Recruiting Runway: Class of 2027 Prospects to Know – 1/16
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What better way to start off 2023 then by looking at some of the top eighth-graders in the country. The prospect landscape is starting to become clearer and below is a look at some class of 2027 prospects (athletes in…
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Continue ReadingWhat better way to start off 2023 then by looking at some of the top eighth-graders in the country. 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.
Hailing from the Sunflower State, another talented kid to know off of that talented KC Outlaws team is Grant Westphal Grant Westphal 6’2″ | 180 lbs | WR Blue Valley | 2027 State KS . Grant is good looking athlete that people need to get eyes on. As a Wide Receiver standing 6’1, Grant is already filling into a frame with Division 1 potential. His hands are reliable and his hand-eye coordination appears to be one of the better skills he has. Grant is also a dual sport athlete who has proven to be a standout wide receiver and an absolute menace at the plate on the diamond. With everything that I have seen from Grant, it is clear that there is potential for him to be one of those unique athletes who competes at a very high level in both baseball and football. With a nice upside in both sports, expect to hear a lot more about him, as he gets set to head to Blue Valley High School in the fall.
Coming in at 5’9, Leighton is a smooth running athlete out of Maryland. Leighton has speed that jumps off the charts, and he proves it on the gridiron when he blows past defenders. Leighton is one of the most pure scat back type athlete’s that I have seen coming out of this class. Running out of the backfield, Leighton gets downhill fast and physically. With his decisive nature, Leighton makes his cuts quickly as he finds his way through the first level of defense. Leighton can also be found split out as a receiver catching quick screens or getting open downfield. No matter where he is on the field, Leighton is phenomenal at allowing blocks to develop in front of him and setting up a clear line to the end zone. To my knowledge he hasn’t made a decision on which high school he’ll be attending, but he has nearly every private school in the DMV hoping to see him in their uniform next year.
Coming out of the Great Lake State of Michigan, Chad is a 6-foot tall do-it-all athlete that everyone needs to look out for in this class. On the defensive side of the ball, Chad uses his vision and ball skills to make plays on the ball. He has no problem making plays on the ball or ball carrier with his speed and athleticism. As a tackler, Chad uses his strength to bring down tacklers, ending the play before it even has a chance to get started. On the offensive side of the ball, Chad has no problem working through his routes and getting open. Once Chad has the ball in his hands, he can be a problem. Chad’s strength and athleticism allow him to shake of defender and keep working the ball downfield. He also has the speed to break away from defenders and scoring without much of an effort. Overall, Chad has proven that he is going to be an athlete that a lot of people are going to be excited about in the future. Right now we like him as a Safety, but he can play at a number of spots.
Bryce is a speedy running back coming out of the Show Me State. As a two-sport athlete, Bryce is a kid who excels on the football field and within the eight lanes on the track. With him being as explosive as he is, Bryce has the ability to pop off a big gainer from anywhere, at any time, on the football field. Given his speed, the back has no problem breaking away from the pack when he has the ball in his hands. He runs for a forward lean to him, which helps him dart through defenses without breaking stride. As noted before, he has run the the 100M, 200M and 400M events. With the best posted time (that I’ve seen) being a 11.77 in the 100M at an AAU Regional qualifier last year. There’s no substitute for speed, and Bryce shows that on nearly ever play.
Erza is a tenacious athlete coming out of Nevada. Standing at 5’10 and weighing 145-pounds, Erza is definitely a Running Back/Wide Receiver who packs a punch when he has the ball in his hands. He hits the line of scrimmage with intention and breaks through the defense with intensity. When he is out in space, Erza has no problem mixing different moves to make defenders miss and slip through tackles. It seems like whenever Erza has the ball in his hands, he is going to do everything in his power to make sure he reaches the end zone. Overall, Erza is one of the more impressive two-way prospects in this 2027 class in Nevada and definitely has the potential to be a next-level player.
With a father that reached the NFL and having good size himself, Noah is anb impressive running back coming out of the Sooner State. Measuring at 5’10, Noah has big play potential whenever he is on the field. With his sneaky speed, Noah has the ability to get to the edge of the defense in a few strides and has no problem slipping past defenders. Noah’s breakaway speed is another aspect of his game that is incredibly impressive. Once he breaks through the initial lines of defense, Noah can finish the job and score when he has the ball in his hands. Noah is on track to follow in his dad’s footsteps with Division 1 potential. The next four years of hard work and development will undoubtedly help his future become clearer at the college level.