Future Stars Game – AL Pops Class of 2027 Headliners Part 3
Some of the very best athletes from North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida and Georgia took the field for the annual Future Stars Game event last month. It’s been a crazy ride looking at the athletes in the class of 2028…
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Continue ReadingSome of the very best athletes from North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida and Georgia took the field for the annual Future Stars Game event last month. It’s been a crazy ride looking at the athletes in the class of 2028 and 2029 that stood out during the event, but we’re finally at the main event with the class of 2027. These athletes will be off to high school in a few short weeks and this class put an emphatic exclamation point on their pre-high school football career’s at this game. Complete with verbal scholarship offers, several one-score games and the emergence of some guys that will absolutely be playing on Saturday’s in four years–once again the Future Stars Game has solidified itself as a can’t-miss event every June.
Peeks was a bull in a china closet along the defensive front for the Georgia Future Stars eighth-grade team. At 6-foot-3 and 275 pounds, he was disruptive and gave opposing offensive linemen fits lined across from him. I figured it would only be a matter of time for the big man to pick up his first offer, and that rang true as Peeks was offered by the Arkansas Razorbacks and UAB Blazers during the event. He’s been active on the camp scene this summer, having already camped at Tennessee and Georgia, among others. Major future FBS prospect right here.
Saw Bennett play live this past December at AYF Nationals and added him to the 2027 National Watchlist then and there. Seeing him play again at the Future Stars Game last month, he looked even better. Has added considerable muscle over the last six months and is up to a thick, solid 5-foot-11 and 200 pounds. He bounced between defensive end and linebacker during practice and the games, depending on situation. I think he ends up as a linebacker longer term, much in part to his ability to be a three-down ‘backer. Can attack the line of scrimmage and blitz, but also has the athleticism to cover backs in the flat or tight end’s attempting to get up the seam.
It’s rare that I got “sad” to see a prospect leave my coverage range (which is 6th through 8th grade ONLY) and head into high school, but sad is the best word I can come up with when thinking of “Da Landlord” heading on to the high school ranks. He’s one of the most electrifying playmakers in the country for the class of 2027 at this point. I still have him listed as an ATH, but he tells me it’s looking wide receiver will be his focus moving forward. He’s added several inches since I last saw him and his body is physically more mature and looks ready for varsity action from the jump, on the high school level. During the Future Stars week he picked up offers from Arkansas and UAB. Expect that number to multiply by a lot over the next few years. Elite.
After originally catching my eye with really good cornerback fundamentals, come the two games Trey White’s star shined brightest in the return game for the North Carolina Future Stars. He’s only 5-foot-4 but he was exciting to watch with the ball in his hands. Had the ability to make everyone in the stadium hold their breath as he moved around the field. I’d swear he was part elastic with the way he was about jitterbug his way around would-be tacklers in close proximity. He told me he’s typically a slot receiver–and I believe it watching him create after the catch, but he looked pretty good to me as a corner in practice.
Every time I watch McBride play, either in person or watching film, he makes a play or two that are just awesome to watch. The 5-foot-10, 165-pound wide receiver was a key contributor in both the return game and on the outside as a wide receiver. He dismantled defenses with his ability to pick up yards after that catch, specifically on slants or wide receiver screens. Got in and out of his breaks cleanly, with very little wasted motion–if any at all. He was clocked at 4.81 in the forty during tryouts, but looked much faster during practice and especially in the games. McBride is a really nice-looking prospect with the muscle, hands and speed necessary to become a highly-recruited player.
Every year when looking at prospects from Florida, a lot of them can be listed as Athlete’s because of the speed and size they have. Haston fits this bill as the 6-foot, 190-pounder is super athletic as a defensive end. Honestly looks like he could play linebacker, running back or even defensive tackle too. He’s big and strong enough to bump inside and fight in the trenches, but he also has long arms that helped him keep offensive tackle’s off him as a speed-rushing end. To stay effective as an end he’ll obviously have to sprout up a few inches, but I’m not convinced he stays with his hand in the dirt forever. Haston could easily transition to a nice outside linebacker
Highlights
Despite hailing from the greater Raleigh, North Carolina area, Conyers suited up for the South Carolina Future Stars eighth-grade team. This was my third time seeing Conyers play live since December, and this was the best he has looked to date. He’s up to 6-foot-2 and now weighs 285 pounds, but has the build you want for an offensive tackle. Long limbs, skinny ankles and broad shoulders that could easily tack on 20-30 more pounds with it looks poorly. I noticed Conyers is finally starting to develop a bit of a mean streak as well, as he did a much better job finishing his blocks. Over the next four years, if he continues to make leaps like he did the previous six months, he could be come a top 10 offensive tackle in North Carolina by the time NSD 2027 comes around.
As if Elijah Peeks on the inside and previously-covered Xzavier Pfister at one defensive end wasn’t enough, opposite Pfister was Jaden Wuerth at the other D-End spot for the Georgia Future Stars. If you’re looking for a comparison, look no further than former Georgia Bulldog, David Pollack. Both in physical appearance and stature, Wuerth is a menace coming off the edge at 6-foot-1 and 220 pounds. He’s fast off the ball, benches over 300 pounds and already has an extensive arsenal of pass-rush moves. On top of his ability on the field, Wuerth is also a team-first kid who plays at 100 m.p.h. whenever he’s on the field–no matter at what position.
I had Moore’s name circled as a player I wanted to take a good look at headed into the event, because admittedly, I was on the fence about him. However, just a few minutes into watching the Florida Future Stars practice on the second day, Moore showed he could play safety at a high level. At nearly 5-foot-10 and 150 pounds he’s not the typical 6-footer with length that I usually like, but he brought a really physical style of play to the position. In my notes I wrote down “arrives with bad intentions” after watching him put a shoulder in the chest of taller receivers going up for a ball on back-to-back plays. His style of play reminds me a lot of former Rams first round pick, Adam Archuleta.
Highlights
Like his regular season teammate Bobby Conyers (listed above) Hunter is another Raleigh-area prospect that played on the South Carolina Future Stars eighth-grade team. Again, like Conyers, this is my second time seeing Hunter play live since December–and this was a much better showing for him. In fact, looking back at my notes from December, I didn’t even write Hunter’s name down as someone that caught my eye. This time it was significantly different for the 5-foot-9, 165 pound athlete. While significantly smaller than some of the giants he mixed it up with in the trenches, he used his quickness and off-the-charts football IQ to make a lot of good plays. Better than any other player on the defensive front, he was able to read and feel how the offensive line was playing him and he quickly reacted. I’m not sure exactly how high his ceiling is, or what position he’ll be at, but he’s a nice piece to have/
The eighth-grade Georgia Future Stars secondary was full of kids that project to be playing a high level of college football in a few years. We’ve already talked about defensive MVP Andrew Beard (offers from UGA, Arkansas and UAB) and cornerback Rahj Rowe, but it was Jayshon Williams that stole the show with his body of work for the week. Completely overwhelmed wide receivers with his size and length, as the corner opposite Rowe. Williams and his 5-foot-11, 150-pound frame showed off some exceptional body control and the ability to go up and snag what’s his. Finished the weekend with a pair of interceptions, returning it to the house against South Carolina, and a forced fumble.
Jacobs had a pretty good week as an offensive guard for the Florida Future Stars eighth-grade team. Excelled as a run blocker with well-balanced power and the ability to bend and get low with explosion. More times than not he did a great job sinking his hips, keeping his elbows inside and shooting his hands violently and accurately. Jacobs told me he also plays defensive tackle but I didn’t get to see any reps of him at the position. On top of being a pretty naturally strong kid, he also continued leg drive at the point of contact and through it.
Stop me if you’ve heard this before, but Eatmon is yet another North Carolina native that played for the South Carolina Future Stars eighth-grade team last month. Eatmon is a good-looking prospect, who did a nice job as the perfect blend between the other two backs Savion Lindsay and Nasir Waldrop. He brought the power and tackle-breaking style of Lindsay and the quickness of Waldrop, scoring a touchdown against Georgia. He is put together very well and is starting to see college attention begin. Earlier in June he camped at North Carolina and there was some buzz about his performance there too. He told me really enjoyed his time on the campus of the Tarheels. Keep an eye on this young man.