Top Prospect:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='801700' first='Mack' last='Sutter'] (Dunlap)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Top Tier:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The “Big 3” of tight ends in this group makes this one of the strengths of the class overall.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='801700' first='Mack' last='Sutter'], [player_tooltip player_id='212319' first='JC' last='Anderson'], and [player_tooltip player_id='1399937' first='Gavin' last='Mueller'] are all P4+ prospects that can impact in so many ways as new age tight ends.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Depth of Position:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The numbers aren't really there with only 16 total TE ranked, but there are some good ones in there.&nbsp; Stevenson's [player_tooltip player_id='1669574' first='Zach' last='Becker'] has really jumped up the board.&nbsp; York has a pair of Group 5/FCS pass catchers in [player_tooltip player_id='1585186' first='Simon' last='Kodosky'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1292230' first='Hunter' last='Stepanich'].&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='401626' first='Richie' last='Darr'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1593745' first='Finn' last='Bretag'] are sleepers we like.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><u>Offensive Lineman</u></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Class Grade:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A+<br><br>Top Prospect:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Claude Mpouma (Mt. Carmel)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Top Tier:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Maybe the best position group in the class.&nbsp; Four prospects are ranked in the top 11 overall in Claude Mpouma, [player_tooltip player_id='1399932' first='Tony' last='Balanganayi'], [player_tooltip player_id='325063' first='Rico' last='Schrieber'], and [player_tooltip player_id='401605' first='Gene' last='Riordan'].&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='801699' first='Casey' last='Thomann'] and [player_tooltip player_id='801991' first='Owen' last='Fors'] are not too far behind them.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Depth of Position:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Overall there are 22 offensive lineman ranked inside the top 100.&nbsp; That is over 20% of all prospects in the class.&nbsp; East St. Louis lineman [player_tooltip player_id='1585136' first='Terrell' last='Berryhill Jr'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1669942' first='Mytrell' last='Tillman'] are flying up the board.&nbsp; In total 72 offensive lineman are in the top 375 for almost 19% of the class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><u>Athletes</u></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Class Grade:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>B+<br><br>Top Prospect:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='801887' first='Nasir' last='Rankin'] (Morgan Park)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Top Tier:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The top tier of athletes are [player_tooltip player_id='801887' first='Nasir' last='Rankin'], [player_tooltip player_id='1399916' first='Davon' last='Grant'], and [player_tooltip player_id='1669534' first='Brandon' last='Jenkins'] who carry this class with three inside the top 17 overall including the #1 overall player in Rankin.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Depth of Position</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Solid depth here of versatile athletes with 15 inside the top 150 overall and 42 in the top 375.&nbsp; A few that are ones to watch include [player_tooltip player_id='212321' first='Tanner' last='Glock'], [player_tooltip player_id='802039' first='Ayden' last='Ginn'], [player_tooltip player_id='1585203' first='CJ' last='Harkins'], [player_tooltip player_id='1399985' first='Kirby' last='Christensen'], [player_tooltip player_id='319342' first='Chase' last='Markowicz'], and Edward McClain.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->