Outside the Huddle recruiting guru DC Hendrix has compiled his list of the top 20 area football prospects in the Class of 2027.
Listed in alphabetical order, this list will be updated throughout the year as new info becomes available, as well as risers and fallers emerge on the local recruiting scene.
Camden Day, Northrop, DT
- Offers: Kent St.
I’ve been told by a few people that Camden Day is/will be the best defensive lineman in the area going into next season. He is a quick riser, gaining an offer from Kent St. after attending some camps this winter. Day is an extremely strong (370 bench press) and hard-working lineman who is just scratching the surface of his potential. He played mostly offensive line last season to help his team, but this year he will be more focused on the defensive line, which should put him in a great position to have a huge year.
Ifeanyi Emedobi, Northrop, EDGE
- Offers: Kansas, Minnesota, Kent St., Western Michigan, Toledo, Cincinnati, Illinois
Ifeanyi Emedobi is a 6-4, 215-pound edge whose potential is through the roof. With his first year of playing football in the rearview, Emedobi is positioned to have a monster season in 2026.
Braylin Fertil, Snider, LB
- Offers: None
At 6’2, 220, Fertil will be amongst the best linebackers the area will have to offer next season. As a two-sport athlete (basketball), he has an aggressive and impressive pursuit of football. He finished with 61 tackles, two interceptions and one sack in his junior season for the Panthers, and as the program continues to get back to its original prominence, Fertil will try to be the leading anchor for the defense next season. After earning 2nd-Team All-SAC honors last year, he will have some extra motivation to show out as a senior.
Gabe Frisinger, Carroll, QB
- Offers: None
Frisinger is coming off a record-breaking passing season for the Carroll Chargers, where he threw for 3,349 yards and 27 touchdowns. He also ran for 500-plus yards and eight touchdowns. At 6’2 “and 200 pounds, it is blasphemous that Frisnger doesn’t have any offers yet. He has the size, and he showcased his abilities against top-level competition in the program’s run to semistate. With more exposure in college camps and showcases, he will get more offers to back up his talent on the gridiron.
Derrion Goodwin, North Side, OL/DL
- Offers: None
Goodwin is another high riser as he has been putting in some great work this past season and off-season. I’ve been watching him at showcases, and he is noticeably faster and stronger. At 6’2, 290, Goodwin has the size for a prototypical lineman at the next level and has all-conference and all-state nominations to add. He has been getting some interest from some MAC schools and Purdue as of late, but no official offers yet. His six TFL last season could be doubled next season if he keeps working.
Drake Hall, DeKalb, S/WR/RB
- Offers: None
In terms of size, Drake Hall arguably has the best size for any safety on this list with his 6’3 205-pound frame. After receiving recognition as all-conference and all-state selections, it wasn’t enough to garner college interest as of yet, but maybe his 92 tackles and six interceptions will bring attention to him soon. Although he is preparing for another baseball season right now, when it comes to the gridiron this fall, he will have some offers on the table. He has gotten noticeably stronger, putting on more muscle. If that translates on the field next season, it could mean more problems for opposing teams in the NE8. It wouldn’t be shocking to see this young man play two sports at the next level. He’s that good.
Jayvon Irby, South Side, WR
- Offers: None
One of the most dynamic offensive players in the area is Jayvon Irby. He is someone who could play either receiver or running back, but is more than likely a wideout at the next level. Last season, the 5’11 skill player ran for 300-plus yards and four rushing TDs and accumulated 700-plus receiving yards with five touchdowns. He has also been hitting the showcases this off-season to get his name out there. This SAC All-Conference player will only get better with the work he has been putting in.
Caleb Kiengele, North Side, RB
- Offers: Kent St., Miami (OH), Toledo, Eastern Michigan
At 5’9 and 185 pounds, Kiengele provides the Legends with a quick, explosive back in the backfield that is also deadly in the receiving game with screens and RPOs. In nine games (missed two games) as a junior, he rushed for 880-plus yards and seven touchdowns, equating to 98 yards per game. He also finished with over 200 receiving yards out of the backfield. His 4.6 40-yard dash recorded time likely needs updating because he looks to be closer to the 4.5 area as he approaches this summer.
Adam Kline, Carroll, OL
- Offers: None
Kline has all of the size a college would be interested in with his 6’4, 265-pound frame. He is someone I could see playing at either tackle or guard, but is likely best at guard for the next level. Gaining his strength from his experience in shotput, he’s also got some athleticism for a lineman. He excels in the run game as a blocker and creates holes for Jackson Rhodes. He’s taken some visits, but with a busy summer hitting camps, he will likely be on more colleges’ radars.
Maalik Moore, North Side, athlete
- Offers: Indiana, Cincinnati, Michigan State, Bowling Green, Toledo, Purdue, Miami (OH), Eastern Michigan, Wisconsin
Maalik Moore is a 6-3, 185-pound athlete who plays both wide receiver and defensive back for the Legends. His combination of size and athleticism makes him dangerous on both sides of the ball. He is more than likely a DB in college.
Eli Neuhouser, Carroll, LB
- Offers: None
After accumulating 142 total tackles last season for a Carroll Chargers team that advanced to semistate, Neuhouser should have offers. Especially, when you add in the fact he’s got great size for a linebacker at 6’3 and 235 pounds. Still hungry for his first offer, he’s got a lot to prove, which should scare opposing offenses.
Alex Phillips, East Noble, S/WR
- Offers: None
One of the best slot receivers in the area is Alex Phillips. At 6’0, 180, he has an impressive combination of size and quickness for a slot at the next level. He is a player who can pretty much do it all and basically does in Kendallville – kick returns, running the ball and lines up at both receiver and safety. With over 600 yards receiving and 98 total tackles as a junior, he will be playing with a chip on his shoulder next season. After being named a 1st Team All-NE8 safety, Phillips still hasn’t gotten any offers. After a recent conversation with Indiana State, he is more confident than ever that the offers will come soon.
Jamison Roach, Adams Central, QB/DB
- Offers: None
Roach projects to be a smaller QB at the next level at 5’10, 170 pounds, which is probably why he hasn’t gotten much attention from college programs. What college scouts and coaches need to realize is that Roach plays defensive back as well, and if that were his only position, he would probably be one of the best in the area. He threw for over 1,000 yards for 15 passing TDs as a junior and ran for 1,200-plus yards for 23 rushing TDs. Combined, those are insane numbers. On defense, he finished with 80 tackles and one interception. Regardless of size, Roach is a proven winner who should be getting more attention. He also runs a 4.5 40-yard dash that projects in college to be strong at either position.
Bret Sauder, Leo, LB
- Offers: Unknown
Sauder is amongst the best in the area when it comes to recognizing runs and blowing up plays at the line of scrimmage. His stats from last season (seven games) don’t reflect what he projects to be at the next level. At 6’1, 200 pounds, he provides a run-stopping MIKE that is great at attacking with his outside shoulder, getting to the backfield. With him back, he will likely have a huge season this upcoming year at Leo.
Alex Scott, East Noble, WR/S
- Offers: None
Alex Scott is a bit of a sleeper when it comes to scouts because so much attention was on Austin Phillips last season. On paper, Scott projects to be a prospect on both sides of the ball. As a receiver, he finished with 943 yards and 10 touchdowns. As a safety, he had five interceptions and 34 total tackles. He also has great size for either position at the next level with his 6’3, 175-pound frame. If he continues to keep showing up and showing out at college camps and showcases, offers will start to roll in.
Detrick Smith III, South Side, LB
- Offers: None
Smith III put together one of the best seasons for a linebacker in the state last season. He finished in the top six in the state in tackles with 152 of them. That gave him an average of 13.8 tackles per game. And he also added four sacks. At 6’0, 200 pounds, he may be a bit undersized for a linebacker in college, which is likely why he could switch to safety this coming season. Either way, he is amongst the best tacklers that Indiana has to offer.
Wes Summersett, South Adams, TE/WR
- Offers: Kentucky State
After a breakout junior season, Summersett has received an offer from Kentucky State, but there will be plenty more to come. He finished with 1,562 yards and 16 touchdowns last season, and if he continues to put in the work like he’s been doing, the 6’2, 180-pound receiver/tight end will have a huge senior season and reap the rewards.
Omarion Waites, North Side, DT
- Offers: Eastern Michigan, Bowling Green, Kent St.
Waites has quickly become one of the most prominent defensive linemen in the state, not just in the area. At 6’2, 255 pounds, he has an intimidating presence about him in the middle, and it helped him notch 98 total tackles, 16 TFL and four sacks in 2025. His quick first step and athleticism for his size help him get into the backfield in a hurry. It will be much of the same next season.
Jaston White, Wayne, S/WR
- Offers: None
Another 1st-team All-SAC selection returning to the gridiron next season. It’s always tough to gauge how great players on struggling programs are, but one thing is for sure, White will be one of the most feared safeties in the area next year. Many of his 83 tackles in 2025 were hard hits, especially for his size at 5’10, 160 pounds. His size may play a small factor in his lack of offers, but with a little more time as a cornerback and/or putting on some more muscle this winter and spring, by this summer, he could be even more dangerous. He does expect some offers to begin rolling in here soon, as he has been putting in the work.
Leslie Woodson, North Side, EDGE
- Offers: Bowling Green
Another high riser here, as Jaylon Smith’s little brother has caught the eyes of Bowling Green and more programs to come. Quietly, Woodson had an incredible season that not enough people are talking about: 60 tackles, 18 TFL, eight sacks, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. As he continues to get even better, bigger, faster, and stronger, this 6’4, 215-pound edge will be out to prove that he is one of the top pass rushers in the state.
HONORABLE MENTION
KJ Alexander, South Side, CB/WR
Axton Beste, Bluffton, QB
Sutton Yorko, North Side, TE
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