Al Pops’ Class of 2027 Prospect Evaluations – 12/29

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's now full steam ahead to the showcase, camp, combine and 7-on-7 part of the year, as the football futures of many prospects are getting ready to hit the accelerate button. The prospect landscape is starting to become clearer and below is a look at some class of 2027 prospects (athletes in their eighth-grade school year) that have come across my desk. As football recruiting and evaluating continues to change, the eighth-grade year 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 {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["569908"],"_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":"-A 6-foot-2, 185-pound Tight End/Linebacker that really shined at AYF Nationals in Florida in early December for the 14U Gridiron AIGA teamrnrn-Offensively, is one of the better blocking Tight Ends I have seen on the pre-high school level in the country. Does a good job of locking in and driving guys downfield, into the sidelines or onto the groundrnrn-Defensively, is a a really nice looking prospect as an Outside Linebacker. Watching him at first, I thought he was a Safety because he was always around the ball and in position to make a tackle. Athletic, rangy kid","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["560862"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"-Had to be one of the two or three tallest of all the 2027 prospects I saw at AYF Nationals, standing in the neighborhood of 6-foot-4 and weighing around 160-poundsrnrn-Heard the coaches call him u0022Stiltsu0022 several times while I had the opportunity to watch them play, an obvious nod to his length and heightrnrn-Originally had him pegged as a Free Safety, but really liked what I saw when he flipped over and took reps at Wide Receiver. Obviously needs to muscle up a bit, but there's not many middle school Cornerback's that can win a jump ball against him","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["487674"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"-For being a national name at this point, 2027 California Quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='487674' first='Julian' last='Medina'] may be the most underrated or u0022slept onu0022 (as the kids say) player in this classrnrn-First saw him a year ago, as a seventh-grader, when he split time with fellow 2027 standout [player_tooltip player_id='409959' first='Reagan' last='Toki']. Seeing him again this year as an eighth-grader, he shared reps with [player_tooltip player_id='400854' first='Furian' last='Inferrera']. Both Quarterbacks he split time with have verbal offers already, yet Medina does not up to this pointrnrn-Tremendously smooth throwing motion with the dual-threat ability to boot. He is insanely accurate on the move and simply produces at a high level","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["571423"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"-One of those old school broad-necked, barrel-chested throwback Linebackers that makes Running Back's regret meeting one-on-one in the holernrn-Though he is just one big muscle, he shows pretty good agility and lateral movement. On the offensive side of the ball has proven to be a reliable option to receive passes out of the backfield or to run up the gut in short yardage situationsrnrn-At 6-foot and 210-pounds he looks varsity-ready right now. He'll be off to one of Massachusetts' premier high school program'su002du002dCatholic Memorial. The Varsity squad there hasn't lost a game since December of 2019","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["572952"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"-When thinking about the ability and playing style of Wesley, the first name that automatically comes to mind is former All-Everything Tight End, Antonio Gatesrnrn-Wesley is a big, athletic kid in the neighborhood of 6-foot-3 and 210-pounds right now. Equally as dominant on the football field as he is the basketball court. Can throw down dunks with ease as an eighth-graderrnrn-Duncanville High School turns out freaky athletes every year and Wesley could be one of those kids in the 2027 class. Built like a Tight End but runs like a Wide Receiver, which creates a plethora of mismatches regardless of where he lines up","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["415467"],"_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"-Reclassed from the class of 2026 to the class of 2027 and the year has served him well from a physical development standpoint. Looks like a tremendously improved player from last year to this onernrn-Encouraging size for a Quarterback at this point, standing right around 6-foot and weighing 155-pounds. Throws an accurate deep ball with nice touch, showing off his arm strengthrnrn-Will be at Providence Day High School in Charlotte next year, under the tutelage of Head Coach Chad Grier. He's a championship-winning coach and the father of NFL Quarterback, Will Grier","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_player":["205508"],"_player_evaluations_6_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"-Without question one of the top eighth-grade Running Back's in the state of New Jersey for the class of 2027 at this pointrnrn-First met him when he was in sixth-grade and I swear there hasn't been an ounce of fat on him since that day. Good genetics and obvious time spent working out have turned him into a very chiseled young prospectrnrn-Gialanella will be off to Pope John High School in the fall. The varsity Lions have experienced substantial success in the past, but haven't had a winning season since 2017. He should contribute there early","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":7,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63adc2d241192"} /-->