Uncommitted 2026 Prospects to Watch in State Championships

<p>The state championships are a prime opportunity for prospects to showcase their abilities with everyone in the entire state paying attention and even people from around the nation.</p>   <p>While the early signing period is approaching, there are still several 2026 prospects that are available and should be intriguing to Division One programs and this game should help give them the platform to display their abilities.</p>   <p>These six prospects have had stellar senior seasons and should have huge impacts on the state championship game for their team.</p>   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Baylor 2026 SLOT [player_tooltip player_id='1300097' first='Kaiden' last='Dewey']</h2>   <p>Dewey is an exciting slot receiver prospect that Group of Five programs absolutely need to be circling around to as they try to find players to fill out their high school classes.</p>   <p>He has good size with excellent speed that allows him to create explosive plays, both downfield or picking up yards after the catch. The slot position at Baylor under head coach Erik Kimrey has been an ultra-productive one and Dewey has made sure that remained the case.</p>   <p>He will be a steal for a college program at the next level and is one of quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='222957' first='Briggs' last='Cherry'] top receiving options.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/MaxPreps/status/1974306278630711584?s=20 </div></figure>   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Franklin Road Academy 2026 Defensive Back [player_tooltip player_id='1167514' first='Jayden' last='Rush']</h2>   <p>Rush has been an essential part of the Panthers secondary for his entire high school career and his ability to matchup on the outside against the opposing top outside receiver every game allows for the team to use their dynamic safeties [player_tooltip player_id='903033' first='Omarii' last='Sanders'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1664092' first='Amari' last='Mitchell'] in a variety of ways.</p>   <p>While he likely projects as a more of a safety than a corner at the next level, he has good size, physicality, athleticism, and confidence that helps him play a strong game every Friday night and could earn playing time at the next level.</p>   <p>He also plays receiver for the team and is a reliable target over the middle of the field. He will be an important part of a FRA team trying to beat BGA for the second time this year, this time away from home.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/connersmith04/status/1976458869426819406?s=20 </div></figure>   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Nashville Christian School 2026 Running Back TJ Ward</h2>   <p>Ward is an intriguing tailback prospect as he has the build of a strong bruiser, which he can definitely be, but he has also the ability to hit the home-run play when a crease is given, making him an unstoppbale complement next to [player_tooltip player_id='402548' first='Jared' last='Curtis'] at the high school level.</p>   <p>He had an electric playoff run last year and will be counted on to add balance to the backfield again this year in the state championship. He has the raw size and athleticism that a Division One running backs coach would love to get inside his room.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/p1cass00/status/1969537026723578139?s=20 </div></figure>   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Page 2026 Running Back [player_tooltip player_id='1532741' first='James' last='Pierre']</h2>   <p>Speaking of high school bruiser running backs, [player_tooltip player_id='1532741' first='James' last='Pierre'] has been a steady veteran presence in his first season at Page. While he is a bit of a limited athlete, he runs hard and in an aggressive manner, allowing him to pick up all the tough yards.</p>   <p>He knows how to run behind his pads and maintain a low point of leverage that allows for him to always be moving forward even after getting hit. He will be a massive part to what Page can do in the state championship game this week.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/shaynep_media/status/1989505806828528112?s=20 </div></figure>   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Westview 2026 Receiver/Athlete [player_tooltip player_id='964719' first='Donteze' last='Joy']</h2>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='964719' first='Donteze' last='Joy'] is an intriguing recruit that continues to find ways to be a high-impact player as the offense at Westview gets more and more explosive each year with quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='424594' first='Graham' last='Simpson'] and his surrounding weapons.</p>   <p>Listed at 6-foot-1 and 200 pounds, he has a strong build that can be moved around the offensive formation and create interesting matchups for the defense. He has the frame and smooth movement ability that provides intrigue for a potential position switch to running back at the next level, making him a potential gem for a mid major program.</p>   <p>He is used as a receiver for Westview as they already boast a lethal rushing attack with junior [player_tooltip player_id='1103496' first='Asa' last='Barnes'], but Joy could break out as tailback in his own right as part of a backfield at the college level in the future.</p>   <p>He is the steady veteran leader for the Westview offense and will be featured a strong amount in the state championship game.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/TNGridironBlitz/status/1984054440647913577?s=20 </div></figure>   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Alcoa 2026 Receiver [player_tooltip player_id='1630037' first='JaColby' last='Cooper']</h2>   <p>Cooper is a receiver with good size and a versatile weapon that Alcoa uses in a newfound passing attack that has generated big plays downfield this season.</p>   <p>Standing around 6'2 he has the size to make contested catches and has put that on display this season, but he also has the athleticism to be used in a variety of ways which Alcoa has used to their advantage with sweeps, motions, screens, and so on.</p>   <p>He has been a crucial part to the offensive success for this team and could make some explosive plays happen across from [player_tooltip player_id='817933' first='Jamir' last='Dean'] with the state championship on the line this week.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/shaynep_media/status/1959788612423463304?s=20 </div></figure>

The state championships are a prime opportunity for prospects to showcase their abilities with everyone in the entire state paying attention and even people from around the nation.