Next: 2027 WR Ryan Franze

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Ryan Franze, a wide receiver from Johnsburg High School in Illinois, is a top underclassman prospect to keep an eye on in the Class of 2027. Franze, who stands at 5-foot-10 and 185 pounds, is known for his ideal size and strength, precise route running, high football IQ, and ability to make plays with strong hands, physicality, and toughness working across the middle. He has already earned All-State honors the past two seasons and helped his team make the playoffs back-to-back years.

Why it matters

Franze is an emerging talent in Illinois high school football, and his early success and potential make him a player that college coaches will be closely monitoring over the next few years as he continues to develop. His combination of size, skill, and production at a young age suggests he could be one of the top wide receiver prospects in the 2027 recruiting class.

The details

Franze has been training with a personal coach, Coach Gliwa, and also participates in the 7v7 Illinois program based in Barrington. In addition to football, he also competes in track. Franze's favorite player is Julio Jones, citing the Atlanta Falcons star's great route running and physicality as reasons for his admiration. When it comes to his college recruitment, Franze is looking for a program that competes at a high level both on the field and in the classroom, values player development and accountability, and has a culture where he can grow as a wide receiver and contribute early.

• Franze has earned All-State honors the past two seasons.
• Franze's Johnsburg High School team has made the playoffs in back-to-back years.

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