Rivals Rankings Week: Storylines to comply with with prime 2026 defensive backs
The Rivals250 for the 2026 class has been up to date and now it’s time to interrupt down every place. We transfer to the defensive backs by taking a look at 4 massive storylines shifting ahead.
NEW 2026 POSITION RANKINGS: Professional-Fashion QB | Twin-Menace QB | RB | All-Function RB | WR | TE | OT | OG | C | DT | Weakside DE | Strongside DE | Inside LB | Exterior LB | CB | S | Athlete
NEW FIVE-STAR AT CORNERBACK
Ohio native Elbert Hill turned one of many latest five-stars throughout this rankings replace. The defender is in a distinct mould from what scouts have appreciated in current courses on the place. Nevertheless, gamers along with his construct and athleticism are what NFL groups covet nowadays.
Hill is an ultra-athletic slot nook however does all of it for his workforce. He’s nice within the return sport and on offense, working by opponents with ease even after they have the angle on him. He has nice method on protection, too.
This could possibly be a Massive Ten battle amongst Ohio State, Penn State and Oregon for his dedication.
CAN USC KEEP TOP PROSPECTS HOME IN 2026?
It’s one other 12 months with elite expertise out West within the defensive backfield. Not one of the prime corners in California signed with USC within the 2025 recruiting class, with two of them heading all the way in which to Alabama. The Trojans might want to do higher within the 2026 class to proper the ship.
This system is off to an amazing begin with Brandon Lockhart already within the class. The Trojans should preserve recruiting him laborious however having his verbal is an effective signal.
There are two different cornerbacks this cycle from California (Davon Benjamin and RJ Sermons) that USC must be in on.
If for no different purpose than notion, USC must rack up wins within the West and particularly California.
HOW HIGH WILL BLAINE BRADFORD RISE?
Security is a place that may be laborious to play and be actually extremely ranked nationally. We had a pair of five-star safeties within the 2025 class – Trey McNutt and Hylton Stubbs – who’re ranked Nos. 21 and 23 nationally. These are nice rankings however nearly as good as they’re, it’s powerful to crack the highest 10 as a security.
Nevertheless, Blaine Bradford at present sits because the No. 9 prospect within the 2026 Rivals250. While you activate his movie, its simple to see why. He’s acquired verified 4.4 velocity and that velocity interprets to the sphere, too. Bradford is a superb tackler in house that isn’t afraid to get bodily. He has among the finest defensive movie I noticed this season.
It’ll be fascinating to see how excessive he continues to climb.
THE YEAR OF OHIO CORNERBACKS
In case you are coach Ryan Day and the Ohio State Buckeyes issues couldn’t line up any higher within the 2026 cycle. The highest nook within the nation is Ohio native Elbert Hill and the Buckeyes are in a powerful place for him. However he’s removed from the one big-time prospect on the place from the state.
4-stars Jakob Weatherspoon and Victor Singleton are additionally from Ohio. Each have visited Columbus a number of instances and are being recruited by the Buckeyes. There are additionally a pair of excessive three-stars pushing for a fourth star. Rashaud Holland and slot nook Henry Perrymond are additionally from the state.
The Buckeyes shouldn’t have any drawback reloading their defensive backfield with in-state stars.
Rivals Rankings Week: Storylines to comply with with prime 2026 defensive backs
The Rivals250 for the 2026 class has been up to date and now it’s time to interrupt down every place. We transfer to the defensive backs by taking a look at 4 massive storylines shifting ahead.
NEW 2026 POSITION RANKINGS: Professional-Fashion QB | Twin-Menace QB | RB | All-Function RB | WR | TE | OT | OG | C | DT | Weakside DE | Strongside DE | Inside LB | Exterior LB | CB | S | Athlete
NEW FIVE-STAR AT CORNERBACK
Ohio native Elbert Hill turned one of many latest five-stars throughout this rankings replace. The defender is in a distinct mould from what scouts have appreciated in current courses on the place. Nevertheless, gamers along with his construct and athleticism are what NFL groups covet nowadays.
Hill is an ultra-athletic slot nook however does all of it for his workforce. He’s nice within the return sport and on offense, working by opponents with ease even after they have the angle on him. He has nice method on protection, too.
This could possibly be a Massive Ten battle amongst Ohio State, Penn State and Oregon for his dedication.
CAN USC KEEP TOP PROSPECTS HOME IN 2026?
It’s one other 12 months with elite expertise out West within the defensive backfield. Not one of the prime corners in California signed with USC within the 2025 recruiting class, with two of them heading all the way in which to Alabama. The Trojans might want to do higher within the 2026 class to proper the ship.
This system is off to an amazing begin with Brandon Lockhart already within the class. The Trojans should preserve recruiting him laborious however having his verbal is an effective signal.
There are two different cornerbacks this cycle from California (Davon Benjamin and RJ Sermons) that USC must be in on.
If for no different purpose than notion, USC must rack up wins within the West and particularly California.
HOW HIGH WILL BLAINE BRADFORD RISE?
Security is a place that may be laborious to play and be actually extremely ranked nationally. We had a pair of five-star safeties within the 2025 class – Trey McNutt and Hylton Stubbs – who’re ranked Nos. 21 and 23 nationally. These are nice rankings however nearly as good as they’re, it’s powerful to crack the highest 10 as a security.
Nevertheless, Blaine Bradford at present sits because the No. 9 prospect within the 2026 Rivals250. While you activate his movie, its simple to see why. He’s acquired verified 4.4 velocity and that velocity interprets to the sphere, too. Bradford is a superb tackler in house that isn’t afraid to get bodily. He has among the finest defensive movie I noticed this season.
It’ll be fascinating to see how excessive he continues to climb.
THE YEAR OF OHIO CORNERBACKS
In case you are coach Ryan Day and the Ohio State Buckeyes issues couldn’t line up any higher within the 2026 cycle. The highest nook within the nation is Ohio native Elbert Hill and the Buckeyes are in a powerful place for him. However he’s removed from the one big-time prospect on the place from the state.
4-stars Jakob Weatherspoon and Victor Singleton are additionally from Ohio. Each have visited Columbus a number of instances and are being recruited by the Buckeyes. There are additionally a pair of excessive three-stars pushing for a fourth star. Rashaud Holland and slot nook Henry Perrymond are additionally from the state.
The Buckeyes shouldn’t have any drawback reloading their defensive backfield with in-state stars.
