Al Pops’ Class of 2027 Prospect Evaluations – 10/20

<!-- 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_63515c7210650","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["443198"],"_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":"Clay-Chalkville High School in Alabama is one of the top programs in the state year-in and year-out, currently sitting at 7-1 on the season and ranked No.5 in the state. The success at the high school level should come at no surprise when you look at their feeder program (the middle school team) and kids like 2027 prospect [player_tooltip player_id='443198' first='Isaiah' last='Brown']. At 5-foot-10 and 205-pounds, Brown is a thick Linebacker that can really bring it. Physically he's built like a traditional Mike Linebacker, but on film there are clips of him playing Sam, Will and Mike. He moves quite well for his build and shows off some impressive agility and athleticism, Plays Running Back on the offensive side of the ball and was a chore for defenses to bring down.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","anchor":"acf-block-6499fbf82a64b"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_63515f6910651","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["481694"],"_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 that last name made you take a double-take, it's for good reason. Duece is the son of former three-time Pro Bowler and current NFL Network Analyst, Maurice Jones-Drew. Like his pops, Duece has a compact build at 5-foot-7 and 155-pounds, and has considerable muscle mass relative to his size and development at this point. The class of 2027 prospect fittingly wears jersey No.2 for an undefeated East County Lions team in Northern California. I have him currently listed as an Athlete because he does play some Safety, but I think his projections all point to the Running Back position. While his size may inevitably draw some skepticism, when you watch clips of him playing, that should go away. He runs low to the ground giving defenders a very small target, and he has elite balance, which allows him to stay up and keep the chains moving. Apple didn't fall far from the tree, here.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"edit","anchor":"acf-block-6499fbf82a67e"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_63515f9c10652","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["481708"],"_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":"On the west coast of Florida there's a 6-foot-3, 185-pound Wide Receiver/Tight End prospect that coaches need to take note of quickly. We wrote about Wolny a few times last year, but after re-classing to the 2027 class this past off-season, he is playing on another level. With his size and speed there isn't much he can't bully himself into doing on the field for the Naples Gators. He runs routes like a Wide Receiver, which leads to a ton of versatility and creativity. On film he shows the ability to take screens and short/intermediate routes the distance with his open-field catch-and-carry prowess. The walking, breathing, receiving mismatch can also take the top off a defense and go vertical, easily outmuscling smaller Defensive Backs for balls in the air. Just how much speed Wolny adds during his transition into high school should dictate if he ultimately ends up at Wide Receiver or Tight End. If he ends up at the latter, the kid isn't afraid to get physical and block if asked to, either. Reminds me a tremendous amount of another former Naples resident, and current Washington State Tight End, Andre Dollar.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"edit","anchor":"acf-block-6499fbf82a6ac"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_63515fb910653","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["416407"],"_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":"Glasco is another prospect that is no stranger the headlines of Prep Redzone Next, as he was covered multiple times last season. We've also talked about Glasco several times this year, with prospect evaluations in u003ca href=u0022https://prepredzone.com/2022/09/the-runway-c-o-2027-prospects-to-know-before-h-s-9-16/u0022u003eSeptemberu003c/au003e and u003ca href=u0022https://prepredzone.com/2022/10/al-pops-class-of-2027-prospect-evaluations-10-13/u0022u003eOctoberu003c/au003e,  showcasing some of his Grayson teammates. Today we'll look a little more at the 5-foot-9, 130-pounds Georgia prospect and his ability on both sides of the ball. Despite missing some time this season, Glasco was u0022pushing Pu0022 and showed me a lot of promise as a Running Back. He hit the hole hard and while he doesn't have elite speed at this point, he certainly has more than enough speed to run in the Gwinnett Football League, one of the best youth football leagues in the country. With that said, I think it's pretty clear his future is going to be on the defensive side of the ball in the secondary. Some say tackling is a lost art for Defensive Backs in today's game, watching Glasco play should restore faith in their ability to bring ball carriers down. He can flat out lay the wood. Comes up in runs support, does not shy away from contact and looks like he enjoys inflicting pain.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"edit","anchor":"acf-block-6499fbf82a6dd"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_6351603f10654","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["481074"],"_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":"Back in 2016-2017, I remember getting film on an athlete wearing jersey No.2 out of Magee, Mississippi that was special with the ball his hands. It didn't matter if he was passing it or running it, the kid just had that u0022It Factoru0022. The athlete and film I'm referring to belonged to current Southern Mississippi Running Back, u003cstrongu003eChandler Pittmanu003c/strongu003e. However, there is now a new Pittman wearing jersey No.2 from Magee, Mississippi in younger brother, [player_tooltip player_id='481074' first='Connor' last='Pittman']. Similar to his older brother at this stage, there is certainly room for interpretation on what position he ends up playing at the next level. There's no question he's playing at a different speed than others on the field; That's easy to see on film, as he claims a 4.58 forty time. He certainly looks the part as a next-level Running Back prospect. However, it's what he does defensively as a Corner Back, that has me looking the other way. There aren't going to be many Wide Receivers at this level (or even the high school level, for that matter) that are going to shake him in coverage. He has also shows the ability to enter the box and drop ball carriers where they stand. In the end, I think Running Back ultimately wins out, but he's a talent worth getting to know now.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"edit","anchor":"acf-block-6499fbf82a70d"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_635161ea10655","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["476456"],"_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":"When talking about New Jersey youth football programs, the list has to include the Silk City Cardinals. The program based out of the Patterson concrete jungle has the reputation for turning out a ton of promising next-level prospects, just like Willis. The elastic athlete plays along side several other top kids in the state, such as [player_tooltip player_id='431426' first='Mikahi' last='Allen'], Kobe St. Hilaire, [player_tooltip player_id='431476' first='Marlon' last='Williams'], [player_tooltip player_id='437687' first='Bryan' last='Porter'] and others on a very loaded squad. In speaking on Willis in particular, he's another versatile kid who looks like he can play a number of different positions. Though there are clips of him taking handoffs out of the backfield this season, he looks to be a future Wide Receiver. Has the build you want for a 2027 prospect on the perimeter and it's not going unnoticed. Many of New Jersey's top private high schools are already in the mix for Willis. Stay tuned.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"edit","anchor":"acf-block-6499fbf82a735"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_6351621f10656","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["473879"],"_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":"Life can be funny and run in parallels, some times. The other day I did a writeup on 2027 Quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='473993' first='Canon' last='Bronson'], whose late father Jason Bronson played at Oklahoma and was a Student Assistant on OU's 2000 National Championship team. Today, I head back to Oklahoma to cover another 2027 prospect in Tight End Case Alexader, whose dad Stephen Alexander, was a teammate of the elder Bronson and dawned the crimson and cream. The Tight End ability in the Alexander household runs deep. As previously mentioned Stephen played at Oklahoma before a 10-year NFL career, that saw him voted into the Pro Bowl in 2000. Case, an eighth-grader at Washington Middle School, is also the younger brother to [player_tooltip player_id='154210' first='Cooper' last='Alexander'], a 2024 Tight End prospect with a Tulsa offer. Standing 6-foot-2 and 170-pounds right now, Case is built with the same long, lean build his older brother has. Athletically, Case certainly looks like he could have the edge long term. A three-sport athlete who also plays basketball in addition to track and field, the youngest Alexander can also bring it as an Outside Linebacker/Edge type as well. At this level he's dominant on both sides of the ball, but I'm willing to bet I know what position he ends up at in the future.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"edit","anchor":"acf-block-6499fbf82a764"} /-->