Recruiting Runway: Class of 2027 Prospects to Know – 9/27

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Interested in reading this and more? Use the code&nbsp;<strong>AlPops30</strong>&nbsp;for 30% off a&nbsp;<a href="https://prepredzone.com/subscribe/?brand=next">Prep Redzone Next Subscription</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- 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_6331e11e029f1","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["457861"],"_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":"In Waxahachie, Texas if you're a football player with the last name Snell, big things are expected of you. Already standing 6-foot-2 and 170-pounds in just the eighth-grade, [player_tooltip player_id='457861' first='JayQuan' last='Snell'] is ready for the future. JayQuan is the younger brother of former four-star prospect Kenedy Snell, who signed with TCU out of high school and is now wrapping up his collegiate playing career at FCS Texas Au0026amp;M-Commerce. While it was clear that Kenedy was a skill position guy, the book remains unwritten on little brother JayQuan with his size and ability. There's no disagreeing that he's gifted athletically, as he's also one of the top 2027 basketball prospects in Texas, as well. A big, rangy kid with a great frame to work with, it's hard to project where he'll end up. I can see him paying anywhere on defense from Safety to Outside Linebacker to possibly even Defensive End. There's a ways to go here developmentally, but he's an FBS-caliber player...wherever he ends up.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_6331e2a5029f2","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["424420"],"_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 [player_tooltip player_id='457861' first='JayQuan' last='Snell'] is listed as an Athlete because of his staggering size and frame, Alabama's [player_tooltip player_id='424420' first='Jayden' last='Heard'] is listed as an Athlete because of his agility and ability to flat out fly. The Anniston Middle School student-athlete is the latest prospect to come through the Anniston pipeline to be excited about. As an athlete, Heard could be the predecessor to current 2023 Athletes Kamron Sandlin (South Carolina commit) and Jaylon Cunningham (13 offers). Heard currently plays Quarterback for the AMS Bulldogs but is certainly more of a threat to run the ball than throw the ball. Last April he was clocked at a 12.13 in the 100M, but I'd be shocked if that was down in the 11.7-11.9 range, based off film from this year. Needs to grow significantly and hit the weightroom hard to get ready for high school ball, but he's off a very good start.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_6331e3ef029f4","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["409959"],"_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":"Toki has long been thought of as one of the top pre-high school players in Southern California. So, while it may have came as a shock to most of the country that follows recruiting, it didn't surprise many locally when the USC Trojans became the first program to pull the trigger with a verbal offer. Toki picked the up offer last year as a seventh-grader, just before Halloween. A few months later, in June, another one of college football's blue bloods became his second offer, when the Michigan Wolverines extended a verbal offer. In my limited-interaction with Toki he seems to be as good a kid, as he is a football player. Plays for the OC Buckeyes travel program, and is just one of nearly half a dozen current eighth-graders with scholarship offers on the roster.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_6331e48e029f5","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["416462"],"_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":"Georgia is one of the four major hotbeds for football talent in my opinion, joining Florida, Texas and California. Class of 2027 prospect [player_tooltip player_id='416462' first='Justin' last='Weeks'] has a chance to land among the top recruits in the class when all is said and done. At a long, lean 6-foot-3 and 220-pounds (last known measurement) he has a frame and body structure that could be transformed into an SEC Offensive Tackle. He's high-cut and is essentially all legs. Moves exceptionally well relative to his size, build and age. Doesn't show a lot of baby deer in his movement at all to this point. Also plays hoops and can kick slide far better than the majority of Offensive Linemen at this point. Will need to, and should be able to do so with little issue, put on weight as he matures into high school. If he can put on 50-pounds over the next four years and keep that athleticism, he'll be elite.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_6331f496029f6","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["444543"],"_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":"Other than Offensive/Defensive Linemen, I believe the hardest other position group to attempt to project is the Wide Receiver/Cornerback type of prospects. Much like the Linemen, forecasting what side of the ball a prospect will end up playing on, so much depends on growth, quickness and how one's skill set continues to adapt to the changes. When it comes to Perkins Jr., he's about as close to a lock to play Cornerback throughout the rest of his playing days, that I've seen in this 2027 class. I say that, despite Perkins Jr. being cousins with former Heisman Trophy winner and first-round pick Wide Receiver DeVonta Smith. The 5-foot-9, 135-pound Cornerback is built with long arms and has the hands to snatch the ball out of the air whenever he has an opportunity to. He's expected to be at Amite High School in Louisiana for the next four years, but has already camped at both LSU and Grambling State.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_6331f8b7029f7","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["212351"],"_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":"There are handful of travel ball programs around the country that when you see they have a game, checking on results and highlights is a must...the Maryland Heat are one of those programs. Class of 2027 Quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='212351' first='Tristan' last='Sabb'] is one of the reasons why the Heat are must-see.  In my opinion, at 5-foot-10 and 150-pounds, Sabb is currently among the top Quarterbacks in the Mid-Atlantic/Northeast. I'm not the only one who thinks highly of Sabb, as Boston College became the first program to extend a verbal offer to Sabb, this past June. When watching his film it's easy to see what the excitement is all about. He's lightning-quick in the pocket and has the speed to make big plays while scrambling. The scariest part of his game is that his ability to run isn't even his best trait, he makes 30-to-40-yard passes look easy with his arm. I'm not saying he's the next Michael Vick, but besides Vick being a lefty and Sabb being a righty, the throwing motion and ease with which he can snap his wrist and throw a dart, is very reminiscent of the four-time Pro Bowler.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_633201d5029f9","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["457985"],"_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":"Don't look now, but Tupelo Middle School in Mississippi has another prospect with the last name McCoy. A year ago it was 6-foot-7, 245-pound [player_tooltip player_id='212365' first='JaReylan' last='McCoy'] terrorizing everyone on the field for the blue and gold. McCoy would go onto make the Prep Redzone Next National Watch List for the class of 2026, while picking up offers from Ole Miss, South Carolina, Mississippi State, Utah and others before starting high school. However, this year, it's all about 6-foot, 170-pound Linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='457985' first='Tre' last='McCoy'] at Tupelo. A first cousin of JaReylan, Tre is just as promising a prospect with his active play as an Outside Linebacker. Only in his third year of ever playing football, he has natural instincts that can't be taught. He reacts extremely quickly and a very sure-tackler. Through his first four games McCoy has tallied 14 solo tackles, five tackles for loss, one sack, one interception and a touchdown. Remember, he's only four games into his third year of ever playing football. The future is blindingly bright for both McCoys and the Tupelo program.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /-->