Rivals250 Release: Biggest moves in the new rankings
The 2026 class is no longer sitting in the shadow of the 2025 prospects. Today marks the sixth rankings update for the 2026 class and it’s the most meaningful one since the initial ranking in September 2023 because it sets the stage for the spring camp and 7-on-7 season – when the majority of in-person evaluations occur.
The new position and state rankings will be released later on Monday.
2026 RIVALS250 REFRESH: New schedule explained | Updated Rivals250 revealed | Biggest moves | Meet the new five-stars | Offensive position breakdown | Defensive position breakdown
NEW 2026 POSITION RANKINGS: Quarterback | Running Back | All-Purpose Back | Wide Receiver | Slot | Tight End | Offensive Tackle | Interior Offensive Linemen | Defensive Tackle | Defensive End | Edge | Linebacker | Nickel | Cornerback | Safety | Athlete
NEW NO. 1 QUARTERBACK
The 2026 class rankings debuted in September 2023 with Julian Lewis ranked as the No. 1 quarterback but Brady Smigiel was elevated to No. 1 when Lewis reclassified up to the 2025 class. Ryder Lyons out of Folsom, Calif. dethroned Smigiel last June but now Faizon Brandon sits atop the quarterback rankings.
Brandon, a Tennessee commit, is an elite talent at the quarterback position with the tools and skill set to carry his team at the next level. The year-over-year improvement Brandon has shown throughout his high school career gives us the confidence to project him as a potential first-round pick in the NFL Draft if he continues to develop at his current rate.
A big, athletic quarterback with a strong arm, Brandon fits the mold for what NFL teams are looking for from a physical perspective. He’s shown the ability to throw the ball with consistent accuracy from inside and outside the pocket. Most recently at the Navy National Combine in January, Brandon was able to put his impressive array of skills on display, which helped move him up to No. 2 in the Rivals250 and surpass Lyons at No. 3 overall.
KEISEAN HENDERSON EARNS HIS FIFTH STAR
Henderson has been dominant during the season and turns heads at every event. Each time the Houston commit steps on the field with other similarly talented players he stands out as one of the very best. Henderson’s latest performance at the Navy All-American Bowl was his best yet. His athletic abilities warrant comparisons to some of the best receivers and defensive backs from recent years but it’s the development as a quarterback that was really eye-opening. Henderson had been ranked as an athlete up to this point but this latest evaluation of his skill set has convinced us of his upside as a five-star quarterback.
Henderson isn’t locked into being a five-star for the rest of the rankings cycle but, at the risk of making outlandish comparisons, he appears to be on a similar developmental track to Keelon Russell or even Lamar Jackson. He’s got some work to do as a thrower in game situations but so did Russell and Jackson at this stage of their careers. Henderson’s progress will be closely watched as the rankings cycle continues.
ELITE RECEIVERS FALLING INTO PLACE
Ohio State commit Chris Henry, Jr., who is coming off a knee injury, had been the top receiver in the Rivals250 but Cederian Morgan and Tristen Keys have each earned their fifth star and surpassed him in the rankings. Morgan and Keys each bring unique and elite skills to the field. Morgan has a thickly built 6-foot-4 frame with a ridiculous 79-inch wingspan and the speed to make him virtually unguardable. It’s difficult for a quarterback to throw him an uncatchable ball. At 6-foot-2, Keys is a bit smaller than Morgan but he has the wingspan and route running skills to consistently get open against a variety of coverages.
Henry is bigger than both Morgan and Keys but his speed will be something to monitor as he comes back from injury. Prior to getting hurt, Henry consistently showed that he could take over a game whenever he pleased.
There are multiple game-changing receivers just outside of five-star range. No. 1 slot receiver Tyreek King is an explosive playmaker who can score from anywhere on the field. The same can be said for No. 2 slot receiver Vance Spafford.
Aaron Gregory, Kayden Dixon-Wyatt, CJ Sadler, Jalen Lott, Naeem Burroughs and Denairius Gray all rank inside the top 60 of the Rivals250 as well.
NEW POSITIONS
This rankings update is certainly important for the 2026 prospects but it also marks an important moment in Rivals rankings history. It is the first time players are being ranked using the new position designations of nickel (NICK), slot receiver (SLOT), defensive end (DE), edge defender (EDGE), interior offensive lineman (IOL), linebacker (LB), quarterback (QB) and specialist (SPEC).
The inaugural nickel rankings are led by Brandon (Miss.) Hartfield Academy standout Bralan Womack while Tyreek King of Knoxville (Tenn.) Knoxville Catholic heads up the slot rankings. Five-star Anthony “Tank” Jones from Mobile (Ala.) St. Paul’s maintains his elite status at the top of the edge defender rankings while Lamar Brown, a top 20 prospect from Baton Rouge (La.) University Lab, ranks as the No. 1 interior offensive lineman in the Rivals250.
Five-star Tyler Atkinson remained one of the highest-ranked players in the nation and is now listed as the No. 1 linebacker. Matthews (N.C.) Weddington star Aiden Harris moved up in the Rivals250 and now ranks as the No. 1 defensive end. Fellow North Carolina native Faizon Brandon also jumped up to No. 1 in the quarterback rankings.
BIGGEST RISERS
No. 50 Tyson Bacon – Moved into the Rivals250
No. 61 Brayden Rouse – Moved up 215 spots
No. 100 Jayden Warren – Moved into the Rivals250
No. 106 Kevin Ford Jr. – Moved into the Rivals250
No. 94 Dre Quinn – Moved up 224 spots
No. 114 Jareylan McCoy – Moved up 244 spots
No. 124 Tamarion Watkins – Moved into the Rivals250
No. 125 Maximus Wright – Moved into the Rivals250
No. 138 Donovan Webb – Moved into the Rivals250
No. 147 TJ White – Moved into the Rivals250
No. 155 Larry Miles – Moved into the Rivals250
No. 161 Ryan Mosley – Moved into the Rivals250
No. 57 Jamarion Carlton – Moved up 144 spots
No. 163 Jaimeon Winfield – Moved into the Rivals250
No. 137 Ian Premer – Moved up 217 spots
No. 86 Jaelen Waters – Moved up 161 spots
No. 105 Carson Sneed – Moved up 168 spots
No. 92 Zavion Griffin-Haynes – Moved up 154 spots
No. 27 Tyreek King – Moved up 85 spots
