Adding Context to Prep Redzone Iowa ’26 Rankings Update

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prep Redzone Iowa has hit you with a flurry of rankings updates in recent weeks. We're capping off the run with a jam-packed <a href="https://prepredzone.com/iowa/rankings/2026-rankings/">update of the 2026 Class</a>. Crazy to think these guys will be seniors. Time flies.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We added more than 150 student-athletes to this list. I found another one Thursday morning. There are so many good football players in this state. We want to find as many as we can and always welcome your help in doing so. There's a few of us and a lot of you. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rankings spark discussion. If you have a passion for prep football in Iowa, you have an opinion on them. We love that passion and positive discourse on our list. It's an objective and imperfect one. Again, there's all of you, and a few of us.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The process becomes more difficult the farther we get down the list. So many student-athletes have potential they've not realized. Oscar Galindo says grouping the guys projected on the same collegiate level together forms the foundation. I agree and would add that there's nuance to doing that. Colleges can't see everybody, so we can't and don't rank solely on their projections. That said, they carry a lot of weight.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>What Oscar describes is called tiered ranking. In our heads, we group guys of similar talents together when going through the rankings process. Those are tiers. Within those tiers, each scout has areas and traits they value most in evaluating. That's why when you look at any rankings across the industry, guys are usually listed similarly throughout them, just maybe in a slightly different order.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>All that leads us to adding context to this Class of 2026 Rankings Update. For me, the top tier is comprised of three student-athletes - [player_tooltip player_id='283946' first='Jayden' last='McGregory'], [player_tooltip player_id='1221928' first='Evan' last='Jacobson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1238512' first='Julian' last='Manson']. I scouted all of them in person last season, and it wouldn't surprise me in the least if any of them ends up being the best in the long run. And it won't matter because they all can be impactful in college. They're very gifted and have plenty of room to grow before reaching their potential.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Six guys make up the second tier. [player_tooltip player_id='1221926' first='Carson' last='Nielsen'], [player_tooltip player_id='1238514' first='Kasen' last='Thomas'], [player_tooltip player_id='1687055' first='Dalton' last='DeBoer'], [player_tooltip player_id='1241492' first='Jeffrey' last='Roberts'], [player_tooltip player_id='1238174' first='Colin' last='Whitters'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1281978' first='Draeden' last='Punt'] are Power 4 commitments far from hitting their ceilings. They're certainly capable of rising into the top tier with further development, and all have bright futures.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The third tier is made up of seven student-athletes. Members hold high-level FCS scholarship offers. They could end up graduating to roles on the Power 4 level down the line. The group includes [player_tooltip player_id='283945' first='Jayden' last='Brown'], [player_tooltip player_id='1240558' first='Andrew' last='Hine'], [player_tooltip player_id='1370736' first='Joey' last='Hardy'], [player_tooltip player_id='1240572' first='Colt' last='Schipper'], [player_tooltip player_id='1241376' first='Colton' last='McClish'], [player_tooltip player_id='1358226' first='Logan' last='Lashbrook'] and [player_tooltip player_id='283943' first='Eli' last='Robbins'], an Iowa preferred walk-on commitment.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1221954' first='Cael' last='Roberts'], [player_tooltip player_id='1687041' first='Owen' last='Liechti'], [player_tooltip player_id='1631997' first='Keaton' last='Mennen'], [player_tooltip player_id='1370695' first='Brayden' last='Hoben'], [player_tooltip player_id='533048' first='Braylin' last='Dieken-Keahey'], [player_tooltip player_id='1295632' first='Isaiah' last='Oliver'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1188432' first='Mason' last='Claus'] are a seven-player fourth tier. The next tier includes [player_tooltip player_id='1234337' first='Mason' last='Goering'], [player_tooltip player_id='1692280' first='Trateris' last='Watson'], [player_tooltip player_id='1250804' first='Calan' last='Peters'], [player_tooltip player_id='401669' first='Daniel' last='Larmie'], [player_tooltip player_id='1221948' first='Jaxon' last='Paulsrud'], [player_tooltip player_id='1630199' first='Teague' last='Cantrall'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1241488' first='Quinn' last='Street']. Taking it out one more tier, it would consist of [player_tooltip player_id='1234328' first='Lloydson' last='Nyenow Jr']., [player_tooltip player_id='856075' first='DreShaun' last='Ross'], [player_tooltip player_id='1238635' first='Ethan' last='Headings'], [player_tooltip player_id='897440' first='Harrison' last='Mullens'], [player_tooltip player_id='401870' first='Drake' last='DeGroote'], [player_tooltip player_id='401668' first='Bryce' last='Kock'], [player_tooltip player_id='1240890' first='Tavian' last='White'], [player_tooltip player_id='1241533' first='Ty' last='Sanchez-Evans'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1619976' first='Noah' last='Daniel'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As you can see, tiers grow after that three-player top tier with at least six guys in each tier listed beyond that. The tiers only get bigger as we dive deeper into the rankings. Chances are excellent that there will be more movement in our next update. That's how these things work.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->