Rivals Rankings Week: 2027 Rankings Roundtable
The release of early rankings for the Class of 2027 has concluded, and there have been a number of controversial decisions being discussed among coaches, players and fans.
National Analyst Team – Adam Friedman, John Garcia Jr., Adam Gorney, Marshall Levenson, Greg Smith and Sam Spiegelman – Sit down at the rankings roundtable and discuss.
1. Which prospects do you think you overvalued?
Adam Friedman: Jax DeJean. Football is a big part of the DeJean family, and while Jax is certainly a very good athlete, it’s a stretch to consider him a top 100 prospect right now. What made his brother Cooper special was his speed in the open field. Jax hasn’t shown that kind of explosiveness, and it’s still unclear what position he’ll be best suited to. I’ll admit he’s a four-star, but I think 56th nationally is a bit too high for him right now.
John Garcia Jr.: Gunner Rivers. Of course, these dismissals are all early, so for a sophomore, it’s just as important to get the context right as the ratings themselves. For Rivers, who plays Class 4A basketball at Alabama, the competition may have fueled his recruiting ascent as his last name. Of course, there are physical tools at work here that are hard to think of, such as a quick, condensed throwing motion that translates into a dynamic release with the type of build you expect from an NFL pedigree. But even in St. Michael Catholic’s closest game of the first four games of 2024, a 20-19 win, defenses rarely put any real pressure on the young star. Perhaps we’ll be able to evaluate Rivers with more high-level exposure as his high school career progresses, but the five-star range he’s currently in might be a bit of a leap from what we’ve gathered about Rivers so far.
Adam Gorney: Ben Jarvious Shoemaker. Shoemaker is a very talented defensive tackle with great swim moves, but he’s currently ranked 11th overall, meaning he’ll almost certainly be a five-star prospect unless he drops 20 spots in the 2027 rankings. The Ackerman (Mississippi) Choctaw County standout is very disruptive and has good speed for his size, but I don’t see him as a five-star under center just yet. Ole Miss and Mississippi His main offer so far has been from teammate Caleb Cunningham, who has committed. Alabama It will be interesting to see what happens next as Auburn looks to move him.
Marshall Levenson: Mark Bowman. This is a bit of a cheeky answer because I think Bowman is the best tight end of this class. What I’m wondering is the top 10 ranking. There have been 25 tight ends drafted in the first round since 2000, but only four of them have finished in the top 10, and only two of those have been in the last 15 years. For a tight end to rank as high as Bowman, you have to be sure he’s more than an elite talent. His body type and skill set certainly fit that mold, but I don’t think he’s been good enough on the field yet to be confident he’ll stay in the top 10.
Greg Smith: Gunner Rivers. Gunner is the son of a former NFL star. Philip Rivers So it’s easy to see how he could develop and become one of the top quarterbacks in the 2027 class. However, I don’t think he’s quite at the level to be ranked in the top 25 yet. It will be interesting to see how his sophomore season unfolds and he will have plenty of opportunities to prove himself. Not much is known about his recruitment as he doesn’t have any social media and hasn’t reported any offers.
Sam Spiegelman: Trenton Yancey. We really like what Yancey did on the field during his time at Arlington (Texas) Lamar and early in his sophomore season at Duncanville (Texas) as a weapon for Alabama-bound five-star QB Kieron Russell. Yancey is a Blazer who can stretch the defense and provide an explosive deep threat for the offense. But ultimately, there are other players at the position, and other premium positions, who could potentially rock the top 10 in the future.
2. Which leads do you think are ranked too low?
Adam Friedman: Justin Weeks. Weeks is a three-sport athlete with the explosive pass-rush traits college coaches look for. The 2027 class appears to be loaded with talented defensive ends, but I’m not sure 45th overall is a good enough pick for Weeks. His potential as a pass-rush defensive end and ultimately the athleticism to get up and make plays in space is impressive. He’ll be a player to watch as the cycle progresses.
John Garcia Jr.: Sensele Gaylord. I recently rewatched an IMG Academy game and against the strong defending champion Cocoa High School offense, Gaylord looked like the best defensive back on the field. At 6-foot-1, he is strong for his age, but the fluidity and ball skills he displays make him worthy of being rated even higher than his debut ranking would suggest. The California native made a smooth transition to IMG, earning playing time over a number of older prospects along the way. He was even seen marking opponents’ WR1 early this season, backing up the confidence the Ascenders staff has in the sophomore. If Gaylord can improve on his build and improve his already ahead-of-his-time technique, he could be in position to compete for the top cornerback spot in the 2027 rankings.
Adam Gorney: David Jacobs. Jacobs is a respectable No. 21 overall pick and the third-best weakside defensive end, but looking a few years down the line, he’s bound to be a five-star prospect. The star out of Blessed Trinity in Roswell, Georgia, has great length and explosiveness off the edge that will make him very productive against tough opponents, and he has the ideal build to be a future first-round draft pick. All of the top weakside defensive ends in the 2027 class are from Georgia, but aside from No. 1 overall pick LaDamion Guyton, Jacobs is next on my list.
Marshall Levenson: Malachi Zeigler. I’ve been a big supporter of Zeigler and his abilities since the spring and will continue to be a supporter. He’s a player who hasn’t seen much on the field yet, but his skill set as a quarterback will make him one of the most intriguing players in this class. He has one of the strongest arms this season and at 6’3″ and 200 pounds, he’s mobile and has the ability to use his feet as a real weapon. With his size and strength, I feel like his future is very bright.
Greg Smith: Holden Niemi. The 6’5″, 225 pound tight end out of Michigan has great size and movement for the tight end position. He’s already garnered attention from some of the bigger programs in the country. Georgia And then there’s Alabama. The battle for the top tight end spot in the Midwest and the nation will be fierce again, but Niemi is sure to be promoted.
Sam Spiegelman: Kayden Moss. Moss might be a little too low on this list. One of the best players in the state of Mississippi and one of the best pure athletes in the 2027 cycle, Moss checks a lot of boxes as a left tackle out of Jackson (Miss.) Academy. Standing 6-foot-5 and weighing 265 pounds, Moss boasts an 81-inch wingspan and is very agile off the line. He’s big, strong and light on his feet, and shows a lot of potential as an underclassman playing a premier position.
3. For whom have you taken a risk to make yourself look good?
Adam Friedman: Miles McAfee. McAfee was one of the standout players of the offseason and is off to a great start this fall. In his first season at Archbishop Spalding, he quickly formed a strong bond with 4-star quarterback Malik Washington, a class of 2025 prospect. The two have made a lot of big plays in the first few games of the season, and that relationship should continue if both players stay healthy. McAfee is not a Blazer and he didn’t post elite speed measurements at the Combine, but he has good handles, is a good route runner, and has the length to give the quarterback a great chance to throw passes. It will be exciting to watch his game grow over the next few years.
John Garcia Jr.: Kenton Dopson III. He’s big, physical, polished and athletically proven. It’s hard to reject Dopson because he has such high standards when it comes to evaluating him, whether you focus on little things like leverage and speed turn and man turn, or his overall situation and athletic profile. That situation includes starting as a freshman for the state runner-up Miami (Fla.) Norland Vikings and playing against elite competition throughout his first campaign and excelling anyway. Now a sophomore, the big-framed cornerback has a sub-11-second time in the 100-meter dash and is one of the top prospects in all of South Florida, regardless of class. The only long-term question that may arise going forward is regarding his position prospects if he continues to grow and plays at much over 200 pounds, but nickel or safety with his cover corner skills isn’t the worst place to be going forward.
Adam Gorney: Damani Warren. Warren could be something really special. Five-star player. His offseason highlight reel was one of the best I’ve seen of any receiver, regardless of class, and he’s Utah He is a huge supporter of Christian Thatcher and his family and can’t say enough good things about Warren: If the 2027 four-star receiver can garner national attention and get on the circuit, he’ll be a strong contender as one of the top receivers in his class and will certainly be considered for a five-star ranking.
Marshall Levenson: Peyton Houston. I was able to get live evaluations of nearly all of the top 100 2027 quarterback prospects, and I have felt time and time again that Houston is the smoothest of the group. He displays great poise in his game, but deadly accuracy in slicing through defenses. Early in his career, he showed the ability to spread the ball anywhere on the field. He can throw well on the move, throw with touch, and isn’t afraid to tuck the ball and not make a play. He has developed into one of my favorite prospects in this class and could be in the running to take the top quarterback spot in this class.
Greg Smith: Torrey Pittman III. Pittman’s offer sheet still isn’t a top player, since he only has three offers. But those offers are NebraskaWisconsin, U.S.C.The Omaha native has all the traits you want in a modern safety and there will be a few more players moving in. Pittman is not only tall and athletic, but he can also play tackle, so he will likely garner even more attention as the cycle progresses.
Sam Spiegelman: Ahmad Hudson. Hudson is a completely different breed of player coming out of North Louisiana powerhouse Ruston (Louisiana) High School. Last fall, as a freshman, Hudson played at the rim for the state championship team, showcasing his ability to stretch the field vertically. The 6-foot-6, 215-pound Hudson garnered attention during the offseason with: LSUCurrently training as a receiver and flex tight end at Friday Night Lights camp. Hudson’s father played basketball at LSU and he is a dynamic player on the basketball court himself. He is equally skilled as a route runner and has incredible catch radius and range, making him a difference-making pass catcher who can operate on multiple levels of the field.
