Rankings Risers in Latest PRZIA 2027 Update

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Get 30% off your first billing cycle with code:&nbsp;howe30&nbsp;in the coupon code area</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/07/kickoff-26-x-factors-for-each-team-in-class-5-group-6/">Kickoff '26: Class 5A X-Factors</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/08/kickoff-26-x-factors-for-each-team-in-class-4a-district-6/">Kickoff '26: Class 4A X-Factors</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/08/kickoff-26-x-factors-for-each-team-in-class-3a-district-6/">Kickoff '26: Class 3A X-Factors</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The penultimate Prep Redzone rankings update for Iowa's 2027 Class is live on the site. You can peruse it&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://prepredzone.com/iowa/rankings/2027-rankings/">HERE</a></strong>. We take a closer look inside the rankings <strong><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/08/tiering-latest-przia-2027-rankings-update/" data-type="link" data-id="https://prepredzone.com/2026/08/tiering-latest-przia-2027-rankings-update/">HERE</a></strong>. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The group showed early signs of being strong at the top and talented throughout. It's continued with tremendous growth, many of these student-athlete finding college homes to continue competing in the sport.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the best parts about tracking a recruiting cycle is watching prospects emerge and rise throughout the process. Every new rankings release features student-athletes moving up from the previous iteration. We like to call them Rankings Risers, and here are notable folks fitting that description in this update:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1198829"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a8f152241ddb"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Clayborne is one of the state's top players regardless of position. It's the reason he rose up four spots to No. 6 in Prep Redzone Iowa's latest 2027 rankings. Clayborne is a dominating prep player packed with the potential to be a difference maker on the next level. The Minnesota pledge stresses defenses as an athletic, physical tight end that caught 27 balls for 302 yards and six scores a year ago. Of his 51.0 tackles, 35 were solo stops. Clayborne posted 10.5 tackles for loss, a sack, an interception and a fumble recovery as a menacing linebacker haunting opponents from sideline to sideline. In many ways, Clayborne is too fast and physical for the level. His future in Minneapolis is an exciting one.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2110269"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a8f17e90f165"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">To call Knoblock's rise in recruiting and in the Prep Redzone Iowa Class of 2027 rankings update meteoric would be selling it short. The West Lyon senior shot up from unranked to No. 14 after helping the Wildcats win a Class 1A state championship with 6.5 sacks and 7.5 tackles for loss. He also stood out on the offensive line. Iowa secured Knoblock's commitment as a defensive lineman. That makes a lot of sense after watching him in person at the UNI-Dome last November. He's a linear athlete with a projectable frame capable of adding mass and strength without the loss of speed and explosiveness. Knoblock is one of the highest upside players in Iowa's '27 Class. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1644914"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a8f1b9637aeb"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Van Maanen moved up 29 spots to No. 17 in the latest Prep Redzone Iowa Class of 2027 rankings. He emerged as a prospect last season in helping Pella return to the UNI-Dome. Van Maanen collected an impressive 92.5 tackles, 82 of which were solo stops in earning first-team all-state honors as a junior. He piled up 23.5 tackles for loss and a pair of sacks. The Iowa Hawkeyes liked what they saw and picked up his commitment. Van Maanen jumps off of his&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/16398691/6932575655262ab8c7b90564">11th-grade highlight video</a>. There's a fluidity to his game, and he moves a speed or two faster than most of his opponents. Some of that is physical but reading and reacting quickly also stands out. Van Maanen's projectable frame and athleticism provide a high ceiling. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2086368"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a8f206543c7d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Paulsen was another big riser in the latest Prep Redzone Iowa Class of 2027 rankings. The Central DeWitt senior moved up 51 spots to No. 18. Paulsen posted 39.5 tackles, 29 of which were of the solo variety. The University of Illinois pledge piled up 17.0 tackles for loss with 5.0 sacks and forced a fumble. Paulsen is an exciting mix of present production at the prep level with a high ceiling for the future. He's an excellent athlete with a projectable frame. His agility and power provide him with positional flexibility. Paulsen shines during <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/19688384/6935e5aecd06d6b43c388792">11th-grade highlight video</a>. The physicality and speed as a lineman create matchup nightmares for the opposition. There's strength and active hands. He slips blocks and smoothly separates from them.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1532913"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a8f206543cf1"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Moving up six spots to No. 26 in the latest Prep Redzone Iowa 2027 Class rankings, Milburn is a deserving rankings riser in the update. The disruptive Newton defender impressed me both times I scouted him in person last season with statistics and team success indicating they were not isolated instances. Milburn, who is committed to Northern Illinois, was credited with 120.0 tackles as a junior last season with 111 of those stops being of the solo variety. There were 18.0 tackles for loss, three sacks, an interception, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Milburn gets the job done by being more athletic and powerful than his opponents. It's a projectable frame that should continue allowing him to ascend in the game as he matures. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->