Of all the talented and playmaking names on this list, I was most excited to break down Justice Moody’s tape. We got a peak at Moody two Decembers ago at a PrepRedzoneMN when he was a freshman, showing off a nuanced and effective route running skillset, and he’s come into his own since then. The sophomore tape is electric and owns my vote for the #1 most elusive film in the state’s still-developing 2026 class so far.

First off, props to a talent like Moody for staying home and playing for the neighborhood school St. Paul Johnson, an athletic program known mostly for its basketball prowess, as I’m sure Moody had a few options for high schools coming out of the youth ranks. The rising junior can line up at multiple receiver spots but works best out of the slot, and in 2023 he posted 34 receptions for 693 yards and 10 TDs (20 YPC). Plus, in a trend that is rising in its importance and visibility, he is an explosive returner who took multiple returns back to the house and takes full advantage of any space a defense gives him, and he can find and create that space himself as well. Moody displays good speed that can take the top off the defense, burn man and zone coverage alike, and finish big plays for six, and he has reps of him out-throwing his QBs arm and getting so wide open before catching the ball that he could walk into the endzone. Moody also demonstrates sudden, powerful cutting ability that is dangerous in the open field, as well as great balance, especially as a ball carrier. The 160 lber. also tracks the ball well, breaks his routes off cleanly, can win contested catches, and can drop his hips and cut at top speed to create missed tackles.

The big questions are 1) how fast is he exactly? And 2) how big is going to get? One of those questions can be answered by seeing Moody at an off-season event, so I’m confident I can make that happen, but #2 is up to Mother Nature, and she answers to no one but herself. Lucky for us, there’s still a lot of runway in all of these sophomores recruitments, so Moody has nothing to fret about, especially if he keeps pumping out film like his sophomore tape.