Oregon high school football class of 2026 bold takes

After spending the summer talking to high school coaches and watching Hudl highlights, Prep Redzone's Andrew Nemec has some thoughts on the upcoming season.    Here are a few of his biggest takeaways from the past few months:   1. There are 3 6A state title favorites   A lot can happen over the course of the season, but to me there are three programs that should be considered the preseason favorites in the Oregon 6A state championship race.    Reigning champion West Linn lost 11 first-team all-league players - half its lineup - to graduation, but has retooled and reloaded with a strong, young nucleus.   There may be some drop off, but not much.   Senior running back [player_tooltip player_id='769989' first='Viggo' last='Anderson'] will push for Gatorade Player of the Year honors and the West Linn defense is absolutely loaded with quick, sideline-to-sideline athletes.    There are some questions at quarterback and along the lines, but the Lions are a special bunch.   Lake Oswego, which made the championship game last season, brings back superstar running back LaMarcus bell and Washington State quarterback commit [player_tooltip player_id='402409' first='Hudson' last='Kurland'].    Add into the mix former Mountainside two-way star [player_tooltip player_id='457009' first='Sam' last='Vyhlidal'] and the Lakers may have the best offensive trio in the state.   The Lakers' offensive line is smart, experienced and cohesive, while the front seven is loaded with playmakers.   Lake Oswego is firmly in the mix.   Lakeridge, to me, is the other top-three contender.   The Pacers are loaded all over the field and quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='284120' first='Drew' last='Weiler'] doesn't get the credit he deserves as a potential star.   Washington commit [player_tooltip player_id='284119' first='Ansu' last='Sanoe'] is a special athlete and edge-rusher [player_tooltip player_id='769915' first='Noah' last='Tishendorf'] is the state's most disruptive player.   Lakeridge has arguably the best front-seven in the state and has four-year varsity standout [player_tooltip player_id='402418' first='Marcus' last='Post'] leading the defensive backs.   With 35 seniors, the Pacers are loaded with talent and experience.   West Linn has become a football talent factory and Lake Oswego and Lakeridge have historically-deep, experienced rosters.   I just don't quite see the same depth at Central Catholic, who I have squarely at No. 4.   I have tremendous respect for the Rams program, and I don't think running back [player_tooltip player_id='402415' first='Killian' last='Sombe'] gets enough love as a prospect, but I don't think they would say this is one of their best teams in recent years.   Central Catholic still has enough talent to win it all, make no mistake, but I don't see them as a “favorite” this fall.    Willamette is a wildcard.   They have a ton of transfers and some of the best individual talent in the state.   That should serve them well in their first year at the 6A level, but it's hard to project them as a 6A title contender in Year 1.   2. Metro Lineman Challenge should expand   The unpadded 5-on-5 OL/DL spring events are a good way to keep linemen engaged during the 7on-7 season, but they aren't realistic reps.   True 1-on-1 pass sets for lineman, particularly interior guys, are just not a big part of real football.    The best event I saw this summer, in terms of evaluating linemen and their growth, was the Metro Lineman Challenge by Glencoe's Ian Reynoso.    The event, which consisted of a bench press, 40, broad jump, vertical leap, farmer's carry, tire flip, team blocking sled drill and team tug-of-war, allowed linemen of all shapes, sizes and skill levels to test themselves and set benchmarks to beat for next year.    Regardless of whether guys were inexperienced JV competitors or all-state-caliber stars everyone had a chance to have a successful day.   Further, there were two different groups in terms of overall performance based on height and weight, giving undersized linemen a chance against the heavyweights.    The Lineman Challenge should be a national event - and Reynoso is the perfect person to help it grow.   3. [player_tooltip player_id='284119' first='Ansu' last='Sanoe']'s highest ceiling could be on defense   I like Lakeridge's [player_tooltip player_id='284119' first='Ansu' last='Sanoe'] a lot.   The 6-foot-1, 235-pound athlete is a great kid, hard worker and outstanding athlete.   But I'm not sure that he's far enough along as a running back to be a star there for Washington in the Big Ten.    Instead, I view Sanoe as a potential strong safety/outside linebacker for a creative defensive coordinator - and one that could play a Derwin James-type role as he gets used to the defensive side of the ball.   Sanoe has upside as a running back and I don't want to diminish that. He's one of the best backs in recent years in Oregon.    I simply think he could absolutely flourish as a versatile ‘backer/safety at the collegiate level.    4. [player_tooltip player_id='769915' first='Noah' last='Tishendorf'] should be getting more recruiting love   Lakeridge senior [player_tooltip player_id='769915' first='Noah' last='Tishendorf'] has led 6A Oregon football in sacks each of the past two seasons and, by all accounts, looks bigger, faster and stronger heading into the fall.   A 20-sack season is not out of the question - even in the loaded Three Rivers League.   A West Virginia pledge, Tishendorf was originally committed to Oregon State to bulk up and become a defensive tackle.   But I think he could be a big, physical edge at the collegiate level.   I expect Tishendorf to battle West Linn junior [player_tooltip player_id='632957' first='Josiah' last='Molden'] for the state's top defensive player.   Given how few teams will even throw Molden's way, it's entirely possible the Lakeridge star will have the better numbers and be named the state's top defender.   Tishendorf is about to go up another level - and that could be scary for the rest of the state.   5. [player_tooltip player_id='402415' first='Killian' last='Sombe'] is better than his hype   Central Catholic senior [player_tooltip player_id='402415' first='Killian' last='Sombe']'s talent has somehow gotten lost in the hype surrounding Lake Oswego's LaMarcus Bell and Lakeridge's [player_tooltip player_id='284119' first='Ansu' last='Sanoe'].   But that shouldn't be the case.   Sombe is probably the most technically-sound of the trio and has a great blend of size (5-10, 190) and speed.    He holds offers from Boise State, Washington State and others, and could take his game to another level this fall.   If I were a new Pac-12 school, I'd be watching him very closely.   6. [player_tooltip player_id='1232699' first='Cade' last='Mitchell'] deserves more love   Mountainside quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1232699' first='Cade' last='Mitchell'] seemingly won an MVP award at every camp he attended this summer and seems to have finally broken out as a true star.   While his high school program lost a ton of talent transferring out, he's good enough to keep the Mavericks in any game.    Mitchell is currently committed to New Mexico.   If that sticks, they may be getting an absolute steal.    7. Offensive line group is deeper than people think   In recent years, Oregon has churned out a ton of talented tight ends.   This year, a lot has been made of the running back group.   But I've been pleasantly surprised by the depth of the offensive line talent in Oregon this year.   Tualatin's [player_tooltip player_id='1110967' first='Connor' last='LaGrow'] (6-6, 270), Lakeridge's [player_tooltip player_id='914288' first='Carter' last='Paul'] (6-7, 300) and [player_tooltip player_id='402412' first='Joe' last='Weiler'] (6-6, 270), Jesuit's [player_tooltip player_id='770046' first='Quinn' last='Wicklow'] (6-7, 270) and West Linn's [player_tooltip player_id='769924' first='Kalani' last='Ioapo'] (6-5, 325) are all massive and carry some upside.   Cascade's [player_tooltip player_id='769923' first='Bryce' last='May'], Lakeridge's [player_tooltip player_id='1341235' first='Jaxon' last='Barber'] and Willamette's [player_tooltip player_id='1569372' first='Aiden' last='Lewey'] could pop as interior guys, which rounds out the group.   All of those guys, to me, is a tick better than their current recruitments and I could see a few late offers being sprinkled into this group throughout the fall.

After spending the summer talking to high school coaches and watching Hudl highlights, Prep Redzone's Andrew Nemec has some thoughts on the upcoming season.