Unsigned but Undeniable: 2026s That Need A Second Look

<p>Every year, a handful of seniors finish high school football with tape that demands a second look—players who may not hold the offers they deserve yet, but whose skillsets translate beyond Friday nights. These are prospects who popped on film, competed with polish and poise, and put together seasons strong enough to earn real conversations with college staffs.</p>    <p class="text-gray-700">Jones brings two-phase value that should immediately draw recruiting interest—legitimate next-level speed with the ability to win vertically as a receiver, and the defensive instincts to play corner with confidence. He plays bigger than his frame suggests, high-points the ball naturally and expands his catch radius in contested situations. As a route runner, he consistently attacks blind spots, showing a feel for pacing and leverage manipulation uncommon at the high school level. After the catch, he's fluid and creative—burst in space, wiggle in tight areas, and the acceleration to erase pursuit angles.</p>   <p class="text-gray-700">Defensively, he tackles cleanly and competes through the catch point, the kind of dual-tool prospect who gives a roster immediate flexibility. A sleeper in this class who checks the athletic and instinctual boxes required to play early.</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/Joshuajones_2/status/1985357359389028745?s=20 </div></figure>    <p class="text-gray-700">The ball looks different when it finds Jones. With receiver-level hands and field creativity, he's the type of defensive back who can flip field position or take a turnover to the house. While showing real comfort flipping and running with vertical routes- he shows fluidity and confidence. In zone or bail technique, he plays fast mentally—anticipates routes, bait quarterbacks, and disrupts throws with natural timing.</p>   <p class="text-gray-700">At the catch point, Jones is aggressive and calculated, consistently playing through hands and locating the ball in the air. With his size, movement efficiency, and ball-tracking traits, he projects as an early contributor at the college level—whether as a starting DB or return-threat hybrid.</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/Lawardrickjone2/status/1969955024928137513?s=20 </div></figure>    <p class="text-gray-700">Woods' game is built on nuance—elite footwork, patient pacing, and an ability to manipulate gaps like a veteran. His vision in traffic stands out on film, consistently sifting through congested boxes and punishing misfit angles. He cuts efficiently with minimal wasted steps and maintains speed through direction change, a trait that translates cleanly to the next level.</p>   <p class="text-gray-700">He boasts solid burst, contact balance, and top-end speed, but his m the maturity in his run style that makes him a college-ready back. </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/RecruitBigClay/status/1984438042405257515?s=20 </div></figure>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/RecruitBigClay/status/1993039810840477755?s=20 </div></figure>    <p class="text-gray-700">Few players were more productive statewide than Grissom —81 catches, 928 yards, 12 touchdowns, and impact as a returner and occasional backfield weapon. A true multi-use offensive threat, he wins with smooth stride-speed, clean acceleration, and a north-and-south route running profile that punishes cushion. In space, his vision shines—he slips first contact often and regularly turns routine touches into chain-moving plays.</p>   <p class="text-gray-700">His positional versatility is one of his greatest assets. Slot, perimeter, motion-back, return game—Griswold fits every role and creates mismatches across the field. A program looking for instant production and scheme-flexibility should consider him a priority.</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/BGris_1/status/1985474358043926529?s=20 </div></figure>    <p class="text-gray-700">Carr is a quarterback-friendly target—the kind coaches love on 3rd downs - and is a type of player all offenses could use. With steady hands, strong tracking ability, and controlled body mechanics, he adjusts to inaccurate balls and fights through contact to finish catches. His spatial awareness and IQ is high-level; he constantly finds soft spots in zone coverage and presents himself cleanly to the QB while also staying alive in scramble situations. </p>   <p class="text-gray-700">He may not always win with flash, but his value lies in reliability—he sustains drives, converts downs, and plays with a high understanding of where he needs to be. </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/k0rie3/status/1976001500938637657?s=20 </div></figure>

Every year, a handful of seniors finish high school football with tape that demands a second look—players who may not hold the offers they deserve yet, but whose skillsets translate beyond Friday nights. These are prospects who popped on film, competed with polish and poise, and put together seasons strong enough to earn real conversations with college staffs.