2027 Rankings Watch: Whose Trending Up?

Looking at some of the top talent across Idaho as we enter the 2026 season, there are several names that are next up and who have been flying a bit under the radar after stellar 2025 campaigns. Below is a in-depth synopsis of five players that have been greatly under-recruited and who will make a splash in the coming weeks with the start of the season getting underway.   Want 30% off of your subscription? Use promo code PaulG30 at checkout!    Downing has all the upside needed at the FCS+ level and the frame and length to keep packing on weight over the course of his career. He is a long and rangy edge prospect that does a nice job using his length to set the edge and plays with tight heavy hands to create immediate knock back on the defensive line. He can also turn the corner against bigger tackles, get underneath punches and counter back inside with body control and quick hips/hands when needed. Overall a plus athlete with elite length and the frame needed for the next level, he is a high upside project that should breakout as a Senior this Fall.     Winkelman is a top candidate to enter in our next rankings update across Idaho and is coming off a stellar Junior season last fall and poised for big things in 2026. He is a plus length kid with a high IQ, breaks quickly to ball carriers and tackles well in space while not afraid to come up and make plays behind the line. He has natural ball skills and man cover abilities while showing recovery speed and length if beat and is very smart in zone coverage, reading eyes well and forcing poor throws over the middle. Look for him to see his stock rise as a senior and be a key late add for a college program.     Bingham could see a uptick as well in our next update and is one of the top interior rushers the state has to offer. He is strong and powerful off the ball, explodes out of his stance and gets underneath blockers with a good shock and shed without losing ground and can eat up blocks inside and split double teams with ease. He is a natural bender in his stance and has some impressive twitch for his size with a few power rush moves in his toolbox. He is another kid that will be a big time steal for a college team here late and is a key name to note amongst the defensive line across the region.     The rising senior should have a breakout year this season and is one of the more instinctual and active linebackers across the region. He plays fast and downhill, tackles well in the open field and shows he can shoot gaps and apply pressure from various angles and has a very diverse skillset from the second level. His twitch, cover abilities and ability to make plays in space and outside the tackles makes him a very well balanced prospect and he has a natural nose for the ball while looking to force turnovers at the point of contact. He should be atop the tackle rankings as a senior across Idaho and is well on his way to entering into our rankings.     Hoagland is a candidate to enter in our rankings update this time around as well and is one of the more active tackling linebackers in the state. He is a downhill player that can knife into the backfield, get off blocks and can apply pressure in pass rush situations off the edge. He does a nice job playing low, moves quickly laterally and can quickly get on and off blocks with ease while packing a punch at the point of attack on contact. His ability to play the run tough inside and make plays outside the tackles makes him a intriguing prospect that should fit nicely at the D3+ level in college.

Looking at some of the top talent across Idaho as we enter the 2026 season, there are several names that are next up and who have been flying a bit under the radar after stellar 2025 campaigns. Below is a in-depth synopsis of five players that have been greatly under-recruited and who will make a splash in the coming weeks with the start of the season getting underway.

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