Defensive Stars in 2027 Break Down Latest on Recruitments

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The class of 2027 has some big-time prospects on the defensive side of the ball in the class.&nbsp; Their recruitments are starting to heat up with junior days just around the corner and visits getting set up.&nbsp; We caught up with some of the best junior prospects in the state on the defensive side of the ball to get the latest on their recruitments.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DL Ohimai Ozolua (St. Rita)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ozolua is among the fastest rising names in the 2027 class.&nbsp; He took visits this fall to Iowa State, Iowa, Indiana, Illinois, Purdue, Michigan, and Ohio State.&nbsp; The new St. Rita edge who recently transferred from Romeoville tells us the three schools making him the biggest priority right now are Tennessee, Ohio State, and Penn State.&nbsp; He would like to get out to Penn State, Mizzou, and Tennessee for visits in the near future.&nbsp; Not sure on timeline, but probably before season starts.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DL [player_tooltip player_id='1335315' first='David' last='Folorunsho'] (St. Patrick)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Big time defensive lineman tells us that he visited Wisconsin, Iowa State, and Purdue in the fall.&nbsp; Programs making him feel like a top priority right now include Tennessee, Indiana, Miami, Kansas, and Kansas State.&nbsp; He plans on getting out to Cincinnati and Indiana for their junior days.&nbsp; On what is next “I'll keep building the relationship with coaches of programs that I feel align with my play style and go to camps of big time schools I don't have offers from yet like Georgia, Alabama, Ohio State, and Michigan.”&nbsp; No specific decision date, but he would like to decide before March.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DL [player_tooltip player_id='1598811' first='Brian' last='Demoss'] (Simeon)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Demoss is an impact edge player that attended games of Wisconsin, Michigan State, and Purdue this season.&nbsp; He says the schools making him feel like a top priority are Wisconsin, Michigan State, Ole Miss, Purdue, Kansas, Arizona State, and Michigan.&nbsp; No dates set yet, but he plans on visiting Kansas, Miami, Florida, and Ole Miss.&nbsp; He would like to make a decision sometime this summer.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DL [player_tooltip player_id='1335224' first='Caleb' last='Brown'] (East St. Louis)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Brown is one of the most productive defensive tackles in the 2027 class.&nbsp; He tells us he visited Mizzou and Akron during the season.&nbsp; He says Ball State is very involved and making him feel like a priority.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>LB [player_tooltip player_id='409208' first='Sean' last='Rice'] (St. Laurence)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Monster junior campaign for Rice that elevated his stock to among the best defenders in the 2027 class in Illinois.&nbsp; He visited Northwestern, Illinois, and Iowa State in the fall.&nbsp; Rice tells Redzone about schools making him a top priority, “I hear very often from Central Michigan, Northwestern, and Kansas State, but overall I'd say Minnesota and Illinois.&nbsp; I hear a lot from the linebacker coaches and staff at those two schools and have built good relationships with them.”&nbsp; The St. Laurence star has visits set to Northwestern on January 30 and Cincinnati on January 31.&nbsp; He hopes to visit Illinois and Minnesota again.&nbsp; Rice says he wants to get on visits, continue building relationships, and go to campus.&nbsp; Would like to decide by August, but it doesn't work out he isn't going to force it.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DB [player_tooltip player_id='811647' first='Jake' last='Thies'] (Fenwick)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Thies was the star of the 6A championship game leading his team to the title.&nbsp; The safety tells us after his big junior campaign more Power 4 programs are reaching out and plan on seeing him during the contact period.&nbsp; He has recently spoke with Duke, Illinois, Iowa, and Minnesota.&nbsp; Recently took trips to San Diego State, Colorado State, and Miami (OH) which is where his brother is committed.&nbsp; He would like to make a decision before next season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DB [player_tooltip player_id='1160641' first='Jabarri' last='Lofton'] (East St. Louis)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lofton is a safety that brings elite size and tackling ability on the back end.&nbsp; During the season he visited Kansas State, Mizzou, and Purdue for games.&nbsp; The schools he says are making him feel like a top priority are Miami, Mizzou, and Kansas State.&nbsp; He will be visiting Tennessee on January 24.&nbsp; Would like to cut his list by June and make a decision in August/September range.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>ATH [player_tooltip player_id='1661734' first='Keysan' last='Taylor'] (Rockford Guilford)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Taylor is a big time two way athlete that most schools are recruiting as an EDGE, but some really like him at tight end.  Schools that have had him on campus include Iowa State, Indiana, Illinois, Cincinnati, Michigan State, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Iowa, Ole Miss, Vanderbilt, and Michigan.  The told us the schools making him feel like the biggest priority right now are Vanderbilt, Nebraska, Ole Miss, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Arizona State.  He will be attending the Indiana junior day on January 25.  He plans on cutting his list down and taking official visits with no decision timeline.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>ATH [player_tooltip player_id='214234' first='Jayden' last='Ellington'] (East St. Louis)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ellington is transferring to the Flyers for his senior year and will be transitioning from QB to defensive back.&nbsp; In the fall he checked out games at Kansas, Mizzou, Illinois, Ball State, and Illinois State.&nbsp; What schools are making him a priority? “Not sure yet.&nbsp; Some schools still like me as a QB/ATH.&nbsp; Some schools want to see me at DB.&nbsp; I don't have much film from that position yet, but I have been in contact with some FCS and P4 coaches.”&nbsp; Right now he is focused on his defensive back training and showing he can play that position at the next level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->