August Rankings Update: Behind the Scenes of the 2027 Class

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There's a lot of behind the scenes work that goes into each rankings update. Some of the process is the same for every update, but some things are unique to each class and time of year. We updated our rankings for the rising junior class just before they begin their final year on the field.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In this special piece, I'm looking at what went into building the August update, going behind the scenes of the 2027 class rankings. What themes and thoughts are developing and what is there still to learn as we pass the halfway point for the 2027 class?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Behind the Scenes of the 2027 Class</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If you're familiar with this piece, you know the drill, but if not, allow me to briefly explain its purpose. We're always player-focused, so everything we do is from the lens of scouting. However, it's also helpful to step back and examine some of the themes and trends that have developed within a class. This macro view can inform the micro view.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here, I've got numbers, stats and thoughts to accompany our latest 2027 rankings update and always welcome thoughts and feedback.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Why Update the 2027 Rankings In August?</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The August rankings update isn't usually the biggest of the yearly cycle, but it's key in setting us up for future success. Sure, there are some guys who distinguish themselves when given opportunities in summer camps, and those changes are reflected in the rankings.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>However, the primary purpose of this update is to make sure we have as many fall contributors as possible ranked. In a state this large, there is some inevitable reaction to big performances and/or breakout players, but we want o be ready. When colleges see players break out, they often want to know what we think about those guys. Our goal here was to put the rankings in such a state that they'll be a tool to us, coaches/teams, and college recruiters during the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The same question comes up: "<em>You just updated rankings in May, what's changed."</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Frankly, not a ton. We have some stock-risers, but summer is a big evaluation period for us. We get to see film on a ton of players we've never evaluated or re-evaluate guys we have on the radar but haven't followed closely.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Everything we do in the summer, from class rankings, to deep dives, to conference and team previews, allows us to get eyes on players. A lot of the guys added to the rankings this update are players we simply weren't able to evaluate until recently. Others transferred or rose up depth charts, giving us more reason to see them.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Guys joined the rankings for all sorts of reasons. Our top three newly-ranked players all transferred: <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1598900' first='Deigo' last='Lewis']</strong> reclassified to the 2027 class and moved to Myers Park, while <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1311681' first='Linkin' last='Stevens']</strong> moved down from Virginia and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1332065' first='Ethan' last='Dempsey']</strong> moved from Mount Pleasant to Providence Day and moved into the 2027 class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Other players joined the rankings after film reviews for other Prep Redzone pieces. When we compiled our <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/08/prep-redzone-3a-preseason-all-state-team/">3A All-State Team</a>, I realized we'd simply missed <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1717095' first='Mekkhei' last='Williams']</strong> from Northeastern, so we fixed that oversight and made sure to appropriately slot him.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Other guys joined via Deep Dives or conference previews, like impressive defensive back <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1727145' first='Isaac' last='Barefoot']</strong> (<a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/07/deep-dive-johnston-harnett-county-safeties/">Johnston/Harnett County Deep Dive</a>) and Apex Friendship quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1078753' first='Ethan' last='McGarrigan']</strong> (<a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/07/quad-city-seven-8a-preview-predicting-every-teams-mvp/">Quad City Seven 8A Preview</a>). The latter pieces let us look at schools we don't typically get to cover as often and can add plenty of quality to the rankings.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">The Numbers</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Let's dig into some of the data and highlight some players who tell the story of this rankings update. Last update was the first in which I tracked rankings stats and I did it again this time. Take a look at some of the key numbers in this update:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/whelms21/status/1954969764746416267","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/whelms21/status/1954969764746416267 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Of those 79 new players, 52 bypassed the watch list completed and joined the rankings, with several moving into the top 150. Unlike some other rankings updates, a majority of those new players have already seen their names pop up on the website in the past few months as we've written about them. They simply have an outward-facing number next to their names to match our internal database.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When we add lots of players, it can be harder to find stock-risers, especially when external transfers take up a few of the other top spots, but over 11% of our players still rose in the rankings. Of those 42, 36 moved within the rankings and six joined from the watchlist.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Our 2026 class update broke our record for most ranked players in a single class, but this one might challenge for that title by the end.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If you have other questions or want me to further break down some of the numbers, just reach out on Twitter (<a href="https://x.com/whelms21">@whelms21</a>).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">From Unranked to Top 200</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Who moved into the top 200 from completely unranked (Without transferring from out of state or re-classifying)? Check out this list:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1788198' first='Saimair' last='Horton']</strong>, Ath., Dudley</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1717095' first='Mekkhei' last='Williams']</strong>, IDL, Northeastern</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1788066' first='Makai' last='Yon']</strong>, Ath., Grimsley</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1782184' first='Chase' last='Sizer']</strong>, Edge, Millbrook</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1743751' first='Tyler' last='Goebbel']</strong>, LB, Apex Friendship</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1701467' first='Emmanuel' last='Rucker']</strong>, Edge, Northwest Cabarrus</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1727145' first='Isaac' last='Barefoot']</strong>, DB, South Johnston</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1788073' first='Jackson' last='Heath']</strong>, DB, Hough</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Biggest Movers</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While we will write new evaluations this week on every player who moves up even one spot in the rankings, I want to give special recognition to our biggest movers. These stock-risers each moved up at least 25 spots in the rankings:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1613651' first='Thomas' last='Jenkins']</strong>, Southlake Christian (+27)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1251476' first='James' last='Adams']</strong>, Southeast Raleigh (+34)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1608324' first='Troy' last='Alderfer']</strong>, Christ the King (+42)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1612258' first='Aarion' last='Bryant']</strong>, Hunt (+59)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='378921' first='Christian' last='Freeman']</strong>, Southeast Raleigh (+65)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1679959' first='Cody' last='Robinson']</strong>, Southeast Raleigh (+90)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1678618' first='Kylan' last='Polk']</strong>, Forest Hills (+126)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1678654' first='Nana-Kwabena' last='Mensah']</strong>, Berry (+178)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1675598' first='Tai' last='Phillips']</strong>, Cape Fear (+239)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Watchlist-To-Ranked</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Finally, I love highlighting watchlist-to-ranked movement. To me, it's the best example of everyone winning. Many of our watchlist players get placed there as we wait for them to breakout. The guys who move from watchlist to well within the rankings often do that based on an outstanding camp performance or leave us otherwise impressed after an in-person or deep dive film evaluation. Here's a list of players who joined the rankings from the watchlist:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1078753' first='Ethan' last='McGarrigan']</strong>, Apex Friendship</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1658476' first='Tracey' last='Brown']</strong>, Triton</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='534079' first='Rahlai' last='Anderson']</strong>, Northside (Jacksonville)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1622591' first='Ethan' last='Cuadra']</strong>, Mountain Island Charter</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1334992' first='Rmaunni' last='Watson']</strong>, Seventy-First</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1299735' first='Juice' last='Hall']</strong>, Cox Mill</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>There's plenty to come from Matt Morrow, Joshua Graham, and I on the 2026 rankings over the next week. Stay locked in with Prep Redzone for more insights, evaluations, and rankings updates. Want to share Prep Redzone with a friend? Promo code Helms30 will get them 30% off their first billing cycle for any subscription.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->