WR Brysen Wright debuts as No. 1 in Rivals 2028 Top 100

On Monday, Rivals introduced Jacksonville (Fla.) Mandarin receiver Brysen Wright as the nation’s No. 1 prospect in the 2028 class.

“Definitely means a lot just knowing that I’m accomplishing my goals,” Wright said. “But knowing I’ve got to keep working hard and keeping going.”

From dominating on Friday nights, to putting on a show this summer during 7-on-7 season – including a ridiculous one-handed touchdown grab in the 2025 NFL Flag Championships – the 6-foot-3 1/2, 210-pound Wright already looks like he could be a difference-maker for one of college football’s top programs with three years of high school eligibility to go.

From a young age this all seemed possible.

A showman since elementary school

In an 8U game against a team that was more talented across the board, Wright’s father Colby said his son really showed his long-term potential when he scored five touchdowns on five touches, added 15 tackles and threw a couple extra-point passes. That’s where Wright earned his nickname: B-Fye.

“Like B-Fire,” the elder Wright said. “That’s kind of how he plays the game. With an attitude and competitiveness.

“He has a fire inside of him. He hates to lose and he wants to win every single rep.”

Wright certainly doesn’t lose many reps. By design, his father always found the best competition for his son beginning with those youth football ranks, to taking him to Florida State camps going into middle school, to enrolling him at Mandarin High to compete in practice against its star-studded secondary. Wright has more than proved himself in all of those settings. Of course there is the 7-on-7 circuit where over the summer he was one of the top performers at the Overtime OT7 Playoffs, dominating blue-chippers two years his senior. Wright posted three touchdowns in the title game.

“Several of his scores were of the jaw-dropping variety,” Rivals analyst Cody Bellaire wrote. “His ability to contort his body and win at the catch point for a player of his stature and age is incredible.”

Wright had perhaps the play of that entire tournament as well, a spinning one-handed grab in traffic. 

“Wright has the rare ability to take over a game, and there’s almost nothing teams can do to stop him once he gets going,” Bellaire said. “We left the OT7 Playoffs feeling that Wright was by far the most dominant pass-catcher on hand.”

Wright might be the most dominant receiver in the country regardless of class.

“It’s been a special journey,” the elder Wright said. “I’m fully aware we’re blessed. His size and speed is a unique combination and he continues to get better and change himself.”

Family has been pivotal in the process

Pushed by his father, Wright also looks up to his older brother Myles who is a 6-foot, 175-pound receiver that had a huge senior season last fall for St. Augustine, turning 48 receptions into 885 yards and 13 touchdowns en route to the state title game. Also a 3.8 student, he had a huge impact on his big little brother.

“I definitely learned a lot of stuff from my brother,” Brysen said. “He’s under-looked. He don’t have the size like me but I learned my route running from him. I learned my releases from him. Working on drills and stuff like that with him.”

Brysen Wright’s recruitment took off in the 8th grade

Miami was the first program to offer Wright a scholarship back in Dec. of 2023. Georgia and Florida State also extended offers prior to a freshman campaign where Wright caught 31 passes for 646 yards and eight touchdowns helping Mandarin win a district championship. He went on to add offers from Texas A&M, Auburn, Alabama, Florida, LSU and Tennessee, with Ohio State and Texas jumping into the mix in May. From that group, Wright says “Ohio State, Miami and Florida” are catching his eye. He talked about each program.

Regarding the Buckeyes: “The relationship with the coaches definitely and the program they’re building. When I went there I seen the teammates pushing themselves and seeing that was great. The relationship with (Brian Hartline), I felt like I was at home.”

Regarding the Hurricanes: “The relationship with the coaches and guys on the team. They made it welcome. The guys on the team acting like you’re a teammate, talking to you and showing you around. It’s close to home.”

Regarding the Gators: “The relationship with the coaches as well. Just knowing my previous teammates went there (Hylton Stubbs and Tramell Jones), going up there with them and seeing it and going up there last year and getting a good relationship with the coaches.

Wright said he’ll get to Miami and Ohio State for games and also aims to get to Texas. He talked about what he’s looking for in a school.

“The development,” Wright said. “Getting to the league. And just the relationship with the coaches. The guys I’m going against in practice and stuff like that. Being around guys I know that’s going to push me and keep me working hard.”

NIL has already benefitted Brysen Wright as well

Certainly there will be modern recruiting involved in Wright’s process. He’s already signed a trading card deal and figures to be one of the highest-paid prospects when all said and done in the 2028 class.

“Honestly, for us NIL is not a (major) topic,” Wright’s father Colby said. “It will be discussed and taken care of. Part of the reason we want to be No. 1 and be the best, it removes that from the conversation. It’s going to be the same across the board.

“He can focus on relationships, player development, that good winning culture he’s used to. Proof of concept is huge. Going to a place that has a track record of producing wide receivers and has an offensive style he sees himself playing in. A place that has great DBs to work against in practice. You want to be challenged every day.”

From the accolades, to the offers, the friendships, the notoriety, NIL, it’s been a whirlwind for Wright.

“Just a blessing man,” he said. “Definitely didn’t think I would be where I am. A blessing and I’m glad to have the right people around me to keep me focused and keep me handling it well.”