Building Iowa’s Perfect Wide Receiver – Class of 2027

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cultivating the perfect wide receiver in the state of Iowa's class of 2027 with different attributes from receivers across the state.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/05/building-the-state-of-iowas-perfect-quarterback-class-of-2027/">Building the State of Iowa's Perfect Quarterback – Class of 2027</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/05/building-the-state-of-iowas-perfect-running-back-class-of-2027/">Building the State of Iowa's Perfect Running Back – Class of 2027</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ball Skills:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1204437' first='Jordon' last='Green'] - Waukee Northwest</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of a bevy of weapons at [player_tooltip player_id='1204436' first='Mack' last='Heitland']'s disposal for the Wolves, Green is the type of receiver that one just <em>knows</em> is going to do something to embarass a cornerback on any give Friday night. Between timing, ability to track the ball in the air, how he's able to go up and steal it out of the grasp of tight, one-on-one or double coverage all culminates in the ball skills that make him one of the most productive pass-catchers in the state. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Size and Frame:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1197458' first='Landon' last='Blum'] - Woodbine</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Committed to Penn State, Blum was one of the more heavily-recruited prospects in the state of Iowa's class of 2027. Standing at 6-foot-4 and 205 pounds, the future Nittany Lion has the exact physical tools any program would <em>love </em>to have in their X-receiver. Tall with long arms, a wide catch radius and hops on the basketball court, Blum is the size of the target a QB wants to launch the ball to downfield. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Speed:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1616459' first='Drew' last='Bennis'] - Cedar Rapids Prairie</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the fastest 400-meter dash runners in the state, Bennis has a blazing-fast personal record of 47.77 seconds -- elite in the state of Iowa. One can see it on the field, too. That speed translates <em>really</em> well when he touches the gridiron for the Prairie Hawks, able to breeze past the coverage in the passing game, but also on punt returns. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Route Running:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2075898' first='Luke' last='Thoreson'] - Roland-Story</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A skill that more often than not truly gets honed at the next level, Thoreson shows some of the best expertise in the state in his ability to get open with route-running. Most often showcased in short-yardage or redzone situations, Thoreson is able to break inside quicker than most, if not all receivers in 2A, breaking ankles of defensive backs on slants and crossing routes over the middle. Also able to fake the back-shoulder through and break off the top of the route for a dig, Thoreson is almost unguardable inside the 10-yard line. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Open Field Playmaking:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1532898' first='Maddox' last='Kelley'] - Solon</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The top-scoring non-quarterback in all of Class 3A last season, Kelley racked up 29 touchdowns between his play on offense, defense and special teams. His ability to break tackles, utilize open space with stop-and-go moves that shake defenders in their boots, and completely turn the field on its head by weaving around and through traffic make him a threat to score any time he touches the ball. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Body Control: </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1850786' first='Jameson' last='Gregoire'] - Central Dewitt</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A trait that could sometimes be perceived as synonymous with ball skills, Gregoire's ability to go up and grab 50-50 balls is incredibly impressive. How he's able to contort his body mid-air and come down with passes that could very easily fall incomplete or into the hands of a defensive back are nothing short of outstanding. Recently considered one of the prospects in Iowa that's worthy of his first Division I offer, Gregoire's awareness of where he's at on the field, his ability to pull in passes with his body at a vareity of angles, and the athleticisim required to maneuver his body are what come together to make him one of the top pass-catchers in the state. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->