Checking In with Rising Prospects in Iowa's 2027 Class

Get 30% off your first billing cycle with code: howe30 in the coupon code area   We enter the second week of March a step closer to the 2026 season. Prep Redzone Iowa has continued preparations for it by rifling through student-athletes' highlight videos and churning out evaluations.   If you don't yet have highlights on your Hudl page, interested college coaches will be looking for them on there and elsewhere. Ask for help if you need it in compiling a video with any clips you have.   Here's another batch of fresh reports:    I last wrote about Jones after his eye-opening sophomore season that saw him record 31.0 tackles (23 solo, 3.0 TFL) and a pair of sacks for a state semifinalist. He helped Warriors get back to The Dome again this past fall with a whopping 70.0 tackles, 40 of which were solo stops. Jones delivered 10.5 tackles for loss, a half dozen sacks and a Pick-6. I got to see Jones operate during the state semifinals in November. He's an impressive athlete with length, and a frame capable of adding good weight and strength. We can see how Jones finds success when watching his <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/20716066/68e68aec1a44f076bf017413" id="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/20716066/68e68aec1a44f076bf017413">11th-grade highlight video</a>. He diagnoses plays quickly and flies to the football. Jones flows well with the play, shedding blocks and hitting hard from the middle linebacker position. He runs well and moves fluidly to aid him in coverage. So does a reported 6-foot-8 wingspan.     Bishop Garrigan won the eight-player state championship in November with Leerar playing a starring role. The junior offensive lineman earned second-team all-state honors and first-team all-district laurels for the unbeaten Golden Bears. Leerar is receiving plenty of attention along the recruiting trail, and we see why when viewing his <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/19441440/68fe5f562903f84385fa94ad" id="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/19441440/68fe5f562903f84385fa94ad">11th-grade highlight video</a>. Lining up on inside of a four-player front, he's fast off of the snap and explodes into the chest of opponents. It's a ton of strength and power that often are enough to overwhelm opponents. Leerar is more than a bully in tight quarters, however. He moves well and regularly reaches defenders in space. Leerar's skills could work on the D-Line, but he has the looks of a guard or center that could play early on the next level.     We last wrote a Jones evaluation way back in July after a Class of 2027 rankings update. No time like the present to check in with him to see how his junior campaign unfolded for him at Central Lee. Jones caught both of his targets for 15 yards. He carried 20 time for 75 yards, but really stood out as a blocker with 13 pancakes. Jones collected 33.5 tackles, 22 of which were solo stops. It appears Jones has transferred to Fort Madison. The Bloodhounds should feel good about that addition to their program if Jones' <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/17613474/691e13310e668ca3662c97c0" id="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/17613474/691e13310e668ca3662c97c0">11th-grade highlights </a>are any indication. Athleticism and agility stand out right away. He flashes potential to play linebacker at the next level, flowing well to the football and shedding blocks. His upside at tight end is significant as a strong blocker and fluid route runner. It's a frame that has room to fill out as well.     Fleming got lost in the sea of talent on Valley's roster in 2025, but he contributed to the cause that led the Tigers back to The Dome. The versatile junior athlete registered 15.0 tackles, nine of which were of the solo variety. He intercepted a pass and ranked second on the team with four passes defended. Fleming picked up 22 yards on his lone punt return and averaged 13.5 yards on a pair of kick returns. He caught three balls for 28 yards and a touchdown. We can witness how Fleming impacts games by viewing his 11th-grade highlight video. On it, we witness a defensive back with ball skills, a smooth back-pedal and fluidity in changing directions. Fleming is capable of winning by coming up in bump and run or when covering an area of the field, when he breaks quickly on the ball.     Wirtz took a nice step forward in his development as a key defender for a stingy Ankeny unit. The junior recorded 19.0 tackles, 13 of which were solo stops. He added a tackle for loss. Wirtz flashed big-play ability on special teams, too, by bringing back his lone punt return 27 yards. He reports running the 40-yard dash in 4.53 seconds, a 36.5-inch vertical leap, benching 325 pounds and squat lifting 435. Wirtz provides examples of how he succeeds during his <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/20857663/695f3792db01c748d676a87a" id="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/20857663/695f3792db01c748d676a87a">11th-grade highlight video</a>. He does well in diagnosing plays before the snap and getting downhill to the football in run support. A good athlete that runs well, Wirtz is sticky in coverage. The athleticism, speed and agility also would work on offense and make him a special teams' asset.

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