PRZ Next 2027 Watchlist Vol. 2 – Iowa Updated Watchlist

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The PRZ Next 2027 Watchlist has officially been updated as of March 29th, 2023. To view the entire list, click&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://prepredzone.com/next/players-to-watch/2027-watch-list/">here</a></strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Volume 2 of the biggest pre-high school prospect list in the nation contains nearly 1,100 class of 2027 prospects. Following the release of Volume 1 on October 31st, 2022, PRZ Next has continued to do our best to find the top middle school prospects in each state across the country.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Let us be 100% crystal clear: This is NOT the final list.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We are adding new prospects every day, behind the scenes. The list will be updated&nbsp;<strong>TWO MORE TIMES</strong>&nbsp;this off-season, with new athletes becoming visible on the Watchlist in late June and August. The final list will be released in mid-August, as these athletes are set to begin their high school careers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Unlike the high school level, there are no official stats or national database of middle school football players or teams, like MaxPreps does for high school. There is also no obligation to film games or post them to film-sharing platforms, like Hudl. While we stand firmly by our Watchlist, it is important to understand that these very early looks can &amp; will change drastically.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>We aren't sleeping on you. We may not have even seen you, yet.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With the explosion of social media and recruiting efforts ramping up earlier than ever before, there are literally tens of thousands of middle school prospects out there to evaluate.&nbsp;<strong>We're never going to see every prospect</strong>–but we we will do our best as always. The Hall of Fame misses on NFL greats. GMs in the NFL miss on college prospects. Colleges miss on high school All-American's. We may miss on the eighth-grade level — it happens. However, we use our years of expertise and judgement on eighth-grade talent we see live and on film. We do our homework by talking to coaches and researching the ability of athletes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>“But I'm ranked on ABC site &amp; I got invited to play in the XYX camp/game</strong>.<strong>&nbsp;How am I not on your list?</strong>“</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On the pre-high school level, if you're willing to pay enough money, you will find someone to call your 2027 prospect an “all-American” or get “invited” to some event. Prior to high school, football as a whole, is not set up well enough to truly find all the top kids. There will always be invites and all-American games, but that does not factor into our decision-making at all. Film and in-person scouting will trump any invites or titles a prospect may receive/earn/buy.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>So why does the Prep Redzone Next 2027 Football Prospect list matter?</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Just look at the previous results. This list matters because it is the deepest, most-heavily scrutinized and far-and-away most accurate national list you will find anywhere, on the middle school level. National Scouting Director, Al “Pops” Popadines has been evaluating talent on the middle school level since 2010 and has been on the forefront of early-prospect identification. Pops' list of athletes identified as middle schoolers, includes dozens of athletes that are now in the NFL and several thousand that have gone on to play/are currently playing at the college level. Names like Bryan Bresee of Clemson and Quinn Ewers of Texas, made the list as eighth-graders and both eventually became the No.1 player in their recruiting class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Finally, Here's a look at the Updated Iowa Class of 2027 Watchlist</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["513361"],"_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":"Really good-looking linebacker prospect that is equal part physical, and equal part skillful. Multi-sport athlete that also wrestles and takes part in track and field. Ideal size for a 'backer prospect right now at 6-foot and and 185 pounds. Has shown little issue with dropping back in pass coverage and is one of those sideline-to-sidelines tacklers. Will be at Ankeny Centennial for high school.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["612246"],"_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":"The greatest professors in the world can't teach size, but Donald has it. The size of this 6'5u0022, 320-pounder is staggering, for just being in eighth grade. Has a mountain to climb in terms of putting it all together at this point, but man he has potential. Would love to see him develop a mean streak and has to continue to improve feet and overall strength. If he can put it all together, man...watch out.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["725163"],"_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":"Simonsen will become an Iowa prospect at the conclusion of his eighth-grade school year in Tennessee. Another kid that checks the box in terms of size (6'3u0022, 225 pounds) and potential. Was All-County and Defensive Player of the Year this past season for his middle school. Could become a very good defensive end if he puts it all together at Humbolt High School next year.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["600173"],"_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":"Accurate and athletic, Wheeler looks like he's going to be a nice one at Liberty High School over the next four years. Has no problem hitting the deep ball with ease, then turning around on the next play and throwing a touch pass into the outstretched arms of a back on a wheel route. Scouts and coaches also speak highly of his leadership.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["617066"],"_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":"Attention Jefferson High School in Cedar Rapids, help might be on the way in the form of Kalolero at Running Back. The Hawks haven't won a game since October of 2019, but he could help be the change. Good speed and agility for the 5'7u0022, 155-pounder, as he was clocked at a 4.85 in the forty this past winter. Long way to go for him and Jefferson High School, but there's a hope.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["513380"],"_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":"Out of all the new 2027 Iowa athletes added to the Watchlist this go around, Clausen is the closest to being offerable at this point. The son of former Nebraska Cornhusker offensive lineman and CFB National Champion Jeff Clausen, Will is every bit of 6'4u0022 already. Plays multiple sports including a heavy weight wrestler and pitcher in baseball. Once he adds weight to his great frame, he should be a P5 kid.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_player":["513311"],"_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":"Really promising 2027 prospect that I hope continues to grow and stretch out. Plays tight end and can stretch the field vertically right now. Also plays a very physical and tough style of wide receiver that makes it tough on defenses to cope with. Too big and physical for pre-high school corners, yet too athletic for most pre-high school linebackers. Will be off to Dallas Center-Grimes High School, who is coming off back-to-back losing seasons for the first time in over a decade.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":7,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6425fde825918"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">The prospects listed above, join the Iowa 2027 prospects that were already on the 2027 PRZ Next National Watchlist from October.</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='458050' first='Cael' last='Kongshaung']</strong> | Quarterback</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='325194' first='Josiah' last='Smith']</strong> | Athlete</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='427555' first='Luke' last='Brewer'] </strong>| Tight End</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='466364' first='Tate' last='Wallace'] </strong>| Linebacker</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->