Mid-South is well-represented in initial 2026 rankings release

The preliminary rankings for the category of 2026 have been launched by Rivals this week. 5 five-star prospects had been topped, whereas the rest crammed out the primary Rivals100 for the cycle.

As is the case with yearly, the Mid-South area was well-represented within the rankings. That features Jahkeem Stewart main the best way because the No. 2 general prospect in America, together with the 21 different recruits to make the lower.

Rivals.com highlights the 22 prospects from the area to land contained in the preliminary 2026 Rivals100 rankings.

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MORE 2026 RANKINGS: Meet the initial five-stars | Gorney’s thoughts on class | Top 10 countdown | Who should be No. 1?

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Stewart has earned the coveted five-star standing within the first rankings for his class and for good motive. He is a robust and bodily defensive lineman that may play on the sting or inside. He wins on the level of assault and has impressed in quite a few settings. Alabama, Georgia, LSU, Texas and USC are on the provide sheet.

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Not too far behind Stewart is Blaine Bradford, who’s the highest-ranked four-star within the land. Bradford is a head-hunting security with reliable game-changing capability from the again finish of the protection.

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The third Louisiana prospect to land contained in the top-10, Lamar Brown is a powerful prospect at 6-foot-5 and 260 kilos. He’s a drive on both facet of the ball as applications are recruiting him to play both offensive deal with or defensive deal with on the subsequent stage.

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Kevin Ford earns the No. 1 spot in Texas for the 2026 recruiting cycle. Out of Duncanville, Ford appears to be subsequent within the line of elite-level defensive lineman to come back from the Panthers’ program. Texas A&M is among the many headliners on his early provide sheet.

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In Mississippi, Tupelo defensive finish Jarelyan McCoy is the No. 1 recruit within the state. At 6-foot-7 and 240 kilos, McCoy options an eye-popping body that jumps out on tape. He’s a drive within the trenches with a number of SEC applications already within the combine.

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Listed as an athlete, London Smith is a high-level prospect that particularly stands out when operating routes and catching passes. He is coming off a two-touchdown efficiency in his newest recreation and is the highest-ranked talent place participant within the Lone Star State.

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Bralan Womack jumped onto school radars early in his prep profession as he stands out at 6-foot paired along with his size and protection capability within the secondary. He can fill a number of roles on a protection, resulting in a number of SEC applications providing.

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Xavier McDonald is one other high-level vast receiver prospect that has established himself as one of many nation’s greatest. McDonald grabbed 9 touchdowns throughout his freshman season and appears to be in retailer for a good larger sophomore marketing campaign. Mississippi State and Ole Miss are within the combine early.

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Jalen Lott is getting his first style of varsity motion this season attributable to switch guidelines in Texas and he is not disappointing. The multi-sport star performs all three phases on the highschool stage and performs at an elite stage wherever he strains. up. A Texas legacy, Lott already has the eye of applications throughout the nation.

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One other Louisiana prospect, Aiden Corridor lands contained in the top-50. He is an enormous and lengthy defensive again with playmaking capability everywhere in the area. He stars at a well-established program in The Boot at Edna Karr and is on an thrilling trajectory.

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Kaydon Finley has NFL bloodlines as his father Jermichael starred at Texas after which for the Inexperienced Bay Packers. However Finley has wasted no time in making a reputation for himself. He is a vertical risk within the passing recreation and performed an vital function in Texas powerhouse Aledo profitable the state title final 12 months.

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Xzavier Barnett emerged as an intriguing underclassmen again within the spring, the place he examined very properly in monitor and area. He is a terrific excessive jumper along with what he brings to the soccer area. Barnett rushes off the sting on protection and catches passes on offense. Houston is the primary to supply.

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One other dynamic athlete, Keisean Henderson is an electrical playmaker that could be a risk to seek out the top zone from anyplace on the sphere. Enjoying quarterback, Henderson has the ball in his palms on practically each play and even carried out at QB throughout the Rivals Camp Collection. However school coaches additionally like how his talents translate to wideout. Oregon was one of many newest to supply.

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Jimmy-Phrisco Alo-Suliafu wasted no time in bursting onto the Texas highschool soccer scene final 12 months, as he was taking part in significant snaps for powerhouse Katy as a freshman. He is a bodily participant within the trenches that could be a drive for offensive linemen to dam and include.

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Like McDonald, O’Mari Johnson jumped onto school radars earlier than he attended his first highschool class. The playmaking Johnson is a risk to attain from anyplace on the sphere. He went over the 1,000-yard mark and scored 24 touchdowns final ball. Each SEC in-state colleges are within the hunt, as are LSU and others.

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The highest-ranked participant in Oklahoma is Durant defensive finish Colton Yarbrough. Yarbrough has a 6-foot-5 and 210-pound body with lengthy arms that assist him create havoc when dashing the passer. He is already a coveted prospect, particularly for applications within the area.

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Brysten Martinez is available in at No. 64 general within the first Rivals rankings for the 2026 class. He is an enormous, athletic offensive deal with that excels in a number of sports activities, pointing to thrilling developmental upside on the gridiron.

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The highest-ranked operating again within the state of Texas is Jonathan Hatton out of powerhouse Cibolo Steele. Hatton is a bodily rusher that’s tough to deliver down. He broke out as a freshman and is simply scratching the floor of what sort of participant he could be within the backfield.

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Jabari Mack is one other prospect that’s set to make a significant title for himself at a premier faculty in The Boots. His testing numbers and early-season tape point out that he is an elite athlete, touchdown him at No. 74 general.

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Tiki Hola lands at No. 84 general within the preliminary Rivals100 rankings. He can play both facet of the ball at offensive line or line of defense the place he showcases his power and method. Tennessee grew to become the most recent large program to supply in August.

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Javian Osborne earns his place within the Rivals100 at No. 96 general. Coming off a go to to USC, Osborne can be a prime goal for Texas and Oklahoma within the 2026 cycle. Osborne has put up online game numbers early in his sophomore season, highlighted by a five-touchdown on eight carries efficiency.

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Coming in simply contained in the Rivals199 us Dequane Prevo out of Texarkana Liberty-Eylau. Prevo is a dynamic athlete that may play everywhere in the area however he particularly excels with the ball in his hand. He already has main applications in pursuit of his abilities.