‘Edgy’ Tim: Who are the area’s top Class of 2027 football recruits?

The Class of 2027 in Illinois has a real chance of becoming one of the best overall groups in my 30-plus years of covering football recruiting.

The Daily Herald area, specifically, is well represented nationally and regionally at the top of multiple recruiting service rankings. Here are my Class of 2027 Daily Herald top-five recruits.

1. Libertyville TE Brock Williams (6-foot-5, 215 pounds)

Williams — a four-star recruit who is among the top tight ends in this class nationally, according to Rivals.com — has landed 35 scholarship offers including multiple Power 4 schools across the country. Williams, who is planning to announce his college decision sometime later this fall, has remained in steady contact with schools such as Texas, USC, Alabama and Oregon. Williams also made recent visits to Georgia, Ohio State and Florida, and said those schools have caught his attention.

2. Carmel Catholic QB Trae Taylor (6-foot-3, 190 pounds)

Taylor, a four-star recruit, gave Nebraska his verbal commitment in May and has been helping the Big Ten coaching staff attempt to attract other top-ranked talent to the Cornhuskers. Taylor, who has 27 scholarship offers from programs across the country, is expected to continue drawing recruiting attention despite being verbally committed.

3. Montini Catholic QB Israel Abrams (6-foot-4, 180 pounds)

Abrams is yet another four-star signal caller from the area who is garnering multiple Power 4 offers and attention this summer. Abrams, who led Montini to the Class 3A state title in 2024, camped this summer at Ohio State, Alabama, Minnesota, Iowa State and Tennessee. Abrams is also drawing more attention from Notre Dame and Kansas State. Look for Abrams to make game-day visits this season to Tennessee and Iowa State, and possibly Alabama.

4. Maine South QB Jameson Purcell (6-foot-3, 190 pounds)

Purcell, ranked as a three-star recruit by Rivals.com, holds 24 scholarship offers. Purcell camped earlier this summer at Notre Dame and Ohio State, and had private workouts at Michigan and Florida. He's also drawn steady interest from Clemson and Florida State, and is planning to make game-day visits this fall to Indiana and Tennessee. Purcell has family connections to Indiana (both his parents and other family members are alums) and Tennessee (where his sister attends college). He is considering making his college decision by the end of the summer.

5. Barrington TE Austin Coles (6-foot-4, 200 pounds)

Coles, a three-star recruit, is currently holding a dozen scholarship offers. Coles, who played 7-on-7 this offseason for the South Florida Express, was able to draw offers and attention from multiple southeastern Power 4 schools including Florida, Florida State and Miami. Closer to home, Coles was drawn early in his recruiting process to Iowa.