Two 2027 WPIAL Prospects Reach Consensus Four-Star Status

Stars and rankings of high school football sophomores have been slowly rolled out over the past few months and with ESPN releasing its 2027 Junior 300 on Tuesday, it has revealed a pair of consensus four-star recruits in the WPIAL.

For some time now, it has been known that McKeesport running back Kemon Spell is one of the top prospects in the nation. Now, he can be defined as a blue-chip recruit with ESPN also tabbing him as the No. 1 running back in the class.

The ESPN Jr. 300 for the class of 2027 is here. Take a look at the top 25 prospects in the nation in the initial ranking. @TomLuginbill @CraigHaubert @DemetricDWarren

Full story: https://t.co/3WaBkgZ4tS pic.twitter.com/Eu2ySvI69E

— Billy Tucker (@TheUCReport) May 27, 2025

Seton LaSalle wide receiver Khalil Taylor joins Spell, both Penn State commits, to earn consensus four-star status from the four major recruiting services: ESPN, On3, Rivals and 247Sports.

Not far behind the two elite skill players is Central Catholic’s Jimmy Kalis. He received a four-star rating from ESPN and also holds the same recognition from 247Sports and Rivals.

There will be plenty of updates to the ratings in the 2027 cycle and Kalis is well on his way to becoming a blue-chip prospect himself.

Seven WPIAL players appeared on the 2027 ESPN Junior 300 and here’s how they stack up.

Kemon Spell — No. 10 Natl. | No. 1 RB | No. 1 PA

Penn State commit

Khalil Taylor — No. 64 Natl. | No. 12 WR | No. 4 PA

Penn State commit

Jimmy Kalis — No. 215 Natl. | No. 24 OT | No. 6 PA

Offers: Georgia, Alabama, Oregon, Michigan, Miami, Washington, Oklahoma, Texas, Texas A&M, Florida, Tennessee, Auburn, South Carolina, Pitt, Penn State, Michigan State, West Virginia, Rutgers, Ole Miss, N.C. State, North Carolina, Virginia Tech, Missouri, Wisconsin, Kentucky, UCLA, Nebraska, Florida State, Vanderbilt, Syracuse, California, Indiana, Minnesota, Maryland, Duke, Arizona State, Mississippi State, USF, Central Michigan, Akron, Miami (OH), Toledo, Sacramento State

Gabriel Jenkins — No. 239 Natl. | No. 26 CB | No. 7 PA

Offers: Penn State, Michigan State, Pitt, Kentucky, Maryland, West Virginia, Indiana, SMU, Syracuse, Nebraska, UCF, UNLV, Temple, Akron, Toledo, James Madison, Marshall, Miami (OH), UNLV, Sacramento State

Carter Bonner — No. 248 Natl. | No. 14 ATH | No. 8 PA

Offers: Penn State, Michigan State, West Virginia, Pitt, Kentucky, Rutgers, Maryland, Temple, UConn, Toledo, Troy, Akron, Miami (OH), UNLV, Sacramento State

Armand Hill — No. 294 Natl. | No. 24 RB | No. 10 PA

West Virginia commit

Javien Robinson — No. 295 Natl. | No. 37 WR | No. 11 PA

Offers: Pitt, Rutgers, Syracuse, Temple, UConn, Akron, Sacramento State, Duquesne

Check out all the Western Pennsylvania high school football offers and commitments via the Pittsburgh Sports Now WPIAL Football Recruiting Board here.