Rival Rankings: Who is the best player at each position in the 2026 class?

It’s a little strange that there wasn’t much disagreement when it came to placing Lewis at No. 1 overall, but he’s so far ahead of the other quarterbacks in this class that the decision was easy. Mechanics, footwork, arm strength, accuracy, touch: Lewis has the tools and traits to be a star at the next level.

He’s completing passes at a higher rate this year (67%) than last year (65%), and he has yet to throw an interception (12 last year). Clearly, Lewis is progressing as a decision-maker.

Additionally, Lewis has filled out his frame a decent amount since last year, officially measuring in at 6-foot-1 and 175 pounds. He moves and throws with a smoothness and natural ability reminiscent of former five-star quarterback, Heisman winner and current USC star Caleb Williams. Lewis is not as much of a runner as Williams was, but that could change as he develops physically.

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Hiter is a super productive and tough running back who found the end zone 24 times last year averaging over 11 yards per carry. He also excels in the triple jump and long jump and has recorded a time of 11:11 in the 100-meter dash. Hiter certainly has good speed, but it’s his quickness and quickness as a ball carrier that sets him apart from the other running backs in this class. He can make defenders miss in the open field or run them over.

Hiter has shown reliable hands in camp and has proven to be nearly impossible for linebackers to defend in passing situations. His instincts and vision with the ball in his hands also stand out in the film.

There’s a lot to like about Henry as a prospect, not to mention the fact that he’s the son of former NFL wide receiver. He’s a big target for 6-foot-5 quarterbacks, but the things that make him special are traits that are prevalent in smaller receivers.

Henry runs with a low center of gravity, accelerates at an impressive rate, has excellent hands, and displays the route-running skills of a much more mature prospect. He implements some subtle techniques on his routes to throw defenders off balance.

College coaches will love how excellent a run blocker Henry is, and that should help him find the field early in his career.

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Harrison is a pretty rare athlete at the tight end position. He is a high-level basketball player with a handful of scholarship offers on the court. His future, however, is on the football field and defenders should be very concerned about how they can match Harrison.

The 6-foot-7, 237-pound tight end has impressive coordination in the open field, does a great job catching the ball with his hands and is an ideal jump target in the red zone. Harrison may not be overly dynamic with the ball in his hands, but he is difficult to bring down.

Cantwell is 6-foot-8 and 300 pounds and has two parents who competed in the Olympics. Who wants to bet against a player with that athletic profile? Joking aside, Cantwell has striking traits and an exceptional film. He plays with the strength one would expect from one of the best shot putters in the country and consistently plays with the right leverage.

Cantwell’s footwork is impressive, he gets out of position quickly and is much more agile than defenders expect. That quickness is a big advantage for Cantwell as a pass blocker. He effectively mirrors the approaching defensive lineman and shoots his hands with power. Cantwell may have a tendency to overextend and will continue to work on positioning and readjusting his hands in pass protection.

Size, strength, quickness, aggression and advanced technique: Stewart has it all and should continue to improve. In almost any other year, Stewart would probably be the best overall prospect on Rivals250.

Considering how technically and physically advanced a prospect he is, Stewart would make a strong case to be a five-star in the 2024 class. It will be interesting to see how his game changes as he grows.

Listed as a strong-side defensive end, Stewart has the height (6-foot-6), length (34-inch arms) and agility to play on the edge of the defense, but has the build of a prospect who could easily crash into inside. and be a dominant defensive tackle.

Brown brings a lot as a defensive lineman and could easily play on the offensive line as well. He checks the boxes physically with a 6-foot-5 frame, a 78-inch wingspan and a 260-pound weight. Brown has the quickness to cause problems for any offensive lineman and has the strength to hold his own at the point of attack.

He is aggressive with his hands and can quickly throw off blockers on the way to the ball carrier. Brown is a strong tackler who has a habit of knocking down ball carriers at the line of scrimmage or in the backfield.

Jones is a weapon on the defensive side of the ball who can line up at either linebacker position. He is an explosive blitzer from the edge and from deep. Jones redirects quickly and routinely chases ball carriers from behind.

His athleticism is clearly evident watching him work in coverage. Jones displays impressive fast-twitch capabilities and gets close to the ball well. He may not be as strong a tackler yet, but he plays with a similar style to former Notre Dame star and current Cleveland Browns linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah.

Bradford is a dangerous defender in the secondary. The Louisiana native is a big hitter who has no problem getting the ball out of the hands of potential catchers. At 6-foot-2, Bradford has the size to be an intimidating presence and a very effective run defender.

He has good instincts and reads the quarterback well. Bradford is very comfortable playing downhill and close to the line of scrimmage. His aggressive style should carry over to the next level.

Classified as an athlete, Sadler can do a little about everything. As a receiver, he shows outstanding performance and can be difficult to catch when he has the ball in his hands. Defensive backs have a hard time keeping him from creating separation because he accelerates so quickly.

When lining up in the secondary, Sadler trusts his instincts, which usually lead to positive results. Sadler, who stands 5-foot-11, doesn’t tower over other players, but he has the strength and mass (185 pounds) to withstand aggressive competition.