Scouting Virginia's returning top players for 2026: Part 1

During the off-season, I'll be taking a look at some of the top players who will be returning for the 2026 high school football season in Virginia. This article will focus on the 2027 class.    Johnson is an explosive wide receiver with size, speed, and big-play ability. Lined up both in the slot and outside, he consistently threatens defenses vertically. He runs past safeties on seams and posts, catches the ball in stride, and finishes plays in the red zone. Johnson's long stride shows up when he opens up in space, and he has no issue pulling away from defenders.   Johnson is dangerous after the catch. He breaks tackles, plants and cuts with confidence, and turns short throws like slants and screens into long touchdowns. Johnson shows good balance through contact and enough strength to run through arm tackles, especially when defenders take poor angles.   He also shows strong ball skills. Johnson adjusts well to back-shoulder throws, tracks the ball cleanly, and finishes catches even with defenders draped on him. He sells routes effectively, which helps him create separation with subtle body movement. Johnson keeps defensive backs on their heels.   Overall, Johnson is a vertical playmaker with real burst and finishing speed. Continuing to add more intermediate route work to his highlights would be a nice touch. That's just a little nitpicking, though. He's explosive and an exciting player to watch.     [player_tooltip player_id='1312751' first='Derek' last='Fisher'] is a physical safety whose game is built on instincts, closing speed, and playmaking ability. Lined up primarily in Cover 3, he consistently shows a strong feel for route concepts and quarterback tendencies. Fisher's ball skills stand out in his highlights. There are a few interceptions, including a pick-six, where he read the quarterback's eyes, jumped a slant, and finished in the end zone. Fisher was also alert in tip-drill situations, which led to one of his interceptions.   Against the run, Fisher is decisive and physical. He triggers downhill quickly, fills alleys with confidence, and shows excellent form as a tackler. I'm extremely impressed with how he stops carriers in their tracks and delivers forceful hits. Fisher's ability to close ground is impressive. Some of his highlights show him often arriving in the backfield or near the line of scrimmage before plays can fully develop.   Fisher adds another dimension to special teams. As a punt returner, he shows vision, burst, and open-field speed. Fisher is able to return for explosive gains and touchdowns. He's comfortable handling the ball and dangerous once he finds space.   Overall, Fisher plays fast and aggressively while staying under control. His instincts, physicality, and versatility make him a complete safety prospect.     Boisseau is a dynamic dual-threat quarterback who consistently stresses defenses with both his arm and legs. During the 2025 season, he completed 177 of 278 passes for 2,306 yards, 23 touchdowns, and 7 interceptions, while adding 572 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns. He recorded five games with 200-plus passing yards during his junior-year campaign.   As a runner, Boisseau is explosive and instinctive. He sees lanes quickly, uses blocks well at the second level, and isn't afraid to cut back or bounce runs outside. Boisseau's speed and elusiveness help him turn plays where he should be sacked into big plays for his team. His ability to escape pressure and create on the move is a major part of his game.   As a passer, Boisseau stays aggressive under pressure. He keeps his eyes downfield, delivers throws while moving, and shows touch on intermediate and deep balls. Boisseau completes different types of passes on his highlights, including posts, seams, and throws to the flat that allow receivers to run after the catch. He's comfortable extending plays, resetting his feet, and finding open targets when the pocket breaks down.   I think it's fair to say that Boisseau may be deemed too small to play quarterback at the next level. But, until that's final, he'll want to add more timing-based throws from the pocket on his highlights. I am impressed with his competitive nature and playmaking ability.     Perry is a physical, downhill defender who plays with speed, aggression, and a clear edge. Listed as a strong safety but used heavily at linebacker, he was all over the field during the 2025 season. Per his X account, he made 90-plus tackles, 20 tackles for loss, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and five pass breakups. Perry's production matches the tape.   Against the run, Perry is explosive. He diagnoses plays quickly, shoots gaps with urgency, and delivers violent hits at or behind the line of scrimmage. He consistently arrives with bad intentions. Perry's highlights show him blowing up ball carriers and stopping plays before they can develop. As a blitzer, he times his rush well and shows closing speed when closing on whoever is holding the football.   In the pass game, Perry shows range and effort. He drops into zone, reacts fast to screens, and closes ground in a hurry, often coming from across the formation to make stops. Perry plays with a heat-seeking mentality, triggering downhill as soon as the ball is thrown and limiting yards after the catch. His physicality shows up on crossing routes, where receivers are immediately aware of his presence.   While he may not be the biggest linebacker, Perry makes up for it with speed, instincts, and toughness. Continuing to add coverage reps in space and showing more snaps at safety would help highlight his versatility. Overall, Perry is a tone-setting defender who brings energy and physicality to his team's defense.

During the off-season, I'll be taking a look at some of the top players who will be returning for the 2026 high school football season in Virginia. This article will focus on the 2027 class.