College Football Future: Class of 2027 Prospects to Know – 8/22
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As we head into a new season of youth and middle school football around the country, below is a look at some class of 2027 prospects (athletes beginning their eighth-grade school year) that have come across my desk. As football…
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Continue ReadingAs we head into a new season of youth and middle school football around the country, below is a look at some class of 2027 prospects (athletes beginning their eighth-grade school year) that have come across my desk. As football recruiting and evaluating continues to change, the eighth-grade season is becoming a pivotal time for young athletes to garner early attention from Universities. Here’s a look at some prospects that are on the trajectory to be playing a high level of football for years to come.
There’s absolutely no substitute for speed no matter what level of football being talked about. Enter, Searcy. He has pretty good size right now at 5-foot-7 and 140-pounds, but it’s his speed that makes him one of the elite players in this class. His electronic (verified) 4.6 in the forty is special for a young man entering his eighth-grade year. In fact, he has some of the best in-game speed I’ve seen for a prospect in this class. In addition to what he can do running the ball, Searcy is also a huge threat in the passing game. Whether it’s a wheel route out of the backfield or splitting him out in an empty set, he has reliable hands and the wheels to get behind Linebackers and Defensive Backs that are tasked with covering him. Can probably go without saying, but he’s also a threat in the kick and punt return game, as well. Though he plays a different position, former first-round pick, Tavon Austin, is a great NFL-comparison here.
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Again, there’s no substitute for speed at any level of football. I talk a lot about speed guys from coast to coast, but Williams-Callis could quite possibly be the fastest 2027 player in the entire country. You can take my word for it, or you can look at these verified electronic times: 4.48 in the forty, 11.03 in the 100 meter and 50.69 in the 400 meter. To help frame it better, Williams-Callis is just starting his eighth-grade school year, as you’re reading this. His 4.48 time in the forty-yard dash, would have placed him in the top 50 of all prospects who ran at the NFL combine ahead of the most recent draft. Look for him to carve up the competition at Wright Junior High this year, before entering high school as one of the greater Houston area’s top prospects.
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In every class there are a few kids that when I put on their film and watch it, I sit back and say “wow, this kid just makes it look easy.” Adams is one of those kids for the class of 2027. I’m not saying he’ll always play at such a level, but at this point he’s simply toying with opposing defenses. We first saw him this past summer as a member of the Tennessee Future Stars, where he earned MVP of the annual showdown against Kentucky. The 6-foot, 150-pound Quarterback did it all in the game, carving up Kentucky with both his arms and his legs. What stuck out to me the most was his ability to sidestep Kentucky defenders at what seemed to be the last minute. Sudden movements and footwork allowed for him to get out of situations, where he appeared to be dead to rights. He has the potential to be a four-star prospect or higher, when all is said and done.
At this point, Williams looks to be the future for the Bishop McDevitt football program. Bishop McDevitt, who enters the season the No. 1o ranked team in Pennsylvania per maxpreps, is located in the state capitol of the Commonwealth, Harrisburg. At 5-foot-10 and 155-pounds, I like what I see out of him as a traditional pocket passer. He’s not a dual-threat, but moves well enough, specifically in the pocket, to keep plays alive. Has a very smooth, clean throwing motion and delivers the ball very accurately. Another big thing with Williams is that the kid just wins. Whether it be an individual awards or team victories, he’s a winner. He’ll be a very fun one to watch develop over the next four-to-five years.
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I put out a tweet back in June, when I first saw Jacobs play during the Future Stars Game event in Atlanta. In that tweet, I said he has future D1 Tight End written all over him, but the position was, and still is, up for debate. At 6-foot-4 and 180-pounds he was as physically impressive a prospect as I’ve seen in this class. In back-to-back practice periods, I saw him moss a defender for a ball as a Tight End and then turn around and lock up one of the Georgia Future Star’s top Wide Receivers. Can literally play Defensive End, Outside Linebacker, Wide Receiver, Tight End, etc. at a different level than anyone else on the field. Also one of the nation’s top basketball prospects in the nation for the class of 2027, he comes from special bloodlines. His father, by many accounts, was destined for the NFL before a stroke during his playing days for the Bulldogs, derailed that dream. Jacobs Jr. is on his way to being one of the most elite prospects in this class. Get very familiar with this young man.
Watching clips of Jackson run the ball, in my opinion, he looks exactly of former Georgia Bulldog and current Buffalo Bills rookie, James Cook. He plays with a darting running style that almost looks like he’s running out of control, or like his legs are moving too fast in comparison to the rest of his body moving…except he’s not. Jackson can scoot and only needs a small crease to run to daylight. Again, his running style is unique and fairly recognizable when putting on his film. He keeps a low center of gravity to limit the amount of area defenders have to get a piece of him. He’s suiting up for the Lauderhill Lions 13U team this year and should have his choice of high school’s to pick from in South Florida next year.
Strayhorn checks all the boxes when it comes to a recipe for football success. His father Jason was a Team Captain and All-Big10 Center under Nick Saban at Michigan State in the late 90s. His older brother Kaden Stayhorn, is a 2025 prospect at IMG Academy that already holds double-digit offers, including one from the Saban-led Alabama Crimson Tide. As for offers, Kody already has a pair of them from Michigan and Michigan State, as he begins to start his eighth-grade school year. Originally from Michigan, Strayhorn is now in California and will be playing for the Orange County Buckeyes this year, arguably one of the top three youth programs in all of California. The 6-foot-2, 250-pound Offensive Lineman looks like a surefire P5 Center if he continues to ascend on the trajectory he’s on. On top of good genetics, coaches I’ve talked to rave about his work ethic. He has every reason to be complacent and entitled, but I’m told he shows up ready to work…and then work extra…every day.