2027 Rankings Update: Grading Each Position Group

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a><em>***Use Code “ScottyB30” for 30% off your annual subscription***</em></a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The new 2027 rankings have been released and expanded to 350 prospects!&nbsp; With that we will be diving into every single position group over the next few weeks, but first we want to look at the class as a whole grading each position in terms of top talent and depth.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Quarterback</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Grade: A</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Very strong quarterback class!&nbsp; The top two QBs are among the truly elite at the position nationally in [player_tooltip player_id='611846' first='Israel' last='Abrams'] and [player_tooltip player_id='426566' first='Trae' last='Taylor'].&nbsp; Indiana commit [player_tooltip player_id='342339' first='Jameson' last='Purcell'] is coming off a big year at Maine South. &nbsp;Hersey's [player_tooltip player_id='1335265' first='Jake' last='Nawrot'] is the biggest stock riser in the class.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='1598818' first='Michael' last='Vander Luitgaren'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1598810' first='Reece' last='Shanklin'] are legit Group of 5 targets!&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='432149' first='Ryder' last='Startz'] is one to watch as the Mt. Carmel backup can move up the board.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Running Back</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Grade: B+</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Solid group here has a superstar in #2 overall prospect [player_tooltip player_id='788737' first='Myson' last='Johnson-Cook'] from East St. Louis who looks like a young Adrian Peterson!&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='1791819' first='Jeremiah' last='Stonewall'] from Crete Monee is a legit P4 back as well.&nbsp; Really like the depth at the G5 and high FCS level with guys like [player_tooltip player_id='1604137' first='Ahmad' last='Coleman'] (East St. Louis), [player_tooltip player_id='1791842' first='James' last='Bell'] (Simeon), [player_tooltip player_id='1335440' first='Nathan' last='Samuels'] (Mt. Carmel), [player_tooltip player_id='707326' first='TJ' last='Lewis'] (Bolingbrook), [player_tooltip player_id='1282833' first='Amir' last='Tillman'] (East St. Louis), [player_tooltip player_id='1619312' first='Brandon' last='Johnson'] Jr (St. Rita), [player_tooltip player_id='1303748' first='Jameson' last='Davis'] (Brother Rice), and [player_tooltip player_id='1598828' first='Steven' last='Brown'] (Althoff).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Wide Receiver</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Grade: C+</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There is definitely a superstar at the top of the position with Mt. Carmel elite wide out [player_tooltip player_id='432197' first='Quentin' last='Burrell'] from Mt. Carmel.&nbsp; East St. Louis wide outs [player_tooltip player_id='1335411' first='Ronnie' last='Gomiller'] and Laron Baker are Power 4 targets.&nbsp; The depth just isn't there of no doubt guys after that.&nbsp; A few of the guys we like as depth receivers include [player_tooltip player_id='1598846' first='Bennett' last='Konkey'] (Geneva), [player_tooltip player_id='1275281' first='Duran' last='Sims'] (Mt. Carmel), [player_tooltip player_id='1196115' first='Lucas' last='Strang'] (Brother Rice), and [player_tooltip player_id='1120450' first='Darin' last='Ashiru'] (Batavia).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Tight End</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Grade: B</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Not quite the trio of top 10 prospects a year ago, but there is one no doubt guy in [player_tooltip player_id='1628153' first='Brock' last='Williams'] out of Libertyville.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='1518233' first='Austin' last='Coles'] from Barrington and [player_tooltip player_id='1625326' first='Warren' last='Schweitzer'] from Rochelle are two nice developmental guys with athleticism.&nbsp; Three others in the back end of the top 100 are [player_tooltip player_id='1748003' first='Brady' last='Johnson'] (Glenbard West), [player_tooltip player_id='2104990' first='Charlie' last='Fowler'] (Loyola), and [player_tooltip player_id='1643723' first='Dylan' last='Breuer'] (Carmel).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Offensive Line</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Grade: A-</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Very strong offensive line class with 16 in the top 100 overall.&nbsp; It is headlined by [player_tooltip player_id='1329014' first='Cameron' last='Wagner'] as the St. Joseph Ogden big man is one of the best in the state regardless of position.&nbsp; Ton of depth here with different types of lineman that can impact at the next level for Power 4 and Group of 5 schools.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='1335278' first='Luke' last='Injaychock'] (Nazareth), [player_tooltip player_id='901504' first='Carlos' last='Rios'] (DePaul Prep), [player_tooltip player_id='1598833' first='Mason' last='Halliman'] (Lincoln Way East), [player_tooltip player_id='472668' first='Josiah' last='Wallace'] (Glenbard West), [player_tooltip player_id='1335452' first='Ethan' last='Posey'] (Brother Rice), and [player_tooltip player_id='1334139' first='Angeles' last='Coleman'] (Sterling) remain toward the top of the class.&nbsp; New names that jumped into that group who emerged as juniors are [player_tooltip player_id='2104952' first='Soren' last='Fifer'] (Morton), [player_tooltip player_id='2104955' first='Chase' last='Clark'] (Mt. Carmel), [player_tooltip player_id='2104957' first='Corey' last='Laga'] (Lemont), and Tyler Englstler (Downers Grove North).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Defensive Line</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Grade: A-</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Definitely one of the better position groups in the class.&nbsp; Headliner is massive game changer [player_tooltip player_id='1334133' first='Brayden' last='Parks'] at defensive tackle from Brother Rice.&nbsp; Two new additions that made major splashes to the group are [player_tooltip player_id='2104949' first='Ohimai' last='Ozolua'] (St. Rita) and [player_tooltip player_id='2104961' first='Ronald' last='Moore'] (Kenwood).&nbsp; Fast rising defensive lineman include [player_tooltip player_id='1335315' first='David' last='Folorunsho'] (St. Patrick), [player_tooltip player_id='1791833' first='Chris' last='Kasky'] (Nazareth), [player_tooltip player_id='1598811' first='Brian' last='Demoss'] (Simeon), [player_tooltip player_id='1791849' first='David' last='Hill'] (Homewood Flossmoor), [player_tooltip player_id='1304474' first='Tommy' last='Riordan'] (Hinsdale Central), and [player_tooltip player_id='1115779' first='John' last='Breton'] (Hinsdale Central).&nbsp; There are 22 defensive lineman in the top 100.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Linebacker</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Grade: B+</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This group is way better than the class before them.&nbsp; Three no doubt power 4 guys sit at the top of the board in [player_tooltip player_id='1598821' first='Roman' last='Igwebuike'] (Mt. Carmel), [player_tooltip player_id='498273' first='Phillip' last='White'] (East St. Louis), and [player_tooltip player_id='409208' first='Sean' last='Rice'] (St. Laurence).&nbsp; East St. Louis backers [player_tooltip player_id='1131012' first='James' last='Bryant'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1131020' first='Makhi' last='Walker'] racked up tackles this year!&nbsp; Darrell McCullough (Lockport) and Will Mette (Loyola) were the highest new additions!&nbsp; Ton of quality FCS and small college guys down the board.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Defensive Back</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Grade: B+</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Two toolsy and athletic corners are at the top of the position with [player_tooltip player_id='476341' first='Tavares' last='Harrington'] (Mt. Carmel) and [player_tooltip player_id='1335357' first='Raheem' last='Floyd'] (East St. Louis) giving the group star power.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='1351662' first='Justin' last='Johnson'] (Evanston) and [player_tooltip player_id='2104954' first='Darrell' last='Mattison'] (Morgan Park) each made massive moves up the board!&nbsp; At safety two standouts lived up to rankings and more with strong junior years in [player_tooltip player_id='811647' first='Jake' last='Thies'] (Fenwick) and [player_tooltip player_id='1160641' first='Jabarri' last='Lofton'] (East St. Louis).&nbsp; 15 total guys in the top 100!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Athlete</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Grade: B-</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kind of a tough “position” to grade because there are more defined positions for the elite athletes in the class.&nbsp; Regardless the top ATH in the class is Rockford Guilford tight end/EDGE [player_tooltip player_id='1661734' first='Keysan' last='Taylor'].&nbsp; Freak show that could play either at the power 4 level!&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='1791871' first='Jackson' last='Cook'] (Harlem) and [player_tooltip player_id='1344621' first='James' last='Johnson'] (Belleville East) both starred as wide receivers and defensive backs this past season.&nbsp; Defensive end/tight end [player_tooltip player_id='1271823' first='Tyler' last='McConnell'] (Nashville) along with electric two way athletes on the outside [player_tooltip player_id='1334152' first='Donald' last='Collier'] (Cahokia) and [player_tooltip player_id='2104989' first='CJ' last='Willis'] (Belleville East) are southern Illinois prospects with Group of 5 potential! The most interesting player is a position change in [player_tooltip player_id='214234' first='Jayden' last='Ellington'] who starred at Althoff for three years, but will transition to play corner/wide reciever/quarterback as a senior.&nbsp; All the tools are there to be an elite cover guy.&nbsp; </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->