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Rivals Releases Initial 2026 Top 300 Rankings: Movement for Michigan Commits

Screenshot 2025-06-30 at 12.42.23 pmby: Aidan Sen07/15/25aidansen123
Alister Vallejo with Sherrone Moore
PHOTO: Alister Vallejo/X

Rivals released its initial 2026 Top 300 rankings on Monday, marking the first update since the merger with On3 last month. A number of Michigan’s commits and top targets saw changes in their standing compared to previous rankings.

Commits

The highest-ranked prospect in Michigan’s class remains Carter Meadows, the 6’6.5″, 225-pound EDGE out of Washington (DC) Gonzaga, who rose one position from No. 6 to No. 5 overall. Meadows, a lengthy, athletic prospect with both early and long-term upside, sits at No. 2 among edge rushers.

Most of Michigan’s commits saw increases in this update. The biggest jump came from Liberty Hill (TX) High School defensive lineman Alister Vallejo, who rose from a three-star to a four-star and is now ranked No. 269 nationally.

Other risers include:

  • St. Louis (MO) DeSmet defensive lineman Titan Davis moved up one spot to No. 111 overall
  • Irmo (SC) Dutch Fork EDGE Julian Walker moved up eight spots to No. 128 overall
  • Chesapeake (VA) Oscar Smith wide receiver Travis Johnson moved up six spots to No. 131 overall
  • Chicago (IL) Simeon EDGE McHale Blade moved up one spot to No. 194 overall

Neither Billings (MT) West tight end Matt Ludwig nor Needham (MA) St. Sebastian’s offensive tackle Marky Walbridge saw any change in their rankings, holding steady at No. 91 and No. 467, respectively.

Only two of Michigan’s ten commits ranked within the Top 300 saw drops. Honolulu (HI) Kamehameha offensive tackle Malakai Lee fell eight spots to No. 93 overall, while Newbury Park (CA) quarterback Brady Smigiel dropped 48 spots to No. 292.

Richmond (VA) Hermitage defensive back Andre Clarke Jr. and Mansfield (TX) wide receiver Zion Robinson were not included in Rivals’ initial Top 300 but remain listed as four-star prospects in the site’s industry rankings.

Targets

The Wolverines’ top remaining target, Mineral (VA) Louisa County running back Savion Hiter, headlined the updated rankings. He was named Rivals’ No. 1 running back in the 2026 class, ranked No. 8 nationally, and maintained his five-star status. Hiter recently named a Top 4 of Georgia, Michigan, Ohio State, and Tennessee, and is expected to choose between the Wolverines and the Volunteers in the coming months.

Corona (CA) Oaks Christian star Davon Benjamin also held firm in the rankings, retaining his status as Rivals’ No. 1 cornerback and coming in at No. 22 nationally. The 5’11”, 170-pounder offers versatility across the secondary and is expected to commit on August 2. Michigan, Oregon, and Texas are believed to be the top contenders.

Deuce Geralds, a nose tackle out of Suwanee (GA) Collins Hill, moved up one spot from No. 147 to No. 146. While Oregon currently holds momentum for the 6’1″, 268-pound prospect, Michigan defensive line coach Lou Esposito continues to keep the Wolverines involved.

Not all news was positive for Michigan’s board, as several key targets dropped in the rankings:

  • Ogden (UT) Fremont athlete Salesi Moa moved down fourteen spots to No. 49 overall
  • Owings Mills (MD) McDonogh School linebacker Nick Abrams II moved down eighty-four spots to No. 247 overall
  • Manhattan (KS) defensive back James Dunnigan Jr. moved down seventeen spots to No. 297 overall
  • Frisco (TX) Lone Star safety Jordan Deck fell out of the Top 300

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