Al Pops’ Class of 2027 Prospect Evaluations – 11/7

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We are officially into November and middle school football seasons are reaching the later stages, or in some states, has already wrapped up. The prospect landscape is starting to become clearer and below is a look at some class of 2027 prospects (athletes in 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_6369606f2c754","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["501365"],"_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":"A monster of a 2027 prospect, standing 6-foot-4 and 320-pounds, Aleaga is a young man to know out of Nevada. After reclassing from the 2026 class, the young man affectionately called u0022Pukau0022, has missed significant time this year overcoming a bacteria-based health scare. However, that's behind him now and the devastating blocker is back on the field for the Vegas Strong. I look forward to seeing the big man play down at the AYF National tournament in Florida in December, should the talent Vegas team make it there.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["499433"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"The California-recently turned-Nebraska resident is proving to be a welcomed football addition in the Cornhusker State. At 6-foot-1 and 190-pounds Cotton is standing out in his new Lincoln surroundings with his ability to stretch the field vertically. Right now he's a bit of a tweener, somewhere between a Tight End and Wide Receiver on offense. Everything about his game screams Wide Receiver. Between the speed, ability to catch in traffic and the yards he picks up after the catch, all point to being an outside threat. However, when you factor in his size and strength, it's not hard to see a scenario where he's lined up as one of these new age Tight End's, that makes life rough for Defensive Back's who can't match up physically. Get familiar here!","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["505207"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Contrary to popular belief, the state of Delaware does turn out football prospects, it's just that often times those prospects head to private schools in Maryland, Philadelphia or Southern New Jersey. After seeing the ability of Corbin in person, I wouldn't be shocked to see him follow suit. He's impressive. At 5-foot-10 and 180-pounds, he has a very promising frame and the football ability to boot. Complete with the high-cut legs, skinny ankles and top-heavy build, he looks like he's going to be a big time Linebacker prospect. Moves well laterally and comes downhill with a purpose. Can run the ball on offense if he needs to, but admittedly, he likes blowing Running Backs up. Write down his name to remember.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["503618"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Every once in a while I come across a film that makes me stop in my tracks, and I almost feel bad for the other kids on the field. That's what happened recently, when a coach reached out to me about Davis. Standing 6-foot-3 and 220 pounds, Davis was a big reason for Franklin Junior High winning the Southwestern Buckeye League championship. Located just 45 minutes north of Cincinnati, he's special combination of size, speed and power that leads him to be the best kid on the field more times than not. In talking with a local coach, he said Davis has more FBS potential and ability at this stage, then several other previous athletes he coaches, he ended up at the FBS level. I've listed him as an Athlete because where he ends up playing is still up in the air. If I had to pick right now, I'd say he ends up as a Tight End/Defensive End based off skill set. However, landing at Outside Linebacker shouldn't be ruled out just yet.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["505244"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"I got the opportunity to see Pace live this past weekend ,and color me impressed. On a field with many talented players from Maryland, Virginia and Delaware, he was the first 2027 prospect I locky.ed eyes on when drills started up. He passes the eye test right away at 6-foot-1 and 180 pounds with a very sculpted build. Like [player_tooltip player_id='499433' first='Mason' last='Cotton'] above, he's another eighth-grade prospect that has the skill set of a Wide Receiver but the build like a Tight End. He told me he also plays Defensive End on the defensive side of the ball, which I can easily see. Pace plays his regular season ball with the Maryland Heat, which is one of, if not u003cemu003ethe u003c/emu003epremier travel ball program in the DMV. In a few short years, Davis should be able to write his ticket to any number of P5 schools if he stays on this trajectory.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["485443"],"_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"I'm going to keep in the DMV and talk about 2027 Wide Receiver prospect, [player_tooltip player_id='485443' first='Iveon' last='Lewis']. The 2027 prospect, who will continue to be at Life Christian Academy in Virginia, already holds offers from Maryland, Boston College and South Carolina. At 6-foot and and 155-pounds he's a very gifted athlete that is simply better than 99% of the kids he lines up against. I don't think there's a measurement out there for how long a prospect can stay in the air, but when Lewis goes up to a high-point a ball, it's as if time stops and he's in midair. It's truly one of the more impressive things I've seen in my nearly 13 years of evaluating middle school-aged prospects. Life Christian Academy turns out multiple P5 kids each year and Lewis appears to be destined to follow suit come National Signing Day 2027.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_player":["489583"],"_player_evaluations_6_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"Heading out west to Colorado, Running Back [player_tooltip player_id='489583' first='Braylen' last='Lumbus'] is a prospect to certainly begin to get familiar with. The talented back is one of the many stars on a talent-filled Colorado Jr. Buffs club program, out of the greater Denver area. His running style is fairly unique and unmistakeable, as he does a very good job of getting low to the ground as he hits the hole, limiting the amount of surface area a defense has to take a shot at him. Possesses very good agility, which aids in his ability to make cuts and stay balanced in between the tackles. Speaking of running in between the tackles, Lumbus has zero fear of doing that. He runs hard and is tough to bring down. Easily breaks through arm tackles on the regular, and then has the speed to run away, when he hits open field. He's going to be one to certainly keep an eye on, in the Centennial State.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":7,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"edit"} /-->