Rivals Rankings Week: Who’s No. 1 in every state?
ALABAMA: Anthony Jones
Chance he stays at No. 1: High
A newly minted five-star, Jones sits atop the Alabama state rankings and has plenty of ammunition to preserve that spot after a strong offseason. Jones has filled out his frame to 6-foot-3 and 225 pounds entering his junior season at Mobile (Ala.) St. Paul’s and can win with speed and power off the edge and cause havoc around the line of scrimmage. Jones, who plays a premium position, is the No. 1 prospect in the state and highly coveted by both Alabama and Auburn.
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ARIZONA: Tait Reynolds
Chance he stays at No. 1: High
There might not be a quarterback in the 2026 class with more upside than Reynolds, who needs to work on committing fewer turnovers but who has elite dual-threat capabilities. He committed to Clemson this summer, loves the offensive system there and can be used in numerous ways to stress the defense.
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ARKANSAS: Danny Beale
Chance he stays at No. 1: High
A true two-way standout in the trenches, Beale dominated the camp circuit earlier this offseason and already looks the part at 6-foot-4, 300 pounds. Has received college interest at both offensive guard as well as defensive tackle.
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CALIFORNIA: Chris Henry
Chance he stays at No. 1: Medium
Henry is the lone five-star receiver in the 2026 Rivals250 and he’s an extraordinary talent but others in the state – especially five-star quarterback Ryder Lyons – will push him. Henry has all the size, all the athletic ability and hands to be elite and that’s why he’s ranked so high.
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COLORADO: Camden Jensen
Chance he stays at No. 1: High
Jensen is a massive tight end target at 6-foot-7 and 220 pounds and he moves relatively well, too, so there’s a very good chance the Littleton (Colo.) Heritage stays at the top of the list. Florida, Missouri, Nebraska and Texas A&M are the four standouts and even if he grows into an offensive tackle, there’s high-level athleticism there.
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FLORIDA: Derrek Cooper
Chance he stays at No. 1: Medium
The state of Florida is loaded in 2026, as per usual, so Cooper’s ascent to No. 1 in the state will surely be challenged before all is said and done. That said, his combination of size, athleticism and positional versatility won’t make that potential process an easy one. IMG Academy has a loaded group of prospects in the class, led by former five-star offensive tackle Keenyi Pepe. There is also a loaded group of high four-stars at quarterback in Florida, led by Texas commitment Dia Bell and Michigan pledge Brady Hart, that could be among those to eventually make it interesting. Cooper feels like the safest bet at this juncture, however.
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GEORGIA: Tyler Atkinson
Chance he stays at No. 1: Medium
Atkinson enters his junior season at No. 9 in the Rivals250. The Peach State is absolutely filled with blue-chippers for the 2026 cycle, and we love Atkinson’s aggressive play style and ability to contribute on all three downs for the Loganville (Ga.) Grayson defense. The competition is stiff, however, with several other 2026 prospects we’re very high on off to fast starts to their seasons. Receivers Aaron Gregory and Devin Carter both have compelling cases as two of the best pass-catchers not only in Georgia, but nationwide. Four-star defensive linemen Deuce Geralds, Bryce Perry-Wright and Xavier Griffin all kicked off their campaigns in statement fashion and could contend for that top spot, too.
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HAWAII: Malakai Lee
Chance he stays at No. 1: High
Lee is currently the only four-star in Hawaii’s 2026 class and while that might not stay the same it’s likely that the massive offensive lineman will stay No. 1 on the list. He’s too dominant at the line of scrimmage, moves too well and is too advanced to think someone else in the state could overtake him at this point.
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ILLINOIS: Braeden Jones
Chance he stays at No. 1: Medium
Jones is a terrific prospect and a classic strongside defensive end that can anchor a line in college. He’s got heavy hands that allows him to disregard offensive linemen with ease. However, the current No. 2 player, Jonas Williams is a potential elite quarterback prospect. Williams will push Jones through the cycle and has a good chance to pass him.
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INDIANA: Jerimy Finch Jr.
Chance he stays at No. 1: High
Finch is a rising player in the Midwest who should continue to move up the rankings as his junior season progresses. The biggest question with him is if he will stay at defensive end or eventually move to defensive tackle. He stands at 6-foot-2, 241 pounds currently and should keep adding size. That size along with his quickness makes him an intriguing gap-shooting defensive tackle candidate.
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IOWA: Dreshaun Ross
Chance he stays at No. 1: Medium
Ross is one of the more intriguing prospects in the region for 2026. He’s a state champion wrestler who is getting high-level offers to continue wrestling in college. Ross also just picked up an offer from Oregon in football. We won’t see much of him this season since he just got injured. That’ll open the door for Jayden McGregory to push past him this year.
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KANSAS: Hunter Higgins
Chance he stays at No. 1: Medium
Higgins has all the tools you look for in a future edge rusher. He’s long with a good first step. He’s a new four-star after an impressive camp season. The prospect to watch in Kansas for 2026 right now is Ian Premer. The tight end has a lot of buzz right now and could be the next big tight end out of the state follow Linkon Cure and Da’Saahn Brame.
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KENTUCKY: Cameron O’Hara
Chance he stays at No. 1: High
If O’Hara can build on his sophomore season he could see his stock explode. Last season he threw for 2,531 yards with 35 touchdowns and just five interceptions. It’s early but it’s going to be tough to catch the signal-caller out of Union (Ky.) Cooper.
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LOUISIANA: Jahkeem Stewart
Chance he stays at No. 1: High
There is really no conversation for this one, given he is the No. 1 prospect in the Rivals250. Stewart presents elite measurables at 6-foot-6 and 277 pounds with an 84-inch wingspan. Every event he attends, he is looking for the top talent to face off against and dominates at all times, which included the Rivals Five-Star, where he shined.
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MARYLAND: Immanuel
Iheanacho
Chance he stays at No. 1: Medium
There isn’t another five-star in Maryland right now so the odds of Iheanacho remaining atop the Maryland state ranking are pretty good. There are a couple of potential five-stars in Jireh Edwards and Zion Elee but it would be pretty surprising if they overtook Iheanacho.
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MASSACHUSETTS: Dominic Funke
Chance he stays at No. 1: Medium
Funke is a powerful defensive end with a fairly advanced technical skill set, which has helped him hold onto the No. 1 ranking in Massachusetts but he is facing some stiff competition from his teammate Marky Walbridge, who has the same rating.
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MICHIGAN: Corey Sadler
Chance he stays at No. 1: High
Sadler is a prospect that could play either defensive back or wide receiver in college. We have him rated at wide receiver where he’s a lethal option out of the slot. It’ll take a lot to move him off that top spot but that doesn’t mean there is a lack of talent in Michigan for 2026. It’s a loaded year in the state especially on the offensive line and tight end.
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MISSISSIPPI: Bralan Womack
Chance he stays at No. 1: Medium
Womack put together a stellar offseason and remains in the top spot in Mississippi for this cycle. We love Womack’s position versatility and ability to see snaps at cornerback, safety and also the nickel, where his quickness and physical play style certainly projects well. We expect big riser Tristen Keys to also vie for the top spot after tearing up the off-season at multiple events where he was among the best pass-catchers. Demarius Yates, the talented do-it-all back out of De Kalb (Miss.) Kemper County High, is another prospect we’re anxious to see as a junior.
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MISSOURI: Jackson Cantwell
Chance he stays at No. 1: High
Cantwell is a sure-fire five-star prospect in this cycle. The question for him moving forward won’t be if he can stay at No. 1 in the state. It’s if he can bump up to the No. 1 prospect in the 2026 Rivals250. He’s got the look of a future first-round NFL Draft pick. He’ll continue pacing the group in Missouri despite the numerous talented players behind him.
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NEBRASKA: Amarion Jackson
Chance he stays at No. 1: High
Jackson is in a unique position. He’s a record-breaking wide receiver in the state of Nebraska. But his upside is highest on the defensive side of the ball. Now that he’s playing more safety we expect his recruitment to take off. He’ll keep showing why he’s the top player in the Cornhusker State.
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NEVADA: James Carrington
Chance he stays at No. 1: Medium
Carrington is a very talented prospect and looks more like a 21st century defensive tackle who can use power and speed to his advantage, more than just taking up space in the middle. He has a very good chance of staying at the top in the state rankings but Las Vegas Bishop Gorman has so many talented players and then four-star linebacker Kenneth Goodwin is a hitting machine.
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NEW JERSEY: Luke Wafle
Chance he stays at No. 1: Medium
Wafle is a stout, versatile defensive lineman with the skill set to fit a variety of defensive schemes. Right now he’s the only player from New Jersey in the top 100 of the Rivals250 but there are a number of prospects who could jump up the rankings if they develop in certain areas.
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NORTH CAROLINA: Faizon Brandon
Chance he stays at No. 1: High
It’s an absolutely loaded group of talent inside of North Carolina for the 2026 cycle and Brandon, a new five-star, headlines that group. He has fantastic ball placement, can see the field really well and anticipates even better. He has those traits that we’re going to be talking about him in that first round conversation down the road. Given his premium position, it’s hard to see Brandon moved off this post.
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OHIO: Elbert Hill
Chance he stays at No. 1: High
Hill is our new No. 1 cornerback for the 2026 cycle. He’ll have to fight to hold onto that spot but we think he’s safe in Ohio for now. It’s a deep year in the state but Hill is a smaller, twitchy corner that NFL teams are coveting right now. Inside linebacker Cam Thomas is rising fast but it’ll be tough for him to pass up Hill.
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OKLAHOMA: Tajh Overton
Chance he stays at No. 1: Medium
Overton took the top spot in the state in this update. A pure disruptor from the interior of the defensive line, Overton is violent, fast, and does what he wants. A rapid get off paired with real pass rush skills and a sky high motor, Overton may continue to rise up the ranks in the 2026 class.
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PENNSYLVANIA: Kevin Brown
Chance he stays at No. 1: High
The 2026 class in Pennsylvania is fairly good but Brown is the most advanced and best prospect we’ve seen from the state thus far. He excelled at the Rivals Five-Star this summer against older, more experienced prospects and he still has plenty of room for physical and technical development before he reaches the college level.
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SOUTH CAROLINA: Jordon Gidron
Chance he stays at No. 1: High
We’re continuing to get a clearer picture of the depth of South Carolina’s 2026 class and multiple four-stars have been added in this most recent update. Gidron remains in the No. 1 spot in-state because he has speed to win vertically and is hard to corral in the open field. We like Gidron’s ability to make plays at different levels of the field. At 6-foot-2 and 182 pounds with fantastic track times, Gidron projects as a legitimate X receiver.
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TENNESSEE: Jared Curtis
Chance he stays at No. 1: High
Curtis headlines the Tennessee state rankings for the 2026 class. The Georgia commitment was excellent as a sophomore with a live arm, a fantastic touch on his throws and mobility to keep defenses off-balanced. Curtis can rip it downfield and also very accurate dealing into tight windows. Given the talent at a premium position, we like Curtis’ chances of remaining No. 1 in the state.
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TEXAS: Keisean Henderson
Chance he stays at No. 1: Medium
Henderson may very well be the most athletic prospect in the 2026 Rivals250. The skills he is able to display at both wide receiver and safety would make him a shoe-in for a five-star ranking at some point in his high school career. He is set on playing quarterback in college, which he is currently committed to play at Houston. Either way, what he is able to do at 6-foot-3, 185-pounds is special.
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UTAH: Brock Harris
Chance he stays at No. 1: Medium
Harris is a phenomenal tight end with a huge catch radius who had a tremendous offseason so there’s a good chance he could stay at the top. But new Draper (Utah) Corner Canyon four-star quarterback is off to a spectacular start to his junior season and if he keeps going at this pace then there could be a discussion for an even bigger bump in the rankings.
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VIRGINIA: Savion Hiter
Chance he stays at No. 1: Medium
Hiter is an excellent prospect with nearly every tool a college coach is looking for in a workhorse running back. His top-end speed may not be as good as some others but he is fast enough to be considered among the nation’s best. It’s a deep year for talent in Virginia so it’s hard to say Hiter has locked in the No. 1 ranking in the state.
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WASHINGTON: David Schwerzel
Chance he stays at No. 1: Medium
With Kodi Greene leaving this offseason for Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei, the Washington state rankings are wide open and currently have no four-star prospects. Schwerzel is a very talented defensive end with excellent size and a non-stop motor so he has a great chance of staying on top but others could certainly push.
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WASHINGTON D.C.: Carter Meadows
Chance he stays at No. 1: High
Meadows plays basketball in the offseason so he didn’t participate in any camps but this tall, long defensive end is technically sound and knows how to get into the backfield on a consistent basis. There is massive potential in his game and this could be his break-out season.
