Rivals Rankings Week: Storylines to follow with top 2026 WRs/TEs
The Rivals250 for the 2026 class has been updated and now it’s time to break down each position. We move to the receivers and tight ends by looking at four big storylines moving forward.
NEW 2026 POSITION RANKINGS: Pro-Style QB | Dual-Threat QB | RB | All-Purpose RB | WR | TE
NEW FIVE-STAR TIGHT END
Oregon tight end commit Kendre’ Harrison is one of the most physically impressive prospects in the entire country. He has every trait needed to dominate college football. Harrison is athletic enough to play high-level college basketball as well. He’s a new five-star tight end, which is a position that doesn’t get five-star consideration that often but it’s well deserved.
The fun wrinkle here will be if new North Carolina coach Bill Belichick can chip away at his commitment to Oregon. With Belichick’s history of coaching tight ends and the ability to stay home for college it could be a compelling case.
MICHIGAN IN THE DRIVER’S SEAT FOR COREY SADLER?
Sadler turned in a dominant junior season with 51 receptions for 1,043 yards and 14 touchdowns. He played a little quarterback, completing all 11 passes he attempted for 180 yards and four scores. He also chipped in 105 yards and five touchdowns on the ground.
The in-state Michigan Wolverines are trending in a big way for Sadler. The program is on fire on the recruiting trail and has locked in on adding Sadler to the collection of weapons for quarterback Bryce Underwood. Oregon will be the biggest competition here as Michigan State is fading in the recruitment.
Coach Sherrone Moore likes to say that the best in Michigan stay in Michigan and play for Michigan. I think he gets the job done and the Wolverines pick up the electric slot receiver before his senior season kicks off.
TOP RECEIVERS WILL SEPARATE DURING 7-ON-7 CIRCUIT
Every cycle seems to produce a lot of quality wide receivers. The way the game is played now with more of an emphasis on passing from a young age has allowed us to see a lot of advanced development at the position group. The 2026 class is trending to be more of the same with 55 different four-star prospects in the Rivals250 right now.
But as we move through the cycle, players will start to separate themselves from the group. There is plenty of opportunity for players to make a name for themselves this winter and spring. The 7-on-7 season will be huge for us to see many of these top pass catchers compete against each other and elite defensive backs. So will camp season. There’s a logjam at the position right now without a lot of clear separation between the No. 6 wide receiver and the No. 56 player at the position.
TIGHT END CLASS IS STRONG
Tight end continues to be a position that gets better and better each cycle. We already have one five-star prospect at the position with Oregon commit Kendre Harrison. But behind him there are a number of fantastic prospects. There are already 14 TEs in the Rivals250 for the class of 2026. That’s outpacing the eight we had in the 2025 cycle.
The Midwest leads the way at the position overall and the region is known for producing players at the position. Want to know how deep the group is? Our No. 6 tight end is Michigan native Lincoln Keyes who is already committed to Georgia. It’s going to be an incredibly competitive position group all cycle long.
