Rivals Rankings Week: Five-Star Countdown for 2026 class
The 2025 class is in the books, for the most part, so now we turn our attention to the class of 2026. Today, we begin a Rivals Rankings Week with the Five-Star Countdown.
We will reveal a new five-star throughout the morning until all 14 have been announced, with national recruiting director Adam Gorney giving his take on each.
RIVALS RANKINGS WEEK
Sunday: Who should be No. 1?
Monday: Five-Star Countdown | Latest recruiting buzz on top 2026 prospects | Meet the new five-stars
Tuesday: New Rivals250 released | Biggest Risers | Gorney’s thoughts
Wednesday: Offensive position rankings released
Thursday: Defensive position rankings released
Friday: State rankings released
CLASS OF 2025 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State
CLASS OF 2027 RANKINGS: Top 100
TRANSFER PORTAL: Full coverage | Player ranking | Team ranking | Transfer search | Transfer Tracker
12. CHRIS HENRY JR.
Gorney’s Take: Chris Henry Jr., an Ohio State commit, only played in a couple games this season before suffering a significant knee injury. He’s been sidelined ever since and while Henry has all the physical tools to be an elite receiver, it’s going to be super important to see how he rebounds from this injury to determine where his ranking will fall through this cycle.
There is not a better-looking receiver in the class than Henry but we also want to see him take over games more, even though that’s sometimes difficult at Mater Dei because there are so many elite players and ball control was a big focus under a new coaching staff this season.
13. BRADY SMIGIEL
Gorney’s Take: Brady Smigiel is the son of a coach and a former player, has maturity beyond his years and he combines all that with elite physical tools to be one of the best quarterbacks in the class.
The Newbury Park, Calif., standout is also a stat stuffer who threw for 3,521 yards with 49 touchdowns and three picks, and rushed for 11 more scores.
The Florida State commit, who just visited Washington and is hearing from a handful of other schools, is better with pads on than in the camp and 7on7 circuit so when the lights come on, that’s when he’s at his best.
14. KENDRE’ HARRISON
Gorney’s Take: Kendre Harrison transferred to Charlotte (N.C.) Providence Day only to return to Reidsville, N.C., shortly after and play in eight games this season. In terms of physical tools, Harrison is one of the best-looking prospects in the class at any position.
Plus, he’s also a star basketball player so in terms of athletic ability there are absolutely no questions Harrison could excel. We want to see him continue to want to dominate every time he’s on the field but when he was out there this season, he was very impressive and worthy of a bump.
The Oregon commit said the hiring of Bill Belichick at North Carolina was great for the Tar Heels but he remains fully pledged to the Ducks.
