2027 Rankings Hidden Gems: Northern California

<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Deep dive into the northern California sleepers in the 2027 PRZ state rankigns.</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">Bradley had a breakout sophomore season rushing for over 1,200 yards and 13 touchdowns on 184 carriers. He's a quick twitch ball carrier that showcases impressive acceleration through the line of scrimmage. Able to get to top speed within a few strides make him a threat on insides runs or when hitting the edge. High level change of direction making defenders miss with sharp cuts or quickly adjusting to a gap, his lateral quickness allows him to evade tacklers both in tight spaces and in the open field. Flashes good vision, he consistently shows the ability to read the flow of the defense and identify running lanes, especially the cut back. Going to keep getting better while adding size as he develops.</p>      <p class="text-gray-700">Good well-rounded skillset that combines his speed, route running, and ball skills. At 6'0” 160 lbs. he's a long strider that can be a deep ball threat or create separation on underneath routes. His routes are well-timed and sharp to gain leverage on defenders. Consistently uses his body well to sell fakes and set up defenders on misdirection's and then accelerate out of his breaks. Shows good usage and variety of release moves, can speed release or mix in double moves to avoid contact and get into his route on time. Like his ability to fight through contact and make receptions in tight windows. Does a good job gaining positioning and then going up to compete for the ball at the high point. One to watch that could pop as he gains more exposure.</p>      <p class="text-gray-700">Secrease is a dynamic athlete with exceptional playmaking ability. Top-end speed stands out showing he can stretch the field vertically and create separation from defenders. His quick acceleration off the LOS breaks the cushion of DB's forcing them to transition as he runs past. Great ability to track and adjust to the ball mid-air without slowing down. Shows strong hands at the catch point and the body control to secure the ball in traffic. His ability after the catch makes him dangerous at the short/intermediate levels by being able to make defenders miss and break away in space. Racked up 60 receptions for 900 yards and 10 touchdowns as a sophomore. Part of an impressive group of young prospects at Sacred Heart.</p>      <p class="text-gray-700">Winkles performed well as a first year starter leading Acalanes to a deep playoff run to the NorCal final while throwing for 2,639 yards and 35 touchdowns on 267 attempts. He's a strong passer with impressive accuracy and ball placement skills. His pocket mechanics and footwork are smooth and consistent showing good rhythm and balance from the drop back to delivery. Flashes excellent touch on his throws, can throw with velocity when necessary but excels laying the ball over defenders with precision. Possesses a quick release to get the ball out on timing routes or under pressure. Functional athlete and speed to escape the pocket and extend the play to locate a downfield target or tuck it to run. Strong start to his career and expect for him to continue to put up big numbers as he progresses.</p>      <p class="text-gray-700">Womack checks a lot of boxes as a quality LB recruit with his blend of length, athleticism, and natural defensive playmaking ability. At 6'3” 200 lbs. he's got good growth potential in his frame to add mass while maintaining his range and ability to play all three downs effectively. Shows natural movement skills, bend, and burst to close when redirecting to the ball. Good nose for the football, he's able to anticipate the play and put himself in position to make an impact, finished his sophomore season with 84 total tackles, 4.5 TFL, and five turnovers. Can beat blockers with speed or power moves fighting through contact aggressively but under control and in balance. Plus coverage ability, can spot drop to a zone or match up in man while staying in phase. High level upside and potential as he develops.</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/womack_justen/status/1865102139703595275 </div></figure>