College Football Future: Class of 2027 Prospects to Know – 8/24

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As we head into a new season of youth and middle school football around the country, below is a look at some class of 2027 prospects (athletes beginning their eighth-grade school year) that have come across my desk. As football recruiting and evaluating continues to change, the eighth-grade season is becoming a pivotal time for young athletes to garner early attention from Universities. Here's a look at some prospects that are on the trajectory to be playing a high level of football for years to come.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_6303ac2542181","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["243535"],"_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":"Earlier this week we included 6-foot-3, 240-pound Offensive Tackle [player_tooltip player_id='417581' first='Dontavious' last='Coleman'] in our daily write up because we saw him on the film of this Running Back. Stephen recently made the move from Mississippi to Gainesville, Ga. and the talented 2027 prospect looks poised to make a big splash in his new state. He's put together with a nice, lean, muscular build at 5-foot-10 and 160-pounds. Has impressed at every camp/combine/showcase he's attended throughout his middle school career. Was timed at a 5.02 in the forty last April and has only gotten quicker since then. In a state full of talent, Stephen will settle in nicely towards the top of that list of 2027 prospects.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_6303dc0f577d2","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["423015"],"_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":"The Hamilton Tigers have long been a powerhouse youth football program in the DMV, turning out future P5 players, year in and year out. In fact the Tigers produced two prospects, [player_tooltip player_id='401997' first='Destin' last='Mitchell'] and [player_tooltip player_id='401994' first='Chris' last='Hewitt'], who received offers as eighth-graders and made the 2026 Prep Redzone Next National Watch List last season. Turning our attention to the class of 2027, it starts at the Quarterback position with Dixon. The 6-foot, 155-pound righty is someone to be excited about. Possesses a pretty advanced QB mind, as he goes through progressions when dropped back to pass and understands situations. While also a fairly mobile Quarterback, it's his quick decision-making and accuracy that has me excited. Blessed with a lot of good weapons around him, he should put up video game stats this season, before heading to high school next year.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_6303e56f7c6c4","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["408748"],"_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":"One of the longest Defensive Back's I've seen in the class of 2027 to this point. One of those prospects with long legs, and arms long enough to allow him to scratch his knee while standing up straight. I'm willing to be he can completely blanket and erase the No.1 Wide Receiver from nearly every youth team in the country right now. Washington offers a lot of versatility in his game as well. He can play Wide Receiver at a very high level on offense, and can be shifted to Safety on defense if needed. Covers a lot of ground quickly. In his final youth football season, he'll be playing for the OC Buckeyes. The Buckeyes are one of the most elite youth football programs in the country, and Washington will be playing alongside the likes of [player_tooltip player_id='419299' first='Kody' last='Strayhorn'], who we covered earlier this week.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_6303e59f7c6c5","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["409921"],"_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":"Baker is a very physically-developed athlete that excels in multiple sports on the middle school level. Baker is built like an action figure with a lot of muscle for just entering the eighth-grade. Coming off a spring track season that saw his squad win a conference championship and Baker finish in first place in all four events he participated in (100m, 200m, 4x100m and Long Jump). He turns to football now where he is certainly one of the top Quarterbacks coming out of the state in the class of 2027. Baker is already squatting 300-plus pounds and looks the part of a special athlete. With his track numbers as proof, he's a dual-threat that can beat defenses with his arms and his legs. The future is very bright here.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_6303e96c7c6c6","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["415448"],"_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":"When evaluating middle school prospects, it's important to keep in mind how much can change in a year. Watching Augustus' film from last season, there were flashes of elite play and you could see the potential on the field. In watching a few clips from his play this season, Augustus has locked in and those u0022flashesu0022 of elite play, have become the norm. Standing 5-foot-10 and 155-pounds, he's a very decisive Running Back who does a nice job of sticking his foot in the ground and getting North/South quickly. Doesn't do a lot of dancing around in the backfield or in space. Runs standing up too tall at times, but that's a coachable change. Defensively, he can play Outside Linebacker or Safety. Has worked hard this off-season fine-tuning his drops and hip fluidity. Jury is out on what position he'll predominantly end up playing, but he'll be a good one.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_6303eade7c223","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["415457"],"_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":"I got my first look at Johnson this summer at the Future Stars Game and was happy with what I saw. When I approached Johnson before one of the practices, I assumed he was a space-eating Defensive Tackle based on his massive 6-foot-3, 315-pound frame. However, when Johnson told me he does play defense but his main position was Offensive Tackle, I was intrigued. After watching him play I can see why he called him self an Offensive Lineman. Johnson has natural strength that he uses to just mow Defensive Linemen over on run plays. In pass protection he does a pretty good job if he gets his hands un the rusher, but there's considerable room for improvement with his feet. Speed rushers may give him a problem until his coordination picks up a bit during his kick step and slide. All that said, I'm still not completely convinced he doesn't end up as an interior Defensive Lineman because of his size and strength. Time will tell.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_6303ee157c224","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["364938"],"_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":"One of the best kept u0022secretsu0022 in Eastern/Central Pennsylvania is the Vaportrail 24/7 Speed Performance Training Facility. Across multiple sports, the facility has trained 183 All-State players, 65 State Champions and 40 All-Americans. Keller is one of the younger athletes that trains there, but is also one of the most elite. Pennsylvania is home to Penn State University, a.k.a. Linebacker U, and Keller is shaping up to become one of the top 2027 Linebackers in the state. He's grown a bit over the last year and is up to 6-foot and a solid 192-pounds. Also a Running Back on offense, he plays both positions hard, fast and aggressively. At this size, he was clocked at a 4.6 in the forty at the Schuylkill County combine in June. I'm a big fan of Keller and think he has Division 1 ability if he continues on his trajectory.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /-->