Freshman Phenoms Earning First Offers this Spring
The high school football offseason, despite it sometimes feeling never-ending, is a whirlwind of offers, visits, commitments, recruiting graphics, dead periods, workouts, and flips, especially since the transfer portal has risen to the forefront of college football. With so much…
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Continue ReadingThe high school football offseason, despite it sometimes feeling never-ending, is a whirlwind of offers, visits, commitments, recruiting graphics, dead periods, workouts, and flips, especially since the transfer portal has risen to the forefront of college football. With so much recruiting information and movement happening week to week, it can sometimes be hard to differentiate and identify what’s important, who the up-and-coming names-to-know are, and congregate the overarching themes from season to season, which is why PrepRedzone is digging deep into the recruiting space and breaking down some of the most important Midwest-related news on the unceasing and relentless recruiting trail. In this second edition of the featured series, we explore some current Freshman Phenoms Earning their First Offers this Spring, and boy is there some talent on this list. Half-a-dozen states represented from America’s Heartland include 8-man freaks, big-time younger brothers, a 7x state champion wrestler, some TEs showing early NFL potential, All-State selections, sub-11-second 100M track speed, and more. Get to know the future of college football recruiting, today!
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An early figurehead in the promising Land of Lincoln 2027 graduating class, Blue Island’s Eisenhower High School looks to transition from star recruit to star recruit, as they are also currently home to popular 2025 safety Andre Lovett, a current Illinois commit who held double-digit P4 offers before shutting things down. 6’2, 225 lb. freshman Sincere Harris used that promising size to his advantage in 2023, posting 47 tackles (30 solo) and 4 sacks that helped create some major buzz for himself on the recruiting trail once the new year rolled around. After some spring practice/junior day/unofficial visits to the likes of Iowa, Northwestern, and Illinois, FBS MAC programs, who always recruit the state of Illinois as well as anyone, have joined the party. Starting with Central Michigan on April 16th, Harris has since added Miami (OH) and Ball State offers for what is an encouraging start to his offer list going into the summer camp season.
A 5T coming out a traditional three-point stance, Harris is still raw and has a lot of developing to do, but he’s a big, strong, physical freshman who can win at the point of attack against Illinois 6A competition as a 14-year-old who checks a lot of important boxes in his budding prep football career. Displays the necessary power to beat both single and double team attempts, as well as strong hands that can throw OL off balance when he locks his arms out and uses strategic and intentional hand placement. Looks good in his stance and possesses a solid get-off, good motor, and physical, and is productive in both run defense and when rushing the passer. Still a lot of development left, but the physical tools are already shining through to the surface and you can see why MAC schools are already reaching out. Posted a 335 x5 squat early last month, so we’re excited to see how his offseason will pay off.
I wrote about a few of the talented Lee’s Summit North 2027 class back in the fall for PrepRedzoneMO, and only a few short months later we’re seeing those impressive young bucks already begin to reel in the offers. In recruiting, it’s always useful to follow bloodlines, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that for that reason alone we had to include freshman 5’11, 220 lb. LB/EDGE Caleb Green Caleb Green 6’0″ | 210 lbs | LB Lee’s Summit North | 2027 MO , younger brother of Oklahoma-turned-Mizzou OT Cayden Green, however, the younger Green’s game speaks for itself as well. We’re not the only ones to think so, as Big12 competitor UCF became the 2027 prospect’s first offer in mid-April, setting the stage for what one day could become a very high-profile recruitment.
Not a lot of film from 2023, but from what you can gather from the limited reps + his performances at various un-padded offseason camps, Green is comfortable and dynamic as a pass rusher, showing off an explosive get-off, twitch, bend, change of direction skills, physicality, and play speed, albeit against JV competition or in un-padded situations. A good sign of continued progression will be if he can be a varsity contributor/starter in 2024, and you can assume some inches will be coming soon as his brother is 6’5, but getting that first offer under his belt is an indicator that things are going well this offseason and there’s a chance this recruitment could bump into the big leagues soon. Big season for Green coming up this fall.
Sticking with that aforementioned Lee’s Summit North 2027 graduating class, who the University of Central Florida hit up in noteworthy fashion this past month. Another stud freshman to grab offer #1 from the Knights is RB/DB Bryce Thompson, a 5’8, 180 lber. who earned varsity carries in 2023 and has hundreds more set in his future prep football career with the Broncos. Like his aforementioned teammate Caleb Green Caleb Green 6’0″ | 210 lbs | LB Lee’s Summit North | 2027 MO , who also earned an offer from UCF in April, Thompson has limited film from his freshman campaign, but against non-varsity opponents, he displayed dominant speed at the non-varsity level, good vision that sees and anticipates the cutback as well as utilizes space effectively overall, balance, and some elusiveness in the open field. Thompson has a good track background that should also be mentioned, and he looks and plays like a good athlete who is comfortable and effective with the ball in his hands. Now, he’s gotta prove it against varsity defenses.
If you haven’t been paying attention, North and South Dakota have seen an uptick in both the quality and quantity of their high school football prospects, and things are only trending upwards. One of the high school programs playing a big part in the increase of Dakota recruiting attention is Pierre T.F. Riggs High School in Pierre, South Dakota, who are fresh off seeing their 2023 4star quarterback Lincoln Kienholz off to Ohio State, as well as fellow 2023er Jason Maciejczak to Nebraska and 2024 TE Jett Zabel to North Dakota State. It looks like the Governors have reloaded and already have a new name hitting the Midwest and potentially national P4 recruiting scene, as 2027 6’5, 215 lb. TE/EDGE Cooper Terwilliger earned a P4 offer from Iowa State in mid-April, his first overall offer of any kind. If you’ve ever read any of my stuff for the Minnesota site, you’ll know that I’m a big fan of how Iowa State recruits, as I believe they do a great job of evaluating and trusting their gut on Minnesotans – and now Dakotans – in offering them earlier than anyone else.
This seems to be yet another example of my belief ringing true, as Terwilliger looks like a heckuva high school football prospect, much less a freshman prospect at that, and has a balanced, versatile, and impressive foundation of a skillset that showed up all over the field and all season long as a freshman. In 2023, Terwilliger totaled 19 receptions for 274 yards and 3 TDs and played a significant role in helping the Govs win another South Dakota 11AA big school state championship. Terwilliger looks like a 6’5 TE on tape and brings tons of length to the table and a great frame that can hold a significant amount more weight going forward. He demonstrated the speed to beat DBs deep in 2023 and can win contested catches, as he times and high-points the ball well, shows a big catch radius, and can reel in receptions away from his body and out of reach of smaller pass catchers. The 6’5 TE has some good moments as a route runner – as does a good job of working to a defender’s blind spot before breaking off his route, uses his big frame to his advantage out of his breaks, and when catching the ball out of the air, stacks DBs and LBs once he gains a step, and does a good job of working to get open and find space when things break down and his QB is rolling out and/or improvising. I also like his contact balance after the catch, and he showed he can stick his cleat in the ground and put a move on a would-be tackler. In true Upper Midwest fashion, Terwilliger is also a physical blocker and shows a good initial punch, bend in his hips, gets up and under an opponent’s chest plate, and he drives his legs after contact and looks to finish. The 215 lber. manhandled a few opponents as a freshman and is strong enough to take on and succeed DEs and bigger in-the-box defenders at the LOS but nimble enough to break down in space and corral smaller, quicker defenders. Great frame, dynamic skill set, big game experience, athletic, and coming from a program manufacturing P4 prospects as of late. Terwilliger seems like the real deal.
Highlights
The state of Michigan seems to be one of the leaders in the Midwest region of already high-profile freshmen and Orchard Lake-St. Mary’s freshman gunslinger Jabin Gonzales is a must-know name in the state’s flourishing 2027 graduating class of prospects. We’ve been hearing a lot about OLSM on the recruiting trail the past few cycles and will continue to as well, as they have double-digit D1 prospects on their current roster, including four P4 prospects in the 2025 class and another 2027 with FBS offers besides Mr. Gonzales. As a quarterback, you have a much higher chance of being evaluated early, and Gonzales seems to be passing these early tests with flying colors. After his first offer rolled in in October from Bowling Green State, Gonzales added a Marshall offer in January and Central Michigan and Kent State offers in March. He’s also visited Michigan State, Northern Illinois, and Florida since those last two offers as well.
Already possessing solid size at 6’2, 195 lbs. and still growing, Gonzales was a varsity starter and winner as a freshman and plays tall, poised, and confident in his pocket. I wouldn’t guess he was a freshman if I went into the tape blind, and his play is as promising as his size. Gonzales shows off a quick release, touch, and accuracy on a variety of throws, and he will stand in the pocket to deliver strikes through big oncoming contact. As a read-option QB with juice as a ball carrier, makes the right reads and possesses game-breaking speed, good vision, balance, and quickness with the ball in hand. My favorite trait of his right now is his excellent pocket maneuverability and scrambling skills. Gonzales can buy time, break tackles, instinctively change direction when scrambling, and throws a good ball on the run. Steps up into the pocket with great timing and awareness, is silky and quick at making would-be rushers miss behind the LOS and seems to be able to anticipate where and when rushers are coming, and keeps his eyes downfield and is looking to throw first, but once he takes off he can hurt his opposition. The freshman is obviously a notch above his peers in the athletic department, but there seems to be some noticeable arm talent visible on tape. I’m interested to see how Gonzales continues to develop going forward.
Highlights
We’re sticking with the 8x Michigan state football champions Orchard Lake-St. Mary’s Prep for yet another superstar freshman football prospect, who we briefly hinted at in the previous evaluation. 6’2, 190 lb. WR Chad Willis exploded onto the national recruiting scene early in his freshman season after earning an SEC offer from Kentucky in late September. This spring, he’s cemented his status as a freshman phenom by earning additional offers from Bowling Green State, Miami (OH), and most recently, the Duke Blue Devils, as of five days ago. Willis has limited film from the fall, but what from I can gather, Willis is a long pass-catcher with a great frame to continue adding muscle and shows off quick releases at the LOS, comfortability beating the press, good route running skills, and soft hands who can finish completions through contact. He did notch varsity reps last fall, including varsity catches and TDs, but this is far from a complete eval, and I’m itching to get some film on this kid in pads.
Orchard Lake-St. Mary’s is a must-stop on the recruiting trail the next few cycles.
The state of Iowa always seems to have a big, strong, athletic, developed, multi-sporter who are discovered and usually snapped up by the instate P4 programs as burgeoning prospects, but the 2027 class seems particularly special. There’s a prolific group of freshmen who seem to have had the makings of future P4 contributors since they stepped into the halls of their high school day one back in September, led by Norwalk High School’s 6’4, 220 lb. TE Luke Brewer. Representing a position group that the state of Iowa produces at a tremendous clip, Brewer got his recruitment going early and earned his first P4 offer back in October from the instate Iowa State Cyclones. However, he’s cemented himself as a P4 prospect this spring after Kansas State TE coach Brian Lepak offered the freshman in late April. Heckuva start to the freshman’s recruiting journey, and as expected, Iowa got the young buck on campus for a gameday experience in the fall. I’m sure have been closely following his offseason ever since.
Possessing a traditional and balanced TE skillset, including some exciting and promising juice as a pass catcher, Brewer can flex out to the slot or align as an inline TE on the LOS and shows off good speed, impressive strength, and fluid athleticism that shows up all over the gridiron in his freshman tape. The 6’4 TE is tough as nails when going over the middle and can complete catches through contact, sometimes massive collisions, as he showed in his freshman tape. I like his big catch radius and ability to reel in catches away from his body and make receptions in traffic. Plus, he displays some shake at the top of the route and is really clean when getting in and out of his breaks as a route runner and when the ball is in hand, he’s powerful, quick, and shows off some intimidating contact balance after the catch. The physicality box is checked too, as Brewer demonstrates noticeable strength for a freshman that is occasionally overpowering as a blocker, and I like how he runs his feet post-contact, keeps his hands active, and utilizes body positioning effectively. He’s a crushing blocker in space who flies in like a bat out of hell to eliminate LBs and DBs so quickly that they can barely react, and Brewer also made some big hits on kickoff coverage to boot. Obvious P4 talent who is poised to continue the trend of NFL-worthy TEs produced by the state of Iowa.
You don’t need a lot of introduction when you’re rocking the last name of “DeJean.” Yes, there’s another DeJean out of OABCIG in small-town Iowa, and to sweeten the pot, the 2027 DeJean is already 6’4, 200 lbs. Freshman phenom Jaxx DeJean is already a massive and eye-catchingly built WR/DB with obvious P4 bloodlines, a multi-sport background (basketball), versatility, great size, and was productive as a freshman, posting 37 catches for 500 yards and 7 TDs, 20 rushes for 128 yards and 5 TDs, 25 tackles, a TFL, and 4 INTs, earning All-State Second Team honors from the Iowa Print Sports Writers Association as a DB. In February, DeJean reeled in what will be the first of many D1 offers after UAB made an appearance in the Hawkeye State, and he’s already made a couple of visits to Iowa City to see the Hawkeyes as well.
A natural, do-it-all, explosive freshman who looks like a man amongst boys in his freshman film, DeJean’s outstanding body control shows up most noticeably when he’s going up and nabbing the football out of the air. The 6’4 standout is a contested catch machine who tracks and plays the ball well in the air and can win 50/50 balls by climbing the ladder to highpoint the ball over DBs and their outstretched fingertips. There’s coordination, timing, bounce, and fearlessness when extending his body to reel in receptions with defenders draped all over him. DeJean displays big play speed that can easily take the top off the defense as a WR uses smooth COD ability after the catch, and owns a violent stiff arm he used to drop more than a couple defenders in 2023. To show off his natural elusiveness as a ball carrier, DeJean did get reps at QB, where he’d take off and display effective lateral cuts, good vision, tons of balance, and noticeable acceleration. As a CB, one of the biggest I’ve seen on tape in a while, DeJean gets out of his breaks with pace, T-steps cleanly and without wasting movement, and naturally undercuts routes, using good timing and route recognition ability while reading the QB eyes as well. Massive, dynamic, dominant, small-town athlete who is a level above the competition, especially as a freshman. If I had to guess, I think he’ll be a LB at the next level, but with his size and versatility, you never know. Hawkeyes should and will be involved soon, DeJean is putting some rare things on tape for a 6’4, 200+ lb. freshman.
Highlights
Another highly-touted, eye-catching, and must-know, early-to-the-scene 2027 product from the state of Iowa, Woodbine High School’s 6’5 pass-catcher Landon Blum is coming off a freshman campaign that saw him earn All-State honors after creating some massive production to the tune of 50 receptions for 839 receiving yards and 17 TDs (!) for one of the best seasons of any WR or TE in the state of Iowa for 2023, especially the 8-man division. Not only is the outstanding production an indicator and data point of future success, but Blum is also a heckuva basketball player, ranking #3 in the Prep Hoops Iowa 2027 class and averaged nearly 16 PPG, 5 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game in late December. Plus, he cleared 6’2 in the high jump early this track & field season. Honestly, I can’t think of a better combination for a talented 6’5 wide receiver like Blum, and with his fantastic recruiting resume going into his sophomore football season, he saw his first P4 offer roll in late April from the Iowa State Cyclones. He’s been rushed with P4 camp invites ever since!
On tape, Blum’s ability and athleticism bring the word “freaky” to mind, an adjective I try to use as infrequently as I can. He owns a great frame, noticeable length that he uses to his advantage, good speed at the top-end, and can cut at full speed, and is overall an 8-man nightmare and surely one of the best non-11-man players in the entire country. The 6’5 wideout’s high-point ability is almost unreal. He floats through the air with effortless bounce (reports a 42″ vertical) and uses outstanding body control to pluck the rock out of the air at its highest point while maintaining composure and landing on his feet to showcase his rare and impressive balance. Holds a massive catch radius and can fully extend his body and arms for some eye-popping and highlight-reel-worthy catches, sometimes with only one hand! Additionally, Blum breaks off his routes cleanly, hits his landmarks and can change direction smoothly, doesn’t waste steps and can drop his hips, and can create separation at the top of the route. He’s got some juice with the ball in his hands as well, showing suddenness after the catch, good balance, and he’ll throw out a mean truck stick whenever possible. With his giraffe-like legs, Blum is still growing and fitting into his body too, which should scare his potential opponents the next three years of high school. As of right now, I think he’s got what it takes to play WR at the next level. What an exciting freshman phenom coming out of the small-town, non-11-man ranks of Iowa high school football. Can’t say I’ve seen a freshman like Blum before.
Highlights
You can’t have a Midwest-focused recruiting article without featuring the always-fertile high school football recruiting grounds of Ohio. Representing Youngstown, Ohio and Austintown Fitch High School, 2027 6’1, 180 lb. ATH Brayden Bryant owes his football recruiting blowup to his performance during his current freshman track & field season. You’ve heard me say it before and will hear me say it again, but verified athletic numbers are as valuable as gold in this industry, and Bryant’s verified track speed would be impressive as an upperclassman, much less a freshman. Bryant ran a 22.59 200M and 6.99 60M in mid-February, followed by an 11.15 100M in late March, which prompted heavyweight SEC competitor Kentucky to offer his first scholarship opportunity on April 25th. Only two days later, Bryant ran an eye-catching 10.84 100M, solidifying himself as a real deal speedster in the budding 2027 class, not only in Ohio but regionally and even potentially nationally.
Bryant didn’t play varsity ball in 2023, but against non-varsity competition he was a two-way contributor who lined up primarily as a WR and DB and showed off that track speed in various on-field settings. I also liked his ball skills, contested catch ability, range as a MOF defender, and physicality as a blocker. He had a knack for creating a big play and should be competing for a varsity starting spot as a sophomore. You don’t need varsity reps as a freshman prospect when you have verified speed on your side, and boy does Bryant have plenty of it.
Another Show-Me State freshman we got on our radar and made sure to cover during the 2023 season, St. Pius X High School in Kansas City, MO is home to 6’3, 260 lb. mauler Kyler Kuhn, who both initially caught and has held my attention thanks to his decorated youth wrestling career, and in late April, Kuhn punched his ticket to both the U.S.A. freestyle and greco cadet national teams. He’s also a back-to-back-to-back folkstyle state champ and has won and placed at national folkstyle tournaments throughout his youth wrestling career as well. His success on the mat has translated well to the gridiron, where he started on the offensive line in 2023, and in late April he earned his first college football offer from FCS Missouri State University. As a RT, Kuhn is powerful, balanced, and impressively smooth in space, aggressive, and physically and technically sound in both run and pass-blocking scenarios. The 260 lber. explodes out of his stance and is powerful at the point of attack, proving himself to be a vicious run blocker with pop at the initial contact point who doesn’t stop driving his feet until he hears the whistle blow. I found myself impressed by Kuhn’s effectiveness and mobility – including start/stop and slight COD movement – when finding work in space and breaking down and blocking at the second level of a defense. He’s a smooth combo blocker as well. For his age, he’s already experienced and comfortable in pass protection. Kuhn demonstrates a solid kick step in pass pro, is light on his feet and keeps them active, and owns a powerful punch – he could work on staying square going forward but does show he can gain depth in his pass set to handle speed rushers attempting to beat him upfield. The wrestling background – one of my favorite when scouting OL and DL talent – shows up in many facets of his game and his combination of strength and agility, not to mention technique, make him a very promising OL prospect going forward.
Highlights
Sticking with the Show-Me State and the talent-rich Blue Springs area of northwest Missouri. A 2023 Second Team All-District and Second Team All-Conference selection for Blue Springs South High School, 6’2, 265 lb. lineman Jude Couzens earned his first college offer about a week ago when instate Missouri State University offered an FCS scholarship. He’s on the radar of some big-time programs as well, as Couzens took a KState unofficial gameday visit in November and earned a Wisconsin prospect camp invite in February.
The freshman only allowed 1.5 sacks in 586 snaps in 2023 as a varsity right tackle, and the strength he possesses is both the first and the lasting impression I’m left with from his freshman tape. Couzens displays strength, pop, and power at the initial contact point and is a physical run blocker who sent some defenders flying when he locks his arms out or puts his pads on them. The 260 lber. is also a crushing finisher when he gets the upper hand in the positioning or balance battle. I’m also impressed by his footwork, both in run and pass-blocking situations. He doesn’t overstep or overextend, keeps his feet active, utilizes his post foot well, and generates noticeable power when he plants and anticipates contact. I like his pass set for a freshman as well, it’s clean, patient, stays square, doesn’t lunge or overextend, and can handle both speed and/or power. Additionally, Couzens shows a great base that absorbs contact and can dish it back out well once he resets his body, he does a good job of staying engaged to defenders once he gets his paws on them, and can change direction and can start/stop well in space, allowing him to effectively act as a lead blocker. Looks and plays like a D1 OL, he’ll need some added inches to see if he can jump into the P4 sphere of recruiting. Couzens is a stud though, don’t get it twisted.
Highlights
Southern Illinois-based Althoff Catholic is home to some high-quality football prospects going into the fall, including the nation’s #11 ranked RB and a Top 50 DL in their 2025 class, but their 2027 ballers are starting to find some recruiting attention of their own. Solely based on stats and production, freshman QB Jayden Ellington is my choice for the Land of Lincoln’s top-performing freshman for 2023, earning a selection as a First Team All-State Underclassmen in my PrepRedzoneIL special feature a couple months back. According to MaxPreps, Ellington posted 101 completions on 142 attempts (71%) for 1,584 yards and 17 TDs to 7 INTs, leading the state’s freshman in passing yardage and TDs, and added 88 rushes for 582 yards and 7 TDs, once again pacing the state’s freshman class in rushing yards and TDs. The area around Belleville in Southern Illinois is stocked to the brim with talent, so Ellington was producing, winning, and scoring against athletic and high-quality varsity competition as well. For his efforts, the freshman earned offer #1 almost a week ago from FBS Miami of Ohio, and you can bet your bottom dollar more is on the way.
Ellington is a classic dual-threat QB prospect, but don’t get it twisted, just because this kid can run doesn’t mean he’ll be tagged as an “athlete.” Ellington has noticeable arm talent and can hurt defenses with his arm just as easily as his legs. However, he’s a very good athlete at the position who can break a game open with his speed and elusiveness, and the combination of the two makes him a very hard assignment to gameplan and always account for. The 5’11, 165 lber. displays game-breaking speed when he tucks and takes off – and is patient, shows good vision, and takes full advantage of space and opponents’ miscues in run defense and gap integrity. Ellington’s arm looks good as well. He displays accuracy to all three levels of the field, and puts his receivers in positions to succeed after the catch as well as keep them out of harms way. The accuracy and touch also help him fit the ball into tighter high school windows between zone coverage and multiple defenders, and I also like how he can scramble, improvise, and buy time outside of the pocket. He throws an accurate ball on the move and steps up into the pocket to avoid pressure effectively as well. Plus, Ellington demonstrates a quick release, consistent mechnicans, good timing, noticeable velocity and a tight spiral out of his hand. You don’t find first-year varsity starters who can pull off the variety of difficult throws he completed very often, much less as a freshman. The arm talent and athleticism have me very bullish on this young man’s future.
Highlights
We’re staying in the uber-talented St. Louis metropolitan area and have yet another now-D1 Missouri freshman who you would have on your radar earlier than anyone if you read my recruiting feature from last fall. Lutheran North 2027 LB James Bryant III isn’t the biggest ‘backer yet, reporting a 6’, 180 lb. frame, but he’s a heckuva football player who is always around the football and who popped off an eye-catching six-sack game back in the fall. He earned All-District and All-Conference honors while manning a varsity LB spot for the Class 4A, 6x state champion Crusaders, starting 12 games and totaling 91 tackles, 11 sacks, 11 TFLs, 3 FF, and 2 punt blocks, and PRzMO scout JP Rock saw him run a 4.4 short-shuttle and jump 30″ vertically in April at an in-person showcase. Shortly after, on May 1st, Bryant III earned his first college football offer from FBS Miami (OH), a great start to a recruiting journey that isn’t ending anytime soon.
As a standup OLB on the LOS but at a 9T or even wider alignment, Bryant III can drop into coverage, blitz, and see and eliminate the run with equal impact. He opens his tape with a big stick on kickoff, something that fires a crowd and sideline up, and he continues to show that he’s one of the hardest hitters in the state throughout the rest of the film. Especially at his weight. He kind of physically shocks ball carriers when he puts the pads on them, Bryant III is a great form tackler, goes all out and brings his hips through contact while driving his feet relentlessly, and can also lay a shoulder and bring a ton of pop behind him on RBs, QBs, and WRs alike. The 180 lber. does a good job of slipping underneath larger OL and TEs working to the second level or at the edge of the LOS, can drop his hips to surprise blockers, shows sideline-to-sideline range in run support and a big motor, and can tackle in space. The production as a pass rusher showed up on tape too, as he gets off the LOS and shoots gaps with pace and attacks RBs in pass pro. The dynamic ability from the position, range, ability to beat blocks, and above all: physicality, make him one of the more interesting prospects to continue tracking in Missouri.
Highlights
The Miami Redhawks stayed active in Missouri powerhouse Lutheran North’s 2027 class to kick the month off, also offering standout freshman OL Lonnie Johnson Jr. on May 1st. A Missouri Football Coaches Association Class 4 All-State pick in his first year of high school football – the only freshman to make the team I may add – Johnson Jr. measures in at 6’2, 305 lbs. and is a road-grader of a right tackle who backs up the All-State nod on film.
Johnson Jr. sends defenders flying like a cartoon and then comes in to give them another shot while they’re on their knees, and he can manhandle varsity opponents in both the run and pass game. The 300+ lber. possesses the most powerful punch on this list, upending varsity DEs like someone swept their legs out from under them when he gets a good shot on you. He displays good bend, gets out of his stance low and with aggression, and understands leverage and how to take advantage of an opponent who is off balance or out of position. I like how Johnson Jr. stays square, keeps his feet active in pass pro, stays patient but times out his punches well, and looks to attack and bring the physicality to the defender, and overall if he gets his paws on you it’s game over. Additionally, he demonstrates a great get-off as a DT and has the strength and balance to beat double teams in the heart of the LOS and is a force in run defense. To back up that power, Johnson Jr. also throws the shot put and recorded an impressive 45′.25 shot put at the end of April. Gotta like an OT who throws shot and discus. Another fun Lutheran North freshman to keep tabs on going forward, what a class that’s shaping out to be.
DAngelo White
DAngelo White
The most college-ready freshman on this talented list of freshman phenoms, you shouldn’t be surprised this next standout 2027 hails from the Great State of Ohio. Cleveland area’s Villa Angela-St. Joseph High School is home to 6’5, 230 lb. TE DAngelo White, who is lacking in freshman film but far from lacking in offers. White saw his recruitment explode at the end of April, and since the 26th of last month he’s heard from Kentucky first, then Bowling Green State, Toledo, Kent State, Cincinnati, Purdue, Illinois, Indiana, and Miami of Ohio. In his 22 seconds of available Hudl film from the fall, I can gather that White was used as a HB/Wing, is a fluid and powerful runner whose varsity program made sure to get the ball in his hands last fall, and was a willing blocker who could run DBs down in space. I’m assuming this kid is passing eye tests behind the scenes, and he is obviously mobile and fluid at his size in the limited reps from the fall, so when you’re a 6’5 14/15-year-old in NE Ohio you can butt your butt you’re going to get found. Can’t wait to see this dude open it up as a sophomore.
Last but not least, we head back to the Show-Me State for one more big-time Missouri-made freshman. Already 6’5, 300+ pounds, Battle High School’s Ace Herman-Dawson brought a decorated youth football resume and high school-ready size into the Class 5 competitor Battle and had a great showing manning the all-important LT spot for the Spartans. Also a prolific talent on the camp circuit, Herman-Dawson saw his on and off-field success culminate in an exciting first offer from FBS UNLV almost a week ago, adding to what is around a double-digit list of Show-Me State freshman to hold a D1 offer going into the summer of their sophomore year. A tall, big-bodied freshman who does a good job of firing out of his stance and staying engaged to wiggly defenders, I like Herman-Dawson’s strength in the run game, as he blocks, finishes, and flashes physical dominance that you’d hope to see in a kid of his size. He’s got good leg drive after contact, is comfortable in pass pro and shows good balance for a young lineman of his size, and has a nasty streak that I love to see in a young OL. The 300 lber. is looking to plant you into the ground as hard as possible and in both run and pass-blocking scenarios. Still needs to do some work developing his body and mobility, but there’s plenty of time left in this Missouri product’s recruitment and high school career.
Highlights
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