5 Emerging Contenders for the 2026 Rankings

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Want 30% off of your subscription? Use promo code <strong>PaulG30 </strong>at checkout!</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1614104"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-689e275b08612"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The Timberline product recently shutdown his recruitment and committed to the University of Idaho and is a very good get for the Vandals. He is a no-brainer FCS caliber player and is a very fluid athlete with good cover abilities and a true banger/high IQ kid in the box. He offers the ideal size/frame for the position and has a high floor at the next level and a diverse skillset both when rushing the passer, filling gaps inside the tackles or when covering downfield. He is a sure fire candidate to enter into our ranks in the up-coming update and one of the states best. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1089050"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-689e275b08676"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">One of the more active and twitchy linebackers across Idaho, the Nampa Christian product could end up finding his home at OLB/SS in college and is another no-brainer D3+ caliber player entering into his senior season. He is a very efficient tackler, packs a punch at the POA and can quickly knife into the backfield with the proper angles and bend around the corner. Although a bit undersized for the position, he plays bigger then he is and flys around at all times and is a very high IQ prospect with a quick trigger. Overall, he is a sound player both in the box and in space and will make a positive impact on a college roster. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1738808"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-689e275b086c0"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The Homedale product is one of the more downhill and physical runners across the region and should have a very solid senior season. He is a smooth athlete for his size, runs behind his pads with forward lean/leg drive through contact and bounces off ankle/arm tackles with ease. He flashes a quick initial burst through the first level and is tough to take down once he gets going. Doubling on defense as well, he is a high IQ and disruptive linebacker that does a nice job tackling in space, setting the edge and adding consistent edge pressure when coming from various angles. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1699261"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-689e275b08707"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The Columbia product is one of the top returning backs across the region and should go over the 1k mark in his senior year. He is another downhill twitchy runner that has long strides, chunks yardage quickly and is a natural ball carrier that can also make plays in the passing game as well. He has a strong build, good vision in tight windows with cutback abilities and is a strong runner looking for contact in the hole. Look for Cheslak to draw plenty of D3+ attention through his senior year and have a truly breakout '25 campaign for Columbia. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1623449"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-689e275b0874d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Clark is a long and rangy safety prospect with the ideal length, range and open field speed to play free safety in college. He is a very good tackler when coming downhill, shows no false steps in man coverage and is a rangy playmaker that can cover the entire back-half and make plays on the ball/force poor throws over the middle. He shows natural ball skills, breaks quickly when dropping down into the box and is a very high IQ kid in zone coverage. Overall, one of the better at the position in the region he is another no-brainer into enter into our next rankings update and a true college prospect. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->