Rivals Rankings Week: Ten biggest risers in the 2026 Rivals250

Brooks has the look of an elite edge defender. At 6-foot-4, 225-pounds, Brooks shows the ability to beat pretty much any blocker who gets in his way. He has the agility and strength to win with power or speed. When blitzing from depth, blockers can barely slow him down while he is on his way into the backfield. Brooks has a frame that should be able to fill out with plenty of additional solid mass.

One of the things that makes Brooks special is the athleticism he brings to the defensive front. Brooks is able to drop into coverage and be an asset in the open field. His basketball background is easy to see in these situations. Georgia is a major contender for Brooks considering he is a legacy prospect but he has a long offer sheet and plenty of elite programs recruiting him.

Moved up: New to the Rivals250

At 6-foot-6, 285-pounds with a wingspan greater than 80-inches, Ojo has the measurables that college coaches around the country are looking for. He is impressively quick-twitch for a player his size. Ojo does a good job quickly getting his hands on defensive linemen and directing them where he wants them to go. He’s a better pass blocker than run blocker at this stage of his development but it’s not for a lack of effort.

Once Ojo physically matures, he should have the strength and balance to consistently excel as a run blocker.

Moved up: New to the Rivals250

Lamar’s skill set jumps off the screen when you turn on the film. The Georgia native didn’t exactly fill up the stat sheet this season but he only carried the ball more than 13 times in a game once. His 7.9 yards per carry, 11 touchdowns and 885 rushing yards are solid given his limited opportunities.

Lamar self-reports a 4.4 40-yard dash and it seems accurate watching how he accelerates through the line of scrimmage and outruns defenders to the outside. He shows the ability to run with toughness between the tackles and is shifty enough to make defenders miss in tight spaces. To top it off, Lamar catches the ball well out of the backfield, making him a legitimate three-down running back.

Moved up: 166 spots

Morgan had a prolific junior season and now ranks inside the top 20 of the Rivals250. The Alabama native caught 70 passes for 1,162 yards and 14 touchdowns this season. The 6-foot-4, 205-pound Morgan isn’t a burner but he catches almost everything thrown his way. With a wingspan of nearly 80-inches, quarterbacks love throwing his way because of his huge catch radius.

Morgan does a good job high pointing the ball and fighting through contact. He has no problem fighting through press coverage and has a knack for making tough catches look easy. Morgan isn’t a polished route runner at this stage but his size and length help make up for what he lacks in that area.

Moved up: 145 spots

Stewart is an impressive defensive back who brings versatility and physicality to the secondary. He measures in at just under 6-feet tall with a 6-foot-4 wingspan and 32 inch arms. Stewart has good enough straight line speed but it’s his ability to quickly change directions and accelerate to top speed that makes him different. He shows the explosiveness and leaping ability to cover a wide range of receivers.

Stewart’s instincts and ability to anticipate the pass help him make a lot of plays on the ball. He is also a major threat as a return man.

Moved up: New to the Rivals250

Crittendon debuts in the Rivals250 just outside the top 100 but his rise may not be finished. He is the type of defensive tackle that scares offensive coordinators.

At 6-foot-4 and a lean 300-pounds, Crittendon is surprisingly light on his feet but really packs a punch. He routinely beats offensive linemen off the line at the snap and gets into the backfield to make a play.

Crittendon does a great job using his hands to quickly dispatch any blockers and runs to the ball carrier. It’s impressive to see just how quick he is and how well he changes direction for a player his size.

Moved up: New to the Rivals250

Scott has the tools to be a No. 1 receiver at a Power Four program. He is plenty fast and can make catches down the field on a consistent basis. Scott is an impressive route runner at this stage of his development and shows the ability to fight through contact while the ball is in the air.

He has the burst to pull away from defenders when he has the ball in his hands and he can be difficult to bring down in the open field given his 6-foot-2, 200-pound frame.

Moved up: 109 spots

There is a lot to like about what Clay brings to the table. As a pure athlete, Clay has above average burst for his size and he boasts impressive track results.

On the field, the Texas native is a really difficult matchup for defensive backs, especially on deep routes. Clay can cover a lot of ground and his style begs quarterbacks to throw him fade after fade. He shows a tendency to make acrobatic catches when necessary.

Game speed is a bit of a question for Clay so it will be interesting to see how his frame develops when he reaches the next level.

Moved up: 108 spots

It’s a good year for linebackers and Williams is one of the very best. The 6-foot-1, 210-pound Williams has an 80 inch wingspan and has been clocked at 4.5 in the 40-yard dash, 4.3 in the shuttle, 6.9 in the three-cone, and 11.05 in the 100m. Those are elite testing results for a linebacker his size. Williams isn’t just a workout warrior.

This season he made well over 100 tackles, posted multiple sacks and pulled down an interception. He also rushed for more than 400 yards (18.4 yards per carry) and scored six rushing touchdowns along with four receiving touchdowns.

Williams is a fast, physical, explosive, and aggressive defender who gets to the ball carrier in a hurry. He doesn’t just tackle them - they go flying when he hits them.

Moved up: 107 spots

It’s hard to build a safety that looks better than Washington. At 6-foot-4, 205-pounds, Washington is equal parts enforcer and ball hawk. He has the height and length to make quarterbacks think twice about throwing in his general direction and he has the short area quickness to turn and run with enough speed to break up passes thrown towards the sideline.

Washington does have room to improve his long speed but he makes up for what he lacks in that area with his instinctual style, which led to his five interceptions this season. He’s not afraid to play physically and go for big hits to jar the ball loose either.