Rising Stars of the 2026 Season
The 2026 high school football season is set to begin on Aug. 21, marking the start of a highly anticipated recruiting cycle for the Class of 2027. In the Los Angeles Daily News coverage area, several senior standouts have already locked in their college destinations, drawing attention for their impressive performances on the field.
Sierra Canyon linebacker Kasi Currie, a senior, has pledged to Texas after recording 15 tackles and four tackles for loss this past season, while Valencia defensive back Caysen Badawi chose San Diego State, where his five interceptions and eleven solo stops highlighted a breakout year.
Running back Jaxsen Stokes of Sierra Canyon committed to Cal, having rushed for 722 yards and twelve touchdowns in 2025, underscoring his dual‑threat capabilities. At Westlake, punter Gabriel Goroyan signed with Stanford after posting a 58‑touchback rate and a 40.3‑yard average per punt.
Defensive lineman Marcus Fakatou, also from Sierra Canyon, is headed to Ohio State after tallying 28 tackles and ten tackles for loss, and wide receiver Tahj Skinner from Notre Dame will continue his career at UC Davis, where he logged 23 receptions for 214 yards.
Additional commitments include Myles Baker of Sierra Canyon, who chose UCLA after a season with 34 tackles and two interceptions; Charles Davis of Westlake, known as “Spyda,” pledged to Cal, contributing 30 receptions and eleven touchdowns; and Calabasas wide receiver Kingston Celifie, who committed to UCLA, recorded 56 catches and nine touchdowns.