A Deep Talent Pool
The Los Angeles Daily News has rolled out its preseason Top 100 list for the 2026 high school football season, a snapshot of the players who are expected to dominate the conversation across the San Fernando Valley, Ventura County and Santa Clarita. The rankings capture the excitement that surrounds a year in which programs are already mapping out their futures.
At the center of the buzz is Sierra Canyon, whose front line features Myles Baker, a UCLA‑bound senior who posted 30 tackles and two interceptions last year, and Cooper Cook, a UNLV commit who anchored the defensive line with nine tackles for loss and four sacks. Their presence underscores the school’s reputation as a pipeline for Power Five talent.
The article also shines a light on other marquee names, from Charles Davis III, a six‑foot‑six wide receiver bound for Cal, to Kasi Currie, the nation’s second‑ranked defensive lineman who will join Texas after a season that included four tackles for loss. Quarterbacks such as Chase Curren of Crespi, who threw for more than 2,100 yards and 31 touchdowns, add another layer of intrigue.
Beyond the headline acts, a wave of rising sophomores and juniors is already making noise. Ford Green, a sophomore at Westlake, completed 157 of 231 passes for 2,195 yards and 31 scores, drawing offers from Michigan, Ohio State and Florida State. Likewise, Jaxsen Stokes of Sierra Canyon, a running back who averaged 80.2 yards per game and scored 12 rushing touchdowns, is being courted by Cal and others.
The breadth of college commitments stretches from the Pac‑12 to the Big Ten, with prospects pledging to schools such as Alabama, Georgia, LSU, Oregon and Miami. The diversity of destinations reflects a national interest in the region’s talent, and it sets the stage for a season that could see several of these athletes transition to the next level sooner than expected.
As the 2026 campaign approaches, coaches and analysts alike are watching how these players will translate preseason hype into on‑field production. The depth displayed by Sierra Canyon, combined with the emergence of programs like Oaks Christian and Chaminade, suggests that the Valley will remain a hotbed of recruiting and competition.