Counting down the top 15 prospects in the updated 2027 On300 rankings

After their initial expansion from 100 to 300 players earlier this spring, the 2027 On300 rankings have received another update following a key few months of offseason camps, 7v7 events and more.

The update includes lots of names who were already making a case as national recruits, but even more continue to rise up the rankings early in their high school career. There’s still a long way to go in the 2027 cycle, with those recruits not able to sign with colleges until December of 2026. But a handful have started to separate themselves from the pack early on.

As part of the latest rankings expansion, On3 is counting down the top 15 players in the new rankings. The list only includes three five-stars right now, but that will grow over the course of the cycle to 32, matching the first round of the NFL Draft.

Below are the top 15 rising junior prospects in the updated On300:

1) 5-star EDGE LaDamion Guyton

School: Benedictine Military School (Ga.)
Scout’s Take: “Guyton has the most electric film of any prospect in the 2027 cycle. He is truly the most disruptive player on the defensive side of the ball that can win with both power and finesse. His ability to turn speed to power off the line of scrimmage in order to forklift blockers into the backfield and still manage to bring down ball carriers is rare. He has an advanced understanding of leverage as a rusher that allows him to win 1-on-1 with blockers off the edge more often than most.  Plus, he still has the raw power and shock factor in his hands to displace blockers in the run game and set the edge with ease. Guyton will only continue to get stronger and more explosive as he adds mass to his frame while still maintaining his impressive athletic ability. He’s the top dog in a strong EDGE group early on in the 2027 cycle.” — Cody Bellaire, On3 National Scout

2) 5-star OT Mark Matthews

School: Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) St. Thomas Aquinas
Scout’s Take: “Matthews debuted as the #1 offensive tackle and #2 overall prospect in the expanded ranking and remains there. I had a chance to see him in person at the Under Armour Miami camp, and it was readily apparent early on that he just moves at a different level than most of his peers. He is just a twitched up explosive athlete. He has a projectable frame at 6’6, 260 pounds. I think he has the capacity to add a lot more weight and strength, but I just came away highly impressed with how he looked and moved in person. He held up really well on 1-on-1s, and then I think when you go back and watch his sophomore film, he started at left tackle for Saint Thomas Aquinas, one of the top high school programs in the country.” — Charles Power, On3 Director of Scouting and Rankings

3) 5-star EDGE Zyron Forstall

School: Jesuit (New Orleans, LA)
Scout’s Take: “Forstall is a versatile edge defender who can line up with his hand in the dirt, in a two-point stance on the line of scrimmage or as an off-ball Mike backer. His athleticism and violent play style allows for him to be a true Swiss Army knife of a defender. The New Orleans native has the burst and first step quickness to be disruptive as a pass rusher off the edge, but he also possesses the raw power and punch to be a stout run defender as well. Plus, his ability to run sideline to sideline allows him to be a dominant flat defender and space player. Forstall’s skillset allows him to be a versatile chess piece for any defensive coordinator at the next level and beyond.” — Cody Bellaire, On3 National Scout

4) 4-star OT Kennedy Brown

School: Kingwood (Houston, TX)
Scout’s Take: “Brown is a physical, athletic, right tackle prospect for his high school team. We thought he had a really good film as a sophomore, and he looks to have just an ideal kind of build. He has solid weight distribution throughout his frame, looks to have good length and plays with physicality and athleticism that we look for in projecting young offensive tackles.” — Charles Power, On3 Director of Scouting and Rankings

5) 4-star CB Joshua Dobson

School: Catawba Ridge (Fort Mill, SC)
Scout’s Take: “Joshua Dobson is a truly elite athlete at the corner position. He is just a twitchy explosive mover. Had posted some of the best combine numbers we’ve seen during the spring camp circuit at Under Armour Charlotte camp running a 4.39 40, posting an insane 10.5-foot broad jump and 36-inch vertical. Those are fantastic numbers for that setting and he shows that athleticism on the field most importantly. Had three picks as a sophomore despite not getting thrown at, but I guess I should say in spite of not being targeted often. He also has good size at over 6’1 and 180 pounds.” — Charles Power, On3 Director of Scouting and Rankings

6) 4-star DL Jalen Brewster

School: Cedar Hill (Cedar Hill, TX)
Scout’s Take: “Jalen Brewster is a phenomenal athlete along the interior. He’s 6’3″, 300 pounds, and can really, really run at that size. We see him line up all over the field at Cedar Hill. He plays as a stand-up pass rusher. He even takes direct snaps, showing the ability to rip off some long runs. Not every day we see a 300-pounder running an open field, but Brewster is that type of athlete. The movement skills really remind me a little bit of former five-star and first-round pick Walter Nolen at the same stage. Just a highly coordinated athlete, a fluid mover, really quick feet, and a guy who has just a ton of burst to his game. Brewster also has NFL pedigree.” — Charles Power, On3 Director of Scouting and Rankings

7) 4-star CB John Meredith

School: Trinity (Arlington, TX)
Scout’s Take: “Meredith has prototypical size and movement skills for the cornerback position. At 6-foot-2, 175 pounds with quality length, Meredith can run with anyone on the football field. He has borderline elite top-end speed that can attack the football at the catch point with ease. Plus, he’s a willing tackler and has a physical aspect to his game at the line of scrimmage when asked to press or disengage blockers. Meredith is a prospect corner coaches dream of when evaluating the position and has all the physical and athletic traits teams covet at corner.” — Cody Bellaire, On3 National Scout

8) 4-star RB Kemon Spell – Penn State commit

School: MAHS (McKeesport, PA)
Scout’s Take: “Kemon Spell leads what is a very strong running back group early on in the 2027 cycle. He is an elite tackle-breaker at this early stage and has had back-to-back outstanding seasons to start his high school career. He is an explosive, versatile, instinctive runner, who is very difficult to bring down as a young prospect.” — Charles Power, On3 Director of Scouting and Rankings

9) 4-star EDGE Chris Whitehead

School: Lloyd C. Bird (Chesterfield, VA)
Scout’s Take: “Whitehead is a high motor edge defender who uses his speed and burst off of the edge to make a plethora of plays in the backfield. He possesses a tremendous first step combined with excellent bend to turn the corner in order to apply consistent pressure to quarterbacks. His persistence as a backside run defender paired with his top tier athletic ability allows him to make plays on the football across the field and in the backfield for all four quarters. As he fills out his frame he will continue to get stronger and more disruptive at the point of attack but already shows advanced hand usage to disengage blockers. He’s one of the more gifted defensive ends in this 2027 cycle.” — Cody Bellaire, On3 National Scout

10) 4-star WR Jamier Brown – Ohio State commit

School: Wayne (Wayne, OH)
Scout’s Take: “We’ve known Jamier Brown is a top athlete for some time. This is a guy who won nationals in the 60M as a freshman, so he can obviously really run and we’ve seen him blossom into more of a full-fledged receiver over the past year. He had a very good junior season with over 1,000 yards and 15 touchdowns. And he has really added to the technical side of his game. He has improved his ball skills and is really developing as a route runner.” — Charles Power, On3 Director of Scouting and Rankings

11) 4-star IOL Albert Simien

School: Sam Houston (Lake Charles, LA)
Scout’s Take: “Simien has electric sophomore film for an interior offensive line prospect. He has plus length, he has natural movement skills and is just a force as a run blocker. He is an easy mover to the second level, and once he gets his hands on defensive linemen, he really imposes his will. His level of play on Friday nights is that of a high-end upper classman, let alone a sophomore. He just physically dominates defensive linemen at this stage, plays with great flexibility and leverage, and just has the kind of natural movement skills that we look for along the interior.” — Charles Power, On3 Director of Scouting and Rankings

12) 4-star CB Kenton Dopson – Miami commit

School: Norland (Miami, FL)
Scout’s Take: “Dobson has put himself in the top tier of cornerbacks early on in the cycle for several reasons. He has quality size and speed combination — he’s over 6 feet and 180 pounds, runs sub-11 seconds in the 100M and had a really good sophomore season while facing strong competition. You see him make a lot of plays on the ball. He has shown high-level ball skills and the ability to locate and find the football. His cover skills are natural, and his ability to quickly redirect and stay in phase, we saw that on film as a sophomore and also in person this offseason.” — Charles Power, On3 Director of Scouting and Rankings

13) 4-star OT Cooper Hackett

School: Fort Gibson (Fort Gibson, OK)
Scout’s Take: “Cooper Hackett is a high upside developmental offensive tackle who has a big frame that has a ton of room to fill out. He is really kind of a jumbo athlete at the high school level. He plays both ways, and plays a lot of defense. You see the movement skills and athleticism on defense. He makes some eye-popping plays in pursuit, just letting his athletic and physical gifts take over. He is also a high level basketball player, which we love to see. In general, he has a lot of the building blocks and foundation for what could become a top offensive tackle with further physical development.” — Charles Power, On3 Director of Scouting and Rankings

14) 4-star WR Easton Royal

School: Brother Martin (New Orleans, LA)
Scout’s Take: “Easton Royal is certainly one of the fastest skill players in the 2027 cycle. He has run as low as 10.3 in the 100 meters this spring, and he’s one that we’ve liked for a while. You know, debuted inside the top 32 for us two months ago and I think for starters just a really strong sophomore season against strong competition. He’s lethal with the ball in his hands. One of the top return men, if not the top return man in the cycle at this stage. He can just really run. Can take the top off defenses. He’s a threat to score anytime he touches the ball and has shown a lot of wiggle and shake as a route runner as well. He’ll need to continue expanding the catch radius, but there’s a ton to like about Easton Royal. He can really fly and he’s also just a functional athlete. Much more than just a straight line long speed type of player. Also younger for the class.” — Charles Power, On3 Director of Scouting and Rankings

15) 4-star ATH Xavier Sabb

School: Glassboro (N.J.)
Scout’s Take: “Xavier Sabb is a true athlete in that we could see him projecting at multiple positions. He could be a safety corner or receiver. The younger brother of Alabama safety Keon Sabb, he’s a multi-sport standout, who also stars as an above-the-rim, high flyer in basketball. We see him line up at receiver and safety for his high school. He is very productive on the offensive side of the ball and came down with 7 interceptions as a sophomore. He is a dominant player at this stage and also a top athlete. In addition to basketball, he posts strong 100m times, in track and field, as well.” — Charles Power, On3 Director of Scouting and Rankings