Sophomore Ballers Stepping Up This Past Fall

Playing as a sophomore is a big deal. Especially if you happen to go to one of the larger classification schools.   A small percentage of players will start and an even smaller group with receive post-season awards.   But for most, at this stage, it is about the grind, the process of getting bigger, better, faster and smarter so when the opportunity arises you are ready.   You never know when the opportunity will present itself, so you have to be ready 24/7. Once you hit that field, you want to make sure the quality of your play ensures you stay out there.   In this report, we will take a look at a few more playmakers with big up-side from the class of 2027.   So, without further adieu, let's check out some of these up-and-coming ballers from the past fall.     Alvin Riley, 5'9, 175, RB/LB, KC Washington, 2027, is coming off a solid start to his high school career, getting experience and showing the league what's in store for the future. On offense for the past year he had 65 receiving yards with a 22.0 yard average. On defense he picked up 23 tackles, three QB hurries, six tackles and an incredible three blocked field goals. As a running back he is a slashing runner with a low center of gravity and great burst who shreds arm tackles. On defense he is a headhunter of a linebacker who shoots the gap like a torpedo and makes big plays in the backfield. He usually lines up as an outside linebacker or comes off the edge to destroy plays trying to hit the perimeter. He is getting ready to make some noise in 2025.   Holden Lind, 5'9, 150, RB, Hays 2026, is coming off one of the best running back performances for the year regardless of class in helping lead his team to a state runner-up finish. For the year he gained a jaw-dropping 1,678 yards with a 6.0 yard average and 11 rushing touchdowns. He also had 229 receiving yards and seven more TDs to give him just under 2,000 total yards and 18 touchdowns. He was also first-team 5A all state and was all WAC for his efforts. As a runner he has great instincts and when he picks a hole he blows through it like a heat-seeking missile. Once in the secondary, forget about it. With his burst and top-end acceleration he is off to the proverbial races. He may have flown under the radar early but everyone in the state knows who he is now.   [player_tooltip player_id='1311567' first='Cole' last='Zeka'], 6'3, 230, DE/TE, Wellington, 2027, is coming off a rock-solid start this past fall and is already getting college looks for his huge potential. A two-way versatile baller in the trenches, he lines up at tight end on offense and is a physical, mauler coming off the edge on defense. For the season he had 10 tackles and a pair of tackles for a loss. On offense he caught a couple of passes and even kicked off as needed on special teams. With a D1-frame that is still in growth-mode, he has the potential to dominate at tight end with his athleticism and big catch radius. On defense he is going to continue to bring the hammer and terrorize opposing offenses. Next fall he is going to bring a big-time game and go off.   [player_tooltip player_id='1044864' first='Cory' last='Kirchner']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/cory-kirchner/"></a> , 6'3”, 170, ATH, St. James Academy, 2027, is transferring from Spring Hill to SJA and will bring his talented game to a promising Thunder team. He is the highest-ranked player in this report, ranked #3 overall and is the #1-ranked WR in the class of 2027. This past fall he caught 16 passes for 228 yards and a pair of touchdowns in six games of action. As a wideout he has a division one frame with great reach and an outstanding catch radius. He runs precise routes and is fearless going over the middle and making the difficult, contested catch. He combines ideal size with good wheels and is a threat to burn up the seams on every play. Get your popcorn out for this guy in 2025.   [player_tooltip player_id='934979' first='Pete' last='Dorsey']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/pete-dorsey/"></a> , 6'1, 175, QB, Wellsville 2027 is a dynamic young gunslinger that I covered earlier in the year and made a note to check back at year end. And, I am happy to report, his performance this past fall was outstanding. For the year the dual-threat ace completed 57 of 103 passes for just under 900 yards, a 55% completion percentage and a 9:1 TD-pass-to-interception ratio for a sizzling passer rating of 110.0. He also picked up 400+ yards rushing and nine more touchdowns to give him 1,300+ total yards and 18 TDs. On defense he added 25 tackles and a tackle for loss. After a slow start he took off and ended the season strong. This kid is the real deal, get him on your lists and follow for the next couple of years.   In conclusion, get these guys on your watchlists and follow them for the next couple of years. And, as always, if you run across any teams or players flying under the radar give me a shout via DM on X.

Playing as a sophomore is a big deal. Especially if you happen to go to one of the larger classification schools.