2026 Leap List: WR/TE Breakout Picks

*Use code "jackson30" for 30% off your PRZ subscription*   My inaugural 2026 leap list rolls on. This time, we highlight the next wave of pass catchers ready to elevate their game. Included is a deep list of 2027's and some younger guys ready to emerge as national recruits.   Here is who made the cut, and why:    Heard has several FBS offers under his belt and is a standout as a T/F athlete, so the general scaffolding is there for a big senior breakout on the recruiting trail. He is a loose athlete who does most of his damage after the catch. He is smooth, fast, and unpredictable in space, allowing him to play slippery and making him difficult to tackle. Heard has plenty going for him on the recruiting trail, but I'm sure plenty of programs will be watching him closely this fall and considering getting involved.     Archie has been a pretty steady player for a few years, and while he is currently committed to Stony Brook, I still feel like there is potential for even more this fall, both as a prospect and production-wise. He is listed at 6'3 170, and a mismatch vertically. He flashes some juice and deception in his routes, consistently getting DBs to bite and misplay. Archie has always been traitsy, and it could be a big fall for him if he produces against good competition.     Boyd has plenty of FBS and D1 offers under his belt, but we really haven't seen what he is fully capable of as a true receiver. Boyd is an extremely impressive athlete for his size, playing bigger than 6'1 by rising high above the rim to make plays on the football. He is a fast, scrappy athlete with the ball in space, which ties his game together. Boyd is a complete WR who would benefit from 2 years of specialization at receiver after playing QB earlier in his career. He is a big play threat at all three levels.     There are a couple of D1 offers under the belt for Bray, another T/F standout. He is a long, lean player at 6'1 160 with a lot of room to add weight. His long strides help him eat cushion and lift off when given a lane to operate. Still developing twitch, but he is a bouncey athlete who can throw head nods and shoulder fakes to catch DBs off guard. In a good way, he is an avoidant player against contact, just finding ways to get loose. His best ball is ahead of him, and he projects out as a reliable playmaker at each level.     I've been beating the drum for Boyd for probably a year now, and my stance still stands. I just really find it hard to believe he will go the course of his recruitment without receiving much attention. He is too traitsy and has too much upside for that to happen. He is a unique player who gets most of his reps as a ball carrier, where his long strides make him hard to chase down. Still, he has the size and functional athleticism to act as a mismatch threat outside; now, someone just needs to believe in that function of his game.     For the last few years, West Forsyth has seen similar receivers to Spaulding pick up some late traction on the recruiting trail, and I think Spaulding could be in line to continue that trend. He is a good-looking prospect, carrying around 200 pounds on a long, lean frame. I think he moves well, too. Pairing his long strides with speed that, when in conjunction with each other, is tough to match. There will be some attention down the stretch here, that I am sure of.     Gray has steadily been a favorite of mine out of the 2027 class. He finally saw some recruiting attention come his way this spring, with an inevitable breakout in store for his senior year. He has a very traditional, strong TE frame with the strength to play in-line, but the finesse to split out and contribute as a receiver, too. He is a steady athlete who I think will make his money at the next level in the flats, where he can use his stout frame and speed to roll downhill and barrel through contact. He is sure-handed, so he offers plenty down the field as well.     From a size/speed standpoint, Ballinger has always been an intriguing watch for me, and I imagine plenty of D1 programs will be watching closely down the stretch of his senior season. Ballinger, now at Albertville, is generating D1 attention, having seen his offer list grow this offseason. He is an obvious mismatch, but has impressive giddy up for his size, allowing him to slide inside and play slot, where he gets some opportunities in the short areas. There is plenty of juice here, and I am willing to bet some FBS programs are a few benchmarks away from pulling the trigger.     I just highlighted Friendly this week, who is a bit of a tweener at this stage. Regardless of where his position is long-term, what he can do above the rim sets the intrigue here. He is a big, tall basketball athlete with impressive leaping skills and body control. What really sets him apart for me is that he isn't just bigger than his opponent; he goes up with intent and attacks the ball. Similar to Ballinger, somebody will take a flyer and bank on the upside here.     Barber has generated a bit of buzz this offseason and looks like an obvious candidate to break out this fall. He is a big, physical receiver on the outside, playing closer to 6'3 200. He carries that weight well and should play even bigger once he gets to college. While raw, the flashes here show a lot to be excited about. He has good body control and hands through contact, which he pairs with the physicality to fight for positioning. He is a walking highlight reel, and I imagine the ball will be headed his way more this fall.     There's been a steady rise of D1 prospects starting to emerge out of Lumpkin County, and Hulsey looks like he will continue that trend into the 2028 class. He is a tall, raw athlete whose upside is his main selling point. He is a towering basketball athlete who will never line up across from a player who is bigger than him. He is a vertical mismatch with good ball tracking skills, but he really impresses me with his speed off the line and footwork. I think he will be able to separate better than most receivers at his size, which is a massive green flag.     Abdullah-Kortey is a lean, cut prospect with some D1 offers under his belt, but this fall should be his ultimate breakout party on varsity, at least with how things are trending. He is still growing into his physique and finding some twitch, but he can gear down and deceive in his routes. He has long strides, which are tough to match and help him run past DBs. He is physical after the catch and will power through his routes, pulling himself through contact. He should develop well over the next two years.     I recently highlighted Bean, who has become one of my favorite underrated prospects in GA out of the 2028 class. Now at Benedictine, he should generate more buzz and exposure. He is a smooth prospect with excellent body control and hands. He wins above the rim at a high level for his size. Bean can play multiple spots and impact each level of the field. He is an easy watch and will get more eyes on him this fall.     Thomas is a raw blend of really impressive athleticism, clocking GPS speeds over 23 MPH and proving to be a top high jumper in the state, hitting the 6'8 mark. As far as I can tell, all of those traits translate on tape. He demands cushion in coverage, which he runs through quickly for his size. He has functional suddenness to separate and is a scrappy, high-energy player, which benefits him when he needs to get physical. With two years ahead of him, it's hard to see a world where he doesn't generate some recruiting attention.     Fuller has emerged as a premier 2028 TE prospect in Georgia, and his recruiting status should reflect that when all is said and done. He is a big, physical player who is built to play in-line and at HB once fully grown. He competes as a blocker and has the mass to control the point. He is a functional athlete with a big catch radius, so there is some upside as a receiver down the field, but he will be best when you flip him the ball in the flat and watch him roll.     I would keep an eye on Lessis, a massive TE out of Sonoraville who is a candidate to emerge. There aren't many TEs available with true TE size and mass, so that is where the intrigue is set here. He is a raw athlete developing nuance, but is a capable mover who is capable of making plays as a receiver. He spends most of his time blocking, so that part of his game should be well refined.     Buchanan, now at Daphne, has been a flashy player over the last year who is set to step up to the occasion as a junior. He is a long, lean, raw athlete with his best ball ahead of him. On tape, he acted as a reliable target at each level of the field. He is a size/speed threat, but also played with good spatial awareness. Buchanan still has plenty left in the tank and could break onto the radar with added attention from a productive fall.     Staton jumped on my radar over a year ago, and it seems like a matter of time before he morphs into a hot commodity on the recruiting trail. He is a long, lean player who looks even bigger. He is a forward-leaning, driving player off the line who cuts through cushion and quickly occupies space. He flashes good footwork and can slow himself down at the top of his routes, so there is more than just one speed here. He will have to share the workload with other high-profile receiver prospects, but he is a good player in his own right and deserves recognition.     Cunningham is a new name to me who recently jumped on my radar and is set for a breakout as a junior. He is a lean, long-strided athlete at 6'1 170 who is quick off the line and quickly sets up defenders. He is a threatening player over the top, which naturally opens up opportunities underneath. He is a smooth athlete who checks a lot of boxes without many glaring weaknesses. I imagine Cunningham will develop into a mainstay on the D1 recruiting scene over the next year.     [player_tooltip player_id='1840624' first='Jaikari' last='Harris'] is, in my eyes, one of the most intriguing small school prospects in the state of Georgia, regardless of class and position. He is coming off an impressive freshman season with traits and production that exceed his age. He is explosive off the line and has the giddy up to carry that speed down the field. There is plenty of juice on this frame, evidenced with his impressive numbers from T/F.     Hennix has FBS and P4 offers under his belt, but still seems like a candidate to step up and make a name for himself nationally this fall, especially being at Langston Hughes. He is a lean, cut athlete who plays bigger than listed. He has impressive body control through traffic and climbs the ladder at a high level. He is a walking highlight reel with game-breaking potential, and I think that will flash plenty this fall. Impressive blend of size, leaping skills, ball skills, and upside here.     Jackson jumped on my radar this offseason and appears next in line to emerge as a premier player out of Kell. When watching him in practice, I was impressed with what he could do after the catch. He is a quick-twitch athlete who is quick to his top gear and just runs by people, which will translate as a route runner, too. His body control down the field flashes at times, but we will get a better read for how well-rounded his game is once August comes around.     Jarrard is debuting early as a TE prospect to watch in the 2029 class, as there are generally very few TEs at his age that look like this. He is a long, lean athlete with impressive giddy up off the line. He has good hands, and his reach allows him to keep the ball away from defenders trying to attack the catch point. Jarrad is the younger brother of ND QB Teddy Jarrard and is throwing upper 80's off the mound in baseball, so the athletic indicators are here, too.     Nunnelly was arguably my favorite player to watch on the 7v7 circuit this offseason. He played with a calm confidence at both exposure points while making highlight reel plays on a consistent basis. He has impressive body control and high-point skills, especially for being under 6'0. If he can translate that to the varsity season, others will take notice. I am excited to check back in on Nunnelly in the fall.

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