Maryland HS Football Senior Spotlight: 5 to watch

We're shining the spotlight on some of the seniors in Maryland's 2026 football recruiting class. This is Part 4 of an ongoing series.    Jake Rydzewski is a tough, physical center with strong hands and excellent leverage. He plays with a low center of gravity and shows reasonable control at the point of attack. Whether anchoring in pass protection or moving to the second level in the run game, Jake finishes blocks and creates running lanes. He's aggressive, technically sound, and plays with a mean streak. It could get a little quicker when it comes to climbing to the second level or pulling. Has a solid punch, but Jake could improve his strike speed to win faster off the line.     Naheem Johnson is a good-looking athlete with excellent open-field vision and sudden burst. He's a natural with the ball in his hands, showing fluid movement, lateral agility, and strong acceleration. Whether in the return game or as a slot receiver, he creates separation and makes defenders miss. Johnson thrives in space and can turn short gains into chunk plays with quick cuts and fast decision-making. Needs to show more reps with him running intermediate and deep routes (if available) to evaluate his big-play capability fully.     Devin Thompson is a physically imposing lineman who demonstrates functional strength, quick feet, and technical consistency. Much of this is evident in highlights showcasing the run game. Although he currently plays left tackle at the high school level, his size, leverage, and quickness project more naturally to offensive guard at the next level. He plays with great pad level, fires off the ball low, and uses a wide, sturdy base to hold off pass rushers. I think Thompson could add more pop to his initial hand strike.     Isaiah Palmer is a strong, compact back with a physical running style and good burst. He demonstrates the ability to break arm tackles and maintain his balance through contact. His vision is solid, especially when cutting back to avoid traffic. Palmer finishes runs with authority and doesn't shy away from contact. He's also capable as a pass catcher and has breakaway ability once he's in the open field. I'd like to see more of how he performs in terms of side-to-side agility.     Robert Preston shows a blend of power, agility, and surprising versatility for his size. Though lined up primarily at fullback, he demonstrates natural hands and smooth transitions from catch to run. He's a reliable receiver in the flat and a tough inside runner with a physical style. Preston consistently runs through arm tackles and shows the ability to finish runs with authority. There are a few of his highlights showing him cutting inside blocks or changing direction to avoid traffic. Preston needs to continue to work on his top-end speed.    <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/10/maryland-hs-football-senior-spotlight-5-to-watch-pt-3/">Maryland HS Football Senior Spotlight: 5 to watch – Pt. 3</a>

We're shining the spotlight on some of the seniors in Maryland's 2026 football recruiting class. This is Part 4 of an ongoing series.