High school football recruiting used to be simple. You’d watch a kid’s tape on Hudl, see where he visited on a Saturday, and wait for the hat ceremony. It's not like that anymore. Honestly, the world of top hs football recruits has turned into a wild mix of early reclassifications, massive NIL valuations, and kids flipping commitments before they even finish their junior year of prom.
If you’re looking at the 2026 class, you've probably noticed it feels a bit... empty? That’s because the "traditional" rankings are being cannibalized by players jumping to college early. Take Jahkeem Stewart, for example. He was the undisputed No. 1 prospect in the country for 2026. Then, in a move that shocked exactly nobody who follows USC, he reclassified to 2025, signed with Lincoln Riley, and just got named a Freshman All-American this week. That’s the reality now. The best high schoolers aren't always in high school anymore.
The Big Names Left on the Board
With Stewart gone, the vacuum at the top has been filled by some absolute freaks of nature. You’ve got Jackson Cantwell out of Nixa, Missouri. The kid is 6-foot-7, weighs 315 pounds, and moves like a tight end. He’s currently sitting with a $1.9 million NIL valuation according to On3, which is basically NFL backup money before he’s even had his first college dorm meal.
Then there’s the quarterback drama. Jared Curtis (Nashville Christian) is the name everyone is fighting over. He was a Georgia commit for a long time. Then he reaffirmed. Then, in a move that set the internet on fire, he flipped to Vanderbilt. Yeah, Vandy. Apparently, the lure of early playing time and staying in Nashville was enough to beat out Kirby Smart’s pitch.
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Here is who is currently dominating the scout's notebooks:
- Jackson Cantwell (OT): The consensus top dog now. He’s a shot-put champion who translates that explosion directly into pancaking defensive ends.
- Faizon Brandon (QB): Committed to Tennessee. He’s got that prototypical 6-foot-4 frame and looked like the best player on the field at the "Night at Neyland" camp.
- Savion Hiter (RB): Michigan got a massive win here. He’s the top-ranked back in the country. He chose the Wolverines over Georgia and Ohio State back in August, and he’s been solid ever since.
- Chris Henry Jr. (WR): The Ohio State commit. If the name sounds familiar, it should. He’s the son of the late Bengals receiver, and at 6-foot-5, he’s a matchup nightmare that Brian Hartline is already salivating over.
The Reclassification Trap
You have to be careful when looking at these lists. A lot of people get frustrated because their favorite team's "top target" suddenly disappears from the 2026 rankings. Julian Lewis is the poster child for this. "JuJu" was the 2026 savior for USC, then he reclassified, then he flipped to Colorado.
Deion Sanders basically sat him for most of this past season to preserve his redshirt, but Lewis is now the projected starter for the Buffs in 2026. If you're still looking for him on high school recruiting boards, you're a year late. This trend is making the top hs football recruits list a moving target. If a kid is "too good," he’s probably going to graduate early to get that NIL money faster. It’s hard to blame them, but it makes following the rankings a headache.
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Defensive Anchors and Edge Speed
While the QBs and WRs get the headlines, the 2026 class is actually loaded with defensive talent that hasn't left for the portal yet. Zion Elee at St. Frances Academy is probably the twitchiest pass rusher I’ve seen in three cycles. He’s 6-foot-3, about 220, and his first step is basically a blur.
In Georgia, you’ve got Tyler Atkinson. The kid is a tackling machine for Grayson High. He’s already got over 400 tackles in his high school career. Think about that. Most college seniors don't have those numbers. He’s an EDGE/Linebacker hybrid that every SEC school is currently trying to buy a house for.
Why the Rankings Keep Shifting
It’s not just about talent; it’s about "signed" vs "committed." Just this week, Brandon Smith, a four-star RB from California, asked for his release from Arizona. He had nearly 5,000 rushing yards in high school. Now, he’s back on the market. One day you’re part of a top-10 class, the next you’re the most popular guy in the transfer portal's high school equivalent.
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What to Watch Next
If you really want to keep track of where the power is shifting, stop looking at the team rankings and start looking at the "Athlete" (ATH) designations. Guys like Lamar Brown and Jermaine Bishop are listed as athletes because they can play four different positions. Brown is 6-foot-4 and nearly 300 pounds but plays like a basketball guard. Lane Kiffin at Ole Miss is pushing hard for him because he’s the type of "positionless" player that thrives in modern schemes.
The "early signing period" used to be the finish line. Now? It’s just the starting gun. Between now and the summer, expect at least three more top-10 players to either reclassify or flip their commitments.
To stay ahead of the curve, keep a close eye on the spring "Junior Days." That’s where the real recruiting happens—behind closed doors, away from the Twitter graphics. Schools like Oregon and Ohio State are currently leading the pack, but as we saw with Jared Curtis and Vanderbilt, nobody is safe.
Track the specific movement of offensive tackles like Immanuel Iheanacho and Felix Ojo. In a world of 7-on-7 highlights, these are the guys who actually determine who wins the national title three years from now. Watch their visit schedules—if a kid visits the same campus three times in four months, ignore the "100% open" tweet. He’s gone. High school football is a business now; it's time to start watching it like one.