2027 Rankings: Big-time Additions from the Watch List, Part I
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As if they rose from the ashes like the Phoenix, there are prospects who seemingly come out of the woodwork. What differentiates these prospects from one another are prospects that rise and are here to stay. Below are a handful…
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Continue ReadingAs if they rose from the ashes like the Phoenix, there are prospects who seemingly come out of the woodwork. What differentiates these prospects from one another are prospects that rise and are here to stay. Below are a handful of prospects that were watchlisted and, immediately upon film review, shot up toward the top of our player rankings.
Karon Ceasar is a unique prospect that I am not too sure what position he will play at the enxt level. We currently see Ceasar at running back, wildcat, and in the secondary. A true believer in his speed, film shows Ceasar losing ground in order to gain an angle on an defender. Moreover, simply put he has the ability to beat linebackers to the sideline. Disciplined, Ceasar follows his blockers and lets them create for him. As a pass catcher, he can out-jump opponents, Mossing them, as well as make acrobatic plays anywhere on the field. What most likely leads to Ceasar’s success, however, his tendency to keep his feet moving when running. This allows him to turn small gains into huge gains. Smart with his body, Ceasar will duck out of bounds to avoid a big hit. Defensively he we see Ceasar get solid breaks on the ball and while in pursuit, effectively squeezes ball carriers to the sideline. Again, trusting his athleticism, Ceasar feels can he can break on the ball either way with equal proficiency. He will also serve a big hit when the opportunity arises. One point of feedback I have for Ceasar would be regarding defense. Trust what you see and do not hesitate! Lock into your keys, see, diagnose, and go with reckless abandon.
Previous Rank: Watch List
New Rank: 13
Highlights
With skill players dominating the conversation, Amon Wright Amon Wright 6’4″ | 265 lbs | OL Glassboro | 2027 State NJ puts on for the big boys. For such a young age Wright has a good kick step; however, what truly stood out to me was the pad level he is able to play with – which if you follow my evaluations I am very critical of for linemen of all ages. Should he continue his trajectory, this will mean good things for Wright if he can continue to get bigger, add, weight, and maintain his ability to bend. Additionally, Wright drive blocks with short, choppy steps and works to seal defenders’ angles with his head. Something else to be excited about is that we start to see Wright’s body begin to bend upward. A few things I hope to see from Wright in the coming years that were absent from his freshman film is him pulling and trapping, powering down to his B gap, and punch & recoil in pass protection. With tons of positive indicators, keep your eyes peeled on Wright.
Previous Rank: Watch List
New Rank: 18
If you go low, he goes lower. That is the approach to tackling that Kenny Johnson III Kenny Johnson III 5’10” | 150 lbs | DB Glassboro | 2027 State NJ has adopted. More than a one-trick pony, he also breaks on the ball nicely when in pass coverage. Also a hitter, Johnson delivers hits through your hips that you will soon not forget – both when tackling and when breaking up passes. Johnson absolutely flies up for run support so quickly that if you blink, you might just miss him. Johnson would be ranked higher, however we simply need to see more clips of him in coverage defending passes to do so.
Previous Rank: Watch List
New Rank: 19
Isaiah Alvarez has the potential to be a sneaky-good wide receiver in the class of 2027. One to force the issue, Alvarez goes up and gets the ball, high pointing receptions with his hands. Considering that he was playing freshman ball, Alvarez ran sharp routes for this level, creating space and often putting defenders’ hips in a poor position. When at safety, Alvarez appears cooler than the other side of the pillow, gradually back pedaling without ever panicking. This allows him to stick with most receivers deep and maintain great positioning to drive over the top on the ball. Lastly, he has recovery speed and competes, looking to tip passes rather than play the hands. Alvarez’s speed was most clearly on display when he served as his team’s quarterback. Because he played freshman ball last fall I an curious to see how his speed and skills translate to varsity. Undoubtedly, Alvarez will have no lack of competition to push him in camp.
Previous Rank: Watch List
New Rank: 20
Highlights
A prep school ATH, Luca Saurman Luca Saurman 5’11” | 190 lbs | LB The Pennington Prep | 2026 NJ is another piece who can play several positions on the field. Saurman has the speed to outrun everyone, including his own quarterback’s arm, when going vertical. Using his rather large frame, Saurman uses it shield defenders off at times. With the rock in his possession, we see Saurman utilize the stiff arm to accrue extra yards. “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” are words Saurman lives by. As well as he uses his blockers, Saurman actively serves as a blocker, looking to level individuals. I feel as though he is capable of drive blocking, but at the very least we see him grab cloth to control his assignment. From the secondary, Saurman reacts to the ball-in-fight, even when in man coverage, to come off and lay the boom. Like any safety should be as the last line of defense, we see Saurman showcase extremely sure tackling. With clear vision, he fills alleys well in run support. Interestingly enough, we see Saurman high point the ball on defense, yet not on offense. Should he translate that skillset to the other side of the ball, as well as clean up his route running just a bit, Saurman has the upside to be one of the state’s premier two-way players for 2027.
Previous Rank: Watch List
New Rank: 21