Class of 2027 Prospects Worthy of More Attention
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I’m continuing my viewing of 2027 prospects in researching for our rankings update, which we hope to publish in the not-to-distant future. If you know of any student-athletes in that class or other grades that are worthy of a scouting…
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Continue ReadingI’m continuing my viewing of 2027 prospects in researching for our rankings update, which we hope to publish in the not-to-distant future. If you know of any student-athletes in that class or other grades that are worthy of a scouting report, shoot me a link to their film at RobHoweHN@gmail.com. I’d be more than happy to check them out.
Here are seven more sophomores-to-be that stood out to me during their highlights:
Landon Rinnan Landon Rinnan 5'11" | 190 lbs | QB Urbandale | 2027 IA
Landon Rinnan Landon Rinnan 5'11" | 190 lbs | QB Urbandale | 2027 IA
Rinnan faced challenges as a freshman starting in Class 5A against a difficult schedule. While his final statistics won’t knock anyone’s socks off, the ninth-grader showed improvement as the season advanced. When watching his highlights, the potential for a lot more production during the next three seasons is evident. Rinnan possesses good throwing mechanics with a short, compact delivery. He appears comfortable running play action or RPO. Athleticism makes him a dual-threat signal caller with a good vision and elusiveness when running the ball. Rinnan brings speed to the table and understands how to move the pocket. I’m really interested to see what strides he can make during his sophomore season.
Broedy Hendricks Broedy Hendricks 6'0" | 185 lbs | ATH Humboldt | 2027 IA
Broedy Hendricks Broedy Hendricks 6'0" | 185 lbs | ATH Humboldt | 2027 IA
Hendricks’ future could very well be on the wrestling mat. The freshman is the state’s top-ranked grappler at 165 pounds, according to Flo Wrestling. Wrestlers often perform well on the gridiron, and that’s certainly the case with Hendricks. He produced 22 solo tackles with 6.0 stops for loss and a sack, while also helping the Wildcat offense as a lineman. His Hudl page does not include season highlights, but you can view Hendricks’ work on clips from individual games. I called up the footage from Humboldt’s game against state champion Williamsburg, and the freshman certainly looked like he belonged. He’s a high-energy guy with a relentlessness to separate from blocks. He keeps his head up and his pads low. Hendricks performs well on the line but has the athleticism and speed to play linebacker.
Fiston Carlson Fiston Carlson 5'10" | 200 lbs | ATH Roland-Story | 2027 IA
Fiston Carlson Fiston Carlson 5'10" | 200 lbs | ATH Roland-Story | 2027 IA
Locating video of Carlson is a challenge. His Hudl page is empty of highlights. I was able to track down some clips on television sports highlights and social media. They reflected well on his game. It would be wonderful to see more of a kid that contributed 310 yards (11.1 YPC) and five touchdowns running the ball. Carlson also produced 21 solo tackles, 4.0 stops for loss and 3.0 sacks in ’23. You can view his eighth-grade highlights for a glimpse into this prospect’s upside. He looks like a man among boys during that video. Carlson’s athleticism is on display in these clips of him playing seventh-grade basketball for All-Iowa Attack. I’m intrigued and would love to see more from his freshman campaign on the field.
I’m very glad to have found McNeal’s freshman highlights. Saying I’m impressed would be a gross understatement. It takes about two seconds to see a disruptive force in the middle of the defensive line that does not resemble a ninth-grader. He produced 14 solo tackles with 4.5 tackles for loss and a sack. He’s fast off of the snap and gets into offensive lineman quickly, driving them into the backfield. He chews up blockers and spits them out, freeing up the linebackers to fill the gaps and make tackles. I’m really excited to watch this kid as a sophomore. The ceiling is high here.
Landon Nihsen Landon Nihsen 5'10" | 165 lbs | DB Harlan | 2027 IA
Landon Nihsen Landon Nihsen 5'10" | 165 lbs | DB Harlan | 2027 IA
Nihsen opens his freshman highlight film with a an 80+-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. He blows away the competition with his breakaway speed. Nihsen’s natural gifts also shine through when lining up at running back, where he excels taking pitches and picking his way through the defense. On his varsity tape, his speed holds up against the older guys. He succeeds against the run and in coverage, showing good form on his tackling and smooth hip movement during his back-peddle. Keep an eye on this kid as his role expands in ’24. I will.