Indiana storylines from initial 2026 Rivals300 Rankings release

The first look at Rivals’ 2026 Rivals300 rankings dropped Monday, offering a new snapshot of the top talent in the upcoming recruiting class — and there was no shortage of Indiana-related storylines.

From head-turning climbs by Hoosiers commits to a noticeable reshuffling in the national team rankings, the updated release reflects a key checkpoint in a still-developing cycle.

With 22 commitments already on board — 14 of them in the last two months — the Hoosiers have surged into uncharted territory for the program.

Though Indiana dipped slightly to No. 30 in the national team rankings following the new release, it remains one of the most promising classes in school history and currently ranks No. 11 in the Big Ten.

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Here’s a couple if Indiana-related storylines from the initial release of the Rivals300.

Gabe Hill, Ronelle Johnson and Henry Ohlinger headline the class

Three Hoosier commits made significant impressions in Rivals’ latest rankings, all earning spots inside the national top 200 and top 15 positional rankings.

Defensive lineman Gabe Hill (Naperville, IL) sits at No. 161 overall and ranks as the No. 15 defensive lineman nationally. Hill, a disruptive presence in the trenches, is also the No. 5 player in Illinois.

Just ahead of him in the rankings is Ronelle Johnson, a recent pledge out of Blue Springs, Missouri. Johnson rose to No. 124 overall and is the No. 15 defensive end in the class. He also ranks fourth in Missouri, highlighting Indiana’s growing reach beyond its borders.

Versatile athlete Henry Ohlinger (Columbus, OH) rounds out the top trio at No. 138 overall. He is the No. 5 athlete nationally and the No. 8 player in talent-rich Ohio. All three are four-star prospects and anchor a class that is showing legitimate top-tier upside.

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Four-star caliber depth beyond the top three

While not all highly-regarded commits cracked Rivals’ top 300, several players in Indiana’s class have earned four-star ratings from the Industry Ranking, even if Rivals itself has them currently as three-stars.

That includes Cameron McHaney, a Greenwood, Indiana native, who was recently bumped back to four-star status in the composite Industry Ranking. Rivals, however, keeps him as a three-star and the No. 36 defensive lineman in the class.

Florida linebacker Kevontay Hugan, expected to play Indiana’s hybrid “STUD” linebacker role, is another prospect with split evaluations. Rivals has him as a three-star and No. 39 at linebacker, while the Industry Ranking places him at No. 383 overall and a four-star.

In-state cornerback Kasmir Hicks earned a four-star nod from Rivals in this update — although he remains outside the top 300 nationally — and is now considered the No. 4 player in Indiana.

In-state recruiting rankings shuffled

Indiana’s 2026 haul continues to feature strong in-state representation, particularly on the defensive side of the ball.

Joining Hicks as a highly-touted in-state prospect, Trevor Gibbs, a linebacker out of Crown Point and another STUD projection, is ranked as the No. 12 overall player in the state, while Blake Smythe, a defensive lineman from Franklin, comes in at No. 15.

Greenwood offensive lineman CJ Scifres has yet to receive a rating from Rivals, but his Industry Ranking places him as a three-star and the No. 30 prospect in Indiana. Meanwhile, Parker Elmore, a tight end from Columbus, remains unranked by both Rivals and the Industry Ranking.

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Wisconsin front line pipeline

Indiana has also made clear recruiting gains in the trenches — particularly in offensive line coach Bob Bostad’s home state of Wisconsin.

Two of the top four players in the state, according to Rivals, are committed to Indiana.

Samuel Simpson, an interior lineman from River Falls, ranks No. 2 in Wisconsin’s 2026 class and holds a three-star rating. Fellow commit Kenton Meondeau, an offensive tackle from Eau Claire, comes in at No. 4 in the state, also as a three-star.

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