Class of 2027 Top Ten Ranked Athletes

Four up and four down. Today's release of the Kansas Class of 2027 initial rankings wraps up a month of Prep Redzone updates for four Kansas classes of football prospects.   This first round of rankings took players who were on the watch list for the class of 2027 and added more than 25 new athletes. It includes 100 athletes who completed their freshmen seasons which means that there are now more than 850 ranked football players at Prep Redzone Kansas.   Athletes, coaches, and parents can click on the “How We Rank” story under the “Rankings” menu to learn more about the process of ranking players.   For me personally, I would like to add that the following factors also determine how I rank players. Game stats played a big role in these rankings, more so than any other class. If an athlete played varsity games as a freshman and posted solid numbers, that tells me they can at least play with and against more experienced athletes. Unlike other class rankings, there are no college offers to take into consideration. Our top player right now may end up at a JUCO program, while No. 100 could end up being a Division I talent. I don't use a crystal ball, playing cards, darts, or a coin to determine spots, but I do utilize Max Preps, Hudl, social media, and listen to recommendations and suggestions from high school coaches.   One key issue I always stress with athletes is the slot you are ranked in is not nearly as important as just making the rankings. Numerous subscribers to Prep Redzone from all over the nation will now be exposed to the athletes in our rankings.   Another key issue is each athlete controls their recruitment process. If a high school coach does not post stats on MaxPreps then it is the responsibility of the athlete to obtain those stats and send them to scouts and college coaches. Student-athletes who already know they want to play college sports need to create Hudl and social media accounts. Athletes are responsible for updating their respective Hudl profiles and the information on them. If I can't find a height and weight for a player I will not include them in the rankings. Also, only the athlete can control what is posted on their social media accounts. What an athlete posts, follows, and how he or she promotes themselves says a lot about the type of person and prospect they are.   While I strive for perfection, I also understand that mistakes and typos happen. If you have questions about the rankings or see a mistake please feel free to DM me on social media @KSScoutDeck or email me at <a href="mailto:deckscoutks@gmail.com">deckscoutks@gmail.com</a>.   Remember you attract more bees with honey than you do vinegar. If you send me a negative or rude email do not expect a reply. Also, keep in mind that there are elements of the technology that I cannot control or change, one example is our options for a player's weight in five lb. intervals. Also, we do not update rankings on a week-to-week basis. Once an athlete is ranked in a spot, they stay there until the next round of rankings. We try to update the rankings three to four times a year.   There will be multiple reports on the new rankings this week, and I sincerely look forward to watching this class of athletes evolve and seeing the rankings list grow with more prospects.   Here is a report on the athletes who made the Top 10 in the initial ranking for Sunflower State football prospects in the Class of 2027.   [player_tooltip player_id='491873' first='Arieus' last='Finley Jr.'], RB, 5'6”, 155, Derby   The Derby Panthers offense was stout last fall and one contributor to their offensive production was running back Finley. He rushed for 450 yards and 11 touchdowns. Finley is the No. 1 ranked athlete in the initial Prep Redzone Kansas Class of 2027 rankings. He is an explosive back with strong legs. Finley will also benefit from playing with Derby who has a history of producing college talent.   [player_tooltip player_id='557340' first='Warrick' last='VanBlaricon'], OL, 6'4”, 270, Salina Central   VanBlaricon starts as the top-ranked offensive lineman and the No. 2 overall ranked athlete. He is a physical young man with natural size. He is a workout beast in the weight room and has already been participating in all-star games and football combines. The Salina Central product looks poised to be a Division I prospect.   [player_tooltip player_id='1113283' first='Alijah' last='Shaw'], DL, 6'7”, 240, Blue Valley North   Shaw enters the rankings in the No. 3 slot and this mountain of a man could have a huge future on the gridiron, basketball court, or wrestling ring. He has a long and athletic frame. At 6-foot-7 he carries his weight well and could bulk up even more depending on which sport he decides he wants to play at college. Playing as a power forward keeps him in solid condition for a big man. He can play offensive or defensive tackle. With any big man how his knees hold up and how strong his upper body gets will serve as key factors in his future recruitment.   [player_tooltip player_id='1113168' first='Brody' last='Pfannenstiel'], TE, 6'3”, 270, Russell   Pfannenstiel is listed as a tight end for ranking purposes but also plays defensive end. He is a gifted athlete who has a high ceiling. Kansas has multiple tight ends receiving Division I offers in the Class of 2025 and the Russell prospect could end up among that group. He has one reception as a freshman, but his defensive numbers prove he is fast. During nine games he finished with 40 total tackles including eight tackles for loss and seven quarterback sacks. He enters the rankings in the No. 4 position.   [player_tooltip player_id='944902' first='Nolan' last='Hadley'], OL, 6'1”, 250, Maize   Hadley just oozes football grit. He enters the ranking at No. 5 overall and as the second-highest-ranked offensive lineman. The Maize Eagle also is an interesting baseball prospect who plays catcher. Playing catcher just adds to his physical and mental toughness. So like a lot of young athletes which sport he wants to play at the college level will impact his involvement. As a catcher, he won't want to add too much weight, but as a football player, he very well might. He plays tackle and guard, but with his catching skills, I could see him move to center at some point. He has mental acumen for the position and quick hands.   [player_tooltip player_id='944920' first='Brody' last='Boeckman'], ATH, 6'5”, 180, Junction City   Junction City is a tough program for freshmen to have a big impact. The Blujay roster is always deep with upper-class talent. Yet, Boeckman stood out when I saw Junction City play last fall. He is listed as a linebacker and quarterback. He enters the rankings at No. 6 overall and is the top-ranked player listed as an “athlete.” He plays basketball and competes in track and field. I don't have a crystal ball that predicts which sport or position he ends up keying on, but his athletic foundation is strong.   [player_tooltip player_id='944909' first='Gus' last='Corsair'], OL, 6'3”, 260, Hays   Corsair is an aggressive lineman for the Hays Indians. He debuts at No. 7 overall and is the third offensive lineman to be ranked in the Top 10. He is a strong young man whose blocking technique will improve with game experience.   [player_tooltip player_id='1124985' first='Kale' last='Kearn'], LB, 6'0”, 190, Great Bend   Great Bend's Kearn sets the bar for linebackers in the Class of 2027. He is ranked No. 8 overall and finished his freshman campaign with 57 total tackles and one fumble recovery. He also played a few snaps on offense accounting for three carries and one reception.   [player_tooltip player_id='1115927' first='Gunner' last='Goalden'], DL, 5'11”, 255, Hesston   Goalden enters the ranking at No. 9 overall and is the second-ranked defensive lineman. He finished his freshman season among the state leaders in tackles for members of the Class of 2027. The Swather prospect racked up 61 total tackles. Eight of those tackles resulted in lost yardage and he recorded two quarterback sacks.   [player_tooltip player_id='693877' first='Cameron' last='Kruse'], QB, 6'1”, 170, Olathe West   Kruse unofficially led all freshman quarterbacks in passing yardage. He threw for 1,173 yards and 11 touchdowns for the Owls. He is ranked No. 10 overall and starts as the top-ranked quarterback in the Class of 2027.

Four up and four down. Today's release of the Kansas Class of 2027 initial rankings wraps up a month of Prep Redzone updates for four Kansas classes of football prospects.