Michigan's 10 Best Prospects in the Class of 2027

Any of these 10 prospects has a case to be ranked #1. Seriously, if you wanted to argue any one of these prospects for the #1 spot, you'd be valid in doing so. That's how razor-thin these margins are. All 10 of these prospects have elite athletic traits for their position, all have exceptional highlight tapes, and all have dominated the competition this offseason.   Here's the revamped Top 10 for Michigan's Class of 2027. The best Top 10 I've ever ranked.    Dakota regains the #1 spot on the Prep Redzone Rankings. This is a consensus pick at this point.   Dakota is simply too good to ignore. I'd argue that the primary aspect pushing him to the #1 spot is his elite performance on both sides of the ball. Most of each class' top players are elite players on one side of the ball, and most of them are good at their secondary position, if they have one. Rarely do we have a talent like Dakota who could realistically be a starting BIG 10 / SEC receiver or defensive back.   Specifically, Dakota's ball skills and instincts are off the charts. His instincts allow him to get open more often, use his athletic traits to his advantage, and be in a better position defensively. Dakota would be ranked far lower if he didn't have great ball skills. His catch radius is one of the best in the class, as are his overall hands. Plus, Dakota sports near-elite balance after the catch.   Number 1 for a reason. I can't wait to see where Dakota ends up playing his college ball!     Tre has been ranked very high from the jump. A few years ago, I noted that Belleville had an armada of promising young receivers, and I was interested in seeing who'd emerge as WR1.   Well, that ended up being Tre. Last season's performance propelled him to countless Power 4 offers and a big boost in the rankings to #2.   I love how well-rounded Tre's game is. When utilized in the slot, Tre explodes open on quick crossing routes, allowing him to flash his breakaway speed and high-end open field elusiveness. Lining up outside, Tre can easily burn just about any High School DB who dares play man-to-man. Tre doesn't even need any fancy fakes or double moves to get open downfield. At this level, his explosiveness and top speed will work 99% of the time. Lastly, Tre is a major factor in the screen game as well as the return game. Point is, Tre is an elite speed-in-space player, and the more touches he gets, the higher odds of Belleville winning.   I highly considered ranking Tre #1. He's as elite of a receiver as I've ever seen come out of Michigan. Highly confident he'll be able to contribute at any college he chooses to attend.     Someone who has a real case for the #1 spot.   Cartwright has done nothing put produce both in-season and out-of-season. He's one of the very few prospects who has the opportunity to play college football at practically any school he wants.   Listed as a Tight End, I could also easily see him as an elite X receiver in college. He has the height, length, and physicality for both. I beleive Anthony's best trait is his athleticism. He's 6'4", but changes direction like a 5'8" slot receiver. In the open field, Anthony demonstrates an ability to both sidestep tackles and run through them when needed. This offseason, he's shown some improvement regarding catch radius and all-around ball skills.   Anthony is a unicorn. Extremely rare prospect, and heck, could be my #1 player soon.     Darryl is on the verge of a breakout season. Transitioning away from the Quarterback position, Darrl will now be playing what he's destined to play in college (DB/WR).   I personally haven't seen Darryl rep DB or WR very much, but I'm extremely confident that he'll perform exceptionally well at each position. In the DB clips I've seen, Darryl is patient, hips are fluid, feet are fast, and instincts are solid.   What I have seen is Darryl's competitiveness and athletic ability. There's absolutely zero quit in Darryl. When Darryl played Quarterback, he'd still rush for north of 100 yards in most games. Plus, if things aren't going as planned, it seemed to motivate Darryl even more. I love a player who only seems to speed up as the game goes on, and a player who cares deeply about winning. Darryl is a winner, and easily a Top 5 player in this class.     I don't mean to be a broken record, but Louis has had one of the most extraordinary 2025 offseasons.   This is why camp season is important. Louis has attended a few camps, did well, got invited to a few high-profile camps, stood out, and now Power 4 schools are on notice. Although a tad shorter than most P4-offered offensive linemen, Louis sports an elite anchor, a brutal punch, and all-around exceptional foot speed plus balance. Most high school offensive linemen, even great ones, struggle mightily in at least one of those mentioned categories. Louis is an exceptional talent, and he cracks the Top 5!     [player_tooltip player_id='1687171' first='Gideon' last='Gash'] is a cheat code. I mean, come on, someone who is 6'4" should not be able to play DB like Gideon can.   He checks a lot of boxes. Tall, lengthy, and explosive. A lot of players are tall and lengthy, but it takes an incredible amount of work to become as athletic and as explosive as Gideon is. It's especially impressive that he's this athletic as an incoming Junior. <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/19683586/67563e3f43059904691bb861">His tape</a> demonstrates what I'm saying. The first two highlights show lightning-fast feet and incredible break on the football, while the third highlight showcases his speed. Gideon also has highlights against some of the other best prospects in Michigan, which helps his case even more.   Gideon makes his rankings debut at #6. He has true #1 potential.     Another brand-new offensive lineman to the rankings, [player_tooltip player_id='1689097' first='Dewey' last='Young'] has that X-Factor.   Again, man, someone who has a real case for #1. Dewey has ideal size for an offensive tackle, plus good enough mechanics to be noticed by the vast majority of Power 4 programs. This offseason, he's been able to showcase his abilities a little more. When it comes to power, Dewey is OL #1. He can absolutely bully people out there, and one punch can spell the end for even great defensive linemen. In addition, I like Dewey's foot speed, balance, and anchor, those these areas aren't yet perfect.   Dewey is a phenomenal tackle prospect, and many more offers are likely coming. Excited to see where the future takes Dewey!     This is what I'm talking about when I say this Top 10 was impossible to rank.   I love Chad as a prospect. I mentioned a few weeks ago that I was considering ranking Chad at #1. Chad's size, speed, and versatility combination is exceptionally rare. He can go out and be your X receiver, and he can also go out on defense and cover the opposing X. Likewise, I like what Chad is able to do when it comes to route running. Great change of direction for his size. I'm expecting a massive season from Chad, and he could keep inching his way toward the #1 ranking.     Holden is still one of the best all-around athletes in the state.   One of the most well-rounded TEs I've seen come out of Michigan. Holden can block, run routes, catch, and occasionally break tackles and take it the distance.   I project Holden has a high-end possession Tight End in college. This is someone who will consistently catch 5-10 yard passes in traffic, earn what he can, and give you a great safety blanket. He's also someone who is able and willing to open a lane in the running game. With a little more work with ball skills and RAC, he could be an amazing Vertical threat, and more of a Travis Kelce type rather than a George Kittle type. Holden has the size, athletic ability, and well-roundedness to compete for playing time right away once in college.     I can't say anything about Recarder that hasn't already been said. Elite size, elite strength, and exceptional athletic traits. When the pads are on, Recarder can easily out-muscle the vast majority of high school offensive tackles. When the pads aren't on, Recarder is still a high-end defensive end, with a few areas to still improve on.   Recarder has good bend, a great getoff, and a decent variety of pass rush moves. The biggest hurdle for Recarder currently is developing a feel for these pass rush moves. Know where and when to produce a move while developing improved counters, Recarder could be ranked #1. For now, he's the #10 player in this class and one of those guys who should have an opportunity to play anywhere.

Any of these 10 prospects has a case to be ranked #1. Seriously, if you wanted to argue any one of these prospects for the #1 spot, you'd be valid in doing so. That's how razor-thin these margins are. All 10 of these prospects have elite athletic traits for their position, all have exceptional highlight tapes, and all have dominated the competition this offseason.