Built for the Climb: 2026 Stock Risers Making a Statement

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='1395823' first='Kenan' last='Tookes'] – CB – Blanche Ely High   6'0", 157 lbs   Evaluation: Tookes is a lanky, fluid cover corner with impressive length and natural feel for route concepts. His 6-foot frame and long arms help him disrupt timing routes, and he plays bigger than his weight suggests. He shows strong zone awareness and clean footwork in man coverage, regularly staying in phase with receivers. His ball production—5 pass breakups and 2 interceptions—indicates excellent timing and anticipation, especially when closing on routes late. While he needs to add weight to handle bigger, more physical receivers at the next level, he's shown the hip fluidity and mirror skills to thrive as a boundary or nickel corner. Tookes has a high ceiling as a cover-first DB with room to grow into a shutdown role in college.   [player_tooltip player_id='1143117' first='Geovanni' last='Tobon'] – RB/ATH – St. Brendan High   5'8", 180 lbs   Evaluation: Tobon is a compact, downhill back who plays with excellent pad level and burst. Though just 5'8", he's built solidly and runs with toughness between the tackles, showing the ability to finish runs and absorb contact without losing balance. His short-area quickness allows him to cut decisively and find small creases in the defense. In just five games, he tallied over 100 yards per game on the ground with 7 total touchdowns—demonstrating both productivity and explosiveness. He catches the ball naturally out of the backfield, giving him value on screens and swing passes. Not flashy but highly efficient, Tobon profiles as a volume back in spread or inside-zone systems. His low center of gravity and effort level make him a tough assignment for defenders in space.   [player_tooltip player_id='1626884' first='Ronald' last='Thomas'] – ATH – Cypress Bay High   6'3", 170 lbs   Evaluation: Thomas is a long, rangy athlete with big-play ability on both sides of the ball. Defensively, he's a natural ballhawk with excellent body control and closing speed. His 5 interceptions jump off the stat sheet, especially paired with his length and awareness. He has the frame of a high-ceiling free safety and shows quick recognition of route combinations and QB intentions. Offensively, his 4 catches for 116 yards and 2 scores reflect his big-play threat potential. His stride length helps him separate vertically, and his leaping ability makes him a red-zone mismatch. At 6'3”, 170 lbs, he has a lean build that will benefit from physical development, but the foundation is there for a true two-way college prospect. With continued growth and refinement, Thomas could become a major impact DB at the next level with WR versatility.   [player_tooltip player_id='1206736' first='Kiarin' last='Sullivan'] – CB/ATH – Mainland High   5'10", 167 lbs   Evaluation: Sullivan is an elite mover with true track speed and impressive hip flexibility. He thrives in man coverage, using quick feet and natural reaction time to mirror receivers off the line. Whether inside or outside, he plays sticky coverage, rarely allowing clean releases or separation. His acceleration shows up when he closes on underneath routes or recovers against double moves. As a tackler, he's scrappy and doesn't shy away from physicality—evidenced by his 1 sack and consistent presence near the line of scrimmage. His ability to run stride-for-stride with top receivers and change direction fluidly makes him a fit for press-man or aggressive zone systems. With his track background and raw cover talent, Sullivan projects as a potential FBS/FCS caliber DB with upside as a multi-year starter and kick return contributor.   Cam Smith – DB/ATH – Calvary Christian High   6'1", 190 lbs   Evaluation: Smith is a technically sound defensive back who combines smooth movement with natural coverage instincts. At 6'1”, 190 lbs, he has the frame to play either corner or safety and shows the kind of balance and body control that college programs covet. His backpedal is efficient, with no wasted steps, and he transitions well from pedal to drive. Smith plays with quiet confidence—his positioning is consistently solid, and he rarely panics when the ball is in the air. His 2 interceptions reflect strong hands and timing, but more importantly, he limits opportunities before the throw even happens. He's an under-the-radar prospect who does all the little things right—reads keys, takes great angles, and closes with urgency. Physically mature and fundamentally clean, Smith is ready to compete for reps early at the next level.

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.