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Rivals this week released the initial rankings for the class of 2026. Five five-star prospects were crowned, while the rest completed the first Rivals100 of the cycle.
As every year, the South Central region was well represented in the ranking. That includes Jahkeem Stewart leading the way as the No. 2 prospect in America, along with the other 21 recruits who made the cut.
Rivals.com highlights the 22 prospects from the region who will land within the initial 2026 Rivals100 rankings.
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MORE 2026 RATINGS: Get to know the initial five stars | Gorney’s thoughts on class | Top 10 Countdown | Who should be number one?
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Stewart has earned the coveted five-star status in the top rankings in its class, and rightly so. He is a strong, physical defensive lineman who can play on the edge or inside. He wins at the point of attack and has impressed in numerous settings. Alabama, Georgia, LSU, Texas and USC are on the offer sheet.
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Not far behind Stewart is Blaine Bradford, who is the highest-ranked four-star in the country. Bradford is a deep head rusher with legitimate game-changing ability from the back of the defense.
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Lamar Brown, the third Louisiana prospect ranked in the top 10, is an impressive prospect at 6-foot-5, 260 pounds. He is a force on both sides of the ball, as programs are recruiting him to play offensive or defensive tackle at the next level.
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Kevin Ford gets the No. 1 pick in Texas for the 2026 recruiting cycle. Outside of Duncanville, Ford appears to be next in the line of elite defensive linemen to emerge from the Panthers program. Texas A&M is among the headlines on its initial offer sheet.
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In Mississippi, Tupelo defensive end Jarelyan McCoy is the No. 1 recruit in the state. At 6-foot-7 and 240 pounds, McCoy sports a stunning frame that jumps out at you. He is a force in the trenches with several SEC programs already underway.
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Classified as an athlete, London Smith is a high-level prospect who stands out especially when it comes to running routes and catching passes. He is coming off a two-touchdown performance in his last game and is the top-ranked skill position player in the Lone Star State.
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Bralan Womack burst onto college radars early in his prep career, as he stands out for his 6-foot height along with his length and coverage ability in high school. He can play multiple roles on defense, leading to offers from multiple SEC programs.
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Xavier McDonald is another high-end wide receiver prospect who has established himself as one of the best in the country. McDonald had nine touchdowns during his freshman season and appears poised for an even bigger sophomore campaign. Mississippi State and Ole Miss are in the mix from the start.
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Jalen Lott is getting his first taste of college action this season due to transfer rules in Texas and he doesn’t disappoint. The multi-sport star plays all three phases at the high school level and performs at an elite level wherever he is. above. Lott, a Texas legacy, is already attracting the attention of programs across the country.
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Another Louisiana prospect, Aiden Hall, ranks in the top 50. He’s a big, long defensive back with the ability to create plays all over the field. He stars in a well-established show in The Boot on Edna Karr and is on an exciting trajectory.
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Kaydon Finley has NFL lineage, as his father Jermichael played at Texas and then for the Green Bay Packers. But Finley has wasted no time in making a name for himself. He is a vertical threat in the passing game and played a big role in Texas powerhouse Aledo winning the state title last year.
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Xzavier Barnett emerged as an intriguing freshman in the spring, where he tested very well in track and field. He is an excellent high jumper in addition to what he brings to the football field. Barnett runs off the edge on defense and catches passes on offense. Houston is the first to offer it.
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Another dynamic athlete, Keisean Henderson, is an electric playmaker who is a threat to find the end zone from anywhere on the field. As a quarterback, Henderson has the ball in his hands on almost every play and even acted as a QB during the Rivals Camp Series. But college coaches also like how his skills translate to wide receivers. Oregon was one of the last to offer.
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Jimmy-Phrisco Alo-Suliafu wasted no time bursting onto the Texas high school football scene last year while playing significant snaps for powerhouse Katy as a freshman. He is a physical player in the trenches who is a force for offensive linemen to block and contain.
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Like McDonald, O’Mari Johnson jumped onto college radars before attending her first high school class. Playmaker Johnson is a threat to score from anywhere on the field. He surpassed the 1,000-yard mark and scored 24 touchdowns on the last ball. Both SEC state schools are in the hunt, as are LSU and others.
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The highest-rated player in Oklahoma is Durant defensive end Colton Yarbrough. Yarbrough has a 6-foot-5, 210-pound frame with long arms that help him create havoc when rushing the passer. He is already a coveted prospect, especially for programs in the region.
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Brysten Martinez is ranked 64th overall in Rivals’ first rankings for the class of 2026. He is a big, athletic offensive tackle who excels in multiple sports, which points to exciting and positive development on the playing field.
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The top-ranked running back in the state of Texas is Jonathan Hatton, coming from powerhouse Cibolo Steele. Hatton is a physical running back that is difficult to bring down. He stood out as a freshman and is just scratching the surface of what type of player he can be in the backfield.
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Jabari Mack is another prospect who will make a big name for himself at a top school in The Boots. His testing numbers and early season film indicate that he is an elite athlete, ranking him 74th overall.
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Tiki Hola lands at #84 overall in Rivals100’s initial rankings. He can play on either side of the ball on the offensive or defensive line, where he shows off his strength and technique. Tennessee became the last major program offered in August.
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Javian Osborne earns his spot on Rivals100 at 96th overall. After a visit to USC, Osborne is also a top target for Texas and Oklahoma in the 2026 cycle. Osborne has put up video game numbers to start his sophomore season, highlighted by a five-touchdown performance on eight carries.
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Coming in just inside Rivals199, Dequane Prevo comes out of Texarkana Liberty-Eylau. Prevo is a dynamic athlete who can play all over the field but especially excels with the ball in his hand. He already has important programs pursuing his talents.
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