2027 Rankings Update: 5 early spring names rising our ranks

Matlock is a high motor kid that is always around the ball and has elite closing speed, tackling abilities and does a good job redirecting quickly and triggers fast downhill. He can scrape over the top, dip underneath blockers on his way to ball carriers and packs a punch at the POA while a quick processor and can sniff out plays quickly from the second level or when applying pressure off the edge. He checks into our rankings as a top five player at the linebacker position and should have a monster senior year for Bishop Kelly in 2026. He should also gather plenty of D3+ interest/offers over the next ten months and is a key name to note heading into next year.     Mitchell is another very high motor and athletic outside linebacker that can fill gaps, knife into the backfield, cover in space and runs well outside the tackles making plays sideline to sideline. He checks into our rankings as a top 30 player overall in Idaho and has tons of untapped potential heading into his senior year for the Rams. His ability to rush the passer, man cover in space and apply pressure from various angles with long strides to chunk yardage and close quickly make him a versatile player on the defense and one to keep a close eye on this off-season. Look for Mitchell to be near the top of the tackle leaders in his final prep season and be a all-state type candidate come next winter.     The Rocky Mountain product is a true nose, stout against the run and does a nice job using his leverage, sudden power and inside hand placement at the POA to two-gap and reset the line. He shows he is athletic enough to one or two gap, snaps out of his stance and created immediate knock-back inside the tackles. He can transition run to pass with some power rush moves and is a high motor kid with great power and strength at the POA. Checking into our rankings update as a top 30 player overall within the state, he is another prospect that should be drawing plenty of college attention this off-season and should find a home come the 2027 national signing day.     Dutchover should fit nicely on the interior offensive line in college as a center or guard and is a good athlete with heavy hands, violent strike and finish abilities in the box. He can snap out of his stance and get hands on defenders quickly, uses his leverage to get underneath and shows he can scrape to the second level and cut off flowing linebackers. In his block progression he stays within his frame, has a stout base and violent intentions while able to sustain blocks downfield in the run game. In pass protection, he stays patient with his hands, does not over-pursue his strike and can stone power rushers while nimble enough to cut off sped rushers and is a high IQ kid. He should draw plenty of next level attention over the next 10 months and is going to be a very nice get for a college team.     Frei checks into our rankings update as a top three defensive back and can play anywhere on the back end and is explosive with the ball in his hands out of the slot or the backfield. He is a natural pass catcher with a strong initial burst, contact balance in traffic and can make defenders miss in space with some short area wiggle and open field speed in the clear. He also shows good vision and cutback abilities and is a natural playmaker after the catch and brings good versatility on defense as well with natural ball skills, fluid hips in transition and breaks quickly to pass catchers downhill. He will be one of the top returning two-way guys heading into 2026 across Idaho and is a key name to note through the season.