Class 5A WR/TE Watchlist for 2026

In our final edition of the WR/TE watchlist entering the 2026 season, we move up to the top conference in Class 5A, which expectedly boasts a massive amount of talent that should very much lead the mix going against the toughest competition in the state. We take a look at 8 pass catchers across Class 5A Iowa to watch out for entering the 2026 season!    Leading the way for one of the most potent passing offenses in all of Iowa, [player_tooltip player_id='1204437' first='Jordon' last='Green'] should remain to be a huge stud for the Wolves' offense as one of several returning starters from 2025. Green's 1189 receiving yards and 68 receptions were good for 5th and 6th most in the entire state in 2025 while his 14 TDs were the most within the 5A conference. Despite his smaller size, Green holds his own well as an outside WR, flashing some of the best ball skills of any WR in the state, being able to make some outstanding catches through traffic as well as through double, even triple coverage. Green is an excellent No. 1 WR who has formed such a strong rapport with QB [player_tooltip player_id='1204436' first='Mack' last='Heitland'] over the last 2 seasons that should remain the leading dynamic for their offense entering 2026.     A change at QB could effect the performance for the Black Raiders' offense after such a strong campaign in 2025, but there is a clear amount of talent within their weapons that should make this transition smooth, among them being [player_tooltip player_id='1650312' first='Isaiah' last='Grant']. Grant led the way in 2025, breaking out with 734 receiving yards on 47 receptions and 8 TDs. Grant has grown very quickly into a stellar outside target, growing substantially toward his frame and showcasing flashy athleticism for his age. Showcasing great hands and strong footwork, Grant is able to win his 1-on-1 matchups to create separation vertically and horizontally while flashing shifty agility and quick change of direction to rack up further yardage after the catch. Grant is already growing into one of the most well-rounded receivers in the state, and he should remain to be the X-Factor for the Black Raiders' offense over the next 2 seasons.     Chris Ford will also return as part of the Black Raiders' receiving corps in 2026, having already proven himself as one of the best all-purpose players in the state. Offensively, Ford finished with 661 receiving yards on 39 receptions (16.1 YPC) and 4 TDs. Ford recorded 47.5 tackles (33 solo), 1 FF, 1 FR, and 2 INTs in the secondary and added 5 return TDs (3 kick and 2 punt) as well. One of the most elusive and slippery playmakers in the state, Ford has proven to define the mantra "making something out of nothing", showcasing outstanding vision and instincts to evade defenders and create open lanes before using his speed to break away for a huge gain. Ford recently just committed to South Dakota, and will look to round off his high school career to help sustain the Black Raiders' recent success going forward.     Despite struggling at times with finding a consistent solution under center, there was no question that [player_tooltip player_id='1895319' first='Braylin' last='De Jager'] was the center of Lynx' passing game in 2025. De Jager emerged almost out of nowhere to lead the team with 707 receiving yards on 42 receptions (16.8 YPC) and 6 TDs, accounting for nearly 60% of the team's total passing yards in 2025. De Jager possesses outstanding ball skills, being often reliant in being able to just chuck the ball down the field and he would find a way to adjust and come down with the ball through heavy traffic, making him the perfect piece to elevate their receiving corps. De Jager should remain the go-to target for their offense who's proven to respond well even without a definitive leader at the QB position.     The Little Hawks took a step back in 2025 with a young group of new starters takin over, but there was a lot of promise from this group, with one of the immediate stars emerging from the group being [player_tooltip player_id='1215274' first='Chayse' last='Newton']. Newton continued to grow as the team's most reliable No. 1 WR, finishing with 728 receiving yards on 60 receptions and 6 TDs. Not a big WR that stands out for his frame, but he's been a reliable go-to target for the Little Hawks, being able to twist and change direction on the dime, proving shifty and difficult to tackle after the catch, and uses his frame to full potential, not being afraid to catch through contact or create a blocking lane on the run. Newton will look to guide the Little Hawks' back in the right direction as he enters his senior season.     Despite his prevalence in the secondary, [player_tooltip player_id='1617593' first='Pryor' last='Reiners'] emerged suddenly as the top passing target for the Lightning as they returned to the 5A state title game. Reiners finished with 631 receiving yards on 55 receptions and 7 TDs while adding 170 rushing yards and a rushing TD. Many of Reiners' best traits in the secondary translate well offensively, including his quick burst, agility, and footwork that can just as easily beat defenders as he can in shutting down receivers while showing a consistent level of hard-nosed effort on each snap. Reiners should remain a vital multi-purpose weapon for the Lightning, even more important as they undergo a shift at the QB position in 2026.     We had already mentioned [player_tooltip player_id='1616459' first='Drew' last='Bennis'], but it's impossible to ignore his game-breaking speed and ability to stretch the field beyond it's limits. Bennis led the Hawks with 522 receiving yards on 27 receptions (19.3 YPC) and 4 TDs in 2025, continuing to showcasing his playmaking ability as a deep threat. Bennis is a brilliant player when it comes to throwing the ball up and letting him go catch in down the field, knowing he will more often than not create separation with his speed, and that speed has been so definitive of his playing-style that it is simply dangerous for him to have the ball in his hands at all. Bennis should remain to be an outstanding presence for the Hawks' offense as they look to continue their success from the previous season going forward.     Rounding off this list, we return to Waukee Northwest, where [player_tooltip player_id='1204438' first='Joe' last='Vinyard'] has emerged quickly as the top TE prospect of his class entering his senior season. Vinyard recorded 40 catches for 464 yards and 3 TDs in 2025, leading the 5A conference in receptions for his position. Vinyard is a reliable short-to-medium option who is consistently driving himself forward, using his size and frame to plow through defenders for extra yardage while boasting the physicality and motor to excel as a blocker to open up the run and creating running lanes for his fellow receivers after the catch. Vinyard should see an uptick in targets in 2026 as one of the top returning receivers for the Wolves, and the future Iowa State Cyclone will look to round out his high school career by helping the Wolves toward a potential state championship run.

In our final edition of the WR/TE watchlist entering the 2026 season, we move up to the top conference in Class 5A, which expectedly boasts a massive amount of talent that should very much lead the mix going against the toughest competition in the state. We take a look at 8 pass catchers across Class 5A Iowa to watch out for entering the 2026 season!