2026 Wide Receivers From California to Get Familiar With
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There is absolutely no shortage of future five star receivers in the state of California. From the Bay to San Diego and everywhere in between, the west coast is home to some of the most insanely talented football players in…
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Continue ReadingThere is absolutely no shortage of future five star receivers in the state of California. From the Bay to San Diego and everywhere in between, the west coast is home to some of the most insanely talented football players in the country. On the youth level perennial powerhouses such as the O.G. Ducks and O.C. Buckeyes are elite. On the high school level it seems like nearly every senior that graduates from one of the Trinity League schools goes on to play some level of college football; and speaking of college football USC, UCLA, Cal and many more are competing annually for the top spot in the PAC12. Talking about colleges might seem way off to many 8th grade athletes, but for these five wide receivers out of the Sunshine State, it might be closer than anticipated.
Madden Williams Madden Williams 6'2" | 180 lbs | WR St John Bosco | 2026 State CA | Irvine
I first saw Williams back in August 2019 when, as a 6th grader, he came home with the U14 MVP award during the U.S. National Team’s Middle School Bowl Games at The Star in Frisco, Texas. Since that game over two years ago the Cali baller has grown into a 6-foot, 162-pound sure handed machine for the O.C. Buckeyes football team. A star amongst a team full of stars, look for him to explode on the scene somewhere in the Trinity League next year as a freshman.
AJ Rangel Jr. | Los Gatos
On paper Rangel Jr. checks all the boxes you want for a big play receiver. He’s 6-foot-1 and 162 pounds, has a 31-inch vertical and has been clocked at a 4.68 in the forty-yard dash. The Northern Cali kid they call Megatron is a long-striding, vertical threat who really stretches the field and has very little problem taking the top off a defense. In his most recent game, a victory over a tough East Bay Warriors team, Rangel Jr. scored on both sides of the ball—highlighted by an interception where he essentially became the receiver, high pointed the ball and returned it to the house 28 yards later.
Ja"Myron Baker | Inland Empire
Named a UA Next All-American, Baker is one of the top 2026 receivers in the country and actually shares the field with the another talented wide out, Daniel Odom, for the O.G. Ducks. What really sticks out about Baker is his overall body control and ability to make some very tough catches. Having body awareness as a receiver is an often-overlooked trait and Baker is one of the best I’ve seen do it in years on this level. What’s also very impressive is the type of kid Baker is off the field. Just in 8th grade, the budding mogul already has started his own brand, “Lotta Juice” and donated a percentage of it’s earnings to charity during Autism Awareness month, last April.
Tay Lockett Tay Lockett 6'0" | 175 lbs | DB St. John Bosco | 2026 State CA | San Diego
The younger brother of class of 2022 prospect Ayden Lockett (who leads University City High School in interceptions, Tay Lockett Tay Lockett 6'0" | 175 lbs | DB St. John Bosco | 2026 State CA seems to have the same knack for securing the rock…but on the other side of the ball. At 6-foot-1 and 165 pounds, he’s already almost as tall as his brother and is listed as heavier than him as well. The big play threat was part of a dynamic duo with quarterback Quentyn DeMara Quentyn DeMara 5'11" | 175 lbs | QB University City | 2026 CA that helped lead their Rancho Hills Titans squad to a 6-0 regular season in So. Cal.
Daniel Odom | Inland Empire
Odom is an elite middle school receiver who makes big play after big play for one the staples of the travel football scene, the O.G. Ducks. At 6-foot-1 and 175 pounds of chiseled muscle, Odom can straight up bully opposing defensive backs and gives them little opportunity to stand in his way. On countless occasions he has displayed his ability to high point the ball, make jaw-dropping one-handed catches and simply get the job done. One part of his game that really sticks out to me, but doesn’t show up in the stat sheet, is how hard he works to create an opportunity to make a catch after a play breaks down. He always fights to get open.