Highest-rated Class of 2026 football recruits from Indiana
The recruiting race for the Class of 2026 is already heating up — not just on the field, but in the increasingly complex ecosystem of modern college football, where NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) deals are reshaping how programs and players navigate early recruitment. For elite underclassmen, talent alone is no longer the only factor drawing attention; marketability, social media presence, and brand potential are now playing pivotal roles in how offers are extended and decisions are made. The top recruits in the 2026 cycle are not only physically advanced and highly skilled — they’re entering high school with endorsement potential and media savviness.
Stacker compiled a list of the highest rated Class of 2026 football recruits from Indiana using data from 247Sports. Here’s the players from Indiana set to dominate Saturdays (and potentially Sundays) for years to come.
#20. Tyler Klaner (TE)
– National rank: #1,332 (3 stars)
– Position rank: #65
– College: Northern Illinois
– Offers: Northern Illinois, Toledo
– High school: Boonville (Boonville, IN)
#19. Anthony Coellner (QB)
– National rank: #1,303 (3 stars)
– Position rank: #99
– College: not committed
– Offers: Bowling Green, Cincinnati, Indiana, Maryland, Miami (OH)
– High school: Carmel (Carmel, IN)
#18. Dominick Barry (TE)
– National rank: #1,300 (3 stars)
– Position rank: #63
– College: not committed
– Offers: Kansas, Wisconsin, Cincinnati, Duke, Indiana
– High school: Center Grove (Greenwood, IN)
#17. Deacon King (S)
– National rank: #1,235 (3 stars)
– Position rank: #110
– College: not committed
– Offers: Akron, Buffalo, Central Michigan, Illinois State, Kent State
– High school: Westfield (Westfield, IN)
#16. Brady Ballart (LB)
– National rank: #1,150 (3 stars)
– Position rank: #95
– College: Louisville
– Offers: Louisville, Air Force, Ball State, Eastern Kentucky, Eastern Michigan
– High school: South Dearborn (Aurora, IN)
#15. Brock Brownfield (IOL)
– National rank: #1,096 (3 stars)
– Position rank: #92
– College: Purdue
– Offers: Purdue, Ball State, Bowling Green, Indiana, Miami (OH)
– High school: New Palestine (New Palestine, IN)
#14. James Williams Jr. (IOL)
– National rank: #983 (3 stars)
– Position rank: #84
– College: Purdue
– Offers: Purdue, Appalachian State, Kent State, Miami (OH), Northern Illinois
– High school: Lawrence Central (Indianapolis, IN)
#13. Bo Polston (QB)
– National rank: #972 (3 stars)
– Position rank: #64
– College: Toledo
– Offers: Toledo, Akron, Appalachian State, Ball State, Central Michigan
– High school: Decatur Central (Indianapolis, IN)
#12. Malachi Mills (OT)
– National rank: #950 (3 stars)
– Position rank: #76
– College: Kansas
– Offers: Kansas, Akron, Colorado State, Eastern Michigan, Florida Atlantic
– High school: Westfield (Westfield, IN)
#11. Benjamin Novak (IOL)
– National rank: #928 (3 stars)
– Position rank: #83
– College: Wisconsin
– Offers: Wisconsin, Akron, Ball State, Bowling Green, Indiana
– High school: Andrean (Merrillville, IN)
#9 (tie). Blake Smythe (DL)
– National rank: #914 (3 stars)
– Position rank: #92
– College: Indiana
– Offers: Indiana, Ball State, Illinois, Kansas, Louisville
– High school: Franklin Community (Franklin, IN)
#9 (tie). Carsen Eloms (CB)
– National rank: #914 (3 stars)
– Position rank: #79
– College: Wisconsin
– Offers: Wisconsin, Purdue, Akron, Ball State, Central Michigan
– High school: Fishers (Fishers, IN)
#8. Trevor Gibbs (LB)
– National rank: #855 (3 stars)
– Position rank: #67
– College: Indiana
– Offers: Indiana, Purdue, Cincinnati, Iowa, Ball State
– High school: Crown Point (Crown Point, IN)
#7. Terry Walker III (QB)
– National rank: #817 (3 stars)
– Position rank: #47
– College: Duke
– Offers: Duke, Appalachian State, Ball State, Bowling Green, Coastal Carolina
– High school: Hamilton Southeastern (Fishers, IN)
#6. Tayshon Bardo (WR)
– National rank: #703 (3 stars)
– Position rank: #107
– College: Wisconsin
– Offers: Wisconsin, USF, Ball State, Bowling Green, Central Michigan
– High school: Penn (Mishawaka, IN)
#5. Jett Goldsberry (ATH)
– National rank: #682 (3 stars)
– Position rank: #44
– College: not committed
– Offers: North Carolina, Ole Miss, Rutgers, Purdue, Air Force
– High school: Heritage Hills (Lincoln City, IN)
#4. Kasmir Hicks (CB)
– National rank: #509 (3 stars)
– Position rank: #41
– College: Indiana
– Offers: Indiana, Cincinnati, Vanderbilt, Ball State, Central Michigan
– High school: Decatur Central (Indianapolis, IN)
#3. Tyler Ruxer (TE)
– National rank: #477 (3 stars)
– Position rank: #24
– College: not committed
– Offers: Minnesota, Purdue, Duke, Northwestern, Baylor
– High school: Heritage Hills (Lincoln City, IN)
#2. JJ Finch (DL)
– National rank: #443 (3 stars)
– Position rank: #50
– College: not committed
– Offers: Purdue, Tennessee, LSU, Alabama, Central Michigan
– High school: Warren Central (Indianapolis, IN)
#1. Jerquaden Guilford (WR)
– National rank: #430 (3 stars)
– Position rank: #67
– College: not committed
– Offers: Ohio State, Tennessee, Indiana, Arkansas, Georgia
– High school: Northrop (Fort Wayne, IN)