Al Pops’ Class of 2027 Prospect Evaluations – 10/13
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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.
Last week I said that I felt like I saw the best 2027 dual-threat Quarterback in the country in Kavian Bryant Kavian Bryant 6’2″ | 180 lbs | QB Westwood | 2027 TX . Today I’m going back to Texas to talk about the 2027 prospect that could be, pound-for-pound, the most dominant prospect in the county… Jalen Brewster Jalen Brewster 6’2″ | 190 lbs | ATH TX . At 6-foot-2 and 190-pounds, Brewster looks is nearly impossible to bring down one-on-one. He’s built like a combination of former New York Giants Running Back Brandon Jacobs and current Tennessee Titans Running Back, Derrick Henry. The combination of speed and power he displays is unlike anyone else in the country. Drives his knees high in the air as he runs for power, in addition to the speed to run away from people. Brewster is in the Cedar Hill feeder program and should be there next year. He’s also the son of Robert Brewster, who was a third-round pick of the Dallas Cowboys in 2009.
Standing at 6-foot-4 and 195-pounds (unverified) Beeson is a very good-looking prospect out of Chattanooga, Tennessee. The Tyner Academy student-athlete is among the top tier of pure speed pass rushers in this 2027 class at this point. With his quick first steps and speed serving as the great differentiator, Beeson can make it a tough four quarters for opposing offenses. Blessed with a good frame to carry at least 30-40 more pounds as he continues to develop. Long-limbed pass rusher that plays with a good forward-lean that makes it difficult for Offensive Tackles to get a solid punch on him. Beeson is a high-motor, high-energy kid that can chase down plays away from him, in addition to running down Backs if they get to the second level or beyond. Would love to see some more strength and aggressiveness to combat if he gets stuck in hand fighting. That said, big time potential here in Beeson.
Another exciting prospect out of the Keystone State is Quarterback/Athlete Kellen Greene Kellen Greene 6’0″ | 160 lbs | QB Wilson | 2027 PA . The Wilson West Middle School athlete plays alongside a pair of other highly talented 2027 prospects in Monty Greer Monty Greer 5’10” | 165 lbs | RB Wilson | 2027 PA (who we will be covering coming up) and Michael Glover Michael Glover 6’3″ | 215 lbs | TE Wilson | 2027 State PA (who covered last month). Those three, in addition to a few others, are having a tremendous eighth-grade season. For Greene in particular he’s a dynamic two-sport athlete that is used to success in both basketball and football. He’s a dual-threat kid that can run circles around defenses; however in watching his film, he looks to distribute first. Aside from them being the same height and having a resemblance of one another, I see a lot of similarities between Greene and Denver Broncos Quarterback, Russell Wilson. In talking to those close to him, Greene is a tough, leader type that rallies his teammates. There’s also some thoughts that he could be an even better basketball player, than football player.
This is my 13th year of evaluating middle school prospects, and without fail, every year I find a couple of 6-foot, big-play Wide Receivers out of Oklahoma that I really like. Rashad Reece Rashad Reece 6’0″ | 150 lbs | WR Norman | 2027 OK of Irving Middle School in Norman, is one of those kids this year. He’s a very lean 6-foot, 150-pound Wide Receiver that plays basketball and also runs track. Throwing on the tape he does a very good job of stepping on the Defensive Back’s toes (a.k.a. getting even with him) before making a move to run past him. I like him getting vertical and stretching the field north and south. Like most young Wide Receivers he needs to sharpen his route-running, but does do a nice job of sticking his foot in the ground and making a move. Possesses good body control while in the air and can adjust to errant throws. Defensively he plays Outside Linebacker right now, but given his length and ability to cover ground, a move to Safety in high school wouldn’t shock me.
Standing 6-foot-3 and 188-pounds, Anthony Cartwright III Anthony Cartwright III 6’4″ | 200 lbs | TE Detroit Country Day | 2027 State MI is a Tight End prospect out of Michigan that is already attracting the attention of schools in the Midwest. He’ll be visiting Western Michigan this upcoming weekend and previously visited both Michigan and Michigan State. The college invite is a step towards the D1 goal, but Cartwright III has been putting the work in behind the scenes to get that invite. Also a tremendous basketball player and power hitter in baseball, Cartwright III played for the Southfield Falcons last year but is now playing for the Orchard Lake Cardinals, to round out his youth career. It should come as no surprise that many schools in the greater Detroit area would love to have Cartwright III on their squad next year.
Highlights
In Northwest Louisiana, Zeigler is making his case for a Quarterback to get familiar with pretty early. The Benton Middle School eighth-grader lives less than a half hour from Shreveport, but the team in purple and gold in Baton Rouge may want to start kicking the tires on him. Operating out of the shotgun formation in a primarily spread offense, Zeigler looks like a natural at the position. Possesses a beautiful throwing motion and a smooth release. He receives the snap and calmly sits in the pocket with eyes locked down field. He has pretty advanced escapability if he’s getting pressure, and throws an accurate ball on the run. In addition to ability, he has good size at 6-foot-1 and 160-pounds. The righty also plays competitive travel baseball at a high level.
Highlights
Georgia has a ton of talent each year and it’s very easy to see some of those prospects, like Rilee Drew Rilee Drew 5’9″ | 140 lbs | ATH Grayson | 2027 GA , start to separate themselves early. Drew is a member of the Grayson Rams feeder program, and plays alongside some of the other top 2027 prospects in the country. Iron sharpens iron with Drew taking reps with and against kids like London Goggans London Goggans 6’1″ | 170 lbs | WR Grayson | 2027 GA , Jett Watson Jett Watson DB Grayson | 2027 GA , Preston Glasco Preston Glasco 5’9″ | 145 lbs | DB Grayson | 2027 GA and others. Rilee has the prized ability to effect the game in all three phases, and does so on a regular basis. Long term I like him as a Cornerback above all other positions. He has the speed to run with receivers but it’s his elite ability to time his play on the ball that truly separates him. Whether he’s deflecting a pass or high-pointing a 50/50 ball, my money is on Drew to come out on top. He’s a difference maker and when he tacks on some more size, and gets into high school, the recruiting should pick up at a rampant rate.