The Runway: 2027 Prospects Ready to Take Off 8/15

<!-- 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_62fa4203655f3","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["415058"],"_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":"Kreye is listed at 6-foot and 145 pounds but looks significantly taller on film and during Quarterback drills.  He's a long, lean righty who re-wrote the record books a season ago as a seventh-grader. Last year, he set the seventh-grade Harpool Middle School mark for passing yards in a game (252), completions in a game (17), passing yards in a season (1,463) and completions in a season (98). He's poised for a big season with his two favorite targets coming back for another season of middle school ball, before they're all off to Guyer High School in the fall of 2023.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_62fa4806655f4","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["415080"],"_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":"An absolutely destructive load on the Offensive Line and Defensive Line, Hunter is one of the best 2027 linemen in the country.  He's a big kid for just entering eighth-grade this school year, standing 6-foot-2 and 265 pounds. He is borderline unblockable, despite playing in one of the best youth leagues in the nation in Georgia. Has a u003cemu003especialu003c/emu003e first step coming of his stance, which allows for a ton of tackles for loss. Possess very good hands and is continuing to get better by training with Marcus Howard, one of the top trainers in Atlanta.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_62fa4990655f5","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["415091"],"_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":"Already standing 6-foot-4 and showing no signs of his growth slowing down, Geraci is one of the most coveted 2027 prospects in the New York/New Jersey metropolitan area. Unlike the majority of athletes who play Tight End on the youth level, Geraci isn't a slow Wide Receiver they bumped inside, he's truly a Tight End. Can stretch the field vertically but is more dangerous in the redzone or in the intermediate passing game. Geraci is a two-sport athlete (lacrosse) and also has an older brother (Alex) that plays football at Dartmouth.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_62fa4bce655f6","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["415098"],"_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 haven't seen much of Griffin Jr., but in my limited time evaluating him, I can say he has a chance to be a very good player as he continues through prep football. At 6-foot and 140-pounds, he's certainly on the thin side, but he has impressive in-game speed. Runs with purpose and balance, which makes it hard for defenses to get a clean shot on him. He's listed as an Athlete right now, but I think his home is certainly as a Wide Receiver. Can create when the ball is in his hands and is moved around to ensure that. Can get vertical, catch screens and also take end-around's to the house.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_62fa4d3c655f7","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["378855"],"_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":"Knoxville Catholic turns out FBS football players at a high clip and all signs point to Bowman being the next one in a long line. Some of our scouts first saw the 6-foot-1, 160-pound Wide Receiver last spring while trying out for the Tennessee Future Stars. Needless to say he was selected for the team, and then had a tremendous showing in the actual game versus Kentucky. He's a walking mismatch on the outside with his combination of size and speed, as there aren't many Defensive Back's that can lock him up on the youth level. Has very reliable hands and next-level body control already. The three-sport athlete is going to be a very good one.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_62fa4f56655f8","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["415124"],"_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":"If I were to do rankings, which I do not do on the youth level, I would need some strong convincing to not have Thompson as the No.1 overall prospect in Pennsylvania for the class of 2027. Simply put, Thompson is a grown man playing against boys on the middle school level.  At 6-foot and 185-pounds, he's one giant muscle at this point and is already benching 225-pounds for reps. Also a three-time Pennsylvania State Wrestling Champion, he has incredible lateral movement and overall quickness. I'll go a bit further and say that Thompson is one of the best Linebacker prospects I've seen in my career evaluating middle school athletes. He should have a number of offers before he starts high school at North Hills.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_62fa5018655f9","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["400838"],"_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 5-foot-11 and 153-pounds there's a lot to be excited about when it comes to Greenwood II and what his skill set brings to the Quarterback position. A member of Ginn Elite, one of the top youth programs in Ohio, he is a good looking young athlete that also excels in basketball. While he certainly has the ability to scramble, if I was forced to label Greenwood II, I'd say he's more of a pocket-passer than a dual-threat at this point. He looks comfortable in the pocket and does a good job of moving around to find throw lanes. That said, he's also shown the ability to make off-balance throws while on the run. I'm excited to see how another season of youth football goes for him, in addition to his development ahead of his high school career.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /-->