Newly-Ranked WR/RB Overview

Last week's <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/05/updated-2027-north-carolina-rankings/">2027 Rankings Update</a> was one of our biggest ever, with over 190 new players hitting the rankings since February. With a very limited amount of time before we move to the 2028 class, there just isn't enough time to properly cover every new addition. Instead, we're going to take a bird's-eye view and evaluate the newly ranked players in larger groups. Here's a 30,000-foot view of the 44 new running backs and wide receivers in the 2027 rankings.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">What to Know About the Newly-Ranked WR/RBs</h2>   Editor's Note: By this summer, we'll have full evaluations on every one of these players. We actually evaluated several in the lead-up to the rankings release (which is how some of them ended up ranked in the first place). Here, backlinks are our friends, so if we have a piece on the site with more info on a player, we'll link it below!   Other Newly-Ranked Overviews:   <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/05/newly-ranked-quarterbacks-overview/">QBs</a>   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">The Top-Ranked New Additions</h3>   We had several newly-added running backs and receivers who jumped into the top 300. While all of them will get full evaluations in the coming weeks, here are a few notes about each.   <a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/demaurion-thomas-wright/" id="https://prepredzone.com/player/demaurion-thomas-wright/">Da'Mourion Thomas-Wright</a> | RB | Butler   Thomas-Wright debuts inside the top 75 in our 2027 rankings after a strong junior year for Butler. He has one of the better size-speed profiles in the state, and he's red-hot on the recruiting trail. In fact, after <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/05/mvp-players-cfi-carolinas-mega-showcase/">dominating at the CFI Showcase</a>, he was one of two players to <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/05/early-offers-from-cfi-carolinas-mega-showcase/">earn multiple offers on the spot</a>.   [player_tooltip player_id='2134507' first='Khylieb' last='Rodriguez'] | WR | Ardrey Kell   Rodriguez, admittedly, has an argument to be even higher in the rankings. Simply put, he can fly, with a 4.41-laser 40. He's picking up momentum on the recruiting trail after leading Ardrey Kell with 750 receiving yards and nine touchdowns.   [player_tooltip player_id='2155074' first='Kendrick' last='Raper'] | WR | Shelby   Raper flew under the radar as Shelby's fourth receiver, but he was as explosive as anybody on one of the best offenses in the state. He scored 10 touchdowns on just 25 catches, several of them long scores, winning both before and after the catch.   [player_tooltip player_id='2111283' first='Christian' last='Cepeda'] | WR | East Forsyth   We covered Cepeda in depth during our <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/04/top-6-wrs-in-forsyth-county/">Forsyth County Deep Dive</a>, and he's one of our favorite newly-ranked receivers in the class. He has good size, technical ability, and hands, a balanced skill set that makes him a dangerous receiving threat.   [player_tooltip player_id='2142898' first='Micah' last='Olu'] | RB | Wake Forest   Olu has one of the better physical profiles in the state, and he has the production to back it up. He had over 1,600 yards last season, showing power between the tackles and speed to the edge. He's another guy who has the potential to move up even further.   <a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/jack-slone/">Jack Slone</a> | WR | Green Hope   Slone was a later find by our staff after a strong junior season. He had nearly 900 yards last season, making catches at all levels and areas of the field. He's a true 6'3" and moves well, especially in short areas and laterally. I'm watching this summer to see if there's room to move him even closer to the top of the rankings.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2027 RB/WR Sleepers</h2>   I want to highlight a few sleepers. Again, we'll have plenty of full evaluations over the next month or so, but these are just some preliminary "guys to watch out for."   [player_tooltip player_id='2147404' first='Wyatt' last='Caldwell'] | WR | Cleveland   Caldwell led Cleveland's unusually conservative passing offense with 40 receptions for just under 550 yards. I expect the Rams to get back to chucking the football around this season, and Caldwell could be the natural beneficiary.   [player_tooltip player_id='2203236' first='Harry' last='Cheek'] | RB | Vance County   Cheek was a late addition in the cycle, as we added him just before publishing. He was only active for six games last year and only had 86 attempts, but he was phenomenal down the stretch, with four-straight 125-yard games to end the year. We wanted to get him ranked, but didn't deep dive until after publishing, and in just the last week, we've heard he's been fantastic this offseason.   [player_tooltip player_id='2206332' first='Jamir' last='Jackson'] | RB | Monroe   To be honest, we're probably not high enough on Jackson after his 1,100-yard junior season. He's an effortless mover with great change-of-direction and speed. Expect to hear a lot from him in 2026 as he returns as a guy who averaged nearly eight yards per carry last season.   There's plenty to come from Matt Morrow, Joshua Graham, and me on the 2027 rankings over the next week. Stay locked in with Prep Redzone for more insights, evaluations, and rankings updates. Want to share Prep Redzone with a friend? Promo code Helms30 will get them 30% off their first billing cycle for any subscription.

Last week's 2027 Rankings Update was one of our biggest ever, with over 190 new players hitting the rankings since February. With a very limited amount of time before we move to the 2028 class, there just isn't enough time to properly cover every new addition. Instead, we're going to take a bird's-eye view and evaluate the newly ranked players in larger groups. Here's a 30,000-foot view of the 44 new running backs and wide receivers in the 2027 rankings.