Top high school football recruits in Texas for the Class of 2027 — and more

To no one’s surprise, Texas again leads the way when it comes to elite high school football prospects in the Class of 2027.

The Lone Star State was all over the latest Rivals300 rankings update, with 38 players from inside the borders earning spots on the list. That was more than any other state in the country, including Florida, California and Georgia. Maybe even more impressive, 13 of the nation’s top 100 players hail from the state — or roughly 1 in every 8.

Last year, 42 players from Texas were represented in the final rankings, but there’s plenty of time for more prospects to emerge — potentially setting up an even more loaded class this cycle. Below are the top 2027 recruits, via the Rivals scouting and rankings team:

1. DL Jalen Brewster – Texas Tech commit

Rivals300 Ranking: No. 1
School: Cedar Hill

The top overall player in the class, Brewster has been committed to the Red Raiders since early October. However, that pledge may be on thin ice after the departure of defensive line coach Zarnell Fitch earlier this month. Asked by RedRaiderSports at the time if he was still solid in his commitment, Brewster said, “No.”

LSU, Miami, Ohio State, Indiana and SMU are among the teams working to flip him.

2. CB John Meredith

Rivals300 Ranking: No. 2
School: North Crowley
Scouting Summary: Long and dynamic corner prospect with elite length and top-end speed. Can cover any body type at receiver that lines up against him. 6-foot-2, 180-plus pounds with 33-inch arms. Ran sub-22 in the 200m and jumped over 43 feet in the triple jump during his sophomore track and field season. Has the speed and hip fluidity to cover more sudden receivers and the physicality and length to handle bigger-bodied options. Excellent ball skills and ability to attack the football in the air. Needs to continue developing footwork and instincts in man coverage but has all the physical and athletic tools coaches covet at the position.

3. OT Kennedy Brown

Rivals300 Ranking: No. 15
School: Kingwood
Scouting Summary: Explosive and long-armed offensive tackle prospect with rare reach, heavy hands, and the athletic ability to dominate both phases up front. Measured around 6-foot-3, 280 pounds prior to his junior season with a wingspan over 7 feet and 11-inch hands. Tested as a good athlete in the combine setting. Worked at right tackle as a sophomore before moving to left tackle as a junior. Shows excellent striking power, using his length and punch to stun defensive linemen at the point of attack. Moves easily to the second level and looks to finish blocks with effort and physicality. Shorter than the typical top tackle prospect but makes up for it with elite reach and functional strength. Had some lapses in pass protection on junior film after transitioning to the left side, but the athletic traits and power profile remain evident. Projects as one of the top offensive line prospects in the 2027 cycle.

4. WR Benny Easter Jr. – Texas Tech commit

Rivals300 Ranking: No. 22
School: Summer Creek
Scout’s Take: “Benny Easter brings a strong combination of size, movement skills and production from his junior season. He is a big, filled-out receiver at around 6-foot-2 and 190 pounds. He moves really well for his size and is a high-volume target for his high school. Brown shows the ability to win at the catch point. I think when you look at him in this receiver group, Easter is one of the stronger receivers in contested-catch situations with his play-strength and strong hands. He’s dynamic after the catch, too. This is someone who had really strong raw production as a junior. When you look at the full breadth of what he brings, we feel good about him being one of the top receiver prospects to this point in the cycle.” — Charles Power, Rivals Director of Scouting and Rankings

5. IOL Ismael Camara

Rivals300 Ranking: No. 34
School: Gilmer
The Skinny: One of the nation’s top interior linemen, Camara is getting a big start on the final stages of his recruiting process. He already visited LSU, Texas, Texas A&M and SMU last month. The Mustangs, Aggies, Tigers and Longhorns have also locked in official visits for this summer with Camara, who is considered one of the top athletes regardless of position in this class.

6. SAF JayQuan Snell – Texas A&M commit

Rivals300 Ranking: No. 35
School: Waxahachie
The Skinny: The Aggies have loaded up at the safety spot early in this cycle, landing both Snell (No. 5 safety) and Kamarui Dorsey (No. 4 safety) within the span of a few months. The former has totaled 175 tackles across three seasons at the varsity level, also forcing five fumbles and breaking up 12 passes. A&M also has a pledge from Baltimore St. Frances Academy four-star cornerback Raylaun Henry, giving them the country’s premier defensive back class so far.

7. LB Cooper Witten

Rivals300 Ranking: No. 37
School: Liberty Christian
Scouting Summary: Versatile linebacker that possesses range, sideline to sideline top-end speed and tremendous instincts. 6-foot-1, 210 pounds that has verified athletic ability. Ran sub-11 in the 100m during his sophomore track and field season. Primarily played safety as a sophomore but has since walked down into a more traditional linebacker role. Doubles as a wide receiver as well for his high school showing off his athletic ability and ball skills. Needs to continue developing his ability to strike and physicality in the box, but has top-tier athleticism to make plays in space and cover. Older prospect for the recruiting cycle.

8. RB Landen Williams-Callis

Rivals300 Ranking: No. 41
School: Randle
The Skinny: Williams-Callis was a one-man wrecking crew as a junior, finishing the Texas high school football season with 3,502 yards on 324 carries while finding the end zone a whopping 59 times. He earned Rivals All-American honors after the season and is considering schools from coast to coast at the next level.  Texas, Georgia, Ohio State, Texas A&M, Michigan and Oregon are among the programs high on the list for him right now.

9. CB Brandon Sherrard

Rivals300 Ranking: No. 58
School: Shadow Creek
The Skinny: Sherrard has been a major rankings riser since this fall, moving into Rivals’ list of the top 10 cornerbacks in the entire class. As a junior, he totaled 22 tackles, seven pass breakups and two interceptions while locking down opposing receivers. LSU was an early frontrunner to land him, but according to Rivals’ Sam Spiegelman, Arizona State is surging to the top of his recruitment.

10. QB Kavian Bryant – Texas Tech commit

Rivals300 Ranking: No. 67
School: Westwood
The Skinny: The East Texas star looks to be heading west for college, but still not outside the state’s borders. Bryant committed to the Red Raiders on November 1, bookending a huge month for Joey McGuire and Co. In Bryant’s freshman campaign at Westwood, the signal caller threw for 2,282 yards and 33 touchdowns in 12 games played. Fast forward two years later, and he broke the school’s single-season record with more than 3,000 yards through the air.

Other top prospects in Texas for the Class of 2027

11. WR Julian Caldwell
12. RB Keldrid Ben – Oklahoma commit
13. DL Xavier Muhammad
14. WR Trey Haralson
15. LB Jhadyn Nelson

16. SAF Eli Johnson – Ohio State commit
17. CB Joshua Vilmael
18. WR Alvin Mosley
19. RB SaRod Baker
20. RB Lathan Whisenton

21. RB Cadarius McMiller – Oregon commit
22. DL George Toia
23. EDGE Cameron Hall – Texas commit
24. DL Ezekiel Ayangbile
25. WR Tre Moore

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With the Europa League behind them, Celtic now face a season-defining fortnight.

By 14 March they could be motoring in the league with the wind at their backs and into the Scottish Cup semi-finals.

Or they could be further toiling to defend their title and staring at a trophyless campaign.

The first stop is Ibrox on Sunday for a titanic league match, with Celtic trailing Rangers by two points having played one game fewer, with Hearts six clear of the champions.

Then it is a midweek trip to Aberdeen, before returning to Ibrox in the Scottish Cup quarter-final and then hosting in-form and formidable Motherwell.

Six of their next seven matches are away from Celtic Park. This much-maligned Celtic squad is about to be stress-tested after a tumultuous first two-thirds of the season.

"There will be a lot of twists and turns," former Celtic defender Johann Mjallby said on TNT Sports after the 1-0 victory over Stuttgart.

"I wouldn't be surprised if the league goes to the final day. But they will have to do it over the next five or six games. You have to be relentless, otherwise they won't take the trophies."

O'Neill now has selection 'headache'

Despite the 1-0 win over Stuttgart proving moot in Celtic's quest to reach the last 16 of the Europa League after a 4-1 home loss, it could yet prove significant.

Martin O'Neill changed eight of his starting line-up and some of the fringe players put in eye-catching displays to secure the club's first ever win in Germany against the side fourth in the Bundesliga.

Luke McCowan stroked home the winner after just 28 seconds and played positively, while in the back four Dane Murray, and Marcelo Sarrachi stood out in a gutsy display.

Murray in particular made his case to start alongside Liam Scales with Auston Trusty suspended for the next three league games.

One magnificent block stood out and he was assured at defending corners.

But the most talked-about performance was saved for back-up goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo as he played his part in a first Celtic clean sheet in six matches.

Kasper Schmeichel, 39, has been under intense scrutiny after a series of errors, culminating in last week's slack performance in the home defeat by Stuttgart.

The 26-year-old from Finland stepped in and made six saves, in a display former Celtic midfielder Stiliyan Petrov described as "perfect".

Pat Bonner, the former Celtic goalkeeper, believes Sinisalo did enough to start against Rangers on Sunday.

"He had some very good saves and looked composed when he had the ball and read the game well," he said on BBC Scotland's Sportsound.

"It's a big decision for Martin O'Neill to make at the weekend. On that performance, I would be starting him. Give him a run in the team now."

The Celtic manager agreed several players have given him "food for thought".

"[Sinisalo] played brilliantly in the game, really well. That's the name all round the dressing room," the 73-year-old said. "He's got plenty of talent.

"Tonight, we made some changes. Some enforced, players stepped up to the plate but we didn't throw in 16-year-olds... these boys have played in the team and have shown they're capable of winning games.

"It wouldn't be a headache... A selection choice."

'Critical' Rangers challenge awaits

The other benefit of Celtic's win was that they showed they can grind out a victory.

Over the years, Celtic have pitched up and naturally looked to dominate the ball from start to finish against every domestic opponent.

But this more fragile side had looked increasingly vulnerable in 2026, regularly conceding more than one goal per game.

Having not won at Ibrox in four attempts since September 2023 and given Rangers have won their past 10 home matches, a show of resilience in Stuttgart was timely.

Might Celtic take a slightly more pragmatic approach? Right now, it is all about winning.

"You don't have to have all the possession to win the game," Bonner said on Sportsound.

"You've got to work hard, defend well, get a bit of luck and have a good goalkeeper.

"Celtic have not played well this season, but they are hanging in there [in the league]. They still have a chance, with a game in hand.

"The players will pick up great confidence from tonight - the weekend will be a critical one."

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