Rivals250 Release: Roundtable on the 2026 rankings

The latest rankings release for the 2026 class brought with it plenty of controversial decisions that coaches, players and fans are discussing.

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

Friedman: Heze Kent. Kent is one of the more physically gifted prospects in this class. He’s listed anywhere from 6-foot-5 to 6-foot-8, as heavy as 300-pounds and self-reports a 4.7-second 40-yard dash. Kent isn’t exactly dynamic as a pass-catching tight end but he does show plenty of upside as a blocker, which is why he isn’t listed as a tight end anymore. Kent is trending toward transitioning to an offensive tackle but the only problem with listing him as an offensive tackle right now is that he hasn’t ever really played the position. Being ranked at No. 174 in the Rivals250 is way too high for a prospect with no real experience lining up at the position he’ll play in college.

Garcia: Boobie Feaster. A reclassified wide receiver recruit ahead of names like Chris Henry, Kaiden Dixon-Wyatt, Aaron Gregory, Naeem Burroughs and others is a tall ask, even for a broad and polished talent like Feaster. Much of the allure of tabbing him as a can’t-miss type talent earlier on in the process came from his mature build and approach relative to his age — and now that argument is diluted a tad with him now among the rising seniors at the position. Wide receiver is loaded as per usual, and while Feaster’s all-around game is among the best in the class, there may be names lower on the current pecking order with more punch in certain traits.

Gorney: Pierre Dean. Dean is a very talented offensive lineman who has been impressive in numerous settings but as we see more and more elite 2026 prospects, are we sure the Clemmons (N.C.) West Forsyth four-star should really be No. 23 overall? At 6-foot-3 and just around 300 pounds now, can Dean stay outside at offensive tackle and if not, is there enough position value there to move him inside and keep him so high. As we get to around 32 five-star prospects to mirror the first round of the NFL Draft, should Dean be this high? There is no question he’s an elite player and has shown that numerous times but top-50 is not a bad place to be.

Smith: Keenyi Pepe. Standing at 6-foot-7 and at least 290 pounds Pepe looks the part of a prototypical left tackle. The IMG standout is a player that I’m still waiting to see him put together the physical tools with consistent play on the field. Until those questions are fully answered I’m not sure that he should be inside the top 60 of the Rivals250.

Spiegelman: Jase Mathews. Mississippi is loaded with blue-chip talent for the 2026 cycle — and Matthews is among the best. The four-star receiver is dynamic with the ball in his hands with outstanding ball skills and a second gear after the catch. At 6-foot-2 and 190 pounds, Mathews has been exceptional working inside and outside the numbers — with a stellar catch radius, hands, and his ability to win off the line and separate downfield.

Friedman: Chauncey Kennon. There is still a lot to figure out in this class of defensive backs but Kennon seems to be one of the more gifted secondary players. With above average height and impressive speed and explosiveness indicators to go along with strong game performances, Kennon shouldn’t be hovering close to the end of the Rivals250. We’ll see more of the talented defensive back during the offseason but everything we’ve seen so far points to a very high floor and outstanding potential at the college level.

Garcia: Jaquez Wilkes. The elite athlete can do a bit of everything on the football field, even running for 300-plus yards in the 2024 state championship game at 6-foot-4, 225 pounds or better. Most agree he will work on the defensive side of the ball in college, likely as a true EDGE when all is said and done, though he has legitimate space and speed skill to be considered an off-ball linebacker by several programs. Whether that becomes his future or he works a hybrid role on Saturdays, the best ball is still well ahead on Wilkes. He will add mass with ease and enhance strengths early on at the next level, too.

Gorney: Landon Barnes. Barnes moved up to being a four-star prospect and No. 146 overall but that might not be high enough. The Duncanville, Texas standout is surrounded by elite talent and Barnes has shown he deserves to be in that conversation as well as potentially someone who could end up inside the top 100. Barnes has great size, he moves well, sheds blocks and goes after the ball carrier. He has the total package – plus a new LSU offer – to garner even more attention in the rankings.

Smith: Cincere Johnson. Johnson had an amazing season during his junior campaign where he racked up 205 tackles, 41 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks. Johnson is an explosive and physical linebacker that can be a three-down player. The Ohio native had offseason shoulder surgery that shouldn’t slow him down much in his quest to be one of the best linebackers in the nation for the 2026 class. He’ll make a strong case to rise up the rankings during his senior season.

Spiegelman: Parker Pritchett. Pritchett is entrenched as a Rivals250 offensive tackle and someone we believe will continue to climb as we get more in-person evaluations over the course of this 2026 recruiting cycle. The four-star from Georgia is a bully on the block with the ability to block at a high clip in space, dominate and reach multiple levels of the defense, and also pack a powerful punch as a run-blocker and in pass pro. Pritchett is someone who continues to check off a ton of boxes as a physical offensive lineman with position-versatility and high upside at a premium position.

Friedman: Landon Duckworth. Duckworth is amassing a really impressive resume and he’s really blossomed as a multi-sport athlete. The Alabama native is tough to contain on the field, throwing for 3,429 yards and 39 touchdowns while rushing for 648 yards and 12 more touchdowns. As a passer, Duckworth still has some work to do refining his delivery and accuracy but he isn’t far off from where we’d like him to be. We’ve got him ranked inside the top 30 of the Rivals250, which puts him on track to end up a five-star prospect if we continue to see development.

Garcia: Jackson Cantwell. It’s not quite the risky limb to be on when discussing the top prospect in the country, but the conversation and amount of potential challengers for that spot is picking up in a hurry. Cantwell, however, offers just about all one could want with a top recruit — he has the premium position tag on an elite frame, dominant tape and that combination of strong floor, yet high ceiling that college coaches clamor for. Throw in the pedigree and secondary sport variables and there isn’t much room to move Cantwell down any list, so even if it’s not at the very top down the line, he is an easy recruit to campaign for.

Gorney: Jorden Edmonds. Edmonds has moved up to one notch below a five-star prospect and to the No. 4 cornerback in the class but the Marietta (Ga.) Sprayberry standout could move even higher before all is said and done. Edmonds made the risky – but courageous – move of playing in the Navy All-American Bowl in San Antonio in January against players from the 2025 class and the four-star more than shined in that setting. He not only looked like he fit in but he was one of the better cornerbacks during the week. With his length, instincts and playmaking ability, he has it all to be special as Alabama has led in his recruitment but now everyone is involved.

Smith: Claude Mpouma. Mpouma is one of the hottest prospects in the country right now. His latest offers include Ohio State, Penn State and Notre Dame. He transferred to powerhouse Mount Carmel in Chicago which will get him even more exposure as part of a loaded team. Mpouma is raw as a prospects since he hasn’t been playing football long but has all the tools to be a big-time player in college as he continues to put it all together.

Spiegelman: Richard Anderson. Anderson is a massive force working in the middle in the defensive line — an athletic, bouncy classic nose tackle with juice and power to occupy multiple blockers and also provide an interior pass-rush up front. The four-star LSU commitment from New Orleans (La.) Edna Karr is capable of causing havoc at 6-foot-4 and 315-plus pounds. He is immensely powerful and light on his feet with the ability to dominate in the middle. Anderson has plus-movement skills and has continued to improve from year to year at New Orleans powerhouse Edna Karr.