Rankings Analysis: Texas’ best defenders and GKs from 2027

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The PrepSoccer state rankings for the Class of 2027 for Texas was released this week. This is the second state rankings for 2027 after California was released earlier this month. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Learn more about <a href="https://prepsoccer.com/2023/09/behind-the-scenes-the-prepsoccer-2027-state-rankings/">the PrepSoccer Ranking Process here</a>. Check out <a href="https://prepsoccer.com/2023/09/updated-2027-texas-girl-rankings/">the full Texas rankings below</a>. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The defenders and goalkeepers were combined into one article for this state. There are plenty of standouts in both roles. Below is a scouting report on some of the players who appear in the PrepSoccer Texas 2027 player rankings. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["112588"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Tuzzolino is a defender for FC Dallas 09 ECNL. She was part of the U.S. U14 Girls National Team Central Region ID Center in March. She can play as either an outside back or as a center back. She is an excellent defender. Really good at using her body to control where the attacker can go. She is smart about her approach and anticipates the game well. She is good on the ball and above average in the elite game for a passer. Her player profile projects an outside back but the door shouldn't be closed on her potential as a center back in a back three. Every game I watched of FC Dallas last season, I came away more impressed by Tuzzolino. She possesses big-time potential. I don't believe she has played in the opening games this season for FC Dallas 09 ECNL.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["148411"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Davis plays as the left center back for Sting Dallas Black. She is an excellent 1v1 defender. She uses her soccer smarts well to anticipate when to step to intercept the ball and when to drop off to wait for support. On the ball, she is a willing dribbler and plays with confidence. She looks like she some characteristics to suggest she could be an excellent left back as well.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["112636"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Morrow is a left back for the FC Dallas 09 ECNL team. She is a strong 1v1 defender. Good at being physical in the tackle. Smart about using her body to shield the ball. Morrow is good going forward. She has a strong left foot and can hit an excellent service.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["112663"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Krivanek is a left back for Sting Dallas Royal. She has a well-rounded game. She is solid going forward and eats up ground quickly with her fluid stride. She is a good defender when on the ball. She has the potential to develop into a top outside back.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["112582"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Morrow plays as the right center back for FC Dallas 09 ECNL. She is an excellent center defender. She organizes the defense around her. She does well in covering for her outside backs when they get forward. Morrow is a target on set pieces. She wins aerial duels and has the skill to finish off chances on the rebound when she is around the box. She matches up well against the best attacking talent from the conference. Morrow is a top prospect for her position.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["112573"],"_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"Shimmick is a utility player who could fit in a number of roles for Solar SC 09 ECNL. I've seen her play left back for Solar and I thought she was excellent in that role. She did not give up an inch to the winger and had a couple of steals on nice defensive plays. She also did well in the attack. She had one cross with her right foot and then came back down and hit a cross with her left foot. I didn't notice Shimmick in Solar's most recent ECNL games, but she was really outstanding during the preseason.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_player":["148467"],"_player_evaluations_6_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"Reddick is a defender on the AHFC 09 team. She is listed as a center back/full back on her player profile. I've only seen her play outside back, but the qualities to be a good center back are clearly there too. Reddick stood out from the play for her defensive qualities. Good at reading the game and anticipating the next move from the opponent, she is a shutdown defender. She really caught my eye with her set pieces. She regularly provides assists with her excellent delivery. She is a difference-maker for her ECNL team on both sides of the ball.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_7_player":["148431"],"_player_evaluations_7_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_7_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_7_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"Sexton is a center back for Sting Dallas 09 ECNL. She also wears the captain's armband for her team. She previously played as a forward but switched to defender this season. She is thriving in this spot. There are still some tactical nuances that she needs to pick up on, but that should come with time. She brings this competitive drive to every battle. She is really smart about tackling and when to take the ball off an attacker. She also offers the possibility of her to make a 40-yard run with the ball at her feet. She's still got that skill. Sexton has the tools to be a top center back in this class.","_player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_8_player":["148466"],"_player_evaluations_8_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_8_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_8_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_8_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_8_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"Brendel is a center back for AHFC. She plays as the left center back for her ECNL team. She is a standout for her club side. I don't see previous USYNT Talent ID selections in her player history but she is at that level. She is one of the best defenders in this class in using her body. She isn't afraid of contact and initiates it in most situations. She uses her body really well when shielding the ball out of play. She's confident on the ball and has no hesitant when playing out against pressure. Brendel is a key piece of the AHFC defense that has been strong at the start of the season.","_player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_9_player":["112590"],"_player_evaluations_9_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_9_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_9_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_9_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_9_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_9_evaluation":"Albin is a defender for the Dallas Texans 09 ECNL. She is a center back who often lines up on left. She might be the best defender in this class. It'd be advisable not to try to go down her side as she is not the type of player you want to go up against. Tough as nails and unforgiving, Albin immediately stood out as a difference-maker in this class. She has the mentality to be a top prospect in the future at a national level for this class.","_player_evaluations_9_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_10_player":["112556"],"_player_evaluations_10_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_10_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_10_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_10_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_10_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_10_evaluation":"Colquitt plays left back for the Solar SC 09 ECNL team. She is a good defender. She is in the right spots and puts her body into tackles. She could be a bit more physical on the field in her tackles as it would help her elevate her game to a real lockdown type of outside back profile. She is a weapon in the attack. She doesn't constantly fly forward, but she is smart about when she gets into the attack. She delivers a great cross with her left foot and has already contributed a few assists this season.","_player_evaluations_10_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_11_player":["148753"],"_player_evaluations_11_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_11_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_11_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_11_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_11_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_11_evaluation":"u003cp class=u0022p2u0022u003eLawless is a center back for AHFC. She plays as the right center back in a back four for her ECNL team. She has good technique when striking the ball - she can hit accurate passes over distance even under pressure. She is a solid defender and a weapon in aerial duels.u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_11_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":12,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6511c58ad183b"} /--> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Texas 2027 Best GOALKEEPERS</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["112681"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Flores has been outstanding this season as the goalkeeper for Classics Elite 09 ECNL. She had maybe her best game of the campaign against Solar last weekend. She made a number of acrobatic saves in the game. She also had a couple of saves after the whistle too that won't go into the stat sheet but were equally as impressive in the highlights. She did well in the crosses and had a couple of key punches/tips at the right time. Flores is one to watch from the goalkeeper position in this class.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["112571"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Martin is a new addition to Solar SC. She previously played for DKSC in the ECNL. She's fit in really well with her new club. She brings a top pedigree as a player identified by US Soccer scouts as one of the best in her position the state/region. Martin is probably not going to face that many shots this season, but she is going to see plenty of the ball at her feet. She has emerged as a great weapon in passing and breaking pressure with her vision and accuracy of passing. Martin has the tools to develop into a top goalkeeper at the national level.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["148727"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Lukes is a top goalkeeper in this class. She plays for the Lonestar SC 09 GA Red squad. She is capable of making pretty much any save. With impressive technique for her age group, Lukes looks like one of the goalkeepers that scouts should keep on the radar from the 2027 class.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":3,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6511c58ad199d"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->