Heel Tough Blog: Most Wanted 2027 Targets

With the 2026 class well in the rear view now, the focus for Bill Belichick and his staff is now firmly on the 2027 class. As we do every year, we have watched a ton of film of Tar Heel targets in class and have put together the top 20 prospects that we want to see the team land the most in this class. Here’s a look at our most wanted list in the 2027 class.

1. 5✮ CB Joshua Dobson- Hough (Cornelius, NC)

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Dobson is one of the top targets in the defensive backfield for the Tar Heels in this class and should be one of, if not the team’s top priority overall in this class. He is a corner that thrives in man coverage in large part because of the speed that he possesses which allows him to break hard on the football and recover if he does get beat. In his sophomore film, he also had plenty of success in zone coverage situations because of how well he reads the eyes of the quarterback and he did an outstanding job of playing the football in the air. His fluid hips and strong change of direction helps him get in and out of breaks quickly to stay with receivers and if the ball is caught, he does a good job of getting the ball carrier on the ground thanks to the tackling ability that he brings to the table. The other thing you love to see from him is just how involved he is in the run as an outside corner, a position that doesn’t always provide the most help in that area. The Tar Heels don’t seem to be a serious contender right now in this recruitment, but the hope is that the staff will continue to push on a guy as talented as this.

2. 4✮ EDGE Mekai Brown- Greenwich Country Day (Greenwich, CT)

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Brown was just on campus over the weekend and is one of the Tar Heels top edge rusher targets for a reason. Edge rusher will be a huge need for the Tar Heels next offseason and he brings the most potential to the table with his ability to simply generate pressure on the quarterback. He has a nice release that puts him in an advantageous spot off the snap and he uses a good mix of speed and technicality to work past blockers and put pressure on the quarterback. He is also the type of high motor guy that should fit perfectly with what this staff wants from its players on that side of the ball. As the Tar Heels have shown you early on in his recruitment, he is a priority and deserves to be with what the tape shows. 

3. 4✮ EDGE Andrew Rogers- Grimsley (Greensboro, NC)

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Rogers is another edge rusher that the Tar Heels should be pushing hard to land now that he is back in the 2027 class. He utilizes his long arms well to keep tackles hands off of him and does a great job of combining physicality with speed to get into the opponents backfield consistently. He also does a really good job of setting an edge in the run game, something that would pair nicely with some of the pure pass rushers in this class. Right now, the Tar Heels don’t appear to be as involved with him as they are with some of the other players on this list, but if they can get themselves back into contention, they should.

4. 4✮ OT Kennedee Jackson- Lithonia (McDonough, GA)

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One of the other positions that the Tar Heels will be heavily in the market for in this recruiting cycle will be offensive tackle and Jackson might be the best of the group. He is one of the stronger pass protectors in this class and his footwork and lateral movement are both very promising. He showcases a strong upper body with what he is able to do in run blocking scenarios and he does a good job of climbing to the second level in the run game to get a hat on a linebacker or safety which allows big plays to develop. He is also very athletic for his size and thrives in screen and pull block scenarios. The Tar Heels already have an official visit scheduled with him and he should be one of the top offensive line targets for the team as they head into the summer.

5. 3✮ IOL Shavezz Dixon- Lee County (Leesburg, GA)

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Dixon is another offensive lineman that should be highly prioritized by the Tar Heels over the next couple of months. He is another player who displays some really promising athleticism for his size that allows him to be used as a pull blocker and screen pass blocker when needed. He succeeds in driving guys back off of the line of scrimmage in the run game and a lot of that can be attributed to violence with which he plays most snaps with. That violence also shows up in pass protection, an area that he really shines in, especially for an interior offensive lineman. The Tar Heels already have him set to officially visit Chapel Hill later this summer and he should continue to be one of their main priorities until signing day for this 2027 class.

6. 4✮ DL John Archer- Seventy-First (Fayetteville, NC)

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Archer is another in-state defensive lineman that this staff should be pushing hard for. He is exactly the type of player that the Tar Heels are looking for at the nose guard position with his ability to be a two-gap run stopper. He has a nice release of the line of scrimmage that gives him the early advantage and then turns to the physicality to win at the point of attack. He doesn’t have to use technical moves often to get off of blocks, but he has shown that ability when it is needed and he has proven to be a really solid pass rusher for someone whose focus is on stopping the run. The Tar Heels have established themselves as a contender in this race, but they need to keep their foot on the gas here to make sure they land this in-state prospect.

7. 4✮ LB Jalaythan Mayfield- Lincolnton (Lincolnton, NC)

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Mayfield is another in-state prospect that the Tar Heels aren’t in the best standing with right now, but that they should be pushing hard to re-enter the race for. He is an aggressive downhill linebacker that lives in the opposing backfield, which is something that the Tar Heels need in the middle of their defense. He does a great job of fighting through blocks with physicality and has the speed necessary to track down ball carriers in space, making him a menace for opposing offenses to stop him. He also has a great nose for the football which results in a lot of fumbles, something that would also be more than welcomed by this Tar Heel defense. It’s still early in this recruitment and the Tar Heels should be doing everything they can to make themselves a contender in this race.

8. 4✮ QB Peter Bourque- Tabor Academy (Hingham, MA)

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The one and only quarterback that you will find on this list sits here on the list in the form of Bourque. He has one of the biggest arms in the class, which he should be able to display in the Elite 11 Regionals along with his very strong deep ball accuracy. He does a great job of winning from the pocket and thrives at carving teams up in the short and intermediate passing games, but can get it done in the short passing game, as well. He has really strong and clean footwork in the pocket and his mobility outside the pocket makes him one of the more complete quarterbacks in this class. The Tar Heels are battling some fierce competition here for him, but he should be at the top of their priority list when it comes to quarterbacks in this class.

9. 4✮ S Davion Jones- Hough (Cornelius, NC)

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Jones is one of the top defensive backs in the class and one of the top in-state products, as well, meaning he should be pretty high on the Tar Heels priority list. He is the type of rangy safety that the Tar Heels have been searching for on the back end of their defense for years now thanks to the speed that he possesses. That speed also shows up in the form of some big hits that he lays over the middle of the field or in the run game, something that was a staple of Belichick defenses at the NFL level. He also brings good coverage skills to the table, especially for a safety, and plays the ball incredibly well, resulting in a healthy amount of pass breakups. The Tar Heels aren’t off to a flying start in this recruitment, but there is still an opportunity for them to get involved and they need to take it.

10. 4✮ DL Jeremiah Williams- Tustin (Tustin, CA)

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Williams is another interior defensive lineman that the Tar Heels should have high up on their board in this recruiting cycle. He has one of the best releases off of the line of scrimmage and when you combine it with the speed and quickness that he has, it makes him difficult to stay in front of at times, including in pass rush situations. The athleticism that he brings to the table allows him to chase down plays from behind, especially when you combine it with what looks like a pretty high motor. He also brings a physical edge to the table that is needed and can simply overpower some of the guys that can handle his quickness and burst off the snap. This is not going to be an easy commitment to land, but the Tar Heel staff should be doing everything they can to get it done.

11. 4✮ ATH AJ Randle- Garner (Garner, NC)

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Randle is yet another in-state prospect that the Tar Heels should be focused heavily on in this recruiting cycle. He is one of the more versatile players on the defensive side of the football in this class and could slot in as either a linebacker or box safety that thrives playing closer to the line of scrimmage. He is a very strong tackler, which means he can thrive in either role which will have him heavily involved in the run game. He does a good job of shedding blocks, as well, which allows him to make plays at or near the line of scrimmage in run defense and he has a high motor which means he can run down plays from behind in the open field. The Tar Heels are in the thick of this one early and need to make sure that they are doing everything they can to land his commitment.

12. 4✮ RB Aiden Gibson- Woodruff (Woodruff, SC)

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Gibson is set to be on campus later this month and is someone that the Tar Heel staff should be pushing hard for right now. He is one of the more physical backs that the team has offered in the cycle and has great contact balance that allows him to bounce off of would-be tacklers and stay on his feet. He combines that with some nice straight line speed and the ability to make defenders miss with how quickly he can change direction to make him one of the more difficult backs to get on the ground in this class. He is also a guy who can make plays in the receiving game whether it is out of the backfield or lined up at one of the wide receiver slots. This should be one of the top priorities for the Tar Heels in this class.

13. 3✮ LB Michael Griffin- Hough (Cornelius, NC)

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Griffin is an in-state prospect that the team has yet to offer, but that they need to enter the running for sooner rather than later. His incredible speed for a linebacker is what jumps off the screen immediately when watching his film because of how it allows him to shoot gaps and cover sideline-to-sideline. His change of direction ability allows him to charge plays down that he shouldn’t be able to after he initially drops and while he is an aggressive player, he’s a very smart one, too, that takes calculated angles to the ball. He has promising coverage skills, although they don’t get featured much on his film and he is someone who succeeds in getting pressure in blitz situations because of the speed and the physical edge that he plays with. The Tar Heels need to get involved in this race as soon as possible. 

14. 3✮ CB Romel Koon- Brentwood Academy (Chattanooga, TN)

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Koon is another corner that the staff should be monitoring heavily in this class. He is a corner that thrived in both the man and zone coverage and a lot of that is because of the fluid hips that he brings to the table. He does a great job of flipping those hips and changing directions quickly, making him a guy that is tough to shake as an opposing receiver. He has good ball skills, too, which allow him to play the football consistently in coverage and pile up the pass deflections. The other thing that you like to see from him is that he is a willing run defender, something that is always welcome from an outside corner. The Tar Heels are in solid standing with him right now, but they need to keep the heat on and make him a priority in this class.

15. 3✮ WR Maleek Miller- Dutch Fork (Columbia, SC)

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The receiver position is one that the Tar Heels have a lot of targets at, but Miller is the best of the group and should be prioritized. He is very shifty pre and post catch, which makes it hard for defenders to contain him, especially when you combine it with the nice burst and acceleration that he brings to the table in both aspects, as well. He is an incredibly strong route runner because of the shiftiness and does a great job of consistently creating separation. One of the other things that sticks out about him is how well he catches the football with his hands, meaning he is a reliable receiver that can be trusted to haul in most passes. This recruitment is still in its early stages and the team needs to jump in on it as soon as possible.

16. 4✮ IOL Jackson Roper- Cherry Creek (Englewood, CO)

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Roper is another interior offensive lineman that deserves to be prioritized by this staff in this cycle. He is an absolute mauler in the run game that piles up pancake blocks and you have to love the pad level that he plays with off the line of scrimmage, as well. He does a good job in certain circumstances of climbing to the second level and getting a hat on someone in the second layer of the defense to turn short gains into chunk yardage plays. He also looks good in pass protection thanks to some good footwork and lateral movement and could really shine there if he kicks inside to guard. Roper is a guy who has expressed some early interest in the Tar Heels and should be a priority of the staff this summer.

17. UR TE Carter Blackwell- Lee County (Leesburg, GA)

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It took us a while to get to our first tight end on this list, but it doesn’t mean that Blackwell isn’t someone that the Tar Heels should prioritize in this class. He might be unranked now, but he shouldn’t be for long with his ability to run hard, crisp routes and challenge the seam down the field. His catch radius is one of the best of any tight end in this class and he appears to have reliable hands, which make him a dangerous receiving threat when you combine it with everything else he does well. As a blocker, there is some promise there than to the physicality that he brings in run blocking situations. This is another recruitment that feels like it is in its early stages and the Tar Heels should be looking to take advantage here.

18. 3✮ S Lance Henderson- Southern (Durham, NC)

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Henderson is another safety that the Tar Heels should hold in high regard, especially as an in-state prospect. His versatility allows him to thrive at safety, nickel corner or even linebacker, which makes him even more attractive as a prospect. He is a huge hitter that makes people pay over the middle of the field and he loves to play downhill and be involved in the run game. He has good closing speed, which allows him to make plays on the football and create turnovers at a high level. He also brings some really nice special teams ability to the table that should be able to get him on the field early in his time at the college level. This recruitment still feels to be in the early stages and the Tar Heels should make sure they have themselves involved in this one. 

19. UR LB Jason Crenshaw Jr.- Prattville (Prattville, AL)

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Crenshaw might be listed as a linebacker but he is set to thrive at the college level as an edge rusher. He has a nice release off the line of scrimmage and combines it with his strong overall speed that makes him tough to stay in front of, especially for slower tackles. He has great bend off the edge which allows him to win with leverage consistently, as well, and has him living in the opposition’s backfield. The Tar Heels already have an official visit scheduled with him for this summer and they just need to continue pushing in this battle because this would be a very nice addition to the edge rusher room.

20. 3✮ RB Jeremiah Dent- Marion (Marion, AR)

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Dent is second on a packed list of running back offers that the Tar Heels should be focused on. As a ball carrier, he is very decisive, something that should pair nicely with some of the young backs that the Tar Heels will have in the room this coming season who also run the same way. He combines really good speed and acceleration with an edge that allows him to run through defenders at times on film, making him the most complete back that the team is targeting. That is even more so the case when you consider what he is able to do as a receiver out of the backfield and even split out wide at times. The Tar Heels already have an official visit scheduled and they need to keep the heat on because this should be their top target at the position.