Top players from each team McDonogh will face in 2026

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>McDonogh is our latest school to be featured in the "Top players from each team" series. In these articles, I talk about the top players that the subject of the article will face during the 2026 season. The selections are based mainly on their current Prep Redzone rankings. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Aug. 28: Riverdale Baptist</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I will have to come back and fill in the blanks on this one. Riverdale Baptist is in the midst of getting a lot of transfers, and that will most likely include athletes that are currently ranked. Stay turned. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sep. 5: The Haverford School (PA)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Best player in 2027 class: No. 8 Marcus Jones | 6-3 | 190 | DB - WR</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jones is one of the top-tier two-way prospects in Pennsylvania. His double-digit offer list includes Boston College, Georgia Tech, Kentucky, Louisville, Maryland, North Carolina, and Pittsburgh. I know he's being recruited mostly for safety and that's where he'll excel the most at the next level. But, I really like his big playmaking ability from the wide receiver position as well. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>B<strong>est player in 2028 class: No. 30 Jason Talley | 6-3 | 225 | TE - LB</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sep. 10: Mt. Zion Prep</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Best player in 2027 class: [player_tooltip player_id='1353122' first='Devin' last='Chittams'] | 6-3 | 197 | Edge - PRZ ranking No. 149</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sep. 18: Benedictine College Prep (VA)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Best player in 2027 class: Sean Boyd | 6-2 | 280 | DL - PRZ ranking No. 30</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sep. 25: St. Mary's</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top 2027 Player: [player_tooltip player_id='1971943' first='Dylin' last='Jackson']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/dylin-jackson/"></a> | 6-0 | 170 | Ath - PRZ ranking No. 73</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jackson finished the 2025 season with 52 receptions for 738 receiving yards and six receiving touchdowns.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top 2028 Player: [player_tooltip player_id='2134369' first='Cullen' last='Rigby']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/cullen-rigby/"></a> | 6-2 | 225 | LB - PRZ ranking No. 94</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rigby finished the 2025 season with 75 total tackles, two sacks, and five tackles for a loss</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Oct. 2: Calvert Hall</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top 2027 Player: [player_tooltip player_id='1349740' first='Connor' last='Murray'] | 6-3 | 285 | OL/DL - PRZ ranking No. 57</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Connor is getting a lot of FCS interest, with his most recent offer coming from Fordham on March 13th. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top 2028 Player: [player_tooltip player_id='1697936' first='Jordan' last='Hicks'] | 6-2 | 165 | DB - PRZ ranking No. 23</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Oct. 9: Archbishop Spalding</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top 2027 prospect: [player_tooltip player_id='734850' first='Myles' last='McAfee'] | 6-0 | 165 | WR - PRZ ranking No. 9</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>McAfee's latest offer came from Notre Dame back in late February. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top 2028 prospect: [player_tooltip player_id='1644118' first='Bryce' last='Smalls'] | 6-5 | 285 | OL - PRZ ranking No. 1</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Oct. 16: Loyola Blakefield</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top 2027 Player: [player_tooltip player_id='1631057' first='Jason' last='Block']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/jasonblock/"></a> | 6-3 | 215 | DL/OL - PRZ ranking No. 207</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top 2028 Player: [player_tooltip player_id='825096' first='Carlos' last='Spencer']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/carlos-spencer/"></a> | 6-1 | 175 | QB - PRZ ranking No. 21</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Spencer completed 229 of 386 passes for 27 touchdowns and 14 interceptions during his sophomore season. He also rushed for 364 yards and five touchdowns.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Oct. 24: Mt. Saint Joseph</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top 2027 Player: [player_tooltip player_id='1351716' first='Jakhai' last='Spano'] | 6-3 | 225 | Edge - PRZ ranking No. 38</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Spano finished the 2025 season with 76 total tackles, 27 tackles for a loss, and 10 sacks. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top 2028 Player: [player_tooltip player_id='1644188' first='Kinnard' last='Mahomes'] | 6-0 | 165 | DB - PRZ ranking No. 17</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Oct. 30: Concordia Prep</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top 2027 Player: [player_tooltip player_id='423015' first='Justin' last='Dixon'] | 6-2 | 195 | QB - PRZ ranking No. 27</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dixon is a Syracuse football commit. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top 2028 Player: [player_tooltip player_id='1452209' first='Michael' last='Iheanacho'] | 6-3 | 305 | OL - PRZ ranking No. 52</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ihenacho's early offers include Oregon and LSU.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Nov. 7 Gilman</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top 2027 Player: [player_tooltip player_id='1631093' first='Marcus' last='Turpin'] | 6-3 | 165 | Ath - PRZ ranking No. 35</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Turpin took in a spring visit to Virginia on March 23rd. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top 2028 Player: [player_tooltip player_id='1452205' first='Aiden' last='Johnson'] | 5-10 | 170 | Ath - PRZ ranking No. 63</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->