2026 Backs/Athletes Moving up in the Rankings

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With the 2026 rankings rolling out there has been a lot of interest on where players ended up and who made it for the first time which my teammate Jeremy Deckard has already provided a good series of reports on to help provide some clarity.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We are quietly building a solid database of the best and the brightest the state has to offer.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In my 2026 ranking follow-up report below, I focused on three quarterbacks and a pair of running backs to get started. The QB's are all dual-threat gunslingers who have been flying under the radar but are getting ready to burn it up this fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The running backs, on the other hand, have received more attention comparatively speaking, but even though they are already among the best in the state they are still flying somewhat lower than they should in regard to overall visibility since both of the schools they play for tend to be a little stingy with stats and player information during the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Moving right along...</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Make sure and check these guys out as they surge up the rankings between now and this fall. You can thank me later.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>So, without further adieu, let's take a closer look at some of the best in the business from the class of 2026:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1585747' first='Carston' last='Simmons']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/carston-simmons/"></a> ,</strong> 6'1, 180, QB/DB, <em>Pitt Colgan</em>, '26, ranked #173, is coming off an excellent year flying a little bit under the radar in southeast Kansas. I started following him earlier in the year and have been impressed. He completed 58 out of 96 passes for 1,040 yards, a 60% completion rate, 16 touchdown passes and an eye-popping<em> zero</em> interceptions. <em>Goose egg</em>. He also picked up 250+ yards rushing to give him right at 1,300 yards total offense and 26 TD's. He has good mechanics in the pocket with a compact, smooth delivery. He can also extend plays with his legs and throws well on the move and from different arm angles. When he wasn't slicing and dicing the opposition, he also contributed 20 tackles and a fumble recovery as a defensive back. He is going to go off in 2025.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1585755' first='Gavin' last='Rosa']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/gavin-rosa/"></a>&nbsp;,</strong>&nbsp;6'3, 195, QB/ATH, <em>Rock Creek</em>, '26, ranked #402, has put football on the backburner for now as he is focused on playing hoops, but is coming off a solid junior year, completing 65 of 104 passes for 781 yards, a 63% completion percentage, 12 TD passes and only 3 picks all year. He also added another 200 yards on the ground and receiving to give him just under 1,000 total yards and 16 touchdowns. His versatility was on display all year and he was handy in a pinch, averaging 50+ yards on a couple of punts and had a 40-yard kickoff return. He has prototype size and athleticism and is dangerous extending plays with the ball in his hands. He may be more focused on basketball than football, but he will be ready to take off on the gridiron this fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1515918' first='Peyton' last='Hare'], </strong>6'2, 185, QB/ATH, <em>Eureka</em>, '26, ranked #423, is a dual-threat, multi-positional field general who is coming off a standout junior season when he ran and passed for 1,705 yards in total offense and accounted for 26 touchdowns. He throws the ball well enough to keep defenses on their heels, completing 52 of 102 passes for 805 yards, a 51% percentage, a dozen TD's and only four picks. But where he really shines is as a run-pass option QB who has the size, speed and elusiveness to be a weapon in the ground game, carrying the ball 89 times for 868 yards, averaging right 10-yards a carry and 13 TD's. On defense he piled up 56 tackles, eight tackles for loss, and had a sack and a pick-six interception. This guy is a diamond in the rough. Get ready to see him dominate in 2025.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='267076' first='Calin' last='Arndt']</strong><em><a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/calin-arndt/"></a>&nbsp;</em></strong>, 5'11, 200, RB,&nbsp;<em>Aquinas</em>, '26, ranked #82, was an apex predator of a running back for state-champion <em>Aquinas</em> this past fall, churning out 2,000 yards rushing and 28 TD's on his way to multiple honors, including Max Prep Player of the Year. Coming into his senior year he is one of the most dangerous backs in the state. He has a low center of gravity and great spatial awareness picking holes. He rips through arm tackles and when he breaks into the open he is not only fast, but elite-level elusive. He came through in the clutch numerous times in the huge win over powerful Mill Valley and then helped lead the way to an unbeaten season and the state crown. When he isn't training for the coming season he is a speedster in track. This guy is going to be <em>en fuego</em> in 2025.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1113404' first='Kade' last='Mitchell']</strong><em><a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/kade-mitchell/"></a>&nbsp;</em></strong>, 5'10, 175, RB/DB,&nbsp;<em>Hayden</em>, '26, ranked #95, is another elite-level all-purpose back who helped power his team to the state championship game on the strength of his three-way, versatile play. On the year he carved up defenses for 1,600+ total yards and scored 26 touchdowns for the 11-2 state runner up. On the ground he ran for 808 yards on 104 carries and scored 18 touchdowns. He added 34 receptions for 543 yards, five TD's and another 272 yards in returns and three additional return touchdowns. He is a big-time game wrecker as an elusive breakaway threat with next-level burst. He was also a Defensive POY Finalist and a ball hawk on the other side of the ball, piling up 72 tackles, four TFL, three interceptions, including a pick-six and a fumble recovery. Get ready for some serious fireworks this fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In conclusion, get these guys on your watchlist as they will be making headlines this fall. And, as always, if you run across players flying under the radar or are getting overlooked entirely, give me a shout via DM on X. Keep grindin'...</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->