Breaking Out in San Antonio: New Players to Watch for 2026

The San Antonio football landscape continues to produce high‑impact talent across all levels, and the Class of 2026 stands out as one of the most promising groups in recent memory. From dynamic playmakers on offense to disruptive forces on defense, area athletes are making waves with their blend of physical tools, game instincts, and film production. These rising stars have drawn attention for their leadership, consistency, and ability to elevate their teams — setting the stage for a breakout year that could redefine recruiting narratives out of South Texas.    Trinidad shows strong physical presence with the ability to control defenders at the point of attack. He plays with good leverage and uses his hands well to gain early advantage in matchups. His footwork is smooth for his size, allowing him to mirror rushers and stay balanced through contact. In the run game, he generates push and keeps his legs driving, creating clear lanes. As he continues to develop strength and consistency, his overall impact on the line has the potential to become even more dominant.      Treston is an explosive playmaker who brings speed and separation ability every time he lines up. He accelerates quickly off the line and forces defenders to respect the deep threat, opening space underneath as well. His route running shows good body control, and he adjusts well to the ball in the air. After the catch, he becomes dangerous with his change of direction and ability to turn short gains into big plays. As he continues refining his routes and adding strength, his ceiling as a consistent offensive weapon is very high.      Xavier is a developing quarterback in the Class of 2028 who shows natural poise and confidence when operating the offense. He throws with good touch and demonstrates the ability to layer the ball to different levels of the field. His mechanics are solid for his age, and he stays composed under pressure while keeping his eyes downfield. He moves well outside the pocket, extending plays and giving his receivers time to uncover. As he continues to add strength and gain varsity experience, his decision-making and overall command of the game have the potential to take a big step forward.      Da'Ron brings a physical presence with downhill aggression and strong tackling ability. He reads plays quickly and closes space with good burst, showing the instincts to find the ball consistently. His strength at the point of contact allows him to shed blocks and finish through traffic. In open space, he moves well laterally and keeps leverage on ball carriers. As he continues to refine his coverage awareness and overall discipline, his impact on the defensive side can become even more complete.      Jaidon is a dynamic runner who combines burst and vision to create big-play potential. He hits the hole decisively and shows patience behind his blockers before accelerating through lanes. His balance through contact allows him to stay upright and fall forward for extra yards, while his change of direction makes defenders miss in space. He also flashes soft hands out of the backfield, adding versatility to the offense. As he continues building strength and consistency in pass protection, his all-around impact can become even more dangerous.      Brian is a physical and instinctive defender who consistently attacks the ball. He reads plays quickly, flows downhill, and wraps up effectively, showing strong tackling fundamentals. His lateral movement allows him to cover ground sideline-to-sideline, and he can shed blocks to make plays in the backfield. As he continues to refine his play recognition and coverage skills, Brian has the potential to become a complete and impactful presence at linebacker.      Edgar is a strong and technically sound lineman who consistently controls his matchups at the point of attack. He uses his hands effectively to gain leverage and maintains balance through contact, allowing him to sustain blocks in both the run and pass game. His footwork is disciplined, helping him mirror defenders and adjust to stunts or blitzes. Edgar's ability to drive defenders off the line and open lanes makes him a reliable asset up front, and with continued development in strength and consistency, he has the potential to be a dominant force on the offensive line.      Kaleb is a disruptive presence along the defensive front who uses his strength and quickness to penetrate the backfield. He shows an aggressive first step and keeps low pad level to gain leverage against blockers. His hand usage and upper-body power allow him to shed blocks and make tackles for loss consistently. In pass-rush situations, he shows the ability to bend around edges and collapse pockets. As he continues to refine technique and maintain consistency, Kaleb has the potential to be a game-changing force on the defensive line.      Loften is a versatile tight end who excels as both a reliable receiving option and a physical blocker. He shows soft hands and the ability to create separation in short to intermediate routes, making him a dependable target in the passing game. In the run game, he uses his size and strength to sustain blocks and open lanes for ball carriers. Loften's combination of athleticism, body control, and physicality makes him a matchup problem for defenses, and as he continues refining his route running and blocking technique, his overall impact will only grow.      Morgan is a smooth and explosive receiver who consistently creates separation with sharp route running and quick feet. He has the ability to accelerate in tight windows and track the ball well in the air, showing reliable hands on contested catches. After the catch, Morgan turns short gains into big plays with his vision, agility, and ability to make defenders miss in space. As he continues to add strength and refine his timing on routes, he projects as a go-to playmaker in any offense.      Kalobe is a speedy and explosive back who uses his acceleration to hit holes quickly and turn small openings into big gains. His burst allows him to separate from defenders in the open field, and his agility helps him make sharp cuts and change direction without losing momentum. Kalobe's speed also makes him a threat in the passing game on swing passes or screens, forcing defenses to account for him all over the field. As he continues to refine his vision and build strength, his speed will make him a consistently dangerous playmaker.      Brady is a quick and reliable receiver who creates separation with sharp route running and sudden bursts of speed. He shows excellent hands in traffic and the ability to adjust to the ball in the air, making him a dependable target in all situations. After the catch, Brady is dangerous with his agility and vision, turning short passes into significant gains.      Jayden is a quarterback who can make all the throws with accuracy and touch. He shows poise in the pocket, keeps his eyes downfield, and delivers the ball with proper timing to all areas of the field. Jayden reads defenses well, quickly identifying open targets and exploiting coverage gaps. He moves fluidly in the pocket and can extend plays with his legs without forcing throws. His anticipation allows him to place the ball where only his receiver can make a play, and he demonstrates the confidence to lead his offense in critical situations. As he continues to refine his decision-making and consistency, Jayden projects as a complete offensive leader.      Erick is a dynamic receiver who thrives in space and can stretch the field vertically. He uses sudden bursts of speed and quick footwork to gain separation from defenders, while showing the awareness to adjust to poorly thrown balls. Erick is reliable in contested catches and shows natural instincts to find openings in zone coverage. Once he has the ball, his vision and agility allow him to maximize yardage, consistently turning routine catches into impactful plays.      Cantu is a confident quarterback who shows the ability to make all the throws with accuracy and touch. He demonstrates strong mechanics, keeps his eyes downfield, and delivers the ball with good timing to both short and deep targets. Cantu moves well in the pocket, extending plays when pressure arrives, and keeps his offense on schedule with smart decision making. His anticipation and ability to read defenses allow him to exploit coverage mismatches, and he consistently looks to make plays happen rather than forcing them.      MJ is a poised quarterback who shows the ability to make accurate throws to all areas of the field. He reads defenses well, quickly identifying open receivers and anticipating windows before they fully develop. MJ maintains composure under pressure, moving efficiently in the pocket to extend plays while keeping mechanics clean. He delivers the ball with touch and timing, both on short throws and downfield shots, and demonstrates the leadership and confidence to manage his offense effectively.      Matthew is a powerful and technically sound offensive lineman who consistently wins his matchups at the point of attack. He maintains low pad level and uses his hands effectively to control defenders, creating running lanes and sustaining blocks in pass protection. His footwork is balanced and disciplined, allowing him to mirror defenders and adjust to stunts or blitzes. Matthew's combination of strength, technique, and awareness makes him a reliable and impactful presence on the offensive line.      Payton is a relentless defensive lineman who consistently causes problems for opposing offenses. He has a quick burst off the line and uses his length and strength to disengage from blockers. Payton shows the ability to read plays, shoot gaps, and disrupt running lanes, while also generating pressure on the quarterback with sharp, controlled pass-rush moves. His motor and aggressiveness allow him to stay active on every snap, making him a constant threat in both the run and passing game.      Colton is a physical and disciplined offensive lineman who consistently controls his matchups at the line of scrimmage. He shows strong hand placement and leverage, allowing him to sustain blocks in both the run and pass game. Colton moves his feet well for his size, maintaining balance and adjusting to defenders' stunts and twists. His power and technique help open lanes for ball carriers and protect the quarterback, making him a reliable anchor on the offensive line.      Devin is a sharp and athletic defensive back who reads the quarterback well and reacts quickly to plays. He shows fluid movement in coverage, staying tight on receivers while maintaining the ability to break on the ball. Devin's speed and agility allow him to close gaps in the run game, and he wraps up effectively when making tackles in space. His instincts, anticipation, and ball skills make him a playmaker who can impact both the passing and running game.    <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/_Devin21m/status/2000372627127554222?s=20 </div></figure>    Daniel is a smooth and explosive receiver who consistently creates separation with precise route running and quick footwork. He shows reliable hands and the ability to adjust to the ball in traffic, making him a dependable target in all situations. Daniel is dangerous after the catch, using vision and agility to turn short passes into significant gains. His combination of speed, awareness, and playmaking ability makes him a consistent threat in the passing game.      Mac is a composed and athletic quarterback who shows the ability to manage the offense effectively. He delivers the ball with accuracy and velocity, whether targeting short, intermediate, or deep routes. Mac demonstrates good pocket awareness, stepping up or moving laterally to avoid pressure while keeping his eyes downfield. He reads coverages well, finds open targets quickly, and makes decisive throws under pressure. His combination of arm talent, mobility, and leadership allows him to consistently create opportunities for his offense.      Liberty is a versatile linebacker who brings energy and physicality to every play. He attacks downhill decisively, showing the strength to disengage from blockers and the speed to track ball carriers across the field. Liberty also demonstrates awareness in coverage, matching up effectively against backs and tight ends. His ability to anticipate plays and react quickly allows him to be around the ball consistently, making him a reliable and impactful presence on defense.      Myron is a hard hitting and instinctive linebacker who consistently positions himself to make plays. He reads the offense quickly, closes gaps with speed, and wraps up effectively in traffic. Myron's strength allows him to shed blocks and finish runs near the line of scrimmage, while his agility helps him stay in front of ball carriers in space. His awareness and relentless effort make him a consistent playmaker and a disruptive force for opposing offenses.      Ethan is a disruptive edge defender who consistently pressures quarterbacks and sets the edge against the run. He shows an explosive first step and uses his length and power to disengage from blockers. Ethan's quickness and bend allow him to turn the corner and collapse pockets, while his awareness helps him read plays and react to ball carriers. His combination of speed, technique, and relentless motor makes him a constant threat on every down.      Kaeden is a strong and technically sound offensive lineman who consistently controls his matchups at the line of scrimmage. He demonstrates solid hand placement and leverage, allowing him to sustain blocks in both the run and pass game. Kaeden's footwork is balanced and agile, helping him mirror defenders and adjust to stunts or twists. His strength and awareness make him a reliable presence up front, capable of opening lanes for ball carriers and protecting the quarterback effectively.      Maleek is a fluid and instinctive defensive back who excels in both coverage and run support. He moves smoothly in space, staying tight on receivers while keeping the ability to break quickly on the ball. Maleek reads the quarterback well, reacts swiftly to plays, and shows the speed and agility to close gaps in the secondary. His ball skills and tackling ability make him a playmaker who can change the momentum of a game.      Wyatt is a versatile and instinctive receiver who excels at finding soft spots in coverage. He uses sudden acceleration and precise footwork to gain separation, while showing the awareness to adjust to passes thrown off-target. Wyatt has reliable hands and is effective in contested situations, making him a dependable target on every down. Once he secures the ball, his balance and field vision allow him to create extra yardage, turning routine catches into impactful plays.      Di'Avion is a long and athletic defensive back at 6'1” who uses his size and length to disrupt passes and challenge receivers at the catch point. He reads the quarterback well, breaks quickly on the ball, and shows the agility to stay in tight coverage while keeping leverage. Di'Avion moves fluidly in space, closes gaps in the run game, and wraps up effectively on tackles. His combination of size, instincts, and playmaking ability makes him a consistent and versatile presence in the seco     As the 2026 season approaches, the talent emerging from San Antonio and its surrounding communities has positioned itself to make a significant mark on the regional and national stage. These players not only bring measurable skills and competitive fire but also the growth trajectory that college coaches covet. With continued development and increased exposure, the 2026 class has the potential to shape the future of high school football in the area and leave a lasting legacy for San Antonio's next generation of elite athletes.

The San Antonio football landscape continues to produce high‑impact talent across all levels, and the Class of 2026 stands out as one of the most promising groups in recent memory. From dynamic playmakers on offense to disruptive forces on defense, area athletes are making waves with their blend of physical tools, game instincts, and film production. These rising stars have drawn attention for their leadership, consistency, and ability to elevate their teams — setting the stage for a breakout year that could redefine recruiting narratives out of South Texas.