Al Pops’ Class of 2027 Prospect Evaluations – 12/29
In this article:
It’s now full steam ahead to the showcase, camp, combine and 7-on-7 part of the year, as the football futures of many prospects are getting ready to hit the accelerate button. The prospect landscape is starting to become clearer and…
Access all of Prep Redzone Next and Prep Redzone
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingIt’s now full steam ahead to the showcase, camp, combine and 7-on-7 part of the year, as the football futures of many prospects are getting ready to hit the accelerate button. 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 year 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.
-A 6-foot-2, 185-pound Tight End/Linebacker that really shined at AYF Nationals in Florida in early December for the 14U Gridiron AIGA team
-Offensively, is one of the better blocking Tight Ends I have seen on the pre-high school level in the country. Does a good job of locking in and driving guys downfield, into the sidelines or onto the ground
-Defensively, is a a really nice looking prospect as an Outside Linebacker. Watching him at first, I thought he was a Safety because he was always around the ball and in position to make a tackle. Athletic, rangy kid
Highlights
-Had to be one of the two or three tallest of all the 2027 prospects I saw at AYF Nationals, standing in the neighborhood of 6-foot-4 and weighing around 160-pounds
-Heard the coaches call him “Stilts” several times while I had the opportunity to watch them play, an obvious nod to his length and height
-Originally had him pegged as a Free Safety, but really liked what I saw when he flipped over and took reps at Wide Receiver. Obviously needs to muscle up a bit, but there’s not many middle school Cornerback’s that can win a jump ball against him
Highlights
-One of those old school broad-necked, barrel-chested throwback Linebackers that makes Running Back’s regret meeting one-on-one in the hole
-Though he is just one big muscle, he shows pretty good agility and lateral movement. On the offensive side of the ball has proven to be a reliable option to receive passes out of the backfield or to run up the gut in short yardage situations
-At 6-foot and 210-pounds he looks varsity-ready right now. He’ll be off to one of Massachusetts’ premier high school program’s–Catholic Memorial. The Varsity squad there hasn’t lost a game since December of 2019
Highlights
-When thinking about the ability and playing style of Wesley, the first name that automatically comes to mind is former All-Everything Tight End, Antonio Gates
-Wesley is a big, athletic kid in the neighborhood of 6-foot-3 and 210-pounds right now. Equally as dominant on the football field as he is the basketball court. Can throw down dunks with ease as an eighth-grader
-Duncanville High School turns out freaky athletes every year and Wesley could be one of those kids in the 2027 class. Built like a Tight End but runs like a Wide Receiver, which creates a plethora of mismatches regardless of where he lines up
-Reclassed from the class of 2026 to the class of 2027 and the year has served him well from a physical development standpoint. Looks like a tremendously improved player from last year to this one
-Encouraging size for a Quarterback at this point, standing right around 6-foot and weighing 155-pounds. Throws an accurate deep ball with nice touch, showing off his arm strength
-Will be at Providence Day High School in Charlotte next year, under the tutelage of Head Coach Chad Grier. He’s a championship-winning coach and the father of NFL Quarterback, Will Grier
-Without question one of the top eighth-grade Running Back’s in the state of New Jersey for the class of 2027 at this point
-First met him when he was in sixth-grade and I swear there hasn’t been an ounce of fat on him since that day. Good genetics and obvious time spent working out have turned him into a very chiseled young prospect
-Gialanella will be off to Pope John High School in the fall. The varsity Lions have experienced substantial success in the past, but haven’t had a winning season since 2017. He should contribute there early