Here are the top 50 players in Michigan high school football for the 2026 season. Players who have verbally committed to a college have their destinations listed.
Be sure to check out our top 10 player series, ranking the best at each position entering the season, including dozens of honorable mentions: QB I RB I WR/TE I OL I DL I LB I DB.
Michigan high school football top 50 player rankings
1. Dakota Guerrant, senior, Harper Woods WR/DB
Guerrant is a standout receiver who will also play on defense and special teams. He is verbally committed to Oregon.
2. Gideon Gash, senior, Novi Detroit Catholic Central WR/DB
Gash is a lockdown cornerback and the top receiving option for the defending Division 1 state champions. Gash is verbally committed to Texas Tech.
3. Donald Tabron II, junior, Detroit Cass Tech QB
Tabron is a three-year starter at quarterback for Detroit Cass Tech, amassing a 23-1 record under center. Tabron verbally committed to Texas A&M on Aug.
15.
4. Recarder Kitchen, senior, Muskegon DE
Kitchen is a dynamic pass rusher who forces teams away from his side of the field as the anchor of the Big Reds' defense. Kitchen is verbally committed to Michigan.
5. Dewey Young, senior, Kalamazoo Central OT
Young is a massive left tackle who is light enough on his feet to handle any speed around the edge, and he did not surrender a sack in 2025. Young is verbally committed to Colorado.
6. Jakari Lipsey, senior, Kalamazoo Loy Norrix OT
Lipsey is an athletic two-way force on the offensive and defensive line who is primed for a big finale after a promising junior season and summer. Lipsey is verbally committed to Michigan.
7. Bryce Kish, senior, Howell LB/RB
Kish is an outside linebacker who frequently attacks downhill, blurring the lines with the edge position, and the lead tailback for the Highlanders. Kish is verbally committed to Clemson.
8. Jameer Henry, senior, Detroit King OL
Henry is a two-way force up front and the emotional leader of the Crusaders. He's also the highest-ranked uncommitted senior in Michigan, holding 30 scholarship offers.
9. Jayden Bell, junior, Birmingham Brother Rice DE
Bell has the ideal physical tools for an edge rusher, paired with a strong understanding of the game as a three-year varsity starter. Bell is a five -star recruit, according to 247 Sports' composite rankings, and has 39 offers.
10. Louis Esposito, senior, Saline OL
Esposito is a run-blocking force, quick on his feet in pass protection and a captain for the Hornets. The son of former Michigan defensive line coach Lou Esposito is verbally committed to the Wolverines.
11. Myles Smith, senior, Farmington DE
Smith is a multi-sport standout who excels the most in football because of his acceleration, power at the line of scrimmage and relentless pursuit. Smith is verbally committed to Indiana.
12. Antijuan Wilkes, junior, Detroit Cass Tech OT
Wilkes, 6 feet 7 and 280 pounds, will be in his second year starting up front for the Technicians as a wall of pass protection. Wilkes is rated as a five-star recruit and the top offensive lineman in his class nationally, according to 247 Sports' composite rankings.
13. Charles Britton III, senior, Belleville WR
Britton is a dynamic receiving threat that can work on the outside or from the slot as a three-year starter. He is verbally committed to Missouri.
14. Jack Carlson, senior, Brighton OT/DL
Carlson is a two-way contributor who excels as a lead blocker and getting off the block quickly in pass protection. He is verbally committed to Michigan State.
15. Deandre Bidden, junior, Harper Woods WR/DB
Bidden, a state champion in the 200-meter relay, is one of the fastest players in the state and has enough versatility to line up at any receiver position, running back and defensive back. Bidden is rated as a five-star recruit with 30 offers, according to 247 Sports' composite rankings.
16. Holden Niemi, senior, Dexter TE/DL
Niemi is an outstanding receiving threat and blocker who has dealt with injuries during his high school career. He is verbally committed to Texas A&M.
17. Anthony Cartwright III, senior, Birmingham Detroit Country Day TE/DL
Cartwright is a two-way contributor who can split out wide or line up in line as an all-around receiving threat. Cartwright is verbally committed to Oregon.
18. Darryl Flemister, senior, Detroit King DB/WR
Flemister is one of the shiftiest players in Michigan, and it shows up on both sides of the ball as a lockdown corner and dynamic pass-catcher. Flemister is verbally committed to Illinois as a defensive back.
19. Grant Adloff, senior, East Grand Rapids OT/DL
Adloff is a four-year two-way starter who basically never leaves the field up front. Adloff is verbally committed to Michigan State.
20. Don Spillers, senior, Detroit King DB/WR
Spillers is an imposing presence out wide or crashing downhill as a safety and has sure-handed hands thanks to his wrestling background. Spillers is verbally committed to Michigan State as a defensive back.
21. Drew Aagesen, senior, Goodrich DE/TE
Aagesen is a powerful disrupter off the edge. He pairs quality speed with his long arms and overwhelming strength to blow up plays. Aagesen is verbally committed to Iowa State.
22. Lundon Hampton, senior, Grand Rapids Kenowa Hills RB
Hampton is a dynamic do-it-all threat for a Kenowa Hills program on the rise. Hampton is an elite athlete who rushed for over 1,200 yards as a junior while also playing in all three phases. Hampton is verbally committed to Michigan.
23. Eric Anderson, senior, Novi Detroit Catholic Central OT
Anderson is the starting left tackle for the reigning Division 1 champions, excelling as a blindside protector and lead blocker. Anderson is verbally committed to Pittsburgh.
24. Camden Noe, junior, Portage Central RB/LB
Noe is a dynamic running back – he rushed for over 1,800 yards as a sophomore – and a linebacker. He is rated as a four-star recruit according to 247 Sports' composite rankings.
25. Treighjan Gibson, senior, Orchard Lake St. Mary's DL
Gibson is a disruptive three-technique defensive tackle who can stuff runs and get after quarterbacks. Gibson is verbally committed to Connecticut.
26. Elijah Goins, senior, Macomb Dakota DB/WR
Goins provides an impact in all three phases as an elite athlete. As a defensive back, Goins is rangy and shows good ball instincts. He is verbally committed to Boston College.
27. Sam Rouleau, senior, Grosse Pointe South QB
Rouleau is a dynamic dual-threat quarterback at the center of everything for Grosse Pointe South, which hopes to contend deep into the Division 2 playoffs. Rouleau is verbally committed to Central Michigan.
28. Caleb Pugh, senior, Grand Rapids Christian OL
Pugh is a two-way starter who never takes plays off and shows great balance and power from the interior of the offensive line. Pugh is verbally committed to Indiana.
29. Chad Willis, senior, Orchard Lake St. Mary's WR
Willis is a big-bodied receiving target and opens up the entire Eaglets offense by drawing double teams or dominating opponents if they leave him in single coverage. Willis is verbally committed to North Carolina.
30. Koen Hinzman, senior, Hudson OL/DL
Hinzman is a key blocker up front for a team that averaged over 350 rushing yards per game, while also being a disruptive defensive tackle. Hinzman is verbally committed to Iowa State.
31. Mylan Griggs, junior, Detroit Cass Tech WR
Griggs will be one of Tabron's primary options after contributing as the Technicians' third receiver as a sophomore. Griggs is a quality route runner with strong hands. He is rated as a four-star recruit, per 247 Sports.
32. Jernaro Gilford Jr., senior, Saline DB
Gilford, a shutdown corner, will play his final season of high school football in Michigan after his father was hired as the cornerbacks coach at Michigan. Gilford is uncommitted and holds a dozen scholarship offers.
33. LaMarcus Army, junior, Detroit Cass Tech DB
Army is a versatile defensive back who primarily played free safety as a sophomore. He is a great playmaker in coverage and in ripping the ball loose on tackles. Army is a four-star recruit, per 247 Sports.
34. Tyler Trusel, junior, Birmingham Brother Rice WR
Trusel is a quarterback's best friend as someone who can always create separation and pull down catches through traffic. Trusel is a three-star recruit, per 247 Sports' composite rankings.
35. Kane Morris, senior, Portage Northern WR
Morris is an established playmaker after putting up 1,000 all-purpose yards as a junior. He is a Western Michigan University verbal commit and an All-State sprinter during track and field season.
36. Jayden Evans, junior, Harper Woods DB
Evans earned All-State honors as a sophomore as the ballhawking safety at the back end of the Pioneers' defense. Evans is rated as a three-star recruit and has two dozen offers including Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Oregon and Texas A&M.
37. Bryce Barbarino, senior, Saline LB
Barbarino is a heat-seeking missile in the middle of Saline's defense, accounting for over 150 tackles as a junior. Barbarino is verbally committed to Western Michigan.
38. Braden Chaffin, senior, Sterling Heights Stevenson OL
Chaffin is a multi-year starter and captain as the anchor of Stevenson's offensive line at tackle. Chaffin is verbally committed to Stanford.
39. Drew Sheridan, junior, Dearborn Divine Child QB
The lefty has started since his freshman year and continues to improve as a thrower and leader for the defending Division 4 state champions. Sheridan is rated as a three-star recruit according to 247 Sports.
40. Elliott Neff, senior, Middleville Thornapple Kellogg LB/DB
Neff is a great athlete in the middle of the defense, using his plus speed and instincts to excel in coverage and pursuit. Neff is verbally committed to Kansas.
41. Duke Banta, senior, Novi Detroit Catholic Central QB
Banta has great touch on throws to all levels of the field to pair with quality leadership and an understanding of the defending Division 1 champion's offense. Banta is uncommitted with a few offers from Ivy League schools.
42. Asher Newman, senior, Haslett DE
Newman registered 52 tackles, eight sacks and had 10 tackles for loss for the Vikings, who finished as the CAAC Red runner-up and reached a district final in 2025. He is verbally committed to Central Michigan.
43. Grayson Thurston, junior, Warren De La Salle QB
Thurston is a quality pocket passer with a big arm and great touch over the middle of the field. Thurston is a three-star recruit, according to 247 Sports.
44. Lorenzo Barber, senior, Orchard Lake St. Mary's WR
Barber is one of the hardest players to tackle in space in Michigan, and has elite speed to pair with his quick cuts. Barber has a few MAC offers and Division II offers.
45. Deondre Hill, junior, Birmingham Brother Rice RB/LB
Hill is a powerful runner and can make defenders bounce off him. He also has the speed to break off home runs across the whole field. Hill is a three-star recruit, per 247 Sports' composite rankings.
46. Brayden Tillman, junior, Traverse City West QB
Tillman started for the first time as a sophomore for the Titans last season and has the arm and athleticism for a huge junior jump. The three-star recruit has offers from Florida State, Michigan State, Wisconsin and Purdue, among others, as a 6-foot-5, 185-pound QB.
47. Max Bollman, senior, Big Rapids DE
Bollman is an elite athlete at his size, and that creates a whole set of problems for any offensive tackle who tries to block him. Bollman is verbally committed to Miami (Ohio).
48. Collin Sumpter, senior, Detroit Cass Tech LB
Sumpter flies around the field and has enough quickness to also play nickel along with outside linebacker. Sumpter is verbally committed to Miami (Ohio).
49. Giancarlo Vitti, senior, Dearborn Divine Child DB/WR
Vitti leads the defense and has great feel for the game, which allows him to show up and make plays all over the field. He is verbally committed to Princeton.
50. Jeremiah McCall, junior, Harper Woods DL/OL
McCall is a long and strong pass rusher who can play both defensive tackle and end. McCall is a three-star recruit in 247 Sports' composite rankings.
Nominate a high school athlete for the Detroit Free Press boys and girls athlete of the week.
Jared Ramsey covers high school sports for theDetroit Free Press. Contact him at jramsey@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Top 50 players in Michigan high school football for 2026 season
