Updated 2026 LSR Recruiting Rankings

Well, I’ve officially reached the “I Just Don’t Give a ****” Stage of my life as a rankings guy.

The Class of 2026 in the state of Texas has broken me. I just don’t like it. Not only did I not find another two guys that I felt comfortable enough to rank inside the top 20, but I just didn’t care. There’s virtually no difference between the likely success rate of the No.25 player in the state of Texas and the No.200 player.

I keep telling you that you shouldn’t lose sweat over them and neither am I. From now on, I’m ranking the guys I think are super blue chip-level prospects and the players that I think deserve serious discussion for that kind of ranking.

The rest doesn’t matter.

Rankings are listed in order: Rivals Industry/Rivals/247/ESPN)

No.1 (5 Stars – Super Blue Chip)

Breakdown: I’ve never been as unsure about who the rightful No.1 prospect in the state if quite like I am this year. Usually, if there’s hesitation, it’s because I’m juggling multiple 5-star prospects and can’t decide between elite quality. I’m not sure that’s the case this year because at the moment I don’t have anyone rated as a 5-star prospect from the state of Texas. I’m very close with Henderson, but I want to see his senior season and go from there. The bottom line is that he’s absolutely electrifying at the quarterback position and his upside at the next level is as a superstar starting quarterback. Given the high historical success rate of elite quarterbacks, you can make a case that any of them that rank in this tier of prospects should always be listed above all others. Outside of softball pitchers, this position is the most important position of any sport in college athletics today.

I’m also mindful of what was said of Henderson coming out of the Elite 11 Camp this summer.

“This is my 13th season coaching the Elite 11, and I’d put him in the top 10 percent of all our QBs in arm talent,” Quarterback Coach Craig Nall told TheAthletic.com’s Bruce Feldman. “We’ve had some super special guys, like Trevor Lawrence and Tua (Tagovailoa), but he’s in that discussion. Wherever he lands, they’re getting a special kid.

“He’s super athletic. He’s very gifted. He’s constantly smiling. He made me feel special as a coach by the way he’d thank you and look you in the eye. He has this sense of gratitude about how glad he was to be here, and then he went out and did his thing.”

No.2 (5 Stars – Super Blue Chip)

Breakdown: I freaking love Jalen Lott. I think he’s got serious shades of being a bigger version of Nathan Vasher at the same exact time in his development. He’s so silky smooth on both sides of the ball. I think we’re talking about one of the safest prospects in the country, given that I think he could slide into most power conference defensive backfields and be an instant contributor. We’re talking about an athlete with sub 10.7 100-meter speed and out of this world raw athleticism, as evidenced by his 6-10 high jump and 23′ 7.25 leap in the long jump at this year’s state track meet… as a junior in high school. That no one else has this kid rated as a 5-star as me questioning every single person in this industry that is giving pause.

No.3 (High 4 Star – Super Blue Chip)

No.4 (High 4 Star – Super Blue Chip)

Breakdown: Can I admit that I’m less spooked by his performance at the Rivals Camp in June than I am by the research I did a few weeks ago that revealed that players with his physical frame/athletic profile actually pan out as high-level success about as often as Haley’s Comet flies by earth. If he hits, he has Trevor Goosby upside. But, Goosby is possibly the freakiest developmental story of the last 25 years from the state of Texas. It’s not that he deveoped into a stud, it’s that his transformation took place in about 15 minutes once get got off campus. Ojo is going to need 2-3 years of development and after all that time… there’s still a much better chance that he fails than succeeds. Yes, you’re damn right, I’m spooked.

No.5 (High 4 Star – Super Blue Chip)

Breakdown: His slight frame at the moment gives me some concern, but his play on the football field absolutely does not. Everyone acts like calling a kid an interior line prospect is an insult, but I think if his body develops correctly, we could be looking at this generation’s Dan Neil… and I do not say that lightly. I think he could be the best center prospect I’ve ever seen the Longhorns recruit/develop in the last 30 years if they decide to slot him there.

No.6 (Mid 4 Star Plus)

Breakdown: Edwards has super blue chip game, but I’m not sure if he has super blue chip raw athleticism. That’s not to say that he’s not a very good athlete or even a plus-athlete, it’s just that I don’t know that he’s a the type of athlete that a guy like Lott is, which is kind of what you need to be if you want to project as a future early round Sunday player. Yet, Edwards is sick on the field and has a skill set that could make him a college star. He’s as close to a super blue chip for me as one can get without crossing over… and I bet I move him into that tier before signing day.

No.7 (Mid 4 Star Plus)

Breakdown: I’ll always be a little curious that Texas hasn’t ever made a play at Groce, given that he’s a state champion sprinter and a versatile multi-purpose weapon with the ball in his hands. He’s not the kind of guy you want to end up at OU with a free run at him.

No.8 (Mid 4 star)

Breakdown: His performance at the Elite 11 (finished 7th) won me over. Previously, I had a few questions about his arm talent and whether is was very good or just very good. It turns out it’s pretty damn good. I can’t say that I quite think he’s a super blue chip guy, but the quarterback position is so valuable that if you’re even close to that territory… you’re a potentially very valuable prospect.

No.9 (Mid 4 star)

Breakdown: Yes, he’s shorter than you know I would prefer him to be, but he will make you come out of yoour seat when watching him play at the high school level. If he were two inches taller, he might be the No.1 prospect in the state. Fine margins, man.