Rivals Ranking Week: Who will be #1 in Rivals250 in 2026?
The 2026 class rankings will be updated this week and No. 1 will be determined. Jakeem Stewart was reclassified to the 2025 class in October, and Jackson Cantwell has since emerged as the top spot.
National Recruitment Analyst – adam friedman, john garcia jr., adam gorney, greg smith and Sam Spiegelman – Share your opinion on who you think should be ranked #1 on Rivals250.
rival ranking week
Monday: Five star countdown
Tuesday: New Rivals250 announced | Gorney advances position by position | Biggest riser
Wednesday: New offensive position rankings released | QB ranking breakdown | RB ranking breakdown | WR/TE ranking breakdown | OL ranking breakdown
Thursday: Announcement of new defensive position rankings | Breakdown of DL rankings | Breakdown of LB rankings | Breakdown of DB rankings | Breakdown of ATH rankings
Friday: New state rankings have been announced |Who is No. 1 in each state?
Saturday: Ranking roundtable discussion
Friedman’s view: Rider Lyons
Rivals250 is an NFL Draft prediction, which means the top prospect in the ranking has a chance of being the No. 1 overall pick. In fact, quarterbacks are far more likely to be selected No. 1 in the NFL Draft than any other position, so in the vast majority of cases, quarterbacks should be at the top of the Rivals250. Ryder Lyons is my No. 1 quarterback right now, and given the trends in the NFL Draft, he should be the obvious No. 1 pick in Rivals250.
Lyons is a great quarterback prospect with arm talent, accuracy, mobility, field awareness and playmaking ability. There’s a natural athleticism to his game that makes him look effortless on the field.
Be careful about putting the Lions in first place. He is expected to complete a one-year religious mission before enrolling in college. Players like Faison Brandon and Jared Curtis could be better choices by the end of the ranking cycle due to their potential impact on his development as a quarterback.
Garcia’s view: Jackson Cantwell
The quarterback position in the 2026 class is a bit of a dead end, with major reshuffling leading up to 2025, but Cantwell remains the top option to consider at the top of the rankings at this point. do not have. He has nearly all the surface-level traits you want at the offensive tackle position, with huge size, proven athleticism, and the type of domestic recruiting that elite prospects look for.
Gorney’s View: Rider Lions
In 20 of the past 28 NFL drafts, peyton manning In 1998, the QB went No. 1 overall, so not only are the odds heavily in his favor, but it’s almost shocking that the QB isn’t selected first.
This means that if you have an elite quarterback, you should take him No. 1 overall, even if you like players at other positions, because the history of the NFL Draft dictates that move. has informed our ranking process over the past number of years.
And Ryder Lyons is an elite quarterback who fits the position today. He has all the tools to be an elite pocket passer, but is incredibly dynamic outside of the pocket, throwing on the run and making people miss with his feet. The Lions are like the perfect combination of all the elite quarterbacks in the game, with incredible dual-threat ability.
Lyons plans to go into religious ministry after high school, so it’s going to be a little difficult, but he’s so talented that even if it takes him a little while to prove it, I still think he’s We believe he is the number one prospect in the 2026 class.
Smith’s View: Jackson Cantwell
There are other players pushing Cantwell in this discussion, but he remains the clear No. 1 for me. Cantwell has rare size with a huge wingspan, athleticism and great mentality. He is a state champion pitcher and could be an Olympian like his parents if he doesn’t stick to soccer. The Missouri native also has a high football IQ and wants to be great. Cantwell is the total package as a foundational tackle.
Spiegelman’s view: Faison Brandon
Faison Brandon coordinates the offense on and off the field. He boasts outstanding arm talent making throws all over the field and the ability to extend plays and improvise outside of the pocket. In our live evaluations this fall, we liked the way Brandon stepped up in key moments, converting key downs and distance, and using his unique arm angle to slice through defenses. The five-star prospect was consistently accurate and calm, making some big throws in different parts of the field when called upon. Brandon is a lean 6-foot-4, 190-pound guy who is difficult to contain from bursting through the pocket, which is another element that adds to his game.
There’s no question that he’s one of the best players at the most premium position, and Brandon’s current body of work and positives merit first consideration.
