Rivals Rankings Week: The biggest decisions and debates

The rankings update for the 2026 class has wrapped up and there were plenty of big movers and controversial decisions that coaches, players and fans are discussing.

The national analyst team of Adam Friedman, John Garcia Jr., Adam Gorney, Marshall Levenson, Greg Smith and Sam Spiegelman sit down at the Rankings Roundtable to discuss.

Adam Friedman: Thomas Wilder. Wilder is such an intriguing prospect thanks to his natural athleticism and his impressive frame (6-foot-6, 280-pounds and 35-inch arms). He does a great job finding blocks at the second level and in the open field and he has the potential to be a really good pass blocker. Wilder’s effectiveness as a run blocker should improve when he learns how to use leverage to maximize his push at the point of attack. He’s running out of time to show he’s able to develop physically and have it translate to the field.

John Garcia Jr.: Efrem White. The longtime FSU commitment is a dynamic athlete who we’ve seen excel on offense and defense at times, even spending time at quarterback. He is a natural with the football in his hands, something we see even more as a potential wide receiver projection, but a lot of the early intrigue around White has been about his potential upside as a defensive back. At 6-foot-1, though very lean, there is a lot to like about the cornerback potential, we just haven’t had as thorough a look at the playmaker working on defense to pull the trigger on what would be the most valuable position he could project at.

Adam Gorney: Keisean Henderson. If Henderson would be open to being an athlete and playing another position then No. 18 nationally would definitely make sense. But the Spring (Texas) Legacy standout seems deadset on playing quarterback in college and I just don’t see him that high in the rankings if that’s the case. Henderson committed to Houston early and it seems like that coaching staff will let him come in and play quarterback and so I have questions if Henderson should be this high. Henderson is a phenomenal talent but if he’s only going to play quarterback being in the top 20 doesn’t seem right at this point.

Marshall Levenson: Brady Smigiel. Smigiel has considerable arm talent, but after seeing him twice in action within one week, I think being in the top 10 may be a bit high at this time. He was never able to really find a rhythm while at the Rivals Five-Star and had a fair amount of missed throws in various drills at the event. Next, at the UA Future 50, he had some mishaps in drills and just did not look comfortable at times. I still like the potential of Smigiel but 10 is just a bit too high for me right now.

Greg Smith: Nathan Bernhard. The 6-foot-5, 210-pounder out of Ashland (Ohio) High has the classic quarterback look. He’s a big and strong kid with a live arm. But right now he might be ranked too high based on where his game is right now versus his potential. His junior year will be a very important piece of his evaluation puzzle.

Sam Spiegelman: Joey O’Brien. There’s plenty to like about O’Brien, who measures in at 6-foot-3 and 180 pounds with length and plus athleticism. During live evaluations this off-season, there was a debate over his positional fit and where he’ll ultimately end up playing on Saturdays. Several programs like O’Brien in the secondary, but he may project best at receiver down the road.

Adam Friedman: Jamarion Carlton. Carlton is one defensive lineman who could see himself rise up the rankings. He’s physically developed since last season and has a more natural, fluid pass rushing skill set than he’s been given credit for. Look for Carlton to build on the 29 tackles, four tackles for a loss, three sacks, seven hurries, one interception and one broken up pass he posted as a sophomore.

John Garcia Jr.: J’Vari Flowers. Some football players moonlight with track and field. Others are built for the track and happen to play football. The more we see Flowers, though, he is built like the former. An aggressive, cat-quick and competitive Friday night performer, he is also a natural in the return game and already has multiple return scores to his name early in the 2024 season. Flowers, of course, has tangible speed as the reigning Florida state champion in the 100-meter dash with a second place finish in the 200 also to his name. That speed is translated on the field, but we’ve been just as impressed with his instincts while working on the island, where it’s very tough to create separation against him.

Adam Gorney: Jett Washington. Washington is a great-looking athlete who’s settling into his role playing safety and he’s thriving there so he can start moving up the rankings. It was unclear just months ago whether the Las Vegas (Nev.) Bishop Gorman standout – who is Kobe Bryant‘s nephew – would play receiver or defensive back in college. Washington had two interceptions in Gorman’s season opener and he looks great back there with length and speed. Now he can start moving up.

Marshall Levenson: Tajh Overton. Overton got a bump of three spots in this update, but it could have been more. The interior defender plays with a sky high motor and is a constant disruptor. He has the ability to truly rush the quarterback from the inside and shuts down runs in his gaps. He has a chance to be among the elite defensive linemen in this class.

Greg Smith: Aiden Harris. It’s tough because Harris actually got a slight bump during this rankings refresh. He is now the No. 57 player in the Rivals250. But based on his film and seeing his highlights from week one, the defensive end is going to be on five-star watch in short order. It’s a safe bet that he’ll be discussed for another and bigger bump next time around.

Sam Spiegelman: Zyan Gibson. We loved what we saw from Gibson, who ascended 70 spots in the Rivals250 but still may be tabbed too low, ahead of his junior season at Gadsden (Ala.) City High. Gibson tested well at Georgia‘s camp this summer (4.4-second 40) and that speed is evident on tape. Gibson shines in coverage and is an extremely physical defender and return specialist. He’s a playmaker in multiple phases that we’re excited to see as a junior.

Adam Friedman: Desmond Green. The 6-foot-4, 330-pound Green is a mammoth offensive lineman who mows down defensive linemen as a run blocker. He’s not used to competing against Power Four defensive linemen week in and week out so his pass blocking skills need some refining but he has the overall strength and impressive lateral agility that suggest he could turn out to be a very good pass blocker.

John Garcia Jr.: Jordan Campbell. The Miami commitment has gotten, literally, bigger and better each time we’ve seen him over the last year. He now sits at a legitimate 6-foot-2, 210 pounds with work to be had this season as a running back and defensive back in addition to moving all over the field. That athleticism at that size, against elite South Florida competition no less, is as intriguing as it gets for a prospect who is likely to play off the ball at the next level. But as he keeps adding bulk to the frame, one that includes a near 6-foot-11 wingspan, he could develop into a true defensive weapon at the next level. The stock up arrow here isn’t going anywhere.

Adam Gorney: Deuce Geralds. After seeing him this offseason at the Pylon Southern California event and then seeing him dominate at the Rivals Five-Star, Geralds needed to move up and pushing him for the No. 1 defensive tackle in the country only made sense. Geralds has an NFL pedigree, he’s getting bigger and stronger every time I see him and he’s super tough. At the Five-Star event in Jacksonville, an entire dreadlock was ripped out of his head and Geralds laughed it off and kept getting after it.

Marshall Levenson: KJ Edwards. One of the biggest risers within the Rivals250, Edwards jumped 141 spots from 242 to 101. I love what he has put on film and he is wildly productive with more than 1,700 yards and 24 touchdowns. He can explode through the hole and changes direction rapidly. He has become one my favorite backs in this class and it would not surprise me if he is in line for another rise up the ranks.

Greg Smith: Cam Thomas. The Ohio native continues to get better rapidly. After switching positions from safety to linebacker, Thomas keeps getting bigger. He’s not losing his quickness and change of direction so now teams like him at inside linebacker. That’s the position that Oregon just offered him at. Thomas is the top inside linebacker in the Midwest in a region that puts out Power Four players at the position yearly.

Sam Spiegelman: Aiden Hall. The four-star SAF from New Orleans (La.) Edna Karr has been a difference-maker in the secondary for years and enjoyed his best off-season to date this year. Hall has bulked up north of 200 pounds in his 6-foot-2 frame and is an outstanding freelancing safety at the top of the defense. Hall punishes receivers working in the middle of the field and in a camp setting, shined in coverage from the nickel. Hall plays a physical brand of football and is a force defending the run. He’s easy to bet on.