Top tight ends in the initial 2026 Rivals300 rankings

The 2026 cycle is full of impressive talent at the tight end position. On Monday, the initial Rivals300 rankings were released, tabbing five TEs as top-100 overall prospects.

In total, 14 tight ends are featured in the new rankings. All but one — Evan Jacobson — are already committed this summer. Many of the top tight ends in the nation are versatile, multi-sport athletes who can excel at multiple positions on the gridiron.

Below is a look at the top tight ends in the 2026 cycle, according to the Rivals300:

1. Kendre Harrison — Oregon

Rivals300 Ranking: No. 16 NATL.
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.”

2. Mark Bowman — USC

Rivals300 Ranking: No. 21 NATL.
School: Mater Dei (Calif.)

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.”

3. Ian Premer — Notre Dame

Rivals300 Ranking: No. 26 NATL.
School: Great Bend (Kan.)

Premer on the Fighting Irish: “For me obviously the football aspect of it is unmatched with anyone in the country and the academic side of everything is a high level as well,” he told Rivals’ Steve Wiltfong. “It spoke to me and felt like that’s where I belonged … I really liked the coaching staff and culture there. Coach Freeman has done an excellent job of getting everyone to pull for each other … It’s the place to be right now.”

4. Kaiden Prothro — Georgia

Rivals300 Ranking: No. 81 NATL.
School: Bowdon (Ga.)

Notable Quote: “Nobody else is like Georgia for me,” Prothro told Rivals. “I have been there a lot, they have a lot there to help me improve and Georgia was just different for me from the other schools on my list … There are a lot of things I love about Georgia. How the program is run really stands out. What coach (Todd) Hartley does in the tight end room is big for me. Being able to go against first-round draft picks every day at practice and how they compete fits me too. Georgia just has what I am looking for.”

5. Matt Ludwig — Michigan

Rivals300 Ranking: No. 91 NATL.
School: Billings West (Mont.)

Ludwig on his decision: “I love the culture there at Michigan and the hardworking mentality that goes into that place every day,” he told Rivals. “I love the relationship I have with all the players and coaches and how special it is to be a Michigan football player. I love all the staff and everyone that builds that football program there.”

6. Mack Sutter — Alabama

Rivals300 Ranking: No. 144 NATL.
School: Dunlap (Ill.)

Sutter on Alabama: “First time I stepped on campus it felt so electric and awesome and all the people there. I love Coach DeBoer. He’s down to earth. Kind of like a Midwestern guy. Big-time family guy too … Going there it’s a great place. I see myself there and the overall fit. Last year they played with a tight end every down and it’s cool to see. They’re getting those guys on the field.”

7. Brayden Fogle — Georgia

Rivals300 Ranking: No. 160 NATL.
School: Lexington (Ohio)

Notable Quote: “Everything (stood out),” Fogle told DawgsHQ. “It was a good visit. There are a lot of good people and it was a very good atmosphere and culture… I know a lot about Georgia, so this visit just reinforced a lot of what I already knew about what they want in players and expect out of their players and the standard that Kirby has and everyone in that building has for the university and team. It was just a more in-depth look at that from a player’s standpoint.”

8. Tyler Ruxer — Oklahoma

Rivals300 Ranking: No. 177 NATL.
School: Heritage Hills (Ind.)

Ruxer on his commitment: “For the longest time I had been leaning towards Duke and thought I’d go to Duke and made that decision mentally,” Ruxer explained to Rivals’ Steve Wiltfong. “It didn’t sit right with me and I had some regrets with it. At the end of the day it came down to where I can get developed the most. Where am I gonna go and compete every day and be a better player and get elite-level coaching … I just think Oklahoma checked all those boxes.”

9. Evan Jacobson

Rivals300 Ranking: No. 180 NATL.
School: Waukee (Iowa)

The Skinny: The top uncommitted tight end left on the board this cycle, Jacobson is working towards a decision ahead of his senior campaign. He took official visits to Missouri, Stanford, Texas A&M, Notre Dame and Iowa State. According to the Rivals Recruiting Prediction Machine, the Fighting Irish continue to trend, though the Aggies look to be surging down the stretch.

10. Pierce Petersohn — Penn State

Rivals300 Ranking: No. 200 NATL.
School: Triton (Minn.)

Scout’s Take: “He’s a do-it-all athlete for his high school,” Rivals Director of Scouting and Rankings Charles Power previously told BWI. “He plays quarterback and plays safety. I think he probably projects best as a safety or linebacker at the next level, but I can see why Penn State has interest in him as a tight end. We have a lot to learn about Petersohn still, but he’s arguably the best multi-sport athlete in this class when I compare him to all the other linebackers, which is what we ranked him as.”

Other tight ends in the Rivals300

11. Hayden Vercher — Arizona State
12. Israel Briggs — Miami
13. Brock Harris — BYU
14. Preston Fryzel — Notre Dame