Counting down the top 25 prospects in the Rivals300 rankings

Recruiting season is in full swing, with prospects taking official visits last month and many of them announcing commitment decisions throughout July and August. It also means updated player rankings across the recruiting industry, and Rivals is releasing its initial Rivals300 after a slew of camps, 7-on-7 events, and other competitions over the past few months.

This version includes a handful of new five-star prospects, as well big movers across the board.

With this, there are now 12 five-stars in the class, which will ultimately end with 32 in January to match the number of first-round picks in the NFL Draft.

As part of the release, we are counting down the top 25 players in the new rankings below as the brand-new Rivals300 kicks off:

1) OT Jackson Cantwell – Miami commit

School: Nixa (Mo.)
Scout’s Take: “Jackson Cantwell is a big-framed offensive tackle with eye-popping athleticism and functional strength as a high school underclassman. Measured at over 6-foot-7, 205 pounds prior to his sophomore season. Has solid length with 33.5-inch arms and big hands. Owns a phenomenal athletic profile as one of the top shot put throwers in the country for his age group. Posted a personal best throw of over 64 feet as a freshman. Also posted strong testing numbers in the college camp setting. Transfers those gifts over to the football field where he shows strong coordination and function strength. Moves well laterally and plays with a good anchor. Initially began his career as a tight end and has grown into an offensive tackle. Has deep athletic bloodlines with both parents being Olympic track and field athletes as throwers. Younger for the cycle with a May birthday.”

2) 5-star QB Dia Bell – Texas commit

School: Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) American Heritage
Scout’s Take: “From an arm talent perspective, Texas commit Dia Bell is as good as anyone in the 2026 cycle. He’s the definition of a natural thrower. His ability to manipulate the football and throw consistently catchable footballs from multiple arm angles is a treat to watch. He can dice up defenses on Friday evenings and makes special throws. He’s someone that has tons of upside especially as he develops and fills out his frame down the line.”

3) 5-star EDGE Zion Elee – Maryland commit

School: Baltimore (Md.) St. Frances Academy
Scout’s Take: “Zion Elee, who debuted as a blue-chip outlier and top ten prospect for On3 in March, has separated himself as the clear top EDGE prospect in the cycle. He owns freakish physical and athletic tools at 6-foot-3, 220 pounds with 35.5-inch arms and elite combine and on-field athleticism. Elee had a highly productive sophomore season at Joppatowne (Md.) High. He’s continued to up his game since transferring to talent powerhouse Baltimore (Md.) St. Frances Academy for his junior season. His first-step quickness, scary length and closing speed jump off the film. St. Frances played a national schedule and Elee had stretches of top matchups where he’s looked like the clear top prospect on the field – as a junior. There’s a ways to go in the cycle and Elee has plenty of competition for the top spot. To this point his combination of physical traits and on-field play at the premium EDGE position put him in pole position.”

4) 5-star QB Jared Curtis – Georgia commit

School: Nashville Christian (Tenn.)
Scout’s Take: “At 6-foot-3.5, 225 pounds, Curtis pairs a big frame with an elite arm and plus movement skills. He improved his accuracy and efficiency as a junior, and no quarterback in the 2026 cycle makes more impressive individual plays on a weekly basis than Jared Curtis. He has a quick, elastic arm and regularly hits small window throws over the middle of the field. The arm talent allows for Curtis to access and attack all areas of the field. The improvisational skills also stand out.”

5) 5-star EDGE Carter Meadows – Michigan commit

School: Washington (D.C.) Gonzaga
Scout’s Take: “Checking in at over 6-foot-6, around 225 pounds, and arms that measure over 35 inches, Meadows is on the short list of the most physically-impressive prospects in the 2026 cycle. The Washington (D.C.) Gonzaga pass rusher pairs his monster frame with elite functional movement skills. The ability to bend as a young prospect of his size is rare. Meadows is highly loose and fluid. He makes impressive plays while tracking down plays in pursuit and shows strong hands while working as an edge setter. A developmental prospect, we currently view Meadows’ physical upside as one of the highest in the cycle.“

6) 5-star EDGE Rodney Dunham – Notre Dame commit

School: Charlotte (N.C.) Myers Park
Scout’s Take: “Rodney Dunham has the look of a natural pass rusher. At around 6-foot-4, 215 pounds with plus length, he has a developmental frame along with excellent get-off and bend around the edge. Dunham is a coordinated athlete and shows encouraging flashes of pass rush skill. He makes impressive plays in pursuit. Dunham doesn’t turn 17 years-old until July, so he is younger for the cycle and has room to continue developing from a size and strength perspective.”

7) 5-star OT Kelvin Obot – Utah commit

School: Fruitland (Idaho)
Scout’s Take: “We’ve loved the Idaho native’s junior film since last October. Obot shows outstanding functional athleticism and is a dominant player against weaker competition. Since February, we’ve nailed down verified measurements and Obot is bigger than expected, checking in at north of 6-foot-5.5 and 300 pounds with plus length. We feel like the great film, stellar movement skills, projectable frame, and multi-sport background (53-1 foot shot put throw this spring) give him one of the higher upsides at offensive tackle in the cycle.”

8) 5-star EDGE Luke Wafle – USC commit

School: Middletown (N.J.) Hun School
Scout’s Take: “Wafle  pairs ready-made size at over 6-foot-5, around 245 pounds, with excellent on-field play. Wafle is very well-rounded as a pass-rusher. He wins with athleticism and also has excellent play-strength. You see him win with speed to power, blow by offensive linemen on the edge and he is a highly-physical finisher in the backfield, has some emphatic finishes and the ability to corral ball-carriers. A high-end multi-sport athlete, excellent basketball player and strong thrower in track and field. We view Wafle as one of the more ready-made prospects in this cycle and one who could make an early impact in college, given the ability and polish he’s shown to this point as a prospect.”

9) 5-star ATH Lamar Brown – LSU commit

School: Erwinville (La.) University Lab
Scout’s Take: “The rare prospect with five-star ability on either line of scrimmage. A true jumbo athlete. Measured in at around 6-foot-4, 285 pounds before his senior season. Has a plus length with arms around 34 inches. A mega athlete in the camp setting, posting some of the best testing numbers on the national camp circuit for a lineman. Lines up at right tackle and defensive end for his high school. Elite athleticism and movement skills show up on both sides of the ball. Fires off the snap from his right tackle position. Flashes outstanding twitch in pass protection and working to the second level. Can take defensive linemen for a ride once engaged. Shows disruptive ability as a big defensive end. Has the power to hold his ground and sift through the trash to make plays in the backfield. Can close quickly on the quarterback. Touts a strong background as a thrower in track and field, winning an indoor state title in the shot put (56-2.75 feet) and an outdoor gold medal in the discus (151-6 feet) as a junior. Enters his senior season more proven as an offensive lineman than defense on Friday nights. Would be the top interior offensive line prospect in the 2026 cycle if he wanted. Should be considered a high-upside, developmental defensive line prospect who will need to make strides in his overall technique as he gains more experience on that side of the ball.”

10) 5-star DL James Johnson – Georgia commit

School: Cape Coral (Fla.) Northwestern
Scout’s Take: “Well-rounded prospect with many positive indicators that make him the early favorite for the top defensive lineman in the 2026 cycle. Has a compact build at over 6-foot-2 and around 285 pounds. Owns compensatory length with arms that measure around 33.5 inches. Lives in the backfield on Friday nights. Uses first-step quickness to gain an early advantage on offensive linemen. Shows excellent power at the point of attack, uprooting offensive linemen and disengaging to find the football. Has the skill set to develop into a dangerous interior pass rusher. An elite finisher in the backfield. One of the most productive defensive linemen in the cycle on a per-game basis, racking up 29 tackles for loss in nine contests as a junior. Posted an elite 60-4.5 shot put mark as a junior. Does not have the most imposing frame, but one that is in line with many recent top draft picks at the position. Younger for the cycle, turning 17 years old in June before his senior season.”

11) 5-star OT Immanuel Iheanacho – Oregon commit

School: Baltimore (Md.) Georgetown Prep
Scout’s Take: “Mountain of an offensive tackle prospect. Has truly rare dimensions for a young offensive tackle. Checked in at nearly 6-foot-7, 350 pounds with startlingly 36-inch long arms and big hands prior to his junior season. Shows good flexibility and functional movement skills at his immense size. Owns one of the more powerful punches we’ve seen among offensive tackle prospects in the past few cycles. Absolutely stones defensive linemen at the point of attack. Length, hand strength, and girth create a nearly unmovable anchor. Played on the defensive line early in his high school career, showing off some nice athleticism. Also has a basketball background. Turned in a strong showing at the Under Armour All-America Game before his senior season. Gained nearly 40 pounds as a junior, weighing in at over 380 pounds on official visits. Will need to trim down and maintain his movement skills. Must also continue improving his overall consistency in the high school football setting, but has considerable upside given his physical gifts.”

12) 5-star RB Savion Hiter

School: Mineral (Va.) Louisa County
Scouting Summary: “Gifted runner with an advanced blend of athleticism, fluidity, and instincts as a high school underclassman. Physically developed, measuring in at over 5-foot-11 and around 200 pounds prior to his senior season. Registers as a strong athlete, running an 11.11 second mark in the 100-meters as a freshman. Also jumped close to 45 feet in the triple jump – an outstanding mark. Turned multiple dominant seasons as a high school underclassman, including a 1,698-yard, 26-touchdown junior campaign that saw him run for 10.8 yards per carry. Looks to be a natural runner. An extremely fluid and smooth mover who changes directions effortlessly. Shows excellent acceleration. Cuts on a dime and makes defenders miss in space. Runs with pace and instincts. A strong tackle-breaker who runs through contact due to a strong leg drive. A phenomenal high school football player who also makes big plays on defense. Has the potential and upside to be one of the best running back prospects in several cycles.”

13) OT Grayson McKeogh – Notre Dame commit

School: Glenside (Pa.) La Salle College
On his commitment: “I just feel that it’s where I fit in best,” McKeogh told Rivals’ Steve Wiltfong. “All those guys that surround the program feel like me and are people who I can surround myself with for the next couple years. You are who you surround yourselves with and aside from the great academic and football prestige that’s what they’ve got.”

14) OT Sam Greer – Ohio State commit

School: Akron (Ohio) Archbishop Hoban
Scout’s Take: “In a deep group of touted offensive tackles at Rivals Five-Star, it was Sam Greer who stood out among the rest. The Ohio State commit checked in at nearly 6-foot-7, 323 pounds with plus length. Greer was a standout during the extensive 1-on-1 period, getting the best of talented pass rushers on most of his reps. Greer flashed light feet and some of the best reactive quickness among the offensive linemen at Rivals Five-Star. He was also hyper physical. Greer was a bull on contact, giving little ground once engaged. The showing should be taken as very encouraging, given Greer’s relative lack of experience. He missed much of his sophomore season with an injury, confining most of his varsity experience to his junior season. A two-sport star who has MAC offers in basketball, Greer made a statement as a rising offensive tackle prospect at Rivals Five-Star.”

15) WR Tristen Keys – LSU commit

School: Hattiesburg (Miss.)
Scouting Summary: “Contested catch maven who looks like the top wide receiver prospect early in the 2026 cycle. Has good size, measuring at over 6-foot-2, 185 pounds with good length as a junior. Turned in a strong junior campaign, catching 58 passes for 1,275 yards and 14 touchdowns while leading his team to a deep playoff run. Excels in contested catch situations, elevating to come down with acrobatic grabs. Hangs in the air and is able to contort his body into favorable positions. Displays a huge catch radius, high-pointing the football and coming down with one-handed grabs. High-level ball tracker with the ability to locate and corral the ball over his shoulder.”

16) TE Kendre Harrison – Oregon commit

School: Reidsville (N.C.)
Scouting Summary: “Freakish two-sport athlete who is one of the most physically imposing prospects in the nation, regardless of class. A true ‘first off the bus’ type. Listed at 6-foot-7, 230 pounds. Plays both tight end and defensive end for his high school team. Moves like a much smaller player. Runs well and shows the ability to separate from linebackers. Has considerable mismatch ability as a pass catcher. Does not lumber unlike many players of his size. Also flashes intriguing upside as a pass rusher on defense. Doubles as a national basketball prospect with high major offers. Averaged over 21 points and 15 rebounds per game as a high school freshman on the hardwood. Has genuine positional ambiguity at this stage in his evaluation, but owns one of the higher physical upsides in the 2026 cycle early on.”

17) WR Jase Mathews

School: Leakesville (Miss.) Greene County
On his recruitment: “I am really close to making a decision,” Mathews told Rivals’ Chad Simmons on July 6. He’s down to Auburn, LSU, Ole Miss and Texas A&M. “It is something I am thinking a lot about. My commitment should come before the season starts. I don’t have a date set yet, but I am getting close.”

18) EDGE Anthony Jones

School: Mobile (Ala.) St. Paul’s Episcopal
Scout’s Take: “The Mobile (Ala.) St. Paul’s star was outstanding off the edge as a sophomore, racking up over 100 tackles and 10 sacks. Jones is a strong, athletic defender who shows the ability to run sideline to sideline and finish plays at a high rate. He also sports a very strong track profile, winning a state title in the shot put as a freshman.”

19) OT Kodi Greene – Washington commit

School: Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei
Scout’s Take: “Kodi Greene is one of the most nimble and athletic pass protectors among offensive tackles that we’ve watched so far this season. He is very light on his feet, coordinated and has played well at this point after transferring to Southern California powerhouse Mater Dei for his junior year. He’s faced top competition and has done really well, especially in pass protection. When you go back and just watch the full breadth of film on Kodi Greene and dive into his movement skills, I think they stack up really well at the position and they project well. I think as he continues to get stronger and progress as a run blocker, he looks to have a five-star type of ceiling when you consider the athleticism and movement skills, and how projectable they are along with his plus size.”

20) EDGE Ebenezer Ewetade – Notre Dame commit

School: South Garner (N.C.)
Scout’s Take: “For starters, Ewetade has the physical dimensions that you look for at the position — 6-4, 220 with elite length and arms close to 35 inches. He has the frame to continue filling out with the length you like to see at the position … He had a really good junior season — one of the more productive EDGE prospects we’ve evaluated in the class. He had 28 tackles for loss, 10 sacks and 27 quarterback hurries in just nine games as a junior. And when you turn on the film, you see his athleticism that is so important. He runs really well, tracks down ball carries in pursuit and looks to have good flexibility. Ewetade plays with a high motor, and it’s easy to see why he was so productive.”

21) TE Mark Bowman – USC commit

School: Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei
Scout’s Take: “Bowman could be the best route-running tight end prospect we’ve seen come through the high school ranks in recent years. His change of direction is as good as you’ll see from a young tight end prospect. He joins Oregon commit Kendre Harrison and Ian Premer in composing a very strong top group at the position for this early in the cycle.”

22) CB Davon Benjamin

School: Corona (Calif.) Oaks Christian
Scout’s Take: “The California native is a versatile playmaker on the back end with the ability to line up anywhere in the secondary. Benjamin is a well-rounded player on Friday nights, showing coverage range and physicality while playing in pads. There is also a chance he plays both ways.”

23) DL Richard Anderson – LSU commit

School: New Orleans (La.) Edna Karr
Scout’s Take: “Richard Anderson is a truly dominant nose tackle, who took over games while leading his New Orleans (La.) Edna Karr team to a state title as a junior. The 6-foot-3.5, 340-pounder is a force on the interior with an innate ability to find ball-carriers while engaged with offensive linemen.”

24) EDGE Richard Wesley – Texas commit

School: Los Angeles (Calif.) Sierra Canyon
Scout’s Take: “Richard Wesley is the top pass rusher on the West Coast this cycle. Was the No. 1 edge prospect in the 2027 cycle before reclassifying. He reclassified into a really, really strong EDGE group nationally in 2026. For a 16-year old, very advanced physically. Muscled up, filled out build. He has been a really good player at Sierra Canyon to this point. Had a very productive season last fall: 16 tackles for loss, nine sacks and I think considering that was really technically his sophomore season, second varsity season, I think that’s encouraging and looking for him to take a step this year.” — Charles Power, Rivals Director of Scouting and Rankings

25) RB Ezavier Crowell – Alabama commit

School: Jackson (Ala.)
Scout’s Take: “When you take totality of his skill set based on what we’ve seen on film and full games you see a dominant high school player play who can be been really good at the next level. We really like him as our No. 2 running back heading into the season. It’s easy to see why he was so coveted by many colleges. He stacks up well with a pretty good class of running backs this cycle. He’s certainly a guy who has the making of being a big time college running back. Alabama fans should be excited about him, and happy to keep him in-state.” — Charles Power, Rivals Director of Scouting and Rankings