Offseason Predictions: 5 Breakout Players in 2026 (Pt. 14)

<p id="block-32896c7d-e14b-42fd-9249-e04a7ae8bf4f"><strong><em>Get 30% Off Your Subscription with Code PRZWV30 at Checkout!</em></strong></p>   <p>We're still 6 months away from the 2026 season, but there's no better time to predict breakout stars during the offseason who have flashed in the past but haven't fully broken out yet. The transfer landscape has yet to be finalized, which may impact some of these predictions in the future. However, here is one player from each school, listed in alphabetical order, that we believe will have a breakout season.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>POINT PLEASANT BIG BLACKS</strong></h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">2028 WR/DB [player_tooltip player_id='1311020' first='Isaiah' last='Waminan'] has quietly put together two promising seasons at Point Pleasant and heads into the offseason as one of the young pieces the Big Blacks can build around moving forward. The sophomore showed flashes of being a dependable target in the passing game during a challenging year for the program, and his natural ball skills stand out for a receiver still early in his development. He tracks the ball well in the air and has already shown the ability to win in contested situations, traits that tend to translate as players grow into their bodies. The next step for Waminan is turning those flashes into consistent production as he moves into his junior year. If he continues to develop, he has the upside to have a breakout junior year and establish himself as one of the more intriguing receiver prospects in the 2028 class.</p>     <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>PRESTON KNIGHTS</strong></h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='897594' first='Brayden' last='Miller'] heads into his senior offseason at Preston as the steady presence in the middle of their defense after leading the Knights with 67 tackles as a junior. At 5'9 195, he is built low and sturdy and plays the game the way you want from a middle linebacker, downhill and comfortable working through traffic between the tackles. He has already shown he can be the reliable run stopper who keeps things organized in the box, and with another year of experience, he now steps into the role of senior leader for that unit. If he continues to improve lateral quickness and agility, he has a real chance to make his name known on a broader stage during his final year.</p>     <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>PRINCETON TIGERS</strong></h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='862731' first='Jake' last='Belcher'] stepped into a versatile role last fall for Princeton and wasted little time becoming a valuable piece of a state championship roster. The junior was used in a variety of roles, but his most natural fit showed up at outside linebacker, where his athleticism and range flashed on film and hinted at real upside at the position. He has a quarterback background as well and is likely to step into that role for the Tigers as a senior, which would only add another layer to his versatility. However he is deployed, the tools are there for him to influence the game in multiple ways. Belcher has the type of skill set to turn a strong supporting role on a championship team into a true breakout senior campaign.</p>     <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>RAVENSWOOD RED DEVILS</strong></h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">2027 Ravenswood QB/ATH [player_tooltip player_id='2144395' first='Owen' last='Curtis'] wrapped up his junior season, showing the kind of versatility coaches value in a run-focused offense. The numbers do not jump off the page at first glance, with 500 passing yards, but context matters. He also finished as the team's second-leading rusher with roughly 400 yards and added 56 tackles on defense, which tells you he rarely left the field and was trusted in multiple roles. Curtis is an athletic quarterback who is comfortable extending plays with his legs, whether that comes on a scramble or a designed run, and he throws accurately on the move. He also handled responsibilities at outside linebacker, which speaks to his toughness and competitiveness. If he takes that next step and the offense leans on him more as a playmaker, Curtis has the kind of skill set that could turn a solid junior year into a true breakout senior campaign.</p>     <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>RICHWOOD LUMBERJACKS</strong></h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1624367' first='Fawkes' last='Odell'] heads into his junior offseason at Richwood with a clear opportunity to step into a much larger role after finishing as the team's second-leading rusher as their #2 option in the backfield. In just eight games of stats available, he totaled 525 rushing yards and five touchdowns, showing the kind of steady production that suggests there is more there as his workload increases. At 6'1 190, Odell has the frame of a feature back and runs with good balance, brushing off arm tackles and keeping his feet moving through contact while still showing enough speed to take advantage of open space. With the Lumberjacks graduating their top rusher, the backfield is now wide open for him to take command. If he embraces that role and continues to develop, Odell has the tools to turn a strong sophomore showing into a breakout junior season.</p>

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