Scouting Reports: Ascending Iowa Class of 2027s

Get 30% off your first billing cycle with code: howe30 in the coupon code area   We hit the middle 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:    Riser stands out for the athleticism allowing him to excel at multiple sports. He ranked third in scoring on the Clear Lake basketball team this winter following a productive season on the gridiron. Riser ran track last spring, too, further showing he competes in activities that complement each other. For a Lion football team that was ranked No. 1 most of last season before falling to eventual state champion Nevada, the junior caught 14 passes for 206 yards and two touchdowns. He averaged 21.3 yards on three kick returns and 10.1 while bringing back 21 punts. Riser shows off his skill set during his <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/16649013/68fedd0de012c26d4432bf53" id="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/16649013/68fedd0de012c26d4432bf53">11th-grade highlight video</a> from the fall. A reliable target on the outside, he can fire off a route to get by defenders deep or stop underneath and make them miss in space. Riser's solid frame allows him to block in the running game. It's projectable, too, which indicates there could be more to come. A natural in the return game, that innate ability should make him even more attractive to programs on the next level.     Colleges are showing interest in Kneip following a junior season of 2025 at ADM that saw him record 36.5 tackles, 36 of which were solo stops. He posted 4.0 tackles for loss and intercepted a pass. Kneip does a nice job diagnosing the opposition's intentions before the snap, as we can witness when watching his <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/16712134/697419fb6b510df375168c8a" id="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/16712134/697419fb6b510df375168c8a">11th-grade highlight video</a>. He's fast to the football operating from the middle linebacker spot, getting to the gaps and using active hands to fend off or separate quickly from blocks. Kneip is a good athlete that runs well sideline to sideline and in a straight line. The speed, long arms and fluidity in changing directions aid him in pass coverage. It's a projectable frame capable of adding plenty of good weight, providing Kneip with a sizable ceiling for the future.     Working in a backfield committee that saw three different players gain more than 500 yards on the ground in 2025, Shane ranked second in the group with 551 (5.6 YPC). He rushed for seven touchdowns, also the second most on the squad. Shane caught two balls for 15 yards, and contributed 4.5 tackles, three of which were solo stops. His <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/19653891/6980a6cdba716c097da1b934" id="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/19653891/6980a6cdba716c097da1b934">11th-grade highlight</a> video reveals a student-athlete that embraces the game's physicality. He brings a strong frame to the running back position, allowing him to get yards up the gut and break tackles. Shane is not a slug, however. He cuts sharply, brings a burst, can get to the edge and outrun defenders down the field. The athleticism and speed that help him succeed carrying the ball, would also work at linebacker or safety.     Skarnulis found ways to contribute all around the field for a playoff team at Glenwood in 2025. The junior caught eight passes for 40 yards and was credited with six pancake blocks. He brought his only kick return back 19 yards. Skarnulis is a good athlete with size and speed, as we can witness when watching his <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/19428164/690a1df3640df8dc76c04053" id="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/19428164/690a1df3640df8dc76c04053">11th-grade highlight video</a>. He lists running back and linebacker as his positions. His frame and toughness certainly would work at those spots. But the film shows a tight end/H-Back type that's punishing as a blocker and makes the running game better. Skarnulis blasts through the hole, opening space for the ball carrier, and can aid in pass protection using active hands and a sound foundation. Skarnulis has the look of a breakout candidate for this coming fall, and colleges already are taking notice.     The usual disclaimer accompanies an evaluation of a long snapper: it's the least comfortable I am scouting a position. That's why I lean on the experts and interest from college coaches. A novice can spot a few tendencies and see when a guy is airmailing snaps over someone's head. It's about accuracy and consistency obtained through productive repetitions. Kohl's Kicking does know a lot about long snapping. It had this to say about him: Alons had a solid performance at the 2026 Kohl's Future Stars Camp. He showed improved snap times and consistent accuracy. Alons was around the target during the charting portion of camp and finished with an average snap time of .77 seconds. Alons will see his overall snapping take the next step as he stays explosive and efficient with his snapping motion. You can see what's being described <a href="https://x.com/JohnathanAlons/status/2027788268142576111?s=20" id="https://x.com/JohnathanAlons/status/2027788268142576111?s=20">HERE</a>.

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