Mid-South is well-represented in initial 2026 rankings release
The initial rankings for the class of 2026 have been released by Rivals this week. Five five-star prospects were crowned, while the remainder filled out the first Rivals100 for the cycle.
As is the case with every year, the Mid-South region was well-represented in the rankings. That includes Jahkeem Stewart leading the way as the No. 2 overall prospect in America, along with the 21 other recruits to make the cut.
Rivals.com highlights the 22 prospects from the region to land inside the initial 2026 Rivals100 rankings.
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Stewart has earned the coveted five-star status in the first rankings for his class and for good reason. He's a strong and physical defensive lineman that can play on the edge or inside. He wins at the point of attack and has impressed in numerous settings. Alabama, Georgia, LSU, Texas and USC are on the offer sheet.
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Not too far behind Stewart is Blaine Bradford, who is the highest-ranked four-star in the land. Bradford is a head-hunting safety with legitimate game-changing ability from the back end of the defense.
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The third Louisiana prospect to land inside the top-10, Lamar Brown is an impressive prospect at 6-foot-5 and 260 pounds. He is a force on either side of the ball as programs are recruiting him to play either offensive tackle or defensive tackle on the next level.
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Kevin Ford earns the No. 1 spot in Texas for the 2026 recruiting cycle. Out of Duncanville, Ford looks to be next in the line of elite-level defensive lineman to come from the Panthers' program. Texas A&M is among the headliners on his early offer sheet.
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In Mississippi, Tupelo defensive end Jarelyan McCoy is the No. 1 recruit in the state. At 6-foot-7 and 240 pounds, McCoy features an eye-popping frame that jumps out on tape. He is a force in the trenches with several SEC programs already in the mix.
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Listed as an athlete, London Smith is a high-level prospect that especially stands out when running routes and catching passes. He's coming off a two-touchdown performance in his latest game and is the highest-ranked skill position player in the Lone Star State.
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Bralan Womack jumped onto college radars early in his prep career as he stands out at 6-foot paired with his length and coverage ability in the secondary. He can fill multiple roles on a defense, leading to multiple SEC programs offering.
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Xavier McDonald is another high-level wide receiver prospect that has established himself as one of the nation's best. McDonald grabbed nine touchdowns during his freshman season and looks to be in store for an even bigger sophomore campaign. Mississippi State and Ole Miss are in the mix early.
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Jalen Lott is getting his first taste of varsity action this season due to transfer rules in Texas and he isn't disappointing. The multi-sport star plays all three phases on the high school level and performs at an elite level wherever he lines. up. A Texas legacy, Lott already has the attention of programs across the country.
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Another Louisiana prospect, Aiden Hall lands inside the top-50. He's a big and long defensive back with playmaking ability all over the field. He stars at a well-established program in The Boot at Edna Karr and is on an exciting trajectory.
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Kaydon Finley has NFL bloodlines as his father Jermichael starred at Texas and then for the Green Bay Packers. But Finley has wasted no time in making a name for himself. He's a vertical threat in the passing game and played an important role in Texas powerhouse Aledo winning the state title last year.
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Xzavier Barnett emerged as an intriguing underclassmen back in the spring, where he tested very well in track and field. He's a terrific high jumper in addition to what he brings to the football field. Barnett rushes off the edge on defense and catches passes on offense. Houston is the first to offer.
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Another dynamic athlete, Keisean Henderson is an electric playmaker that is a threat to find the end zone from anywhere on the field. Playing quarterback, Henderson has the ball in his hands on nearly every play and even performed at QB during the Rivals Camp Series. But college coaches also like how his abilities translate to wideout. Oregon was one of the latest to offer.
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Jimmy-Phrisco Alo-Suliafu wasted no time in bursting onto the Texas high school football scene last year, as he was playing meaningful snaps for powerhouse Katy as a freshman. He's a physical player in the trenches that is a force for offensive linemen to block and contain.
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Like McDonald, O'Mari Johnson jumped onto college radars before he attended his first high school class. The playmaking Johnson is a threat to score from anywhere on the field. He went over the 1,000-yard mark and scored 24 touchdowns last ball. Both SEC in-state schools are in the hunt, as are LSU and others.
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The top-ranked player in Oklahoma is Durant defensive end Colton Yarbrough. Yarbrough has a 6-foot-5 and 210-pound frame with long arms that help him create havoc when rushing the passer. He's already a coveted prospect, especially for programs in the region.
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Brysten Martinez comes in at No. 64 overall in the first Rivals rankings for the 2026 class. He's a big, athletic offensive tackle that excels in multiple sports, pointing to exciting developmental upside on the gridiron.
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The top-ranked running back in the state of Texas is Jonathan Hatton out of powerhouse Cibolo Steele. Hatton is a physical rusher that is difficult to bring down. He broke out as a freshman and is just scratching the surface of what kind of player he can be in the backfield.
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Jabari Mack is another prospect that is set to make a major name for himself at a premier school in The Boots. His testing numbers and early-season tape indicate that he's an elite athlete, landing him at No. 74 overall.
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Tiki Hola lands at No. 84 overall in the initial Rivals100 rankings. He can play either side of the ball at offensive line or defensive line where he showcases his strength and technique. Tennessee became the latest big program to offer in August.
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Javian Osborne earns his place in the Rivals100 at No. 96 overall. Coming off a visit to USC, Osborne is also a top target for Texas and Oklahoma in the 2026 cycle. Osborne has put up video game numbers early in his sophomore season, highlighted by a five-touchdown on eight carries performance.
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Coming in just inside the Rivals199 us Dequane Prevo out of Texarkana Liberty-Eylau. Prevo is a dynamic athlete that can play all over the field but he especially excels with the ball in his hand. He already has major programs in pursuit of his talents.