The Runway: 2027 Prospects Ready to Take Off 8/10

<!-- 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_62f15f3253f90","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["408969"],"_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":"While older brother, and unanimous No.1 Offensive Tackle in Missouri for the class of 2023, [player_tooltip player_id='37658' first='Cayden' last='Green'] is busy stopping Edge rushers...younger brother Caleb thrives on causing havoc.  The 5-foot-8, 165-pound Edge rusher is exceptionally quick off the snap and is into the backfield before many Offensive Tackle's are even out of their stance. Currently listed as an Athlete because he's a bit of a tweener with his size, but I fully think he'll eventually become a highly-recruited Defensive End. He has exceptional hands, shooting them quickly and using them to keep would-be blockers off him. Once that height kicks in, like this 6-foot-5 Cayden, it'll be all over but the crying.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview","anchor":"acf-block-65c564529763a"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_62f15f92b653d","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["401056"],"_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":"No matter how you slice it, for an athlete heading into their eighth-grade year and already standing 6-foot-5 and 315-pounds, it's impressive. Add in the fact that he has an 80-inch wingspan (the height of Michael Jordan) and you have a prospect that's going to get significant looks from colleges, based on potential alone. The interest has already started with Eastern Kentucky becoming the first school to extend an offer back in May. At the youth/middle school level size plays more of a factor than at any other level, and he obviously dominates the competition right now. In my limited views of watching him play, I think Lawson has a high ceiling but quickness and overall lateral movement must improve. Currently I'd play him inside to cover up some of those issues. With that said, he has all the potential in the world to be a Right Tackle in the future.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview","anchor":"acf-block-65c564529768a"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_62f16056b653e","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["409006"],"_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":"Much like Green above, Rice is another prospect I could have/should have listed as an Athlete at this point, because of how dominant he is on both sides of the ball. Offensively, they don't make too many 6-foot-2, 190-pound playmaking Tight End's on the youth level. He can out-muscle Defensive Back's if he is split out wide, yet he's quicker than most Linebacker's, so coverage becomes difficult. That said, I like what I see out of him as a Defensive End a little bit more right now. He has the classic Tight End build of being a big, long, heavier kid with unassuming quickness. He gets off the ball quickly and can avoid blocks most of the time. However, if an Offensive Tackle does get a hand on him, he understands leverage enough to be able to stay low, bend and power through the block. He has plenty of time to figure out where he fits, but he can play both positions at a high level.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview","anchor":"acf-block-65c56452976c5"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_62f16229ccaed","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["409027"],"_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":"Every great Quarterback knows they need a Wide Receiver that acts like that random drawer in the kitchen. Don't know where to put something (the ball)? Throw it in the drawer. Need to get rid of it (the ball) quickly? Throw in the drawer. Need to put it (the ball) somewhere that you'll always be able to find it with ease? Throw it in the drawer. Much like u0022the draweru0022 I'm talking about, Chiko is a catch-all. The 5-foot-10, 175-pounds Wide Receiver is a reliable target that Quarterbacks know they can depend on when they get in a pinch. He's not the biggest, not the fastest, not the most skilled, but he seems to always come in the clutch when you need him. Kind of like that spare set of keys you need to find in the most inopportune time, rely on the catch-all. Expect a big year out of him at Lawrence County.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview","anchor":"acf-block-65c56452976f6"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_62f1625dccaee","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["408757"],"_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":"At 6-foot and a barrel-chested 295-pounds, Rao is a disruptive two-way lineman for Pearland East Junior High School. As a seventh-grader this past season, he was named the Pearland East 7A team MVP after an overpowering year on both sides of the ball. Currently listed as a Defensive Lineman, namely a Defensive Tackle, he's a forceful interior prospect who has no problem clogging the A-gap or two-gapping and eating up two blockers. He could easily be listed as an Offensive Lineman as well though, with unassuming quickness as a Guard. If quick enough to chip a Defensive Lineman in front of him and still get up the next level and pick up a Linebacker. Also talented in Track and Field, finishing second in his district in shot put, and first in discuss.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview","anchor":"acf-block-65c5645297723"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_62f16293ccaef","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["378902"],"_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":"This summer at the Tennessee/Kentucky Future Stars game was the first glimpse we got of Amofah Jr. and the young man certainly lest a lasting impression, en route to a Defensive MVP honor in the border bash. Since that mid-June showdown, Amofah Jr. has since moved to Georgia and now attends Utopian Academy, outside of Atlanta. However, the 5-foot-11, 215-pound Defensive Lineman has shown no signs of slowing down since the move. Natural strength and quickness, along with tweener size allows to play both Defensive End and Defensive Tackle. Going back to the Future Stars Game, Amofah Jr. notched a number of tackles for loss including a Sack and a Safety in the contest. Georgia is one of, if not u003cemu003ethe, u003c/emu003etop state for pre-high school football and I look forward to seeing him continue to ascend.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview","anchor":"acf-block-65c5645297752"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_62f162b7ccaf0","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["378969"],"_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":"Rounding our the u0022Runwayu0022 today is a 2027 prospect that goes by one name on the national circuit, u0022Da Landlord.u0022 While I can usually do without the ludicrous nickname's I see across the country pinned on youth athletes, his name fits.  Kelly-Murray makes sure everyone knows the field is his and you're just borrowing it until he gets there. He's listed as an athlete because he gets it done at any position on the field he's put at.  Defensively, as Defensive Back he can lockdown your top Wide Receiver. If you want him to play Linebacker, he'll make it tough for plays to get out of the backfield. In Special Teams, I urge teams to strongly think twice about kicking it his way. On the Offensive side of the ball, he's a threat to score any time he catches the rock at any spot on the field. It's quite early yet, and I u003cstrongu003edon't u003c/strongu003edo rankings on middle school athletes, but u003cemu003eif I did, u003c/emu003eI'd have a very hard time keeping him out of the top-10 in the class of 2027 at this point.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview","anchor":"acf-block-65c5645297786"} /-->