PRZ Next 2027 Watchlist Vol. 2 – Indiana Updated Watchlist

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The PRZ Next 2027 Watchlist has officially been updated as of March 29th, 2023. To view the entire list, click&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://prepredzone.com/next/players-to-watch/2027-watch-list/">here</a></strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Volume 2 of the biggest pre-high school prospect list in the nation contains nearly 1,100 class of 2027 prospects. Following the release of Volume 1 on October 31st, 2022, PRZ Next has continued to do our best to find the top middle school prospects in each state across the country.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Let us be 100% crystal clear: This is NOT the final list.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We are adding new prospects every day, behind the scenes. The list will be updated&nbsp;<strong>TWO MORE TIMES</strong>&nbsp;this off-season, with new athletes becoming visible on the Watchlist in late June and August. The final list will be released in mid-August, as these athletes are set to begin their high school careers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Unlike the high school level, there are no official stats or national database of middle school football players or teams, like MaxPreps does for high school. There is also no obligation to film games or post them to film-sharing platforms, like Hudl. While we stand firmly by our Watchlist, it is important to understand that these very early looks can &amp; will change drastically.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>We aren't sleeping on you. We may not have even seen you, yet.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With the explosion of social media and recruiting efforts ramping up earlier than ever before, there are literally tens of thousands of middle school prospects out there to evaluate.&nbsp;<strong>We're never going to see every prospect</strong>–but we we will do our best as always. The Hall of Fame misses on NFL greats. GMs in the NFL miss on college prospects. Colleges miss on high school All-American's. We may miss on the eighth-grade level — it happens. However, we use our years of expertise and judgement on eighth-grade talent we see live and on film. We do our homework by talking to coaches and researching the ability of athletes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>“But I'm ranked on ABC site &amp; I got invited to play in the XYX camp/game</strong>.<strong>&nbsp;How am I not on your list?</strong>“</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On the pre-high school level, if you're willing to pay enough money, you will find someone to call your 2027 prospect an “all-American” or get “invited” to some event. Prior to high school, football as a whole, is not set up well enough to truly find all the top kids. There will always be invites and all-American games, but that does not factor into our decision-making at all. Film and in-person scouting will trump any invites or titles a prospect may receive/earn/buy.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>So why does the Prep Redzone Next 2027 Football Prospect list matter?</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Just look at the previous results. This list matters because it is the deepest, most-heavily scrutinized and far-and-away most accurate national list you will find anywhere, on the middle school level. National Scouting Director, Al “Pops” Popadines has been evaluating talent on the middle school level since 2010 and has been on the forefront of early-prospect identification. Pops' list of athletes identified as middle schoolers, includes dozens of athletes that are now in the NFL and several thousand that have gone on to play/are currently playing at the college level. Names like Bryan Bresee of Clemson and Quinn Ewers of Texas, made the list as eighth-graders and both eventually became the No.1 player in their recruiting class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Finally, Here's a look at the Updated Indiana Class of 2027 Watchlist</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["679817"],"_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":"Big athlete that could develop into several different positions, at 6'3u0022 and 240 pounds. Most likely landing spot being as a Defensive End or even inside as a Defensive Tackle. Works hard in the weight room and has considerable strength. Played his pre-high school ball as a middle linebacker rather than an end, to ensure teams couldn't run to the opposite side of the field. Older brother (2024 ATH [player_tooltip player_id='541941' first='Eli' last='Edwards']) is getting recruiting attention from schools in the MAC and Ivy.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["632393"],"_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":"Jitterbug of a Running Back that can make defenders miss in the blink of an eye. Not the biggest by any stretch of the imagination, but lightning quickness and agility. Versatile athlete that can easily be split out in the slot. Can also be a factor in the return game, specifically on punts, due to his quickness in tight quarters.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["501437"],"_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":"The son of seven-year NFL quarterback Jim Sorgi, [player_tooltip player_id='501437' first='Jackson' last='Sorgi'] is an impressive one. Dual-sport athlete that is one of the best 2027 baseball players in the country right now, too. Good athletic frame at 6'1u0022 and 165 pounds. Main position is quarterback but has played some wide out as well. Ultimately, I think he ends up playing a high level of baseball, but no denying what he can do on the gridiron right now.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["742599"],"_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":"An argument can certainly be made for him being the top 2027 prospects in the state right now. Younger brother of 2024 RB [player_tooltip player_id='152146' first='Jaden' last='Hart'], who is approaching double digit D1 offers. Kyron is longer and leaner than Jaden was at this age, fitting the the mold of the wide receiver/defensive back position he excels at. Hits another level of speed when he finds open field in front of him.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["631962"],"_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":"Full disclosure - Indiana is one of the states I haven't gotten a chance to spend a ton of time on yet. That said, Sales is another 2027 prospect that jumps out to me as one that's in the discussion for top in the state at this point. The deep ball and home run threat automatically become real if he's not bracketed in coverage. Could stand to add more weight, but anticipate it'll happen in a high school weight room routine.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["709552"],"_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":"Two names come to mind when I watch [player_tooltip player_id='709552' first='Oscar' last='Frye'] on film and interact with him on social media: Davis Mills (current Houston Texas QB, third-round pick out of Stanford) and Eli Manning (two-time Super Bowl champion). On top of checking every box in terms of ability and leadership, he's a phenomenal person as well. Grandfather played hoops for the Indiana Hoosiers. Went 16-0 and threw for 31 touchdowns (also ran for four) versus just one interception, over the last two seasons for Brownsburg East high school.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":6,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64270fc53ecda"} /--> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">The prospects listed above, join the Indiana 2027 prospects that were already on the 2027 PRZ Next National Watchlist from October.</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='453064' first='Alex' last='Phillips']</strong> | Quarterback</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='410793' first='Alex' last='Scott']</strong> | Athlete</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='410782' first='Caleb' last='Kiengele']</strong> | Running Back</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='446637' first='Chance' last='Adams']</strong> | Athlete</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='438932' first='Josiah' last='Gilmore']</strong> | Running Back</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='284147' first='Keegan' last='Bouwkamp']</strong> | Quarterback</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->