Top Virginia prospects in the 2026 recruiting class

In recent years, Virginia has developed into a small hotbed for high school football talent. The state has produced a handful of five-star recruits — including 2024 Georgia signee Chris Cole, 2022 North Carolina signee Zach Rice, 2021 Ohio State signee TreVeyon Henderson and 2019 Penn State signee Brandon Smith.

Over the past five NFL Drafts, 25 players have been selected from Virginia, ranking 15th among the 50 states nationally. And the talent continues to pour in. In the 2026 cycle, the Rivals Industry Ranking has two in-state players as five-stars and 10 overall as blue-chip recruits.

Heading into the high school football season, here are the top 10 players in the state:

1. RB Savion Hiter – Michigan commit

School: Louisa County
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 8

As a junior, Hiter was an All-State selection and helped Louisa County (Va.) go 9-3 and reach regional semifinals of Virginia’s Class 5A playoffs. He carried 156 times for 1,698 yards (10.8 YPC) and 26 touchdowns, while add another 199 yards receiving. Defensively, he was credited with 56 tackles, 7 sacks and an interception.

2. IOL Darius Gray – South Carolina commit

School: St. Christopher’s School
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 31

The hulking 6-foot-3, 290-pounder is one of the premier offensive linemen in the country this cycle, earning offers from South Carolina, Ohio State, LSU, Tennessee and dozens of others. In addition to being a standout on the basketball court, Gray was a Navy All-American as a junior in 2025. And he starred on both sides of the ball for St. Christopher’s, helping leading them to the state Division I playoffs. He played primarily left tackle on offense and was credited with 50 tackles (17.5 TFLs), eight sacks, and two forced fumbles on defense.

3. WR Travis Johnson – Michigan commit

School: Oscar Smith
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 121

Johnson is another dual-sport star, helping Oscar Smith reach Virginia’s 6A semifinals as a junior and earning second-team All-Region honors on the basketball court. But his future is on the football field, and the Michigan commit is one of the nation’s most dominant wideouts in the 2026 class. As a junior, he hauled in 63 passes for 1,053 yards and 17 touchdowns to help his squad to a 15-0 record and a Virginia Class 6A championship.

4. DL Valdin Sone – Georgia commit

School: Blue Ridge School
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 129

Standing in at 6’4 and just over 300 pounds, Sone is as intimidating of a presence as there is in Virginia high school football. The UGA pledge just only started playing the sport in the U.S. within the past few years, but checks in as one of the top 15 defensive linemen nationally. Now in his second year at Blue Ridge since he moved to the states, he’ll be looking to help them another undefeated season and state title.

5. SAF Andre Clarke – Michigan commit

School: Hermitage
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 149

One of three Wolverines commits on this list, Clarke is a talented wideout and defensive ballhawk at the high school level. During his junior campaign, he scored nine touchdowns on just 25 receptions while totaling more than 470 receiving yards. On the defensive side, he picked off three passes and notched 23 tackles.

6. WR Davion Brown – Penn State commit

School: Trinity Episcopal School
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 187

Despite playing in only 8 games as a junior, Brown showed off his big-play ability early and often. He hauled 42 passes for 946 yards (22.5 YPC) and 10 TD. In doing so, he earned All-Metro recognition from the Richmond Times-Dispatch. Over his three-year high school career, he has notched more than 110 receptions and 2,000 receiving yards while finding the end zone 26 times.

7. IOL Carter Scruggs – Clemson commit

School: Loudoun County
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 197

The 6-foot-5, 290-pound Scruggs is part of an elite offensive line class for Dabo Swinney and Co. As a junior, Scruggs earned second-team All-State honors while paving the way for dynamic running back Montez Dyson, who racked up 1,809 yards from scrimmage and scored 28 total touchdowns.

8. WR Dyzier Carter – Rutgers commit

School: Louisa County
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 213

Carter teams up with Hiter to create one of the most feared offensive duos in the state this fall for Louisa County. The Rutgers commit was a breakout star as a freshman, catching 46 passes for 1,043 yards and 14 TDs on offense while also carrying the ball 18 times for 222 yards and five more scores. As a junior last fall, he did a bit of everything with 28 receptions and nine scores through the air, as well as another 117 yards and five touchdowns on the ground.

9. WR Amare Gough – Syracuse commit

School: Thomas Jefferson
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 297

Gough is an absolute burner on the outside, checking in as one of the state’s most athletic players regardless of classification. He has a sub-11-second 100-meter time to his name, and has jumped more than 22 feet in the long jump. On the gridiron, he caught 39 passes for 893 yards (22.9 YPC) and 12 touchdowns as a junior. Defensively, he contributed 31 tackles, 11 pass breakups and three interceptions for Thomas Jefferson.

10. OT Thomas Wilder – Virginia Tech commit

School: Green Run
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 334

Already built for the college game, Wilder stands in at 6’6 and close to 300 pounds with even more frame to work with. The Hokies commit held offers from around the country but ultimately decided to stay home and play for the in-state program.