NW 'Way Too Early' Top 20 Team Rankings (1-10)

Over the last few months, we have ranked the top teams coming back next season in Oregon at the 6A & 5A level. Here we incorporate the state of Washington and project out on the NW's Top 20 teams for next year. It's early with a lot that could still change, but always fun to take a look..          #1 Puyallup WA    Give 2x state champ Sumner all the credit in the world as I didn't see anyone touching Puyallup last season. The Vikings bring back a litany of D1 kids which include one of the nation's top lineman in [player_tooltip player_id='1188082' first='Gecova' last='Doyal'], 6-6 WR [player_tooltip player_id='1188105' first='J'Isaiah' last='Mitchell'], and the leading candidate for 4A WA Defensive POY honors next season [player_tooltip player_id='1188110' first='Michael' last='Pulalasi']. As referenced I think Pulalasi is the most underrecruited player in the region.    A couple of the X factors include nationally ranked Safety [player_tooltip player_id='984781' first='Markel' last='Newell'] and D1 offered RB [player_tooltip player_id='985352' first='Briytan' last='Bailey'], who was the SPSL MVP going for 1,700 yards and 24 TDs. If [player_tooltip player_id='2087218' first='Noah' last='Smith'] continues his solid play at QB this will be their year.    #2 West Linn OR    Reigning TRL Offensive POY [player_tooltip player_id='937233' first='Sloan' last='Baker'] and one of the nation's top 27's [player_tooltip player_id='632957' first='Josiah' last='Molden'] will help to make the Lions the overwhelming favorite heading into next season. The program in general is loaded from top to bottom with new Head Coach Anthony Newman not really being "new".    I would expect an insane season out of [player_tooltip player_id='937113' first='Shane' last='Peters'] on both sides of the ball with current sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1609761' first='Tyler' last='Holmes'] projecting as a 1st team all-state LB. Top 20 recruit Xander Mishkin and [player_tooltip player_id='2054690' first='Grady' last='Hall'] will lead the big boys up front. I would be surprised if West Linn doesn't win the 2026 title.    #3 Graham Kapowsin WA   GK is loaded and it wouldn't surprise me a bit to see them win a state title. They were still young last year, losing 44-35 to Lake Stevens in the state semis. 2x SPSL POY [player_tooltip player_id='984855' first='AJ' last='Tuivaiave'] is one of the top quarterbacks in the country for his class, passing for 3000+ yards and 32 TDs/2 INTs in 2025.    The Eagles have the most players ranked statewide in the PRZ Top 100 (12) when referencing the 2027 & 28' class. Their trio of division 1 receivers is one of the best on the west coast with [player_tooltip player_id='937738' first='Kase' last='Betz'], [player_tooltip player_id='985348' first='Jayce' last='Halasz'], and current freshman [player_tooltip player_id='1384751' first='Kehano' last='Corpuz'] all representing. The big boys up front are D1 offered kids as well in [player_tooltip player_id='569907' first='Ayden' last='Bullinger'] and [player_tooltip player_id='985356' first='Solova'a' last='Steffany'], with the D line being led by Julius Hernadez-Avila and [player_tooltip player_id='1599632' first='Jeremiah' last='Leumuava'].   There are almost too many athletes to list with UW commit [player_tooltip player_id='928074' first='Maurice' last='Williams'] back at DB and 2x 1st team RB [player_tooltip player_id='1576634' first='Blake' last='Pearson'] doing his thing. They got a real shot to win the title this coming season.    #4 Lake Stevens WA   You have to like and respect what Lake Stevens did last season making a run to the state title game before losing to Sumner in OT with [player_tooltip player_id='987161' first='Lance' last='McGee'] going nuts.    [player_tooltip player_id='1969013' first='Blake' last='Moser'] did a phenomenal job at QB accounting for 55 TDs (39 passing, 16 rushing), totaling 3,462 yards and proving to be one of the top dual threats in the west, while averaging 12.3 yards per carry.    They have a handful of other D1 athletes who will keep them in the title hunt this season. Those individuals include DE [player_tooltip player_id='1188123' first='Ty' last='Tautolo'] who has been offered by the likes of Oregon and Notre Dame, and [player_tooltip player_id='1892954' first='Jayvian' last='Ferrell'] who went for close to 2000 yards and 25 TDs. [player_tooltip player_id='1241961' first='Will' last='Lynch'] and [player_tooltip player_id='984903' first='Calvin' last='Middendorf'] will counter most duos on the O line as well.    #5 Bellevue WA   I would consider the Wolverines the favorite to win the WA 3A state title with all due respect to 2x state champ O'Dea. They are still somewhat young, but [player_tooltip player_id='1012408' first='Kaden' last='Johnson'], [player_tooltip player_id='1335521' first='RJ' last='Ward'], and speedster [player_tooltip player_id='986705' first='Dreson' last='Jimerson'] are an elite group of division 1 athletes, with [player_tooltip player_id='1012776' first='Matthew' last='Curran'] being one of the fastest rising D1 prospects in the region at DE.    LB [player_tooltip player_id='1619207' first='Mose' last='Kalepo'] is the real deal and 1st team athlete [player_tooltip player_id='2042043' first='Kason' last='Carta'] returns as well to lead the seniors. Look for Bellevue to potentially win a title and have an even better year next season.    M.Kalepo, K.Carta, R.Huber, K.Kooner, T.Masunu/ K.Johnson, D.Jimerson, M.Curran, [player_tooltip player_id='1335521' first='RJ' last='Ward'], C.Madden,    #6 O'Dea WA   The Irish have been dominant for the last two seasons and will once again be a legit 3A title contender. That said, you have to acknowledge how much talent graduates, including a handful of D1 athletes on defense, which will be extremely tough to make up for.    [player_tooltip player_id='1599603' first='Tevita' last='Nonu'] is ranked the #1 prospect in the state by some services, and they do have legit bigs coming back with 6-6 300-pound [player_tooltip player_id='1857585' first='Kyler' last='Harden'] blowing up, and [player_tooltip player_id='1599604' first='Keelan' last='Thomas'] and Ernest Populus both being 1st team all-Metro returners. I think a lot will come down to RB [player_tooltip player_id='986701' first='J'Shaun' last='Wilson'] who went for 1,100 yards and 17 TDs last year and current freshman phenom [player_tooltip player_id='2065218' first='Siosaia' last='Malietufa']. Each will have to have record breaking seasons if they want to win another title.    #7 Tualatin OR   They might be a year away. They might not. But what you can say definitively is that they likely have the top trio of backs in the NW. Even with his size [player_tooltip player_id='937241' first='Cole' last='Hachmeister'] projects as an FCS athlete with [player_tooltip player_id='1609595' first='Iden' last='Rule'] being pound for pound the best player in the state. This while current freshman RB Easton Grubb has a stock which is skyrocketing.   The T-Wolves return two young but very talented 6-4 lineman in [player_tooltip player_id='2106063' first='Rocco' last='Grady'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2106065' first='Mason' last='Powarczuk'], along with 6-5 standouts [player_tooltip player_id='1609596' first='Brady' last='Knips'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1609636' first='Brock' last='Estes']. I could see Knips landing a handful of major D1 offers before next season. The crazy thing is that all of these individuals are underclassmen so the future is bright.    #8 Lake Oswego OR    The Lakers return a bunch of dudes but do lose D1 talent at multiple key positions, including the obvious names in QB [player_tooltip player_id='402409' first='Hudson' last='Kurland'], TE/LB [player_tooltip player_id='457009' first='Sam' last='Vyhlidal'], and RB's [player_tooltip player_id='402416' first='Lamarcus' last='Bell'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1059015' first='Justin' last='Craigwell'].    That said as they have reigning TRL D lineman of the Year [player_tooltip player_id='1246545' first='Josh' last='Christensen'] back along with 6-4 270 pound O lineman [player_tooltip player_id='1359160' first='Dylan' last='Marquez']. The best thing LO has returning is an incredibly talented D, along with a pair of 6-4 D1 WR's in [player_tooltip player_id='936920' first='Jasiah' last='Agnimel'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1613644' first='Presley' last='DeLance']. 1st team defenders [player_tooltip player_id='937338' first='Cash' last='Wilks'] and [player_tooltip player_id='855093' first='Summit' last='Cvitash'] are top 25 prospects, with [player_tooltip player_id='937103' first='Cole' last='Callahan'] and [player_tooltip player_id='797128' first='Cameron' last='Elijah'] both being key assets defensively.    #9 Sumner WA   To say the last couple seasons were special at Sumner would be a huge understatement. That said, I think it will be extremely tough to win three titles in a row with the talent being what it is at the 4A level.    As everyone knows [player_tooltip player_id='987161' first='Lance' last='McGee'] went crazy running the ball last year and that will be nearly impossible to replicate. They do have the #1 recruit in the state in [player_tooltip player_id='1188109' first='Braylon' last='Pope'] but how much will losing QB [player_tooltip player_id='726169' first='Nate' last='Donavan'] hurt? He wasn't a big-time prospect, but defintely consistent and a winner. TE [player_tooltip player_id='1599631' first='Ashton' last='Pillard'] will need to need to have a big year along with reigning POY [player_tooltip player_id='1969805' first='Gray' last='Longoria'] who continues to add numerous D1 offers.    #10 Eastside Catholic WA   One of the most consistent programs in the region. The Crusaders don't have a deep senior class but do have two of the top juniors in America in [player_tooltip player_id='1003593' first='Tytan' last='McNeal'] (#1 ranked TE in the country) and [player_tooltip player_id='1617792' first='Aedyn' last='Havili'] who is elite.    Mount Tahoma made a statement last year beating Eastside 21-6. It will be up to the underclassmen, including lineman Joseph Mbock-Nblend to step up.