2027 Players in the Spotlight

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Took a break from 2025 reporting to catch up on the 2027 talent that is hard at it getting prepared to take some of the spotlight from the older classes. Thankfully, I didn't have to look long before the players started jumping off the tape.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In this report I am splitting it up to take a look at a couple of the up-and-coming WR/DB two-way players and then cover three guys getting ready to make a name for themselves in the trenches. All five were impressive getting off to a great start in their high school careers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Without further adieu, let's take a look at the "<strong><em>End-of-the-Week Five</em></strong>":</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='944902' first='Nolan' last='Hadley']</strong>, 6'3, 285, OL, <strong>Maize</strong>, is ranked #5. He is the highest-ranked player in this report and is off and running taking his game to the next level. Although he can play multiple positions across the offensive front, he lined up primarily as the left guard in the Maize attack. He has excellent size, with a strong base and quick hands that he uses effectively in getting leverage. He moves well laterally and is agile pulling and blowing up defenders in space. He is a piledriver of a blocker in the run game and walls off effectively in pass pro. He checks all the boxes as a rising star star in the trenches, get out and see him dominate this fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='933824' first='Coy' last='Barta']</strong>, 6'1, 160, WR/DB, <strong>Topeka Seaman</strong>, is ranked #24. He is currently listed as the second-ranked "athlete" in the 2027 rankings and brings a strong pedigree. His brother Callen was one of the top receivers in the state and is now at KSU. A versatile athlete who can play multiple positions on offense and defense, he is particularly effective as a WR and a ball-hawk defensive back. On offense, he has an excellent catch radius for his size and has dependable hands, particularly going up to the apex point for the ball on contested catches. He runs precise routes and effectively finds the soft spots in zone coverage. He is getting ready to shine in the high-flying Seaman offense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1228156' first='Jayson' last='Rush']</strong>, 5'11, 165, WR/DB, <strong>Olathe North</strong>, is currently unranked. He is another gifted wide receiver/defensive back combo who put the rest of the state on notice that he intends to make some noise this fall. Busy on the camp-clinic circuit and honing his skills with @STFFAKC, he is a versatile playmaker who can play all over the field. On defense he comes off the edge like a heat-seeking missile or can drop back in coverage as a defensive back to cut off the opposing team's air attack. On offense he lines up in the slot as a reliable receiver who has good burst getting separation and who is slippery and elusive after the catch. Get your popcorn out for this guy, he is a rising star.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1277775' first='Henry' last='Houser']</strong>, 6'4, 230, DL, <strong>Blue Valley North</strong>, is currently unranked. He is coming off an excellent start to his high school career, playing in eight games on varsity and piling up 21 tackles. He is an aggressive headhunter of a defensive tackle who comes off low and hard and maintains good pad level fighting through traffic to get to the quarterback. He has good size and reach and will strike a blow hitting blockers in the teeth. He is very active along the defensive front, shutting down the run between the tackles and flowing fast to make plays on the perimeter. He is one of those players who seems to always be around the ball. Get out this fall and see a stud in the making.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1277778' first='Shawn' last='Kirksey']</strong>, 6'1, 270, C/DL, <strong>Wichita Heights</strong>, is currently unranked. He is coming off a solid start to his high school career as an up-and-coming two-way player in the trenches. On offense, he lines up at center and is a large-and-in-charge presence in the middle. He has a powerful base and heavy hands that he uses to control the defender and clear out gaps in the running attack. On defense he can play anywhere along the defensive front, but lined up mostly as a defensive end. Once he collapses down in the hole he is hard to move and is strong in stuffing the run game between the tackles. He is a big, raw talent who is getting ready to come into his own this fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In conclusion, get out and start following these guys through their high school careers. And, as always, if you know of someone flying under the radar feel free to give me a shout via DM on X. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->