BRADENTON, Florida. – The Under Armor Future 50 camp hosted 50 of the top prospects in the class of 2026. Players participated in a modified 7-on-7 tournament along with a skills camp featuring position drills and mid-air routes.
Now that the camp is officially in the books, it’s time to preview some of the ratings debates resulting from these new assessments.
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DEFENSIVE BACKS IN THE FIVE STAR WATCH
Four of 2026 Rivals250’s top-ranked defensemen were on the field over the last few days in Bradenton and each of them had standout moments.
Jireh Edwards (No. 22 on Rivals250) and Samari Matheus (No. 24) made excellent interceptions during the modified 7-on-7 tournament. Edwards is a physical safety who brings elite athletic traits to the back end of the defense. Matthews is a true cover corner with great size and instincts. He has the ability to leap to contest any jump ball and has made defenders pay when targeting his side of the field.
Elberto Hill (No. 27) was extremely solid throughout the event. He has great straight-line speed and enough size to compete against any receiver lined up in front of him. It was impressive to see him stay in phase with even the fastest receivers.
Blaine Bradford (No. 20) is one of the highest-ranked safeties in this class and appeared to be one throughout the event. His movement skills are elite, given his physically mature frame. He may not have had as many impact plays during the modified 7-on-7 tournament, but traits of his project well to the next level and beyond.
All four of these defenseman prospects are in the top 30 of the 2026 Rivals250 and each of them has a case for moving up in the next rankings update.
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POSITION DISCUSSIONS ON THE HORIZON
Events like these are really valuable because we get an up-to-date, in-person assessment from prospects who aren’t normally seen side by side.
Kenneth Goodwin, Adam Balogoun-Ali It is J’Zavien coin they all line up on the defensive side of the ball, but each of them looks like they’re poised to change positions in the next rankings update. Goodwin and Balogoun-Ali are currently listed as outside linebackers, but their frames and athletic traits lend themselves more to the inside linebacker designation. Likewise, Currence is a fantastic athlete for his size, but being classified as a safety feels outdated. Given his 6-foot-2, nearly 200-pound frame, outside linebacker seems a better fit for Currence’s skills.
Jordan Thomas was recently moved from cornerback to safety, and after seeing him train in person again, it seems like he could be successful at either position. He’s the type of defender who could play throughout the secondary at the next level, but it still seems like the correct NFL projection is as a safety. This will be something we will continue to monitor closely as the evaluation process continues.
On the offensive side of the ball, one event prospect who appears destined for a position change is Jayden Petit. The jumbo receiver from Florida has a large frame that he should continue to fill out as he ages and he will find himself lining up more often as a flex tight end than a receiver. The unique skill set he brings to the field as a deep receiving threat at tight end should create constant mismatches and give his offense the edge.
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A BIG MOVEMENT IN WIDE RECEIVING
Tristen’s Keys I was in the Five-star rivals in Jacksonville last week, but didn’t really seem to find its footing against older competition. He suited up when he arrived in Bradenton for the Future 50 and was one of the best receivers in attendance. The 6-foot-2 receiver has a 6-foot-1 wingspan, which made him one of the most attractive targets for defensive backs. Additionally, Keys has elite quickness in changing directions, looked extremely light and showed great acceleration and burst when the ball was in his hands.
There have been other receivers here in Bradenton who have played as well as Keys, but none have a rating that will change as much as his. At No. 229 in Rivals250 and No. 39 in the wide receiver rankings, Keys will certainly find himself much higher in the next ranking update.
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LEARNING A LOT ABOUT THE QUARTERBACK CLASS OF 2026
Most of the top quarterbacks in the class of 2026 were on the field, but none of them appeared to be at the level of Faizon Brandon. The North Carolina signal-caller has made enormous physical and technical development progress since our last in-person contact with him in August. Brandon has added over 20 pounds of solid muscle mass to his body and this has helped him strengthen his throwing mechanics. This added strength and refined footwork allowed Brandon to throw with better timing and accuracy, especially downfield. He’s always been an excellent athlete, but now he’s an imposing defender with a strong, dynamic arm who can throw accurately from a wide variety of arm angles.
Obviously, Brandon will move up the rankings, but there will be others who move up and down in Rivals250. Texas commit Dia Bell It is Oklahoma commit Jaden O’Neal It performed well and didn’t have many hiccups. Georgia commit Jared Curtis was present but did not play due to a hand injury.
There will be long discussions about five stars State of Florida commit Brady Smigiel, Michigan commit Brady Hart, Notre Dame commit Noah Grubbs It is Florida commit Will Griffin. The modified 7-on-7 format with the compressed field didn’t do either defender any favors and the seven-second “bag clock” wasn’t very realistic. However, each of these defenders showed more technical and accuracy problems than the others.
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A RACE TO NO. 1 TIGHT FINISH?
It’s always a pleasure to see Kendre’Harrison training because he brings a unique skill set to the field. The 6-foot-2, 250-pound dual-sport star is virtually defenseless in high school. Harrison has the measurables and skills to take control of a game whenever he wants.
The odds favor Harrison becoming the top-ranked tight end in the 2026 class, but he won’t run away in this race. #2 ranked tight end Kaiden Protro may not be a legitimate Power Four basketball prospect like Harrison, but he’s an equally dynamic playmaker on the gridiron. Harrison is a little bigger, with a slightly bigger wingspan, but Prothro is faster, faster and more explosive. This position battle is worth keeping an eye on as the evaluation cycle progresses.
Editor’s note: This article first appeared in Rivals.com, the leader in college football and basketball recruiting coverage. Be the first to know and follow your teams by signing up here.
