Underclassmen Offensive Weapons - '27/'28 Ballers

Every time I start to think about shifting gears to the class of 2026 I keep running across young up-and-coming ballers who need to be covered in this post-holiday deep dive into the promising players representing the freshman and sophomore classes ('27, '28).   Consequently, the older guys will have to wait another day or so while I wrap up the young gun coverage. Or maybe a week, depending on how this last marathon tape session unfolds.   In this report we will take a look at some more underclassmen standouts who are off and running on promising high school football careers. More specifically, we will be focused on the offensive skill positions and playmakers.   So, without further adieu, let's take a quick look at these rising stars:   [player_tooltip player_id='415448' first='Kayden' last='Augustus']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/kayden-augustus/"></a> , 5'11, 180, RB/LB, Blue Valley North, '27, is a rising star two-way baller who can pound the rock as a tailback on offense or help lead the defensive charge as a versatile linebacker or defensive back. He showed glimpses of great things to come this past fall when he carried 40 times for 239 yards and a touchdown as well as picked up 16 tackles on the other side of the ball. As a runner he makes a decisive cut, zips through the hole and with standout burst and acceleration runs to daylight in a hurry. On defense he can play all over and with his top-end closing speed and aggressive play he shuts down the run at the line of scrimmage. In the off-season he is a standout in track and ran with the varsity in the 100m and the 110M hurdles. In the spring he will fine-tune his skills with Building Champions Elite in 7v7.   [player_tooltip player_id='1184357' first='Landon' last='Roberts'], 5'9, 160, RB, Blue Valley SW, '28, is another all-purpose back who gave coaches and fans a look of great things to come after an excellent freshman season. He is a versatile running back who can pick up the tough yards and get extra yardage after the initial hit. He is also a standout receiver out of the backfield. Where he really excels, however, is as a back who hits the perimeter with excellent burst and acceleration and runs to daylight. He has good enough hands to play receiver but is probably more dangerous taking the short passes out of the backfield and converting them into big gains. In the off-season he stays busy playing basketball and running track. He is also going to lace his cleats up in 7v7 this spring with Building Champions. This kid is the real deal, get out and start following him for the coming years.   [player_tooltip player_id='1515789' first='Ethan' last='Curry'], 5'10, 180, RB/ATH, Lawrence, '27, is coming off a standout sophomore season as a two-way stud who can do a little bit of everything. On offense he piled up just under 600 total yards running, receiving and on returns. He was particularly effective as a receiver as he gained 100+ yards on eight reception and a pair of TD's. In the return game he was electric, returning 20+ kicks and punts and averaged 20 yards a return. On defense, this past year, is where he really stepped up, with 70 tackles, an interception and a fumble recovery. He can play anywhere in the secondary from safety to cornerback and when he collapses down to defend the run he shows his standout closing speed and hits like a hammer. Get out and see this kid in 2025, you will not be disappointed.   [player_tooltip player_id='1597293' first='Logan' last='Gaither'], 6'2, 215, FB/LB, Oxford, '27, is coming off a breakout sophomore season where he showed he is already more than ready for the varsity game as a two-way player who can excel at multiple positions on offense and is a pounding middle linebacker on defense. On offense he lines up all over as a versatile back who can split out, work from the slot on jet sweeps and take the snap directly in the wildcat. He is a strong runner and a powerful force with the ball in his hands once he gets going. He has a strong base, delivers a blow on contact and rarely gets tackled by one defender. For the year he picked up 160 yards rushing on 31 carries for a 5+ yards per carry average and five TD's. On defense he is a head-banging linebacker who can play in the middle or come off the edge. In the off-season he plays basketball and baseball. This kid is getting ready tear it up in 2025.   Cameron Akins 5'10, 170, RB/DB, Wichita East, '28, is another versatile young gun who can play both ways in multiple positions and also brings game-breaking speed. He is an athletic running back who uses his 4.5 speed to hit the perimeter in a hurry and outrun defensive backs to the goal line. He picked up just under 1,500 yards rushing in his last season of middle school and was almost impossible to stop. At the high school level he may be used more as a defensive back, at least to start with. As a defender he can play anywhere in the secondary from being a shutdown corner to floating in zone as a centerfielder free safety attacking the ball. He is also an outstanding kick and punt return man. He runs track in the off-season and has already recorded a 10.9 100 and was an AAU Jr Olympic All American. Get this speedster on your watchlist for next fall.     In conclusion, start watching these guys now and follow their progress over the next few years. You will not be disappointed. And, as always, if you run across in players or teams flying under the radar give me a shout via DM on X.

Every time I start to think about shifting gears to the class of 2026 I keep running across young up-and-coming ballers who need to be covered in this post-holiday deep dive into the promising players representing the freshman and sophomore classes ('27, '28).