These players had strong showings as juniors and will lead the way for their respective teams this season. Several have committed to playing at the next level, with others’ decisions soon to come.
Here are 10 rising seniors to watch in 2026, listed in alphabetical order by last name:
Duke Banta, Detroit Catholic Central
Banta is one of the top quarterbacks in Michigan, standing 6-foot-4 and 210 pounds with excellent accuracy and mobility in the pocket earning him 10 offers.
As a junior he led Catholic Central to a 14-0 record and the Division 1 title, completing 75% of his passes for 2,379 yards and 30 touchdowns with just two interceptions.
“He’s the best leader on our football team,” Catholic Central coach Justin Cessante said. “Really has led our offense, last year to almost 40 points a game and breaking every record statistically we’ve had in the history of our storied program.”
Banta is the second ever two-time captain for Catholic Central, looking to lead the program to back-to-back state championships.
Anthony Cartwright III, Detroit Country Day
At 6-foot-5 and 240 pounds Cartwright III is one of the most physically imposing pass catchers in the state, recently committing to Oregon to play tight end.
His combination of size and speed makes him a versatile weapon on offense. He creates separation with polished route running and has a knack for making defenders miss with the ball in his hands, which allowed him to line up at receiver, tight end and at times quarterback.
Cartwright III started last season with consecutive games over 100 yards receiving and scored four touchdowns in Week 2.
Another strong campaign from Cartwright III in 2026 could propel Country Day to its first playoff appearance since 2022.
Gideon Gash, Detroit Catholic Central
Gash will be the No. 1 target for Banta this season after posting 126 receiving yards and three touchdowns in Catholic Central’s state title win.
He is also the team’s best corner, using his 6-foot-4 and 210 pound frame to disrupt opposing receivers, recording 74 tackles, 9 pass breakups and an interception on defense.
“My nickname for Gideon is the alien because his talent is out of this world … He’s the youngest of five brothers, a son of an NFL football player and head coach, just has the full package as far as talent,” Cessante said.
In the offseason Gash committed to Texas Tech and was named the Overall MVP of the Polynesian Bowl National Combine & Showcase, running a 4.35 40-yard dash.
Jabin Gonzales, Orchard Lake St. Mary’s
Gonzales missed three regular season games last season but still had eye-popping numbers, throwing for 2,385 yards and 26 touchdowns while rushing for 455 yards with another seven scores.
“He’s a true dual-threat quarterback,” St. Mary’s coach Jermaine Gonzales said. “He’s got great arm talent, and he can beat you with his feet. He’s a strong, hard runner and he throws with accuracy and great anticipation.”
He led St. Mary’s to its second straight Division 2 title last season, taking player of the game honors in the state championship with 406 yards of total offense and four passing touchdowns.
Gonzales added size, up to 6-foot-2 and 205 pounds with 9 offers as he and St. Mary’s look to complete a three-peat this season.
Dakota Guerrant, Harper Woods
Guerrant has been Michigan’s top recruit in his class since he burst onto the scene as a freshman and is coming off his best season yet posting 55 receptions for 1,074 yards and 26 touchdowns.
“He’s good at taking the little things and making sure he develops those things to where his limitations become his strengths,” Coach Rod Oden said. “He’s a great route runner, he has great ball skills, he has great speed and athleticism.”
At 6-foot-2 and 195 pounds Guerrant has all the tools to be an elite receiver, making contested catches look routine while forcing missed tackles with the ball in his hands.
He is ranked as a top-five receiver nationally and will join Cartwright III at the next level, committing to Oregon in the offseason.
Bryce Kish, Howell
Kish is another physically imposing player, starting both ways for Howell at 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds. He rushed for 978 yards with 20 touchdowns while recording 28 tackles, three sacks and a forced fumble on defense last season.
Kish ran all over rival Brighton with 215 yards and four touchdowns in the team’s 37-28 win in the Battle for the Little Brown Jug.
He is a top-five recruit in Michigan for his class and committed to Clemson in June.
“Bryce is an elite football player,” Howell coach Brian Lewis said. “That’s what Clemson noticed, that he’s fast, he’s physical. He’s aggressive on offense and defense … Bryce has a huge impact on who we are, what we do.”
Recarder Kitchen, Muskegon
This will be Kitchen’s fourth season on varsity, winning a Division 2 state title in 2023. He has posted solid production in each of his last three campaigns with 50 tackles, nine sacks, two pass breakups and one forced fumble as a junior.
Kitchen’s strip sack and fumble recovery late in the fourth quarter sealed Muskegon’s 39-34 playoff win over Muskegon Mona Shores.
Standing 6-foot-6 and 250 pounds, he anchors the defensive line, using his strength and quickness to create pressure on the quarterback while staying solid in the run game. Kitchen also lines up at tight end, opening up holes for teammates with physical blocking.
He is the highest rated pass rusher in the state, committed to Michigan.
Jakari Lipsey, Kalamazoo Loy Norrix
Lipsey will likely be taking reps against Kitchen in a year’s time, joining him in Michigan’s 2027 recruiting class.
“Just under 300 pounds and can do a standing backflip, so he’s an athletic freak,” Loy Norrix coach Richard Roth said. “He’s got a high motor and he’s coachable in the sense that he desires to be better than he is right now, not only rely on his athleticism but be able to perfect his game.”
He anchors the Loy Norrix offensive line from the left tackle spot. At 6-foot-6 and 290 pounds Lipsey will be out in space more in a new scheme, lead blocking for screens while pulling on run plays.
He was invited to the Navy All-American Bowl this summer.
Myles Smith, Farmington
Smith routinely beat offensive lineman last season with a quick get off and agile on the way to 85 tackles with 14 tackles for loss, six sacks and four forced fumbles.
He showed off his athleticism against Troy, catching a touchdown at tight end while posting two sacks, two forced fumbles and three tackles for loss in Farmington’s 42-0 win.
“Myles is an anomaly when it comes to defensive line play,” Farmington head coach Kason Dickerson said. “Very versatile guy, he’s like a chess piece. So, you can move him all over the field, situational wise.”
Smith added 20 pounds in the offseason and is now up to 6-foot-4 and 235 pounds. He committed to the defending national champion Indiana in May.
Don Spillers III, Detroit King
Spillers plays a big part on both sides of the ball for King, lining up receiver and a number of spots on defense.
“He can go on the inside, outside linebacker or free safety, strong safety,” King coach Terel Patrick said. “There’s a lot of different roles; we can move him around and put him in positions where he can help the team overall defensively.”
At 6-foot-2 and 195 pounds, he is quick in coverage and a physical open field tackler leading to a forced fumble and several tackles for loss. He uses that same physicality on offense, making strong catches over the middle and breaking tackles after the catch.
He committed to Michigan State.
More coverage
Watch list: Top 10 rising juniors for 2026 high school football season
Watch list: Top 10 rising sophomores for 2026 high school football season
Nathan Korp is a freelance writer.
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Watch list: Top 10 rising seniors for 2026 high school football season
Reporting by Nathan Korp, Special to The Detroit News / The Detroit News
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By Nathan Korp, Special to The Detroit News | USA TODAY Network
