Al Pops’ Class of 2027 Prospect Evaluations – 10/11

<!-- 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_634561cba712e","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["471040"],"_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":"Appearing to stand every bit of his listed size of 6-foot-2 and 190-pounds, Coronado is a 2027 Pro-Style Quarterback to get familiar with out in the greater Los Angeles area. The big, strong righty is the engine of a high-powered offense and routinely puts the ball on the money to fellow 2027 weapons, [player_tooltip player_id='471041' first='Gavin' last='Williams'] and [player_tooltip player_id='471042' first='Kenny' last='Carter']. While he is entering the final weeks of his youth career, all indications point to the promising signal caller joining his older brother u003cstrongu003eAustin Coronado,u003c/strongu003e a 2025 prospect, at Bishop Amat in high school next year. Amat has a lot of talent on its roster, including 2025 QB [player_tooltip player_id='282736' first='Luke' last='McNulty'] and his multiple offers, so if he Coronado ends up at Amat, any early playing time will be well-earned.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview","anchor":"acf-block-6757b8e01d823"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_63456425a712f","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":[243642],"_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":"After moving from Rhode Island to the greater Orlando area, enrolling in a new school and reclassing to the class of 2027, Rust is set to continue his football journey. At 6-foot-3 and 200-pounds, he's a confident QB prospect that shows flashes of elite play but improved consistency will help him in the long run. Having seen him live several times last year, when he's dialed in and he can spin it with the some of the best the 2027 class has to offer. It's also been a pleasure to watch his improvement year to date. It sounds cliche, but the game has seemed to slow down for him and you can see him going through progressions in his head.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview","anchor":"acf-block-6757b8e01d855"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_63456468a7130","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["467617"],"_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 you're talking about kids that were not on my radar a few months ago, but that have certainly become a huge blip on it, you have to start with Washington. Admittedly I had never heard of until he reached out to me with film and I really liked what I saw. The speedy, slippery Washington is a walking (or running) highlight tape and has scored as a Wide Receiver, Running Back, Punt Returner, Kick Returner and Defensive Back this season. Currently attending North Clayton Middle School, Washington's versatility has proven to be a big part of the Tigers' unblemished 6-0 record, as they head into the playoffs. To date, Washington has accounted for 13 total touchdowns and seven interceptionsu002du002dfour of which, he's taken back to the house.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview","anchor":"acf-block-6757b8e01d87d"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_6345696ab7963","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["472861"],"_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, like many other talent evaluators and coaches, like athletes who play multiple sports at a high level. Roberts is exactly one of those types of kids, playing Quarterback on the gridiron and Outfield on the baseball diamond. Standing a long, lean 6-foot-2 and 175-pounds, it's no surprise an athlete with this build is having athletic success early in his career. Early is the operative word, as he has been playing both middle school and JV football since the seventh grade for Mobile Christian in Alabama. On the baseball side of things, he's a highly ranked athlete per some of the trusted national sites, highlighted by a No.1 ranking for 2027 Outfielders in Alabama. Swinging back to the football field, I see a logical comparison to former four-star recruit and current Texas Longhorn Quarterback, [player_tooltip player_id='25228' first='Maalik' last='Murphy'].","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview","anchor":"acf-block-6757b8e01d8a6"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_63456c78b7964","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["473722"],"_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":"Year in and year out, Owasso High School takes on some of the best competition the state of Oklahoma has to offer. For proof of that, all one needs to do is look at their 2-4 record thus far on the season and then look at their No.23 ranking in the state. Despite the losing record they're still a top-25 team in the state at this point. There's also reason for more optimism in Ram Land when they welcome in Reagan next year as a Freshman. The current eighth-grader currently stands a stout 6-foot-1 and 280-pounds and has the ability to go with his size. He's a mauler across the front and can seemingly flip on that mean switch in the trenches. Aside from being the biggest guy on the field for the eighth-grade Rams, he's also a two-way lineman wearing jersey No.8. Can't miss 'em.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview","anchor":"acf-block-6757b8e01d8cd"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_63456ca6b7965","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["472878"],"_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":"Ballinger is an interesting prospect/story out of Wadsworth, Ohio. Hailing just 45 minutes from Cleveland and the chilly banks of Lake Erie, Ballinger is a 6-foot, 185-pound Linebacker/Running Back who is putting the finishing touches on a tremendous eighth-grade season and is also a u003cemu003edeafu003c/emu003e athlete. A two-way star for the Grizzlies, Ballinger rushed for (unofficially) 1,400 yards on 68 carries in seven games this season. While his offensive output is impressive, I think his future is at Linebacker, and defensively he had 75 tackles and two interceptions. In total he amassed 20 touchdowns on the year. Ballinger is also an accomplished wrestler with a high school-ready build right now. He plays instinctively and physicallyu002du002dtwo traits coaches love Linebackers to have.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview","anchor":"acf-block-6757b8e01d8f3"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_63456cc3b7966","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["408616"],"_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":"Just about two weeks removed from receiving his first verbal offer from Hawaii, Starling is an emerging 2027 prospect out of Pearland, Texas that high school football fans should start to know. Currently a student at Dr. Ronald E. McNair Junior High, he will be at Shadow Creek High School next year. Shadow Creek is no stranger to talented prospects, as the Sharks currently sit at 6-0 on the season, and have nearly 20 current players with reported offers. Starling, affectionately nicknamed u0022NuNuu0022, is one of those kids that plays with that plays with that dog mentality. Whether it be at his main position of Wide Receiver, at Defensive Back, or even in the return game, he's always looking for the opportunity to make life difficult for the opposition. Right now he's listed at 5-foot-11 and 155-pounds (unofficially) with considerable straight-line speed. Stay tuned to see how Starling's high school career unfolds.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview","anchor":"acf-block-6757b8e01d91c"} /-->