’26 Rankings Update: Tiering the Senior Class Ratings

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Get 30% off your first billing cycle with code:&nbsp;howe30&nbsp;in the coupon code area</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/12/2026-recruiting-update-notable-uncommitted-seniors/">'26 Rankings Update: Notable Uncommitted Seniors</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In case you missed it, Prep Redzone Iowa's <a href="https://prepredzone.com/iowa/rankings/2026-rankings/">final rankings for the 2026 Class</a> dropped on Monday. It ended up being an interesting ride with this group, concluding with a new No. 1.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As I've written in the past and will continue to remind people periodically, it's important to add more context to rankings. When I'm putting together my personal ratings, which are a part of this final product, I view the group in tiers. After an update, I'll share them.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tiers are groups of like prospects. Criteria includes present production and potential. Beauty is in the eye of the ranker, so know that these tiers are but one person's opinion. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A unique situation led to us examining this 2026 Class a little closer than we may have otherwise been the case. Our top player in the 2027 Class, Norwalk tight end [player_tooltip player_id='1198816' first='Luke' last='Brewer'], reclassified to the senior class during the season and committed to the University of Iowa. After weighing all the options, he took over the top spot in his new recruiting cycle. Thus, he heads my top tier of the rankings.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Brewer chose the Hawkeyes ahead of offers from just about every Power 4 program that features his position, including Georgia, Miami, Michigan, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oregon, Penn State and Notre Dame. He caught 39 passes for 532 yards and six touchdowns this season. As a defensive end, he piled up 63.5 tackles (56 solo, 8.0 TFL) and a sack.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The sky is the limit for Brewer. He's ultra athletic with speed and the frame to add strength without the loss of any of it. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While it's tempting to put Brewer in his own tier, the class is too strong to justify it. It includes 12 prospects signing scholarship offers with Power 4 programs. That number includes a wrestling signee.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the top tier with Brewer I would put the next two guys in our final rankings - West Des Moines Valley safety [player_tooltip player_id='283946' first='Jayden' last='McGregory'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1238174' first='Colin' last='Whitters'], an offensive lineman from Iowa City West. All three guys have a chance of seeing the field early in college with all-conference type upside. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>McGregory verbally committed to Louisville in early July before flipping to Missouri in November and signing with the Tigers earlier this month. He's a big, physical athlete with the starter kit to be an impactful member of a college secondary.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Whitters, who committed to childhood favorite Iowa last January, continued becoming stronger and more technically sound throughout his prep career. The Hawkeyes were set to lose three starters from this year's offensive line, and it would not be surprising to see the hometown kid move up the depth chart as an advanced prospect, physically and from a skill standpoint.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The second tier is comprised of five student-athletes. To add more insight into the rankings, the first and second tiers are close together. The lineup might look pretty different if we performed this exercise again after their college careers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Leading Tier No. 2 is Waukee tight end [player_tooltip player_id='1221928' first='Evan' last='Jacobson']. The Texas A&amp;M signee also is one of the state's top basketball players and could play that sport collegiately. When he begins focusing all of his attention on football training next year, he has a chance to reach his high ceiling as a pass-catching tight end with a frame capable of adding good weight and strength. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Iowa City West linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1238512' first='Julian' last='Manson'], who joined Whitters in staying home with the Hawkeyes, also resides in the second tier. Like Jacobson, Manson will start a journey to reaching a high ceiling when he puts all of his energy into one sport. Also a talented basketball and sprinter, there's a plausible path to a professional football career. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Waterloo West offensive tackle [player_tooltip player_id='1221926' first='Carson' last='Nielsen'] shares the high-end potential of the other prospects in the top two tiers of these rankings. The Wahawk senior steadily improved his technique to complement his natural gifts in becoming a dominant prep. The exciting news is that he's got plenty of room for further development. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While other guys in Tier 2 will benefit from focusing attention on one sport, Sioux City Bishop Heelan linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1238514' first='Kasen' last='Thomas'] can leap forward by concentrating on a single position. Among the top running backs in the state the last two years, the Iowa Hawkeye signee turns all of his attention to defense moving forward. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rounding out Tier 2 is Waukee Northwest offensive lineman [player_tooltip player_id='1687055' first='Dalton' last='DeBoer'], who transferred into the state from Minnesota for his senior campaign. The physical frontman with sneaky athleticism and agility helped anchor an integral unit in the Wolves' march to the school's first-ever trip to the UNI-Dome. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tier 3 kicks off with Fort Dodge linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='856075' first='DreShaun' last='Ross'], who signed with the Oklahoma State wrestling program. Power 4 football programs like Iowa, Iowa State and Michigan offered him scholarships. He has as much upside in that sport as anybody on this list.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Iowa State receiver commitment [player_tooltip player_id='1241492' first='Jeffrey' last='Roberts'] continues the third tier. He transferred to Dowling Catholic from Ames for his senior season and helped the Maroons with the Class 5A state championship. Roberts is a physical and fast wideout. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1281978' first='Draeden' last='Punt'] sits in Tier 3 as well. The Kansas Jayhawk pledge from MOC-Floyd Valley is a long-limbed athlete oozing upside from his projectable 6-foot-6 frame.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Finishing up the third tier is Waukee defensive back [player_tooltip player_id='1240890' first='Tavian' last='White'], who received a late offer from Minnesota and signed with the Gophers earlier this month. The Drake Relays qualifier was verbally committed to North Dakota. He comes from good bloodlines, his father, Toryan White, having played for Iowa State after a stop at Ellsworth Community College. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->