PRZIA 2027 Rankings Debut | “Freshman 15” Top 5
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Get 30% off your first billing cycle with code: OscarGalindo30 in the coupon code area. Prep Redzone Iowa rolled out its Class of 2027 rankings and watchlist earlier this week. In our initial rankings release, we identified 15 prospects who we believe…
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Prep Redzone Iowa rolled out its Class of 2027 rankings and watchlist earlier this week. In our initial rankings release, we identified 15 prospects who we believe have the skillset to be high-level recruits by the time it’s all said and done. These players come from all across the state and play throughout all levels of competition. To introduce the “Freshman 15,” I will break down the prospects in a series of articles, continuing with the top 5. Get acquainted with these names now before everyone else does!
PRZ Rob (@RobHoweHN on Twitter) welcomes the Class of 2027 and breaks down the “Why?” behind the rankings HERE. So you can see a bit of what goes on behind the scenes when making the rankings.
Check the full “Freshman 15” & Watchlist HERE
Deciding on the top player in this class was tough, but ultimately, Jaxx’s fluidness and versatility put him over! The OABCIG product is a very intriguing player to watch, considering his offensive and defensive prowess. Jaxx ended his freshman campaign with 37 receptions, 500 yards, seven receiving touchdowns, 128 rushing yards, four rushing touchdowns, 28 tackles, a TFL, two fumble recoveries (one returned for a touchdown), and four interceptions. On offense, Jaxx is an elite weapon in the passing game. He understands opposing defenses well and can expose weak spots in coverage to get open. DeJean’s 6’4″ and 200-pound frame allows him to “out physical” defenders at the catch point and makes him difficult to bring down once the ball is in his hands. DeJean can run a pretty diverse route tree and can be a threat at all levels of the field. Great cover cornerback who possesses a blend of quickness, fluidity, physicality, and high football IQ. Alabama-Birmingham is the first D1 school to extend an early offer, but expect Jaxx to have several more programs jump on board in the upcoming months.
Highlights
An absolute BEAST at the tight-end position! Luke was quick to have his breakout season as a member of Norwalk’s varsity squad. Brewer tallied up 26 receptions for 313 yards and a receiving touchdown last season. When watching Luke’s film, it’s clear that he is already a pretty well-rounded tight end who can catch the ball and lay down some mean blocks. Luke is a super reliable target, especially over the middle, where he showed his ability to slip into open passing lanes for his QB. Luke is not necessarily a burner, but he shows a solid burst after the catch and is a handful to try to bring down once he gets going. Luke’s blocking is an asset in the running game. Luke’s high-level play, measurables, and super high-ceiling earned him an offer from in-state FBS school, Iowa State. HUGE offseason coming up for the Warrior’s star freshman!
Talk about making an entrance! Woodbine freshman Landon Blum Landon Blum 6’5″ | 175 lbs | WR Woodbine | 2027 State IA wasted zero time making defenses aware that they’ll be having trouble covering him for the next few seasons. Landon hauled in 50 receptions for 839 yards and scored a whopping 17 receiving touchdowns. Standing at 6’5″ and 175 pounds, Landon is a towering presence who is an automatic mismatch when he walks up to the line. With his size, it’s a no-brainer that Landon excels at winning the jump balls in 50/50 situations with his ability to elevate over his opponents. You can tell he’s a basketball player with the way he can box out defenders when going up for the ball. He explodes out of his stance, pressing defenders vertically before showing off his top-tier stop/start. On top of his sharp route-running, Blum also utilizes double moves, head fakes, etc., very well to help him create separation at the top of the route. Massive ceiling for the Woodbine frosh… I can see offers starting to line up soon for Landon!
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It looks like the Jaguars have their defensive enforcer set for the next three seasons with Carlos Blount Jr Carlos Blount Jr 6’1″ | 200 lbs | LB Ankeny Centennial | 2027 State IA . at middle linebacker. Carlos only played a limited role on varsity (56 snaps), but he shined in the time he saw on the field, totaling 22 tackles and three TFLs. He has a sturdy 6’1″ 200-pound frame that can hit like a freight train when he gets some momentum rolling. When watching Carlos’ film, I was very impressed with his ability to track and flow to the ball. No matter where the ball is, whether it means fighting off blocks or flying across the field to make the play, Carlos will find a way to get there. He steps up to fill in his gaps very well and is a sure tackler when he meets backs one-on-one. Excited to see what Carlos will look like going into his sophomore season.
Highlights
Clear Lake’s Jaxson McIntire Jaxson McIntire 6’0″ | 190 lbs | ATH Clear Lake | 2027 State IA stood out as one of the more interesting prospects in the 2027 cycle. The Lions’ prospect is projected to be a huge part of their offense and defense in 2024. On defense, Jaxson projects as a physical safety who can scan the field and possesses a solid range in coverage. He is always on high alert and does a good job diagnosing/analyzing plays pre-snap. McIntire also impressed with his willingness to step into the box to help out in run support. I didn’t have much film at QB with Jaxson throwing, but he did look good when running the ball. He has sneaky shiftiness to his game and showed that he can make defenders miss in space. Jaxson has already started to make his name known with an early Big 12 offer from Iowa State. Don’t be surprised to see more offers soon!
Make sure to follow @PRZ_OscarG for more coverage of Nebraska and Iowa HS recruiting news.