2027 Rankings Review - MD/DC/DE Top 5 Prospects

<p>We just revealed our new rankings for Maryland/DC/Delaware class of 2027 and there will be plenty of prospect article breakdowns coming shortly. We begin with The top 5, which consisted of a Delaware prospects at the #1 spot for the first time. Baltimore was also represented highly with 3 of the top 5 coming out of the area. An individual breakdown on our overall top five below:</p>    <p class="text-gray-700">I was able to get out and see Layton live at practice back in last November, and he was impressive from first viewing. He worked out for me personally, going through some change of direction, bend, and OL drill work. Just from watching him live at practice & in those drills you could see he had all the tools of a Power 4 OT prospect. Layton has then picked up 10 total offers since this February, 7 of them being from Power 4 schools. </p>   <p>Layton is every bit of 6'6" and a frame that continues to fill out with good muscle. When I saw him in Nov.,he had added 20lbs. already since the start of the season, so he is hitting the weight room and growing and growing. Mainly playing on the DL in the 2023 season as the team/coaching staff brought him along with the offense. He ended up playing more and more on the OL as the season went along and will be an OT at the next level, as well as going forward for Appo. Layton is a natural knee bender, runs on his toes, and a good overall athlete with fluid & quick lateral movement. He plays with some nasty and shows a good punch and explosiveness off the snap. Can get into the defenders chest and can lock out his arms using his impressive length to widen out the edge. Again, he demonstrates all the tools, physical boxes and skill set of an Elite OL Prospect. </p>   <p>Another thing I like about Layton is he is a hard working personable kid, wants to be coached ands knows what it takes to get better. His older brother is a former Appo QB who is now a TE at VMI, and Layton's dad is on staff as an assistant coach at Appoquinimink as well. Layton has all the potential to be a National Recruit, and he will be a 20/30+ offer kid in no time in my mind. </p>    <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/LaytonvonBrandt </div></figure>    <p class="text-gray-700">It was a tough decision for the #1 spot and I want to say it is really a 1A and 1B between Raylaun and Layton at the top of these rankings. He film is a joy to watch with his impressive technique for the position. Raylaun is a prototype CB in today's game, tall at 6'2" already, excellent length, and some of the best hips I've seen for someone that young. </p>   <p>Raylaun is extremely smooth and fluid in his backpedal and overall movements at the corner position. He can mirror shuffle, exceptional at staying in phase with the receiver and riding their hip, and shows excellent ball skills. A very physical corner as well, Raylaun has a strong jam keeping great positioning and balance while jamming and riding the WR. He uses the sideline to his advantage as well, running the receiver of his route and out of the ball. Raylaun shows great instincts, quick to react and break on the ball to make the play. </p>   <p>An elite man-to-man CB who can bump and run and lock down receivers already as just a freshman. He has a top tier size/skill set for his position, and already holds double digit Power 4 offers. Raylaun is a 5 star National Recruit already in my mind and will battle for the #1 spot in these class rankings at every update.</p>    <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/RaylaunHenry </div></figure>    <p class="text-gray-700">I first saw Joseph when he was in 8th grade playing with the Hamilton Tigers and he caught me eye as an impressive 6'2" 185lbs LB even back then. He has continued to grow and bulk up adding on real nice muscle becoming a 6'4" 230lbs+ DE. Mr. Buchanan is now at McDonogh for the 2024 season after playing most of last year for New Town HS.</p>   <p>Buchanan is a power DE who plays with a lot of strength and great leverage at the LOS. He can beat OL with bullrush, a strong slap and rip, or powering through beating the tackles on the inside shoulder. Joseph isn't just power as he is explosive off the edge as well. With great bend and burst, he can beat you speed. Bending the edge and flattening down the line he makes a beeline for the QB. A good overall athlete, Joseph runs track as well so you see where that speed & burst comes from. He's a high motor player who competes and plays through the whistle.</p>   <p>Joseph currently holding four Power 4 offers and I expect that number to increase significantly after this season. He has a ton of potential still so look for him to really take off this year at McDonogh as he continues to develop his skillset. </p>    <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/sackchasin_buc </div></figure>    <p class="text-gray-700">Staying put as the #1 WR in his class, James holds a total of 8 Power 4 offers already. He earned this #4 overall ranking because of his exceptional size & athleticism for the position. </p>   <p>He is your prototypical X receiver as he is big, strong, and shows excellent hands. He is a good leaper who shows excellent ball skills, able to go up and high point the ball over the defender. A natural pass catcher as well, you notice he looks the ball in, and routinely catches the ball away from his body and/or snatching it out of the air. A long strider who can get down the field quickly as well as get good YAC as he eats up grass. James shows good route running and the ability to beat press coverage off the line. Another quality of James that really stands out to me is his willingness, if not desire to block as a WR. He plays tough and does not hesitate he take a DB out of the play, being a strong help in the run game. </p>   <p>James has great size, strength, toughness, and technique for his position with a very high ceiling. I'd like to see him continue to develop into a route running technician and take that overall next step to being a dominating force at the position. From what I see he has the work ethic and desire to do so and I expect a huge sophomore season and many more offers coming James' way.</p>    <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/James_fb4e </div></figure>    <p class="text-gray-700">Pace is a player DeMatha coaches mentioned to me very early on last season as a player of the future to watch for. He is a great size & frame player with good lean muscle. I can see him bulking up to a jacked 240+ in no time. Pace had a good spring in recruitment adding 4 offers bringing him to a total of 6 offer with 4 of them being from Power conference schools James rotated in at DE for most of last season as DeMatha was loaded on the DL, but expect him to take off this upcoming fall and begin to dominate as a player. </p>   <p class="text-gray-700">James has a good natural bend with pop and explosiveness off the snap. An agile player as well, he plays on his toes and show quick twitch in hips. He is able to play the edge staying square to the line and able to re-direct quickly with nice COD speed to get to stop the ball carrier. Pass rush wise, James flashes active hands, being able to use club, swim, and rip moves. He can also beat the OT with straight speed around the edge. A high motor player as well, James chases down the play and brings it every snap. Another quality I really like of his is he plays violent. He is a strong tackler who will hit through the ball carrier and deliver a blow.</p>   <p>I expect a big year out of James this season and believe is can be a breakout campaign for him. He is a fast, twitchy, explosive DE who has the potential to dominate as he develops his technique and gets stronger. Looking forward to seeing him live this fall and don't be surprised if he is a double-digit Power 4 Offer kid after his sophomore season.</p>    <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/luljroc_ </div></figure>

We just revealed our new rankings for Maryland/DC/Delaware class of 2027 and there will be plenty of prospect article breakdowns coming shortly. We begin with The top 5, which consisted of a Delaware prospects at the #1 spot for the first time. Baltimore was also represented highly with 3 of the top 5 coming out of the area. An individual breakdown on our overall top five below: