WV 2026 Rankings Debut: Top 10 Defensive Players

The WV 2026 rankings have finally debuted for the first time and 50 athletes have seen their name listed. Being that the 2026 class has much more football to be played and time to grow both physically and fundamentally, these rankings are sure to change quite a lot through the years as more names emerge and more film is available. Here are the Top 10 defensive players that have impressed early in their short time at the high school level.   [player_tooltip player_id='402804' first='Laron' last='Dues'] - Hurricane | DB | 5'9 165 Overall Ranking: #2 | Position Ranking: #1   The Dues brothers are some serious athletes and younger brother Laron has already picked up two D1 offers from Marshall and Miami (OH). The 5'9 165 speedy rising sophomore started on a talented Hurricane team in 2022 as a freshman and quickly impressed. Dues enters the 2026 rankings as the #2 overall prospect and #1 ranked defensive back. He's also an offensive playmaker but I like him as a DB at this point of his career. Dues runs very well and has the vertical ability to attack the ball and jump with any receiver even as a smaller DB right now. The future is very bright for this 2026 athlete.   7on7 highlights:   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/hall2026/status/1656109248722378753?s=20 </div></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='866258' first='Aryn' last='McPherson'] - Huntington | DL | 6'3 300 Overall Ranking: #4 | Position Ranking: #1   Huntington's [player_tooltip player_id='866258' first='Aryn' last='McPherson'] may possibly be the biggest 2026 defensive lineman in the state and will undoubtedly finish his high school career as one of if not the top DL in his class. At 6'3 300 he already has college size and from getting to see him in person at the GCOH Performance Exposure Camp in June he also has the talent to match it. I believe unquestionably that McPherson will be a D1 prospect sooner rather than later and would be shocked if he doesn't sign with a D1 program in three years. He still has plenty of room to grow developmentally and fundamentally but McPherson has all of the traits and natural ability to make the strides he needs to further his game. McPherson debuts in our 2026 rankings as the #4 overall player and #1 rated DL.   Some of McPherson's reps at Kent State's camp:   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/aryn_mcpherson/status/1670251097934446598?s=20 </div></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='894977' first='Xavier' last='Anderson'] - Spring Mills | DL | 6'6 185 Overall Ranking: #9 | Position Ranking: #2   Spring Mills defensive lineman [player_tooltip player_id='894977' first='Xavier' last='Anderson'] is still growing into his long frame but when you're a legit 6'6 and athletic you're going to be highly ranked. The real question with Anderson is will he play football or basketball at the next level? He has more of a basketball body right now but I'm confident if he can add the weight he needs to play on the DL he will be a D1 prospect. It's also possible that he could play on the offensive side of the ball in college as a tight end or tall receiver too depending on how much his body changes over the next three years. Anderson is a raw talent right now but has traits you simply can't teach and it will be exciting to watch how he develops the rest of his high school career. Anderson comes in as the #9 overall player and #2 ranked defensive lineman.   Anderson can get up too!   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/Xavier16wv/status/1584359099260882944?s=20 </div></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='863316' first='Camren' last='Togans'] - Washington | DB | 6'0 170 Overall Ranking: #20 | Position Ranking: #2   Defensive back is a tough position to play as a freshman but Washington DB [player_tooltip player_id='863316' first='Camren' last='Togans'] saw his playing time really increase the second half of the season for the Patriots in 2022. Togans showed some versatility as a freshman and can cover the slot or drop back to safety. I like him as an in the box safety right now and he showed he was a sure tackler and willing to get physical in the run game. He'll need to keep developing his coverage skills but Togans has the makings of a very good DB. He enters the rankings as the #20 overall player and #2 ranked DB. The 2026 DB group will be battling it out for three more years to decide who the top guys are at the position.   Some reps of Togans at Shepherd's camp:   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/c_togans/status/1681832845910704128?s=20 </div></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='894631' first='Kolin' last='Wiley'] - Wheeling Park | DB | 6'0 155 Overall Ranking: #25 | Position Ranking: #3   Wheeling Park's [player_tooltip player_id='894631' first='Kolin' last='Wiley'] played freshmen ball last season but showed enough to warrant a Top 25 overall ranking and our #3 rated defensive back. Wiley is a long DB at 6'1 who likely is best as a safety. He gets downhill quickly and showed the willingness to be physical which is great to see in a young DB. Wiley covers ground well and closes on the ball in a hurry. He's also a good receiver but will be ranked as a DB at this point in his career. Wheeling Park has some serious talent in their 2026 class and it will be fun to watch how they develop the next three seasons.   Wiley can go up and get it:   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/kolin_wiley/status/1662544135457308677?s=20 </div></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='894890' first='Kaidyn' last='Johnson'] - Parkersburg South | LB | 6'2 180 Overall Ranking: #26 | Position Ranking: #1   The 2026 linebacker class is another position that will likely change a lot in the rankings the next three years but an early name that showed some good things is Parkersburg South's [player_tooltip player_id='894890' first='Kaidyn' last='Johnson']. He's one of the bigger 2026 linebackers we've come across at this early stage of their careers at 6'2 180. The biggest aspect of a young player's film that I look for is are they playing fast? Mistakes are inevitable but I love seeing an athlete going full speed all of the time, especially for young athletes and Johnson checked off that box well. He attacks with a purpose and always sprints to the ball. Johnson hasn't played varsity ball yet but with Parkersburg South losing a good bit of talent from last year's state runner-up squad I expect him to get his varsity shot. He comes in as the #26 overall player and #1 ranked LB in our early 2026 rankings.   [player_tooltip player_id='894666' first='Wyatt' last='Sowards'] - Hurricane | LB | 5'11 175 Overall Ranking: #28 | Position Ranking: #2   Another young linebacker that has shown some early signs of talent is Hurricane's, [player_tooltip player_id='894666' first='Wyatt' last='Sowards']. Sowards was a state wrestling qualifier as a freshman in the 157-pound class and one of very few to do so in AAA. Most of his available film right now is at running back but he'll enter the 2026 rankings as a linebacker for now. Sowards comes in as the #28 overall player and the #2 ranked linebacker for his class. As more film comes out of him we'll get a better understanding of his game but the early signs are there for a bright future.   [player_tooltip player_id='866678' first='Bryce' last='Winkfield'] - Huntington | LB | 5'10 185 Overall Ranking: #30 | Position Ranking: #3   Huntington's [player_tooltip player_id='866678' first='Bryce' last='Winkfield'] is another young linebacker you need to keep an eye on for the next three years. He'll need to keep growing and getting bigger but the 5'10 185 rising sophomore should be a good player for the 2022 state champs in time. Winkfield can play running back and linebacker but he'll initially enter the 2026 rankings as a LB and ranks 30th overall and the #3 linebacker. Winkfield is a good athlete and showed he has the speed to run away from defenders when he's at running back. It's going to be fun to watch how he develops during his career.   [player_tooltip player_id='894673' first='Takiem' last='Drake'] - Jefferson | LB | 5'9 170 Overall Ranking: #31 | Position Ranking: #4   Our final young linebacker name to know is Jefferson's, [player_tooltip player_id='894673' first='Takiem' last='Drake']. Drake is a two-sport athlete who's also a good basketball player but I think he has the potential to make a very good football player too. He's another linebacker that can also play running back so we'll see which position he best fits at as time goes on. For now, Drake will enter the 2026 rankings as a linebacker and ranks 31st overall and the #4 rated LB. He plays outside linebacker right now and I loved how he rushes the passer from the edge and is very quick off the ball. Drake has the speed to really get after the QB and cause havoc in the backfield. The natural athleticism is there for him to become a top-tier athlete in the state in time.   Drake is a bucket too!   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/DrakeTakiem/status/1682910548927676416?s=20 </div></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='894671' first='Aaron' last='Blankenship'] - Independence | DL | 6'2 245 Overall Ranking: #35 | Position Ranking: #3   It's possible Woodrow Wilson transfer [player_tooltip player_id='894671' first='Aaron' last='Blankenship'] eventually flips in our rankings to the other side of the line but for now he'll enter the 2026 rankings as a defensive lineman. Blankenship will head to 2022 AA state champion Independence HS this season and saw plenty of varsity time in 2022 as a freshman. He already has pretty good size for a young lineman at 6'2 245 and from the limited video, we saw he has skill to work with. From watching some clips on his Twitter he's a strong young player with good feet and moves well. Blankenship debuts in our 2026 rankings 35th overall and the #3 ranked DL.   Here is some of his OL clips from one of Virginia Tech's camps:   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/_AlexBlank/status/1672049094607421440?s=20 </div></figure>

The WV 2026 rankings have finally debuted for the first time and 50 athletes have seen their name listed. Being that the 2026 class has much more football to be played and time to grow both physically and fundamentally, these rankings are sure to change quite a lot through the years as more names emerge and more film is available. Here are the Top 10 defensive players that have impressed early in their short time at the high school level.