The #1 ranked athlete in the PRzIL 2026 inaugural rankings introduction, 6’1, 170 lb. Aurora Christian WR, DB, and occasionally quarterback Jalen Carter Jalen Carter 6'1" | 165 lbs | DB Kaneland | 2026 State IL brings his dynamic athleticism to multiple sports for the Eagles and is also a gifted hooper and baseball player out of the Chicago suburb around an hour west of downtown. The Eagles made a noticeable effort to get the ball in his hands on offense, and Carter made some tremendous gains on simple two-step out routes as a flexed-out wing, many of which were well-defended and saw LBs/DBs in position to wrap him up for minimal gains. However, Carter’s vision and exceptional ability in space allowed him to turn what looked like 1-2 yard gains into long TD runs filled with broken tackles. He also showed off a big catch radius as a wideout, and as a defensive back, I liked how he used his speed to pursue and track down ball carriers all over the field, as well as make beautiful plays on the ball when it’s in the air. Carter also was more than able to step in at QB and keep his offense humming, which is yet another testament to his overall dynamic ability and athleticism. Now, he’s the #1 ranked athlete in the state of Illinois’ freshman class, and I’m interested to see where college programs project him to at the next level. Given the talent, this should happen sooner rather than later.