2027: Quarterback leads the way in the Mid-South region
Rivals Rankings 2027 Class week began on Monday with the first Top 100Rivals national scouting analyst Marshall Levenson looks at the Mid-South region, which has the most quarterbacks ranked in the top 100 of any region.
Three of the six quarterbacks are from Louisiana and the remaining three are from Texas, for a total of 12 quarterbacks in the original top 100.
Rivals Rankings Week:
Sunday: Who will be No. 1 in the class of 2027?
Monday: The top 100 have been announced | Meet 5-star guests | Gorney on LaDamion Guyton
Tuesday: Position-by-position breakdown | Rumor Mill
Wednesday: Must-Watch Shows | 10 Shows Worth 5 Stars
Thursday: Roundtable discussion
Elijah Haven – 2nd Place Overall
Elijah Haven is the No. 1 quarterback and No. 2 overall prospect in this class. As a freshman, Haven passed for 2,205 yards and 35 touchdowns with only three interceptions and rushed for 641 yards and 12 scores. At 6’5″ and 210 pounds, the dual-threat signal caller has one of the strongest and most impressive physical traits in the country. The emerging five-star prospect also excelled in basketball, averaging 13 points, 10 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game while earning second-team All-Metro and All-State honors.
Florida, Miami, Ole Miss Auburn was among the schools that first offered him the position, and he will likely receive offers from every school he wants. LSU If an offer comes in the future, he will be first in line for the position.
Peyton Houston – 15th Overall
At No. 15 overall is Peyton Houston, a two-way star from Evangel Christian High School in Shreveport, Louisiana. A deadly accurate passer with mechanics more refined than his years would suggest, Houston is off to a strong start in his sophomore season, rushing for 711 yards and seven touchdowns in two games. He’s also rushed for over 100 yards on the ground. He’s in complete control of the offense, playing steady in the pocket or moving out to deliver the ball when needed.
Oklahoma, Texas, Texas A&M, TennesseeOle Miss and other teams are in the mix early. The Sooners and Longhorns are in good positions going forward.
Colton Nussmeyer – 18th Place Overall
Colton Nussmeyer, a native of Marcus, Flower Mound, Texas, knows what it takes to play the quarterback position at a high level. He is the brother of former Louisiana State starting quarterback Garrett Nussmeyer and the son of longtime NFL quarterbacks coach Doug Nussmeyer. The 6-foot-3, 170-pound left-hander has already found success as a starter this season, just his second year in the starting role. After throwing for 280 yards and four touchdowns in a relief role (five games) last year, he has thrown for 568 yards and seven touchdowns in three games since the start of the 2024 season.
So far, offers have come from Oklahoma State University, Baylor University, Kansas State University and Texas Tech University.
Weston Nielsen – 67th Overall
The 6-foot-2, 170-pound Weston Nielsen, from Bastrop (Texas), turned heads with a strong rookie season, rushing for over 1,100 yards and 13 touchdowns in five games as a freshman. He’s off to another strong start as a full-time starter, rushing for 855 yards and seven touchdowns in his first three games. His passing velocity and timing are good and he has the potential to develop into a productive down-the-field passer.
Oklahoma, Oregon, NebraskaBaylor, and Miami It’s in the mix. There are 10 offers in total at the moment, but that number will certainly grow.
Jerry Meyer III – 71st Overall
Jerry Meyer III, one of the most productive recruiting quarterbacks in the class of 2023, has moved from the Las Vegas area to Waxahachie, just south of Dallas. Prior to the transfer, the new four-star recruit threw for an astounding 2,711 yards and 58 touchdowns while completing 67% of his passes. As a sophomore, he’s off to a strong start, throwing for 1,043 yards and nine touchdowns in his first three games.
He has 10 offers so far, including from Baylor University. SMU, PurdueTCU, etc.
Malachi Zeigler – 78th Overall
The third quarterback out of Louisiana, Malachi Zeigler, is also a promising player at 6’3″ and 200 pounds. This incoming four-star player could make an argument for having the strongest arm in the class. He’s also a threat with his feet, and is adept in the pocket as well as being able to drive down the field and score. He was a reserve player as a freshman, but played less due to injury. He won’t be a full-time starter as a sophomore, but will look to lead Benton to a strong season.
Oklahoma State University, Ole Miss University, MississippiTCU, SMU, etc. are in the mix.
