The 2026 faculty soccer freshman class has a late addition.
On Thursday, Texas Longhorns commit John Meredith III, a five-star nook and initially the No. 2 total recruit in 2027 according to ESPN, reclassified for 2026 and can be eligible this fall.
Final season, Miami Hurricanes huge receiver Malachi Toney, Cal quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele and Ohio State Buckeyes operating again Bo Jackson had been among the many yr’s prime freshmen.
Who’s subsequent? Starting with Meredith, listed below are 5 freshman breakout candidates in 2026.
Rivals set a high bar in its high-school recruiting profile of Meredith, writing his “mixture of stature, size and athleticism as a boundary nook” reminds it of two-time first-team All-Professional Indianapolis Colts nook Sauce Gardner.
5-star sophomore Kade Phillips and redshirt junior switch Bo Mascoe are the projected starters at left and proper nook, whereas sophomore Graceson Littleton, who had two interceptions final season, fills out their depth in nickel packages, so Meredith should earn his method into taking part in time. However that will come as quickly as this season.
After information broke of Meredith’s reclassification, head coach Steve Sarkisian, who spoke on the SEC’s media days, commented, “For us to get him now, we’ll see how far it goes,” per 247Sports.
“We do not have an expectation on him of a timetable,” Sarkisian continued. “When he is prepared, I believe he’ll be ok to play.”
Vanderbilt head coach Clark Lea has but to find out who’ll comply with Diego Pavia at quarterback, however Curtis has probably the most upside.
The five-star recruit initially dedicated to Georgia earlier than flipping final December, making him the highest-ranked commit in program historical past, He is competing with former three-star prospects Blaze Berlowitz, Whit Muschamp and Jack Elliott, and what they lack in blue-chip traits they make up for with expertise in Vandy’s system.
It is too early to anoint Curtis, however he made a robust first impression throughout spring apply. Per ESPN, Lea stated, “He is received to indicate he is one of the best of the 4” whereas noting “there are actually issues that make him distinctive.
“His greatest hurdle goes to be pre-snap and post-snap processing,” Lea continued. “He is received actually good instincts.”
Miami Hurricanes offensive sort out Jackson Cantwell
Final yr, Cantwell turned the primary offensive lineman to be named Gatorade Player of the Year following a dominant senior season at Nixa Excessive Faculty in Missouri. Cantwell, listed at 6-foot-8 and 330 kilos on the official Miami team website, was credited with 153 pancake blocks and even scored a landing in 13 video games forward of a Class 6 state championship sport loss to Lee’s Summit.
He enters his first season at 2025 nationwide runner-up Miami as a top-10 total prospect in response to 247Sports, Rivals and ESPN and in line to start out at left sort out on a crew with championship aspirations. With 2026 NFL Draft picks Francis Mauigoa and Markel Bell gone, Cantwell has huge footwear to fill. He may rapidly outgrow them.
Two years in the past, Jeremiah Smith burst onto the scene with a implausible freshman season for the Buckeyes. Henry could also be simply as impactful.
The 6-foot-5 wideout might present a direct impression whereas profiting from double-teams in opposition to Smith. Henry generally is a nightmare in one-on-one conditions, as one poor defender discovered within the opener of the five-star recruit’s senior yr.
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