Recruiting Runway: Class of 2027 Prospects to Know – 10/4

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Interested in reading this and more? Use the code&nbsp;<strong>AlPops30</strong>&nbsp;for 30% off a&nbsp;<a href="https://prepredzone.com/subscribe/?brand=next">Prep Redzone Next Subscription</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>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 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.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_633da6a728b0a","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["457972"],"_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_0_evaluation":"Last week I wrote about 2027 prospect [player_tooltip player_id='457985' first='Tre' last='McCoy'] out of Tupelo, Mississippi and his ability as a Linebacker. Today I'm going back to Tupelo to take a look at fellow 2027 prospect, [player_tooltip player_id='457972' first='Kylan' last='Bobo']. At 5-foot-11 and 180-pounds, he is a chiseled Running Back prospect that should have people in The Magnolia State, very excited. For only being in the eighth-grade, has a sturdy build and good overall mass and size. Plays with a confident swagger that gets his squad fired up, and the opposing team seeing red. Runs violently and finishes his runs with emphasis. Also plays Outside Linebacker on the defensive side of the ball, but projects to a Running Back, in my opinion. At times can run a bit too tall but that's a coachable fix, in order to limit the surface area tacklers have to aim at. Bobo is averaging over seven yards per carry on the season, in addition to four touchdowns.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_633da6a728b0b","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["453858"],"_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_0_evaluation":"For 14 seasons Matt Birk was a mainstay on the Offensive Line for the Minnesota Vikings and Baltimore Ravens, winning a Super Bowl with the latter. There is a long, long way to go for 2027 prospect [player_tooltip player_id='453858' first='Charlie' last='Burkart'], but I can see a lot of similarities between the two players. Burkart is unofficially already 6-foot-4 (the same height as Birk) and currently weighs 250-pounds. The Burnett Junior High eighth-grader also plays Center, as did Birk. That said, Burkart has the size and length to also play Tackle if he needs to do so. What rarely shows up on film is his intelligence and over football IQ. He's a very smart player who does a lot of the little things to get his Offensive Line unit moving in sync. Next year will be at Wylie East High School, where the Raiders are currently 5-0. Physically is bigger, stronger than most players right now but must work on keeping a lower pad level at point of contact. Has the brains and ability to be playing at a high level on Saturdays in the future.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_633da6a728b0c","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["458050"],"_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_0_evaluation":"Absolutely exceptional size with a prototypical, bid-bodied, pocket-passer Quarterback build. Already 6-foot-4 and 200-pounds, before entering high school. Attends Clear Creak Amana Middle School in Tiffin, Iowa, just a half hour south of Cedar Rapids. Thick build, not a string bean and looks like a man among boys on the field. Does have a bit of an unconventional throwing motion and tends to shot put the ball a bit, if under pressure or trying to get the ball out quickly. Not a dual-threat guy, but can pick up yards with his legs if a play breaks down. From what I have seen, Kongshaung operates almost exclusively out of the shotgun. Possesses good foot work in the pocket and sets his feet well before passing. Will need to adjust to the speed of high school football, and beyond, in order to keep climbing at the next level, but there's a lot to be excited about with him.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_633da6a728b0d","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["439882"],"_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_0_evaluation":"For defenses lining up against Prattville Junior High School in Alabama, I would strongly suggest finding where jersey No.4 is lined up. That athlete that dawns that number is eighth-grader [player_tooltip player_id='439882' first='Christian' last='Alexander']. At just 5-foot-7 and 135-pounds (unofficial measurements) Alexander is a speedy prospect that makes defenses pay, if given room in space. Alexander is a key piece on chess board and has lined up at Wide Receiver, Running Back and Quarterback this year for the Cats. Despite being undersized he's a dynamic athlete with great exposition and acceleration. Only needs a crease to pick up positive yards. Joystick-like quickness and agility which allows him to finesse his way through defenses like a hot knife through butter. Alexander is an electric playmaker that can be moved around to multiple positions in varying personnel groups, but his size remains the question mark at this stage of the game. If he can tack on size and keep his twitch, he'll be a fun one to watch.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_633da6a728b0e","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["453138"],"_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_0_evaluation":"The state of Pennsylvania is home to a very impressive group of 2027 prospects from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh and everywhere in between. One of those impressive current eighth-grade prospects is Running Back [player_tooltip player_id='453138' first='Justice' last='Hardy'] out of Wyomissing, Pa. Located right in the middle of Hershey and Philadelphia, the 5-foot-8, 155-pounder is exciting to watch. Runs low to the ground and only needs a step or two to reach full speed, with exceptional quick twitch. Runs with a purpose, yet intelligently. Can accelerate and decelerate with ease. Should come as no surprise that he's also a Point Guard in basketball. Hardy has already camped at Penn State and also plays on the same 7-on-7 team as fellow 2027 prospects,  [player_tooltip player_id='452742' first='Michael' last='Glover'] and [player_tooltip player_id='419266' first='Sebastian' last='Williams'].","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_633da6a728b0f","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["450340"],"_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_0_evaluation":"Out in the desert of Tucson, Arizona, 2027 Linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='450340' first='Charles' last='Chaney'] is a prospect to start kicking the tires on. At 5-foot-10 and 205-pounds, he's a thick athlete who plays a number of different positions for the Tucson Scorpions youth team. Chaney lives in the weightroom and both his build, and his performance on the field, show it's paying off. The barrel-chested eighth-grader sees time at Linebacker, Running Back and Defensive End. If I had to project right now, which is a bit of a crapshoot, I see him as a Mike Linebacker in high school. For comparison, I see a lot of four-time Pro Bowler, Jeremiah Trotter in Chaney's game. He's a bigger, thicker Linebacker that gets downhill quickly and hunts Quarterbacks all game long. Chaney tells me he'll be at Salpointe Catholic next year for high school. The Lancers are currently ranked the No.28 team in Arizona.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_633da6a728b10","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["445321"],"_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_0_evaluation":"I had the privilege of seeing Powell play live and in person this summer, and the class of 2027 prospect is certainly a prospect to know in Florida. A well-put together 5-foot-8 and 165-pounds, Powell suites up for the Golden Army Carol City Chiefs and takes the field along a number of talented prospects, including [player_tooltip player_id='419400' first='Ah'Mari' last='Stevens'] and [player_tooltip player_id='409921' first='Derrick' last='Baker']. Powell is from the greater Orlando area, but plays with the South Florida juggernaut out of Miami-Dade County. He's not necessarily a burner at this point, clocked at an 11.9 in the 100M and a 5.08 in the 40-yard dash, but he keeps the chains moving. He moves very well laterally, and once he commits to a hole, he gets north and south quickly. Much like [player_tooltip player_id='453138' first='Justice' last='Hardy'] of Pennsylvania, runs lows to the ground and makes it a chore for would-be tacklers to bring him down. It's a copout to say, u0022they build 'em different down in Floridau0022, but Powell is further proof, that they really do.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /-->