Click this LINK for the 2026 DCTF RISING Hot 100 and browse all of the numerical rankings and prospect data.
1. KJ Ford (6'3, 245) - Duncanville: Ford collected 57 tackles, seven sacks and 16 TFLs to earn first-team all-district and Under Armour All-America honors. The DCTF four-star has official visits currently scheduled with Alabama, Auburn, Oklahoma and USC.
2. Jamarion Carlton (6'5, 240) - Temple: Carlton collected 57 tackles, 11 TFLs and five sacks to earn 12-6A first-team all-district and Navy All-American honors. The DCTF four-star has official visits scheduled with Baylor, SMU, Texas, Texas, LSU and USC.
3. Landon Barnes (6'3, 220) - Duncanville: Barnes collected 43 tackles, six sacks and 12.5 TFLs as a junior in 2024. The DCTF four-star is considering offers from Baylor, SMU, Arizona State, LSU, Georgia, Ohio State, Washington and more.
4. Jesse Ford (6'4, 235) - Arlington Martin: Ford earned first-team all-district honors. The DCTF four-star is committed to TCU.
5. Carter Buck (6'6, 240) - Lake Travis: Buck earned 80 tackles, 17 TFLs and seven sacks to earn 26-6A Defensive Lineman of the Year honors. The DCTF three-star is committed to TCU.
6. Julian Hugo (6'4, 230) - Cibolo Steele: Hugo collected 83 tackles, 21 TFLs and 10 sacks to earn 29-6A Defensive MVP honors. The DCTF three-star has offers from Baylor, Houston, SMU, TCU, Texas Tech, Colorado, North Carolina, USC and more.
7. Hudson Woods (6'3, 230) - Smithson Valley: Woods collected 66 tackles, 13 sacks and 20 TFLs to help his team win a 5A Division I state title and earn 13-5A Defensive MVP honors. The DCTF three-star has official visits scheduled with SMU, Kansas State, Northwestern, Oklahoma State and Wisconsin.
8. Jaylen Stewart (6'2, 230) - Pearland: Stewart collected 52 tackles and 10 sacks to earn 22-6A first-team all-district honors. The DCTF three-star is committed to Oklahoma State.
9. Tucker Ashford (6'3, 230): Fort Worth Christian: Ashford earned first-team all-district and first-team all-state honors. The DCTF three-star has official visits scheduled with Houston, Illinois, Kansas State, Oklahoma State and Stanford.
10. Kaleb Walker (6'2, 240) - Lindale: Walker racked up 89 tackles, 20 TFLs and 10 sacks to earn 9-4A Division I first-team all-district honors. Walker has an official visit scheduled with Kansas State and offers from Houston, Texas Tech and more.
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