Introduction to Iowa 2027 Rankings Update

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Get 30% off your first billing cycle with code:&nbsp;howe30&nbsp;in the coupon code area</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I usually wrestle mightily with rankings updates. At times, there's ease in reorganizing. It's uneasy on other occasions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For me, much of that has to do with strict numbering. It has to be done that way because that's how it's been done since the start of sports rankings. Start with No. 1 and work your way down. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As I've written before, I'm much more comfortable with tiered rankings. What's that? Organizing the list into groups of like-talented players. Maybe there's a big divide between No. 1 and No. 2 or maybe the difference is razor thing. In the former case, they would be in different tiers. The latter scenario puts them in the same one. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>That's why I like to introduce the rankings updates with a piece sharing our thoughts on how we group these prospects as of today. It's especially important at the top, where you'll see a wide array of opinions throughout the industry.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I won't say that Prep Redzone Iowa's rankings are right or wrong. I will say that we focus as much time as anyone in the industry evaluating all of Iowa High School Football. We want to get the predictions right but know it's not possible. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With that in mind, <a href="https://prepredzone.com/iowa/rankings/2027-rankings/">here's how we currently feel about the state's 2027 Class</a>. Please know that this is one update of many and evaluations change as you guys develop. With two years of high school ball remaining, this list is just a snapshot along your journey, so keep grinding and force your way up future rankings.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's been fun watching this class blossom and grow over time. The top has witnessed movement in every update. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Norwalk tight end [player_tooltip player_id='1198816' first='Luke' last='Brewer'] moves back to No. 1 following another offseason killing it at camps and developing his game. He recently released his list of Top 12 schools with the caveat that his recruitment was wide open. The current group included Iowa, Iowa State, Notre Dame, Michigan, Georgia, Oregon, Penn State, Miami (FL), Tennessee, Texas A&amp;M, Florida and Missouri. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Objectively, Brewer has separated himself from the pack to be in a tier alone at the top of these rankings. That said, the next tier of guys have made their cases to be in there with him and aren't that far off from doing it. Again, this class is only halfway though its prep career. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The second tier of these rankings is comprised of three student-athletes. Grinnell offensive lineman [player_tooltip player_id='1204515' first='Will' last='Slagle'], [player_tooltip player_id='1197438' first='Jaxx' last='DeJean'], an athlete from OABCIG, and Woodbine receiver [player_tooltip player_id='1197458' first='Landon' last='Blum'] are similar talents with different sets of impressive skills. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>All three have colleges courting them. Slagle and Blum holds Iowa and Iowa State offers, and the Hawkeyes have offered DeJean, the younger brother of Cooper DeJean.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Slagle also claims offers from Arkansas, Auburn, Kansas, Kansas State, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Northwestern, Stanford and Wisconsin. Kansas State, Michigan, UAB and UNLV also have offered DeJean. Blum also reports opportunities from Illinois, Kansas, Kansas State, Maryland and Minnesota.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Three student-athletes make up the third tier of this rankings update. [player_tooltip player_id='1609271' first='Gavin' last='Stecker'], [player_tooltip player_id='466364' first='Tate' last='Wallace'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1197445' first='Savion' last='Miller'] offer a comparable level of talent sought after by programs on the next level. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In June, Stecker added an Iowa offer to the ones he'd claimed from Iowa State and Kanas State. Wallace reported offers from Tennessee, Minnesota and other top non-Power 4 programs. His Regina Catholic teammate, [player_tooltip player_id='1197445' first='Savion' last='Miller'], has announced offers from Iowa State, Miami (FL), Missouri and Toledo. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1204540' first='Jaxson' last='McIntire'], [player_tooltip player_id='1198829' first='Kason' last='Clayborne'], Reid Steger and [player_tooltip player_id='1204438' first='Joe' last='Vinyard'] are the fourth tier of the rankings. McIntire announced an Iowa State offer in November of 2023, North Dakota State, South Dakota State and Sacramento State have reportedly offered Clayborne, Steger picked up a South Dakota State offer last month, and Vinyard added offers from South Dakota and South Dakota State in June.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We'll stop with the hard tiers there. More data is needed to separate the next group, which arguably could include the rest of the Top 50 or so. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hopefully this article added context to this update. Be on the lookout for positional breakdowns in the coming days. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->