With the start of high school football this month, I wanted to provide a brief overview of the players I have currently evaluated as 5-star recruits in the 2026 recruiting class. As a member of the recruiting team here, I am one of the four rankers whose grades ultimately contribute to our overall grade.
It should be noted that my scores at this time are not final and will undergo adjustments as my senior season unfolds. We also do not currently have two data scores that factor into my final grades: the landing spot score and the production score. Those may move players into this grouping or bump some down.
QUARTERBACKS
While the 2026 quarterback class looks significantly weaker than the 2025 class, there are still some quality prospects here, including two preseason five-stars.
Top of the list is Texas commit Dia Bell, who is fresh off an Elite 11 victory. Bell is the son of former NBA veteran Raja Bell, and the athletic genes are readily apparent. Bell currently holds a 90th percentile STAR rating in our database, and we have a max measured velocity of 53 MPH on him. Both of those are marks that indicate potential future success in the NFL. Bell also competes at a high level at American Heritage and has been productive. As a junior, he completed over 70% of his passes for roughly 2,500 yards and a 29/6 TD/INT ratio. Bell will need to bulk up a bit and continue to work on operating efficiently while throwing on three and five-step drops, but he has the tools to follow Arch Manning as the Longhorns’ next starting quarterback.
My only other preseason five-star quarterback is Georgia commit Jared Curtis. Like Bell, Curtis checks all the boxes that we look for athletically. We have measured him at a maximum velocity of 58 MPH, which is certainly elite, and a STAR rating in the 85th percentile. Unlike Bell, Curtis plays some of the worst competition that you’ll see for a top-rated quarterback. Because he also did not participate in the Elite 11 competition, we have yet to see him in a high-stakes competitive setting. If i was advising him, I may have suggested switching to a bigger school for his senior season.
Curtis is a good rusher, and the physical tools are evident when watching him. He’s one of the best in this class at using his eyes to manipulate defenders and has the arm to test tight windows. He’s also incredibly accurate, and his ball placement is top-notch. Curtis is probably the best QB to commit to Georgia since Justin Fields. They’ll hope this one works out better than Fields did.
RUNNING BACKS
Last year, I did not have a single five-star grade at the running back position. Although this year’s class seems a bit weaker in the four-star range, there are a few impressive profiles.
The top dawg this year is currently Ezavier Crowell, who reclassified from the 2027 class. Crowell is one of the best athletes in our database, and his traits pop on tape. Both his speed and acceleration are above the 90th percentile, and he’s accomplished those feats at over 210 pounds. He’s been incredibly productive, including almost 2K rush yards as a true sophomore last season. Crowell runs with very little wasted movement and looks to be a competent receiver as well. Due to his youth, he exhibits some immaturity and impatience, but I expect those traits to smooth out as he matures. Crowell is currently my top-rated RB since 2023 (CJ Baxter).
Savion Hiter is my second preseason five-star. Hiter is a tank on legs who runs angry and hits even angrier. He also has excellent stop/start ability and hands, so he isn’t just a battering ram with two down potential. Hiter committed to Michigan this week, which is a great landing spot for him. He should contribute early for the Wolverines.
WIDE RECEIVERS
It’s not a bold call (the services agree with it), but LSU commit Tristen Keys is the real deal at wide receiver. Keys has the ideal size for the modern game and has an impressive 97th percentile STAR rating. There’s some serious AJ Green to his game, and Keys is the rare player who could probably step in and lead a P4 receiver room as a true freshman. He already runs a full route tree and is an elite route runner at 6’3 “, 180+ lbs.
Chris Henry Jr. also falls into this category, although some serious questions around his health will need to be answered this year. Henry was injured very early in his junior season and has not seen the field since. When on the field, he’s electric. He has a crazy size at 6’5 “, 200+ lbs, and moves like a player who is three inches shorter and 20 pounds lighter. As his size suggests, he’s elite in contested catch situations, but he also has soft hands and quick feet. If he’s healthy, expect Henry to contribute day one at Ohio State.
TIGHT END
Mark Bowman is the lone five-star tight end this year, and he’s probably my favorite player at the position since we started Campus2Canton. Bowman can run routes like a receiver and has solid YAC potential, as well as strong movement skills in space. His production has been slightly underwhelming so far, but he’s also played with four four-star or better receivers over the past two seasons at Mater Dei. Bowman, who is currently committed to USC, is a contender to start very early in his college career.
