FCS Football Recruiting Roundup: South Dakota, Montana State Target 2027 Defensive Standouts

FCS programs continue to push for top 2026, 2027 prospects

Apr. 19, 2026 at 11:40pm

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A fragmented, cubist-style painting depicting the action of a defensive football play, with sharp geometric shapes and planes of color representing the players and movement on the field.Emerging defensive standouts from the 2026 and 2027 recruiting classes are in high demand as FCS programs seek to build championship-caliber rosters.Racine Today

FCS programs are actively recruiting top defensive prospects from the 2026 and 2027 classes. South Dakota offered 2027 defensive back Amarie King, while Montana State offered 2027 athlete Jayden Harris. Other notable offers went to 2026 defensive back Maurice 'MJ' Harrell from Houston Christian and 2026 wide receiver Jadhari Young from Eastern Illinois.

Why it matters

FCS programs are aggressively pursuing top defensive talent in the 2026 and 2027 recruiting classes, highlighting the intense competition for elite high school and junior college prospects at the FCS level.

The details

South Dakota offered 2027 defensive back Amarie King after he impressed defensive coordinator Billy Kirch. Montana State offered 2027 athlete Jayden Harris, who they see as a versatile defensive back, after he visited the school. Houston Christian offered 2026 defensive back Maurice 'MJ' Harrell, while Eastern Illinois offered 2026 wide receiver Jadhari Young.

  • On April 17, Amarie King received his first Division I offer from South Dakota.
  • On April 18, Jayden Harris picked up an offer from Montana State after visiting the school.
  • On April 17, Maurice 'MJ' Harrell received his first Division I offer from Houston Christian.
  • On April 15, Jadhari Young received an offer from Eastern Illinois.

The players

Amarie King

A 2027 defensive back from Case High School in Racine, Wisconsin who finished last season with 44 tackles, eight pass breakups, and six interceptions.

Jayden Harris

A 2027 athlete from Manteca High School in Manteca, California who had 63 tackles, 11 pass breakups, nine interceptions, six tackles for loss, two sacks, two forced fumbles, and two pick-sixes last season.

Maurice 'MJ' Harrell

A 2026 defensive back from Hutchinson Community College in Hutchinson, Kansas who had 20 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, one sack, and a fumble recovery last season.

Jadhari Young

A 2026 wide receiver from De Anza College in Cupertino, California who had 559 receiving yards and seven touchdowns last season, earning a First Team All-Conference selection.

AJ Moore

A 2027 running back from the College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, Illinois who had 81 carries for 518 yards and five touchdowns, along with nine receptions for 73 yards and two scores last season.

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What they’re saying

“'Coach Kirch told me bout the offer, and that conversation went well. He told me a lot about the school, and asked me what my family and parents do. He said that my film was amazing and that he wanted to offer me.'”

— Amarie King, 2027 DB

“'First, it was Coach Lee, then I had meetings with Coach Daly and Coach Vigen, who broke the news while we were talking. They want me to come in and play early. They like my versatility as a defensive back, and that's why they offered me.'”

— Jayden Harris, 2027 ATH

“'Coach Coleman called and told me he liked what we saw from the videos I sent him, and that he wanted me to be a part of his program.'”

— Maurice 'MJ' Harrell, 2026 DB

“'Coach Smith called me, and we had a long and great conversation. He told me he believes in me and that he thinks I can be great under his coaching.'”

— Jadhari Young, 2026 WR

“'Coach Lawson called and offered me. He just told me he'd be really excited to have me over and thinks I could be a part of something special with the program they got going over there.'”

— AJ Moore, 2027 RB

What’s next

The recruits will continue taking visits to the schools that have offered them, with Amarie King visiting South Dakota and Drake, Jayden Harris visiting Arizona State and New Mexico, and AJ Moore scheduling an official visit to Lindenwood.

The takeaway

FCS programs are aggressively pursuing top defensive talent in the 2026 and 2027 recruiting classes, highlighting the intense competition for elite high school and junior college prospects at the FCS level as they look to build championship-caliber rosters.