2027 PRZPA Rankings Update, Defensive Box-Checkers

In this breakdown, I spotlight 16 future juniors who, in my evaluation, are right on the cusp of breaking through in this cut-throat recruiting world. These are names that should already be generating serious FBS attention, many of which are already high on boards, this through my sources. I dive into the tape, factoring in-person evals too, to better assess whether or not each of these athletes checks the boxes that Power Four programs demand. Some have been overlooked. Others are late bloomers. But all 16 belong in recruiting conversations at the next level—and for most, it's just a matter of time.   *There are SEVERAL other factors to take into account, many of which I cannot fit into a readable table.   *All of this is in my earnest opinion, I do not pretend to know the ins and outs of each prospect, yet my ability to be boots-on-the-ground 12 months through a year helps. No matter if a box is filled or not, I think all 16 of these prospects are worth being offered today, FCS to Power Four level. Worth mentioning that SEVERAL FCS schools are not close to offering 2027s.   EDGE   <figure class="wp-block-table is-style-regular has-small-font-size"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td>PLAYER</td><td>H/W COMBINATION</td><td>TAPE/PRODUCTION</td><td>COMPETITION LEVEL</td><td>FIRST-STEP GET-OFF</td><td>BEND/FLEXIBILITY</td><td>HAND USAGE/PR MOVES</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='914955' first='Naim' last='Hammond']</td><td>√</td><td>√</td><td>√</td><td>√</td><td></td><td>√</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1623524' first='Isaac' last='[player_tooltip player_id='1544592' first='John' last='Lewis']']</td><td>√</td><td>√</td><td>√</td><td>√</td><td>√</td><td>√</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='916099' first='Madox' last='Decker']</td><td>√</td><td>√</td><td></td><td>√</td><td></td><td>√</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='953135' first='Kyle' last='Montgomery']</td><td>√</td><td></td><td>√</td><td>√</td><td>√</td><td>√</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='952751' first='Jaden' last='Morgans']</td><td>√</td><td>√</td><td>√</td><td>√</td><td></td><td>√</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>   H/W Combination - All five prospects listed above meet the height and weight requirements and Power Four prerequisites. All prospects will have to put on good weight, none are "college-ready". Yet each are in a good place in this area. Harrsiburg's [player_tooltip player_id='1623524' first='Isaac' last='[player_tooltip player_id='1544592' first='John' last='Lewis']'] and Cheltenham's [player_tooltip player_id='953135' first='Kyle' last='Montgomery'] will have to prove their self-listed heights (6'2) to make decision-makers more comfortable.   Tape/Production - All five prospects have substantial tape and production at their programs. Cheltenham's [player_tooltip player_id='953135' first='Kyle' last='Montgomery'] doesn't have sophomore tape readily available, however.   Competition Level - All five prospects play good/great competition week in and week out, yet I'd understand coaches who are weary of recruiting Brockway kids. I implore any coach feeling that way about [player_tooltip player_id='916099' first='Madox' last='Decker'] to see him work in person in a camp setting. I have, he stands out among great comp.   First-Step Get-Off - Each prospect gets a check mark in regards to get-off speed. [player_tooltip player_id='1623524' first='Isaac' last='[player_tooltip player_id='1544592' first='John' last='Lewis']'] and [player_tooltip player_id='953135' first='Kyle' last='Montgomery'] are particularly quick, especially given the weight they are working with. [player_tooltip player_id='1544592' first='John' last='Lewis'] weighs in at 205, speed is his game in relation to the rest on this list.   Bend/Flexibility- Proving true bend/flexibility is tough unless put under a microscope. I only feel comfortable giving a check to Montgomery and [player_tooltip player_id='1544592' first='John' last='Lewis'], considering their games are based on EDGE/OLB work. Hammond, Decker, and Morgans blend strength a bit more than the other two.   Hand Usage/PR Moves- All five prospects earn a check mark in regards to their respective hand usage/PR skills. Morgans, Decker, and Hammond all look pretty seasoned in these areas. Impressive to come away with that conclusion after only sophomore tape being released. These five could be special.   Defensive Linemen   <figure class="wp-block-table is-style-regular has-small-font-size"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td>PLAYER</td><td>H/W COMBINATION</td><td>TAPE/PRODUCTION</td><td>COMPETITION LEVEL</td><td>OVERALL POWER</td><td>LEVERAGE USE</td><td>THREE-DOWN CAPABLE</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1623747' first='James' last='Evans V']</td><td>√</td><td>√</td><td>√</td><td>√</td><td>√</td><td>√</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1398307' first='Jaylen' last='Smith']</td><td>√</td><td>√</td><td>√</td><td>√</td><td>√</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table></figure>   H/W Combination - Both James Evans and [player_tooltip player_id='1398307' first='Jaylen' last='Smith'] meet the H/W requirements to be recruited at the highest level. Both are built differently, with Smith providing a more traditional IDL frame, and Evans V providing close to a LB build, possibly built for DE play.   Tape Production - Both provide tape that demands they sit inside the PRZ PA Top 100 (2027). Easy checks here. Their tape and production is the main draw to both of these prospects, no fake projections here.   Competition Level - [player_tooltip player_id='1398307' first='Jaylen' last='Smith'] is moving to Pittsburgh Central Catholic, even if he stayed at Seton LaSalle, he checks off that box. All levels of football recruit Steelton-Highspire, so Evans is good as well.   Overall Power - Both prospects exhibit fantastic power for their age. Smith deploys a seriously explosive and powerful lower body. Couple it with a motor and hand placement, you've got one of the more powerful IDL among all PA 2027s. Evans V is equally, if not more powerful, yet it's distributed around his build much more evenly.   Leverage Use - [player_tooltip player_id='1398307' first='Jaylen' last='Smith'] would get an A+ in the leverage use category. [player_tooltip player_id='1623747' first='James' last='Evans V'] is much more position versatile, yet he displays a clear understanding of pad level and momentum.   Three-down Capable - [player_tooltip player_id='1623747' first='James' last='Evans V'] is a three-down capable defender at the next level, I feel comfortable stating that. The only hiccup here is that this changes based on his future position. [player_tooltip player_id='1398307' first='Jaylen' last='Smith'] likely needs to prove his PR skills are on an elite level to earn a check mark here. Still a fantastic pocket disruptor at the HS level though.   Linebackers   <figure class="wp-block-table is-style-regular has-small-font-size"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td>PLAYER</td><td>H/W COMBINATION</td><td>TAPE/PRODUCTION</td><td>COMPETITION LEVEL</td><td>PLAY SPEED</td><td>R&R SKILLS</td><td>SCHEME VERSATILE</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='489574' first='Sammy' last='Dantonka']</td><td>√</td><td>√</td><td>√</td><td>√</td><td>√</td><td>√</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='447395' first='Ja'Shawn' last='Lewis']</td><td>√</td><td>√</td><td>√</td><td>√</td><td>√</td><td>√</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='952737' first='Legend' last='Williams']</td><td>√</td><td>√</td><td>√</td><td>√</td><td>√</td><td>√</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>   H/W Combination - All three prospects earn a check when putting their builds under a microscope. Lewis is the leaner option, with Williams and Dantonka packing more of a punch.   Tape Production - All three prospects have ample tape and production to prove my case.   Competition Level - All three prospects play against great competition. Lewis and Williams play out West, with Lewis moving on from SSA and Bishop Canevin, now to Pittsburgh Central Catholic. Dantonka resides in the Philadelphia Catholic League.   Play Speed - All three prospects earn a check mark when breaking down play speed. Lewis, again, is the leanest of the group, his game is predicated on his ability to get from point A to point B faster than competition. I love Williams' play speed from a mental perspective. Watching him work, it's like he's not even thinking out there. Pure R&R'er, which I'll get to in the next point.   R&R Skills - All three prospects earn a check mark here. The reason Dantonka and Williams rank inside the top 100 stems from their pure instincts playing inside the front seven. Lewis's R&R skills reveal themselves when he's able to decipher passing concepts being developed behind him. Williams and Dantonka react to the run as good as anyone in this class.   Scheme Versatility - Dantonka sits poised as a moldable scheme-versatile backer. All three get a check mark, primarily because of their relative youth. Lewis's almost DB like build allows for coaches to be creative with alignment as well.   Defensive Backs   <figure class="wp-block-table is-style-regular has-small-font-size"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td>PLAYER</td><td>H/W COMBINATION</td><td>TAPE/PRODUCTION</td><td>COMPETITION LEVEL</td><td>VERIFIED SPEED</td><td>HIP FLUIDITY</td><td>BALL SKILLS</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1525170' first='Musa' last='Bradford']</td><td>√</td><td>√</td><td>√</td><td></td><td>√</td><td>√</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1475960' first='Eesa' last='Beyah']</td><td>√</td><td>√</td><td>√</td><td></td><td>√</td><td>√</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1180764' first='Isaiah' last='Moore']</td><td>√</td><td>√</td><td>√</td><td>√</td><td>√</td><td>√</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1398124' first='Braelon' last='Wingfield']</td><td>√</td><td>√</td><td>√</td><td></td><td>√</td><td>√</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1182038' first='Chima' last='Auguste']</td><td>√</td><td>√</td><td>√</td><td>√</td><td>√</td><td>√</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1181792' first='Ka'eir' last='Johnson']</td><td>√</td><td>√</td><td>√</td><td>√</td><td>√</td><td>√</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>   H/W Combination - All six DBs meet the H/W prerequisites. This only holds true so long as none of these DBs are lying about their self-listed heights. [player_tooltip player_id='1180764' first='Isaiah' last='Moore'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1182038' first='Chima' last='Auguste'] have proven their H/W at one of our camps. Moore is also the biggest DB present. Bradford and Beyah, along with Auguste, deploy prototypical HS DB builds suitable for next-level play.   Tape Production - All six DBs show off fantastic tape and experience. Again, this being the driving factor as to why I think all six should be offered today.   Competition Level - All six DBs play in fantastic conferences. Five out of six play in prominent Philly-based leagues, with Wingfield playing ball at Canon-McMillan.   Verified Speed - Really tough for an outsider like me to know about each DBs testing numbers. From what I've been able to gather from the outside looking in, Johnson, Auguste, and Moore have proven their speed recently. Based on tape, I feel as though Bradford, Beyah, and Wingfield are capable of proving their speed too. I've seen Bradford and Beyah up close on Friday nights.   Hip Fluidity - All six DBs earn hip fluidity check marks. Bradford and Beyah are silky smooth, well-seasoned, the two are. Johnson is being coached up by elite DB trainers at Imhotep, so I know he'll continue to impress here.   Ball Skills - [player_tooltip player_id='1180764' first='Isaiah' last='Moore'] showed off his ball skills at our PRZ 7v7 event this past Spring. He's proven himself to me. Johnson apparently showed out at the 210ths Top 150 camp this past week, heard good things about his hand-eye coordination out there. Beyah and Bradford have had excellent games with me in person, with Beyah having 3+ PBUs in front of me, as well as Bradford catching an interception in a Haverford game I attended. Auguste and Wingfield impress here too.

In this breakdown, I spotlight 16 future juniors who, in my evaluation, are right on the cusp of breaking through in this cut-throat recruiting world. These are names that should already be generating serious FBS attention, many of which are already high on boards, this through my sources. I dive into the tape, factoring in-person evals too, to better assess whether or not each of these athletes checks the boxes that Power Four programs demand. Some have been overlooked. Others are late bloomers. But all 16 belong in recruiting conversations at the next level—and for most, it's just a matter of time.