Maryland’s Class of 2027: In-Depth Analysis of the Top 5

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The latest P<strong>r</strong>ep Redzone Class of 2027 rankings for Maryland have been released. They feature a strong group of athletes I've had the opportunity to watch in person at camps and games over the past year. This article serves as a quick reaction to the rankings—more in-depth evaluations will come in the weeks and months ahead.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are a few of my initial thoughts:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["909896"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67c65ba689693"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">I've seen Layton in multiple camp settings and a couple of games, and I genuinely believe he has the highest upside of any prospect on this list. At 6-foot-6, 260 pounds, he quickly passes the eye test, but what stands out most is his work ethic and year-over-year improvement. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Layton is a strong pass protector with good footwork and strong hands. He encounters a lot of speed rushes due to his physical advantage against anyone he goes against. Layton's footwork and agility have improved and will only get better. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Since I first saw Layton as an eighth-grader, he's developed significantly, and with two more seasons of high school football left, his ceiling is incredibly high. His older brother plays college football, so he's already learning the preparation and dedication needed at the next level. Add in his high character, and it's no surprise he's already committed to Penn State.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["717345"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67c65ba68974e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">I've watched Buchanan several times in person, but his sophomore-year highlight film caught my attention. His explosiveness off the ball and agility make him a nightmare for opposing linemen. At the high school level, Buchanan plays both on the edge and inside, but depending on how his body develops, I see him transitioning to an interior lineman in college. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Against the run, he sets a hard edge and consistently sheds blockers to make tackles near or behind the line of scrimmage. His tackling fundamentals are sound, as he reliably wraps up ball carriers and limits yards after contact. In pass-rushing situations, Buchanan uses a combination of speed, violent hand techniques, and leverage to disrupt quarterbacks. His ability to play at a low pad level allows him to get underneath offensive linemen, creating separation and outmatching his opponents. Buchanan's lateral mobility and relentless effort are noticeable on his highlights. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Buchanan is a high-ceiling prospect with the potential to be a dominant force in the trenches.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["734850"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67c65ba6897c5"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">I had the chance to watch [player_tooltip player_id='734850' first='Myles' last='McAfee'] extensively throughout 2024. In the year's first half, he built significant buzz on the camp circuit, dominating high-level competition and earning several Power 4 offers. McAfee followed that up with a breakout season, quickly becoming one of [player_tooltip player_id='272253' first='Malik' last='Washington']'s favorite targets. At his age, McAfee is already one of the best route-runners in the DMV—if not the entire country. He can run every route in the tree at a high level and is constantly improving. McAfee's technical precision, explosiveness, and football IQ make him an elite young receiver.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["734784"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67c65ba689838"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">I evaluated [player_tooltip player_id='734784' first='Raylaun' last='Henry'] last month, and it's easy to see why he's one of the most highly sought-after prospects in the DMV. Standing at 6-foot-2 with an enormous wingspan, he's a defensive back coach's dream. Henry's length allows him to excel in press coverage, where he disrupts routes, contests passes, and recovers quickly. Raylaun is also willing to get physical against the run, providing solid support on the perimeter. As he continues to develop, adding weight to his frame will make Henry even more dominant at the high school level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["505244"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67c65ba6898bb"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">I watched [player_tooltip player_id='505244' first='James' last='Pace III'] multiple times during the 2024 season, and his performance against Gonzaga stood out the most. In a game featuring over a dozen Power 4 prospects, Pace was the best player on the field—blocking a punt, recording multiple tackles, hurrying the quarterback, and being an overall disruptive force.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pace is lightning-fast off the ball and has a deep arsenal of pass-rush moves. He keeps offensive tackles off balance, using his hands well to keep them from engaging. Pace's physical, aggressive, and relentless, making him just as effective against the run as he is in the pass rush. He takes on and sheds blockers quickly, sets the edge well, and always plays in attack mode.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Currently ranked No. 4, Pace is in the conversation for the top overall spot in the 2027 class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Other articles to read</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/12/2025-season-souther-maryland-skills-players-to-know-part-1/">Southern Maryland&nbsp; 2025 Season Players to Know - Part 1</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/12/meet-some-of-the-iacs-offensive-stars-in-the-2026-class-pt-1/">Meet some of the IAC's offensive stars in the 2026 Class – Pt . 1</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/12/maryland-d-c-2027-prospects-already-on-the-radar-pt-1/">Maryland/D.C. 2027 prospects already on the radar – Pt. 1</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/01/maryland-d-c-2027-prospects-already-on-the-radar-pt-2/">Maryland/D.C. 2027 prospects already on the radar - Pt. 2</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/01/maryland-d-c-2027-prospects-already-on-the-radar-pt-3/">Maryland/D.C. 2027 prospects already on the radar – Pt. 3</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/12/2025-season-western-maryland-skill-players-to-know-part-1/">2025 Season: Western Maryland Skill Players to Know – Part 1</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/01/maryland-4a-footballs-next-wave-2026-evaluations-part-1/">Maryland 4A Football's Next Wave: 2026 Evaluations – Part 1</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/01/maryland-4a-footballs-next-wave-2026-evaluations-part-2/">Maryland 4A Football's Next Wave: 2026 Evaluations – Part 2</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/01/maryland-4a-footballs-next-wave-2026-evaluations-part-3/">Maryland 4A Football's Next Wave: 2026 Evaluations - Part 3</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/01/the-next-wave-scouting-md-dcs-2026-class-film-review-pt-1/">The Next Wave: Scouting MD/DC's 2026 class: Film Review Pt. 1</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/01/the-next-wave-scouting-md-dcs-2026-class-film-review-pt-2/">The Next Wave: Scouting MD/DC's 2026 class: Film Review Pt. 2</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/01/scouting-the-ranked-2026-maryland-prospects-running-backs/">Scouting the ranked 2026 Maryland prospects: Running Backs</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/02/evaluating-marylands-top-2026-running-back-prospects-part-2/">Evaluating Maryland's Top 2026 Running Back Prospects: Part 2</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/02/the-new-editions-evaluating-wrs-in-the-md-2026-rankings/">The New Editions: Evaluating WR's in the MD 2026 Rankings</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/02/the-new-editions-new-edge-defenders-in-the-md-2026-rankings/">The New Editions: New edge defenders in the MD 2026 rankings</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/02/evaluating-the-newcomers-to-the-md-2026-rankings-quarterbacks/">Evaluating Quarterbacks in the updated Maryland 2026 rankings</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/02/evaluating-tight-ends-in-the-updated-maryland-2026-rankings/">Evaluating Tight Ends in the updated Maryland 2026 rankings</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/02/evaluating-prospects-from-the-first-state-3a-standouts-pt-1/">Evaluating prospects from The First State: 3A standouts – Pt. 1</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/02/evaluating-prospects-from-the-first-state-2a-standouts-pt-1/">Evaluating prospects from The First State: 2A standouts – Pt. 1</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/02/evaluating-prospects-from-the-first-state-1a-standouts-pt-1/">Evaluating prospects from The First State: 1A standouts – Pt. 1</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/02/dmv-off-season-live-evalations-part-1/">DMV off-season live evaluations: Part 1</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/02/dmv-off-season-live-evalations-part-2/">DMV off-season live evaluations: Part 2</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->