Recruiting Runway: Class of 2027 Prospects to Know – 9/27
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Interested in reading this and more? Use the code AlPops30 for 30% off a Prep Redzone Next Subscription 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…
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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 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.
In Waxahachie, Texas if you’re a football player with the last name Snell, big things are expected of you. Already standing 6-foot-2 and 170-pounds in just the eighth-grade, JayQuan Snell JayQuan Snell 6’2″ | 170 lbs | ATH Waxahachie | 2027 State TX is ready for the future. JayQuan is the younger brother of former four-star prospect Kenedy Snell, who signed with TCU out of high school and is now wrapping up his collegiate playing career at FCS Texas A&M-Commerce. While it was clear that Kenedy was a skill position guy, the book remains unwritten on little brother JayQuan with his size and ability. There’s no disagreeing that he’s gifted athletically, as he’s also one of the top 2027 basketball prospects in Texas, as well. A big, rangy kid with a great frame to work with, it’s hard to project where he’ll end up. I can see him paying anywhere on defense from Safety to Outside Linebacker to possibly even Defensive End. There’s a ways to go here developmentally, but he’s an FBS-caliber player…wherever he ends up.
While JayQuan Snell JayQuan Snell 6’2″ | 170 lbs | ATH Waxahachie | 2027 State TX is listed as an Athlete because of his staggering size and frame, Alabama’s Jayden Heard Jayden Heard ATH AL is listed as an Athlete because of his agility and ability to flat out fly. The Anniston Middle School student-athlete is the latest prospect to come through the Anniston pipeline to be excited about. As an athlete, Heard could be the predecessor to current 2023 Athletes Kamron Sandlin (South Carolina commit) and Jaylon Cunningham (13 offers). Heard currently plays Quarterback for the AMS Bulldogs but is certainly more of a threat to run the ball than throw the ball. Last April he was clocked at a 12.13 in the 100M, but I’d be shocked if that was down in the 11.7-11.9 range, based off film from this year. Needs to grow significantly and hit the weightroom hard to get ready for high school ball, but he’s off a very good start.
Georgia is one of the four major hotbeds for football talent in my opinion, joining Florida, Texas and California. Class of 2027 prospect Justin Weeks Justin Weeks 6’5″ | 210 lbs | DL Pace Academy | 2027 State GA has a chance to land among the top recruits in the class when all is said and done. At a long, lean 6-foot-3 and 220-pounds (last known measurement) he has a frame and body structure that could be transformed into an SEC Offensive Tackle. He’s high-cut and is essentially all legs. Moves exceptionally well relative to his size, build and age. Doesn’t show a lot of baby deer in his movement at all to this point. Also plays hoops and can kick slide far better than the majority of Offensive Linemen at this point. Will need to, and should be able to do so with little issue, put on weight as he matures into high school. If he can put on 50-pounds over the next four years and keep that athleticism, he’ll be elite.
Highlights
Don’t look now, but Tupelo Middle School in Mississippi has another prospect with the last name McCoy. A year ago it was 6-foot-7, 245-pound JaReylan McCoy JaReylan McCoy 6’7″ | 265 lbs | DL Tupelo | 2026 State MS terrorizing everyone on the field for the blue and gold. McCoy would go onto make the Prep Redzone Next National Watch List for the class of 2026, while picking up offers from Ole Miss, South Carolina, Mississippi State, Utah and others before starting high school. However, this year, it’s all about 6-foot, 170-pound Linebacker Tre McCoy Tre McCoy 6’0″ | 170 lbs | LB MS at Tupelo. A first cousin of JaReylan, Tre is just as promising a prospect with his active play as an Outside Linebacker. Only in his third year of ever playing football, he has natural instincts that can’t be taught. He reacts extremely quickly and a very sure-tackler. Through his first four games McCoy has tallied 14 solo tackles, five tackles for loss, one sack, one interception and a touchdown. Remember, he’s only four games into his third year of ever playing football. The future is blindingly bright for both McCoys and the Tupelo program.