Who is the best 2026 midfielder in Texas? 

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The PrepSoccer player rankings for the state of Texas for the class of 2026 were released on Thursday. The freshman class includes a number of top prospect in the midfield position, including a few with youth national team appearances on their resume. View <a href="https://prepsoccer.com/texas/rankings/boys/2026-rankings/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the full 2026 rankings here</a>. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Check out a scouting report on some of the top ranked midfielders in the class below.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["86694"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Torres is one of the few 2026 players playing regularly with his club's U17 team in MLS Next. The young 2007 is clearly a highly rated prospect within Austin FC. There are a number of reasons why the Texas club is so vested in the development of the center midfielder. There is a casual swagger to his game as he glides around the field. He's obviously comfortable on the ball, but he's also always in control. He has elite anticipation (both in possession and defending) and seems to be a step ahead of most players. The high soccer IQ will take him a long way in the sport.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["88475"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Zuniga is a top prospect from the Austin FC academy. He is a right-footed midfielder who is clean on the ball. He is excellent in possession and has great control of the ball. He is very comfortable playing under pressure and has unique traits to work out of tight spaces. Watching him work away from pressure and open up the field really stands out as not many midfielders have that type of skill and vision. He is a high work rate player and covers a lot of ground during the game. He will press with the forward line when asked to - based on the game plan. There are times when he steps up a line and plays as an attacking midfielder. He has the vision to provide key passes in the attacking third. Zuniga's potential as a box-to-box midfielder is easy to see.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":2,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63dc15e6e0d19"} /--> <!-- wp:image {"align":"center","id":91006,"width":369,"height":512,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/02/AbnerZuniga-IG-2.jpg?w=738" alt="" class="wp-image-91006" width="369" height="512" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='88475' first='Abner' last='Zuniga'], Austin FC</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["16597"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Bolanos is a do-everything type of midfielder. He's probably best as a defensive midfielder, but he's got traits to be a box-to-box midfielder too.  He does everything that a coach wants from a player in the center midfield role. He is active and focused. He keeps his side organized and does well in the transition moments of the game. Bolanos is a good passer. He pings the ball side-to-side and looks for those opening to hit the opposition with a long diagonal ball when the outside back drops his attention for a moment. It's painfully obvious when Bolanos isn't on the field for the Dynamo U15 team.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["90918"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Razo is an FC Dallas holding midfielder who has been in the youth national team picture in the past. He stood out from game film for his ability to read the play and disrupt the rhythm of the opposition. He does well in the tackle and often wins possession cleanly for his side following a duel. He has some quality in possession as well. He is comfortable in playing in the center and does well with the game in front of him. Razo is in the perfect development academy for him to improve as a distributor from that role, which would take his game to the next level.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["16752"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Ackerson stood out for his defensive qualities. He is a very good marker - he tracks runs well and shuts down the opponent with his relentless hounding. He has the versatilitiy to play any role in a midfield as he has good vision and skill.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["56088"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Luccin is a famous name in the soccer world so it's no surprise to see [player_tooltip player_id='56088' first='Marlon' last='Luccin'] among the top players from the 2026 class. He is a box-to-box midfielder, right-footed. He has a good first touch and quick feet. He is not flashy, but he's solid and consistent. He's a regular starter for the FC Dallas U16 MLS Next team.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["90862"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"The more I watched Austin FC, the easier it was to spot why Williams is such a valuable piece for this team. He is disruptive in the midfield, and excellent at protecting the back four. He is in the right spots to cut out passes and does well quickly finding his teammates. Williams covers ground when needed and clearly has the engine for the full field runs, but he is smart in his tactical approach, which makes him a top prospect for the position.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["90844"],"_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"Moncrief really impressed during the MLS Next event. The Austin FC midfielder was previously a standout for DKSC. He has transitioned to MLS Next this season and earned a role with the Austin FC U15 team. He does the little things really well. He checks his shoulder before receiving the ball, he doesn't turn into pressure, and he makes good quick decisions in possession. Defensively, he will put in the tackle to stop a counter - his game awareness and recognition is impressive for his age. Moncrief gave the Real Salt Lake midfield all sorts of issues during the MLS Next event, which showed he can go against the best in the country in this age group and still shine bright.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":6,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63dc15e6e0ec4"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->