One of the biggest enigmas and most intriguing prospects in the current 2026 rankings and a player whose development I will be watching as close as possible, Lourdes High School’s 6’2, 190 lb. RB/DB Caleb Akinbolu first got on my radar when he reported an unofficial junior day visit to Iowa State, and credit where it’s due, it’s a good find by the Cyclones. Representing Lourdes High School, the private school option in the great city of Rochester, the third largest city in Minnesota, Akinbolu’s frame, film, and skillset scream raw power – in his cuts, in his strides, when he runs behind his pads, and in his burst. When he takes a handoff you know there’s a chance something exciting may happen, and it’s not just due to Akinbolu’s sheer size at the position. He looks big on tape, possibly his reported 6’2/6’3, and wears his 190 pounds well with visible room to fill in. Plus, he’s extremely long, in both his arms and his legs, and his long strides that cover a ton of ground per step and have the strength to step through and slip off weaker tackler attempts at his lower body. The combination of power, aggressiveness, and shake/elusiveness as a ball carrier puts defenders on their heels, especially in 1-on-1 situations, and he forced missed tackles in a ton of different ways in 2023. When Akinbolu gets up to full speed and is uninhibited through the first two levels of the defense he blows by defenders in pursuit, and the 190 lber. gets out of his cuts with noticeable force and can create missed tackles when he works a defender laterally. I also like how he combines it with a well-timed stiff-arm to really create separation between him and a would-be tackler. Akinbolu has some reps of him completely upending defenders and sending them flying after he lows his pads and runs them over and he works off contact well, and in 2023 he both snatched some ankles and ran some kids over. Also a multi-sport athlete who plays basketball.

Lots of unknowns still, but the size shows an “X” factor. Some verified data would be huge here, as well as an eye-test or two, but Akinbolu is a name that I could see flying significantly up the 2026 Big Board, possibly even into the upper echelons of the state’s top prospects. Big talent to know from the 507.