New Defensive Additions to the 2027 Top 75

Code PRZWV30 for 30% off your subscription!   The 2024 WV high school football season has completed and now it's time to spotlight the 2027 class with the winter rankings update. Here are the new defensive prospects who were added to the Top 75 rankings.    2027 Winfield DB [player_tooltip player_id='1155325' first='Aiden' last='Tate'] has a limited amount of tape available but is a definite player to know in this class moving forward. A full-season tape may have placed Tate much higher, but he'll begin in the 2027 rankings just outside of the Top 50 as the #8 defensive back. Tate has the playmaking ability to affect the game in all three phases and has a bright future as a DB prospect with gifted instincts. He's a name to tuck away for later as more film becomes available, but his flashes warranted a placement inside of the 2027 Top 75.   <blockquote class="twitter-tweet">2027 ATH [player_tooltip player_id='1155325' first='Aiden' last='Tate'] is a big play three way threat. <a href="https://twitter.com/michael_bartrum?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@michael_bartrum</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/WRHitList?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WRHitList</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/GunterBrewer?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GunterBrewer</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachPerry_UK?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachPerry_UK</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachRustyW?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachRustyW</a> <a href="https://t.co/37NsvLVkbD">pic.twitter.com/37NsvLVkbD</a>— CHINSTRAPSPORTS (@CSS_TRAINING) <a href="https://twitter.com/CSS_TRAINING/status/1848486610578641076?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 21, 2024</a></blockquote>     The Lincoln Cougars will have another Rice brother making plays on Friday nights with [player_tooltip player_id='1616384' first='Connor' last='Rice'] being the next up. Older brother Aidan had a great career for Lincoln capped by a tremendous senior year this season, and Connor appears to be headed in a similar trajectory. He had a successful sophomore season in 2024 that he'll build on heading into his junior year as a two-way player that can change games on both sides of the ball. Linebacker is where we like Rice right now, but he'll be a playmaker on offense as well just like his older brother was. Rice is a plus athlete who will continue to raise his ceiling as he adds size and has all of the tools to develop into a top LB prospect in the 2027 class.      No season tape for 2027 Williamstown DL [player_tooltip player_id='897609' first='Christian' last='Hoosier'], but we liked the glimpses we saw from him this season to warrant a spot inside of the Top 75. Hoosier originally caught our eye at the PRZ WV Combine last spring as we waited for some game tape to place him in the rankings. A year later, we've seen enough from Hoosier to feel confident he'll be a notable defensive lineman in the 2027 class. He has the size and athleticism to develop into a very good DL prospect by his senior year at a program that knows how to develop talent. Hoosier is another name to tuck away for now as more film becomes available, but he is certainly worth monitoring over the next two years.      2027 Nitro DB [player_tooltip player_id='1316655' first='David' last='Hill'] caught our eye when watching his sophomore tape and debuts in the rankings as a Top 10 defensive back. His sophomore film shows a lot of press and single-man coverage showing trust from his coaches to leave him on an island. Hill has the athleticism to stick and adjust to receivers and flip his hips fluidly. He also does a nice job reading runs and screen plays as a corner to come downhill in support and getting off blocks. Added size will benefit his game over the next two years, but his other intangibles show he has true potential as one of the better corners in this class.      2027 Morgantown DL [player_tooltip player_id='1326483' first='Chase' last='Travis'] will have an uphill battle as a defensive line prospect due to size, but his ability couldn't be overlooked with a Top 75 rankings placement. We got eyes on Travis at the Stock Up Showcase where he was right in the mix for DL Top Performers which paired with a strong sophomore debut for the Mohigans' varsity squad in 2024 earned him a spot in the rankings. He's a high-effort and tenacious player which likely forced a starting role as an underclassman at a talented program. Travis uses his hands well and is a talented pass rusher who knows how to consistently shed blocks. EDGE is a potential future position for Travis depending on how his body develops over the next two years given his skillset and ability as a pass rusher, which could give him a higher ceiling as a prospect.      2027 University DB [player_tooltip player_id='1616215' first='Kyle' last='Weaver']'s sophomore tape was a pleasant surprise when evaluating him and quickly jumped inside of the Top 75 as the #10 defensive back. Weaver's first clip on his highlight tape will grab your attention quickly with a very athletic tip at the LOS and catching the ball before racing to the end zone. He's a versatile safety prospect who can align in a variety of different spots in their defense and was effective on film in each of them. Weaver is a fluid athlete with good closing speed in coverage and pursuit to the ball. His ceiling may be much higher than his current ranking and is a potential future stock riser.      Another defensive line prospect who caught our eye at the Stock Up Showcase and now places inside of the Top 75 is 2027 Cabell Midland OL/DL [player_tooltip player_id='1589349' first='Aiden' last='Estep']. The bulk of his sophomore JV film is at offensive line, but Estep impressed the college colleges at the showcase as a defensive lineman and kept improving as the morning progressed. His size also better translates to that side of the ball at this point of his career pending further growth. If Estep can continue to grow over the next two years, he also has potential as an OL prospect and may eventually flip to that side of the ball in the rankings.

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