Ten Versatile 2027 Athletes Playing Lights Out

Get 25% Off Your Subscription By Entering Knight25 In The Coupon Code Area. Enjoy!   Earlier this week, <a href="https://prepredzone.com/oklahoma/rankings/2027-rankings/">we updated our 2027 prospect rankings</a> to feature the top 150 juniors in the state of Oklahoma. Over the next several days, we'll be jumping into the 2027 class and breaking down a ton of the prospects that have stood out to us this season. In this breakdown, we continue looking at the 2027 class by taking a look at the athlete position. These ten standouts have all impressed us in various ways this season. We talk about why right here. Keep it locked in to Prep Redzone Oklahoma for more 2027 prospect breakdowns!    Another ranking update and Jenks standout [player_tooltip player_id='1030447' first='Kailib' last='Dillard'] continues to have a stranglehold on the top spot at the ATH position. Dillard first emerged as a defensive back and he is still a very talented safety. This season, he's been a big part of their secondary but when you talk about Dillard and his 2025 football season, it's hard to ignore what he's done on offense. Dillard emerged this fall as the top target in the Jenks passing game. And in all honesty he's been one of the top receivers in Class 6A-1 and in the 2027 class. Dillard has been recruited by major programs all over the country so he's going to have his pick of schools. He might have his pick of positions as well.     Choctaw standout [player_tooltip player_id='1176238' first='Israel' last='Hammons'] is a player that we have written about quite a bit over the last 12 months and the one common theme is versatility. Last season, Hammons lined up at so many different positions that we've lost count. However, when we've watched Hammons this fall, it looks like he's settling in to the defensive side of the ball. Now, we still don't know what position will fit him best at the next level but he's going to end up at the next level. He's already on the radar of major colleges and that should only continue once his junior film starts making the rounds. He's a very fun player to watch on the defensive side of the ball and he's just scratching the surface.     Del City's [player_tooltip player_id='1035154' first='Kaleb' last='Blackwolf'] is very similar to Hammons where there hasn't been a position that he's played where he doesn't look like a next level prospect. Blackwolf has primarily been a running back, safety and returner for Del City over the last two seasons and he does each of those things at a very high level. With a lot of the players that we have listed as "ATH" prospects, we usually have a lean to offense or defense or to a specific position. But with Blackwolf, you could tell us that he's going to end up at any one of three or four different positions at the next level and we could buy that. He's a very explosive athlete that can impact the game in a variety of ways.     Sand Springs standout [player_tooltip player_id='1297670' first='Tristian' last='Birmingham'] has been on our radar for a while now but it's always been at the wide receiver position. Whether it was at Sand Springs in the fall or in various 7v7 tournaments, Birmingham is a wide receiver that we've always liked. But this season, he's shown that there is quite a bit of versatility to his game that we haven't seen before. Birmingham has been playing for the Sandites at the running back position and has been producing this fall. As we write this, Birmingham and the Sandites are preparing for a district title rivalry clash with Sapulpa. It's an opportunity for Birmingham and the Sandite offense to flex their muscles on a bigger stage.     Broken Arrow standout [player_tooltip player_id='716513' first='Payton' last='Lang'] has been a versatile athlete that we've liked for a little over a year now. When Lang started his high school career at Muskogee, he was known more as a quarterback. But the Roughers had the best quarterback in the state so Lang helped in other ways. This offseason, he moved to Broken Arrow and continued to be that versatile weapon that could be moved around and has been a major impact player for the Tigers this fall. There's no other way to put it. We like Lang's game a lot and he's pretty underrated in the state's 2027 class. He's a prospect that is going to be able to help out his future team wherever they need him.     We've written about Cascia Hall's [player_tooltip player_id='1067472' first='Fisher' last='Lai'] quite a bit over the last few years and we've been going back and forth with what position we like him at more. Wide receiver on offense or cornerback on defense. And quite honestly, if you go back and look at what we've written about Lai, it's been a combination of both and it always seems to go back to the defensive side of the ball. Lai is a very talented cornerback and he is so incredibly underrated for what he can do on the defensive side of the ball. He's been incredibly productive on the offensive side of the ball so we won't write him off at receiver but right now, we're starting to lean more to defense because he has earned it with his play.     We don't know what Davis standout [player_tooltip player_id='1324250' first='Dax' last='Owens'] projects to at the next level but we know that he's a winner and he should be playing at the next level. He runs the Davis option offense to perfection and led the Wolves to a state title as a sophomore. This season, the Wolves are throwing the ball more and Owens is showcasing the arm quite a bit. Now, Owens might not have as high of a ceiling as a quarterback prospect but we can envision him playing several different positions at a very high level. Owens also has the Wolves right back in the mix for the state title hunt this season. He's a big game player that's capable of breaking a big play on almost every snap.     Tuttle standout [player_tooltip player_id='1035155' first='Jalen' last='Lane'] was a player that we circled before the season that could take a major step this fall. And in all three phases of the game, offense, defense and special teams, Lane has been that impact player for the Tigers. Tuttle is once again in the state championship mix and they expect to make it back to Edmond. Lane is a big reason why when you see the complete body of work. Offensively, he's established himself as one of the top deep threats in this offense. Defensively, he's a lockdown defensive back. And finally in special teams, he's made teams pay for kicking the ball to him. Lane is definitely a prospect on the rise in the state's 2027 class.     Stilwell standout [player_tooltip player_id='1530096' first='Brayton' last='Carter'] emerged as a very talented and productive player last season and he's taken his game up another level this season. Stilwell has struggled in the win-loss column but they have been lighting up the scoreboard throughout the season and giving everyone their best shot week after week. Carter is the biggest reason why with what he's able to do on offense and in special teams as a returner. We were impressed with Carter's game last season but he's backed up the hype and is becoming a name way out in eastern Oklahoma that shouldn't be overlooked. We're excited to see the full body of work from Carter with his junior film following this season.     Fort Gibson standout [player_tooltip player_id='1837059' first='Cash' last='Keys'] is on the shortlist of players that we didn't know much about this summer that became absolute stars in their respective classes. Keys has been that guy for the Tigers when you look at Class 4A. Keys has done just about everything except play on the line of scrimmage for this Fort Gibson offense. He's produced as a passer, a runner and as a receiver this season and he's done it at a high level in all three categories. Keys is someone that we didn't know much about back before the season but that quickly changed. The Tigers are not lacking stars in the 2027 class but Keys is definitely a player to keep an eye on moving forward.

Get 25% Off Your Subscription By Entering Knight25 In The Coupon Code Area. Enjoy!