2027 Ballers Ready to Make Some Noise

This will be my first report devoted to the rising stars emerging from the class of 2027. I have started collecting names and getting recommendations from coaches and other scouts and it is exciting to see the level of young talent in the Sunflower State.   Over the past few days I spent considerable time going over the available tape on as many players as I could to get a feel for who is performing and who is not. Fortunately, it didn't take long for a handful of guys to jump off the tape.   For this initial kickoff report on 2027 ballers I decided to forego basing it on position and went with six guys who caught my attention and left me wanting to see more. These guys are going to make some significant noise this fall.   The Weekend Six referenced above are listed below:   [player_tooltip player_id='934074' first='Stone' last='Zambo'], 6'1, 185, TE/LB, Mill Valley, is ranked #77. He is coming off an excellent start to his high school career and is hard at it in the offseason honing his skills with @STFFAKC on the 7v7 circuit. On the offensive side of the ball he lines up as a tight end who occasionally flexes to the wing or operates as an H-back. He runs precise routes, is effective finding soft spots in coverage and in creating separation. He has good hands and an excellent catch radius, is effective going up for the contested catch and is fearless going over the middle. He is also a pile-driving blocker in the run game, caving in down blocks and cutting off backers in space. This kid is a rising star, get out and see him this fall.   [player_tooltip player_id='403631' first='Cordale' last='Johnson'], 6'0, 165, WR/DB, Maize, is ranked #11. He is coming off an excellent season a year ago as a guy who can excel both ways as a wide receiver on offense or a safety on defense. He is currently listed as the top-ranked defensive back in the 2027 rankings and has been hard at it getting ready for an encore this fall. As a safety he has excellent football instincts, good read and react skills and exceptional closing speed flying to the ball. On offense he is an explosive wideout who creates immediate separation off the ball, and is a reliable possession receiver as well as a threat to take it to the house on the long ball. This guy is a stud, get your popcorn ready this fall.   [player_tooltip player_id='944972' first='Zein' last='Rector'], 6'0, 215, OL/DL, Nickerson, is ranked #75. He is coming off a solid start to his high school career and demonstrated right away that he intends to be a force in the trenches. He can play anywhere along the line of scrimmage as needed but is effective as a mauler of a left tackle. He has a strong base and nimble feet that he uses to wall off the perimeter in pass pro. He has a quick strike, gets under pads and drives his opponent from snap to whistle. In the running game he gets off the ball with good pad level and lowers the boom on drive blocks and works well chipping off to pick up next-level defenders. This kid is getting ready to take his game to the next level this fall.   [player_tooltip player_id='944910' first='Tanner' last='Geist'], 6'2, 245, NG/DT, Hays, is ranked #12. He is coming off a standout season a year ago and is currently the #3 defensive lineman and #12 overall in the 2027 rankings. He established himself immediately and finished the season with 57 tackles and six tackles for loss. He is a physical force between the tackles lining up as a flex tackle or moves down to nose guard. He has a strong, rugged base, an instantaneous first step and routinely handles the lineman with one arm while he wraps up the ball carrier with the other. He is an aggressive sledgehammer of a tackler and moves well laterally and through traffic. He overwhelms blockers with his bull rush getting to the QB. This kid is a rising star, get out and see him while you can.   [player_tooltip player_id='934534' first='Talon' last='Regier'], 5'9, 155, WR/DB, Hillsboro, is ranked #74. He is coming off a solid start to his high school career and has been perfecting his game with the @KansasColts on the 7v7 circuit this offseason. He is primed and ready for this fall after scoring 18 TDs on 44 receptions this spring. He runs excellent routes and can cut or pivot and get to full speed in a flash to create separation with the defender. He has very good hands and consistently makes the contested catch in traffic or running routes over the middle. He can be used as an effective possession receiver but where he shines is using his deceptive speed and acceleration to burn the secondary deep. This kid is the real deal and just coming into his own.   Kai Lowry, 6'1, 195, DE, Shawnee Mission NW, is currently not ranked yet. He is coming off a solid start last season where he caught the eyes of players and coaches as a force in the trenches and a guy getting ready to make a name for himself. Lining up on the edge, he fires off low and hard with good body lean and gets into the backfield like a heat-seeking missile. He has a powerful frame, good feet and hips with strong hands that he uses to jack offensive tackles in the jaw. He has good football instincts and shuts the run game down working along the line of scrimmage. He is agile and has standout pursuit skills working through defenders to the ball. This kid won't be flying under the radar for long. Get out and see him dominate this fall.   In conclusion, get these guys on your watchlist and follow their high school careers as they start getting amped up this fall. And, as usual, if you know of anyone flying under the radar or is a stud getting swept under the carpet for whatever the reason, feel free to give me a shout - DM me on X.

This will be my first report devoted to the rising stars emerging from the class of 2027. I have started collecting names and getting recommendations from coaches and other scouts and it is exciting to see the level of young talent in the Sunflower State.