2027 Rankings: Grading Defensive Positions

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Now that we have released new 2027 rankings we wanted to take a larger view of the class grading out the position groups along with looking at the top tier and depth.&nbsp; Here is <strong>2027 Rankings: Grading Defensive Positions</strong>!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><u>Defensive Line</u></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Class Grade:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>B+<br><br>Top Prospect:<br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='1334133' first='Brayden' last='Parks'] is the top dog in this class among defensive lineman checking in at #11 overall.&nbsp; He is a big time power 4 talent up front.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Top Tier:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There are a lot of power 4 prospects in this class on the defensive line including [player_tooltip player_id='1334146' first='Namari' last='Anderson'], [player_tooltip player_id='1237966' first='Sincere' last='Harris'], [player_tooltip player_id='1335224' first='Caleb' last='Brown'], [player_tooltip player_id='1791833' first='Chris' last='Kasky'], [player_tooltip player_id='1575273' first='Hunter' last='Wahtola'], [player_tooltip player_id='1335349' first='George' last='Holland'], [player_tooltip player_id='1598811' first='Brian' last='Demoss'], and [player_tooltip player_id='1304474' first='Tommy' last='Riordan'].&nbsp; All are ranked in the top 32 overall!<br><br>Depth of Position:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The depth of this group comes in the top 100 guys with 19 defensive lineman in that group for almost 1/5 of the top 100 prospects!&nbsp; Group of 5 and FCS schools are going to do well with this group.<br><br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><u>Linebacker</u></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Class Grade:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>B<br><br>Top Prospect:<br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='1598821' first='Roman' last='Igwebuike'] from Mt. Carmel has clearly established himself as the #1 linebacker in the class.&nbsp; He is a long and rangy linebacker that impacts all over the field.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Top Tier:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Igwebuike and [player_tooltip player_id='498273' first='Phillip' last='White'] from East St. Louis are the clear first tier of this class as power 4+ guys!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><br>Depth of Position:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Several prospects in the top 100 to watch include East St. Louis transfers [player_tooltip player_id='1131012' first='James' last='Bryant'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1131020' first='Makhi' last='Walker'] along with Macomb tackling machine [player_tooltip player_id='1334149' first='Drake' last='May'].&nbsp; The best depth from this position comes in the 100-250 range where there are 20 prospects.&nbsp; A lot are really good football players that are tweeners or undersized.&nbsp; FCS and small colleges should make money here.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><u>Defensive Back</u></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Class Grade:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A-<br><br>Top Prospect:<br><br>The DB spot definitely has a star to rep it in [player_tooltip player_id='476341' first='Tavares' last='Harrington'].&nbsp; The long and rangy Mt. Carmel junior is a versatile defensive back that is one of the best in the country at his position.<br><br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Top Tier:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Not too far behind Harrington is [player_tooltip player_id='1335357' first='Raheem' last='Floyd'] of East St. Louis who is reeling in P4 offers one after another.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='1160641' first='Jabarri' last='Lofton'] also from the Flyers along with Fenwick duo [player_tooltip player_id='1345007' first='Josh' last='Morgan'] and Jake Theis are all going to be coveted at the next level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><br>Depth of Position:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There are 12 DB's in the top 100 overall which is over 1/10 of the list.&nbsp; Among the top 250 there are 38 defensive backs so a lot of depth at the small college levels.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->