Class of 2027 Fall Check-In: Five Intriguing Senior Flips

With signing week days away, today, I want to highlight five of those flips by 2027s that I found especially intriguing. Earlier this week, the news broke that newly minted SMU head coach Jim Mitchell had flipped two highly regarded 2027 prospects in midfielder Justin Bishop and goalie Rhett King, and our analysts will have more on the Mustangs' recruiting exploits in the coming days.   For now, let's take a look at five more from earlier this fall, recapping commits who flipped to Duke, Maryland, Notre Dame, Princeton, and Penn.    One of the most highly sought-after long poles in the Class of 2027 flipped from Notre Dame to Duke just over a month ago. Anderson owns imposing size, noteworthy speed, and a lively stick. Combine those assets with Anderson's athleticism as well as his extraordinarily aggressive style, and Duke is getting a prospect who can provide suffocating on-ball defense. Anderson's deep bag of stick checks and physicality allow him to cause turnovers in a multitude of ways. His active stick and positioning skills make Anderson a ground ball machine. Once Anderson has secured possession, he will get his head up and fire a clearing pass to an open teammate or leg the ball out himself. Off-ball, Anderson has demonstrated that he is a high IQ prospect with a full understanding of team defensive concepts.     Bruce is a pit-bull defensive midfielder who flipped from Mercer to Maryland back in October. His speed, powerful build, and smooth lateral footwork make Bruce a menacing on-ball presence. Bruce does a fantastic job of getting into a ball carrier early in their dodge and then stopping him cold or causing a turnover. He is also a master at delivering timely crowbars that put the ball on the turf. Or Bruce can play a patient style of SSDM where he stays glued to a ball carrier for a long stretch, patiently waiting for his opportunity to cause a turnover with a stick check or by taking the body. Bruce's scoop-and-go skills make him a plus player in the transition game. He is especially adept at crashing into a scrum, coming out with possession, and then racing downfield. Bruce's remarkable defensive instincts enable him to flawlessly execute slides, hedges, double teams, and recoveries.     Calloway is an athletic and fleet-footed pole with incredible two-way skills who recently changed his verbal commitment from Penn State to Notre Dame following the Anderson news. That flip means the Irish have added a prospect to their 2027 recruiting class who scored 36 goals, handed out 17 assists, caused 60 turnovers, and vacuumed up 115 ground balls during his junior season. Calloway is the No. 64 ranked prospect in our Class of 2027 rankings. Obviously, Calloway thrives in transition, where his speed, elusive stick maneuvers, and two-handed skills enable him to go coast to coast for a goal or an assist. But Calloway also frequently stays on the field for 6v6 action. On those possessions, Calloway can get downhill to create scoring chances or crank missiles into the net from up top. Defensively, Calloway wreaks havoc on the opposing team's offense by pressing incredibly far out on ball carriers. Calloway's lively stick can cause turnovers via slaps, pokes, lifts, can openers, and trail checks. The Notre Dame coaching staff will also love Calloway's knack for knifing through passing lanes for interceptions.     Late in October, this highly decorated 2027 defensive prospect flipped his commitment from Ohio State to Princeton. At Princeton, Hayes will play lacrosse and football. On the lacrosse field, Princeton has added a dominant, two-way LSM who was named Division 2 Player of the Year in Ohio after the 2026 season. One of the first things that pops about this LSM's skill set is the tremendous impact Hayes has on a game from the face-off wing. Hayes' ability to charge in, snare a ground ball in traffic, and then streak into the offensive end to create a scoring opportunity is incredible. Once Hayes gets below the restraining line, his refined stick skills make him a legitimate threat to fire the ball into the net or distribute to an open teammate. On the rare occasion where the opposing team wins possession on the draw, Hayes will unleash a barrage of powerful stick checks until he causes a turnover. Hayes also excels at sprinting out of the box to the ball carrier and then stopping the opposing team's transition chance. In settled action, Hayes is a rangy LSM with smooth lateral footwork and a hyper-active stick. That trifecta enables Hayes to function as a shutdown defender in 1v1 scenarios out on the perimeter. His high IQ and excellent communication skills enable Hayes to easily navigate his way through or over screen action.     During his standout junior campaign, Oakey used his quick burst and filthy stick skills to post 36 goals along with 34 assists. Oakey originally committed to Ohio State in late September of 2025. But earlier this fall, Oakey flipped his commitment to the University of Pennsylvania. That change of heart means that Coach Wray and his UPenn staff have pulled in a highly skilled offensive prospect who is impossible to defend 1v1. Oakey's explosive first step and serious shake allow him to cook the initial defender and then dash into open space for a rip on the move. His ability to dodge going to his left or right and then shoot with either hand is especially impressive. That combination also allows Oakey to dodge from anywhere on the offensive end. However, he is especially dangerous at X. Additionally, Oakey is a lethal perimeter shooter too. His quick release and ability to change levels and velocity leave opposing goalies helpless. Oakey's field vision, unselfish nature, and feathery touch produce a slew of creative assists too.

With signing week days away, today, I want to highlight five of those flips by 2027s that I found especially intriguing.

Earlier this week, the news broke that newly minted SMU head coach Jim Mitchell had flipped two highly regarded 2027 prospects in midfielder Justin Bishop and goalie Rhett King, and our analysts will have more on the Mustangs' recruiting exploits in the coming days.

For now, let's take a look at five more from earlier this fall, recapping commits who flipped to Duke, Maryland, Notre Dame, Princeton, and Penn.

Leif Anderson

HEIGHT 6'2"

WEIGHT 200

POS D/LSM

CLASS 2027

View Player

Leif Anderson

State: Connecticut

School: Brunswick School

Club: Eclipse

One of the most highly sought-after long poles in the Class of 2027 flipped from Notre Dame to Duke just over a month ago. Anderson owns imposing size, noteworthy speed, and a lively stick. Combine those assets with Anderson's athleticism as well as his extraordinarily aggressive style, and Duke is getting a prospect who can provide suffocating on-ball defense. Anderson's deep bag of stick checks and physicality allow him to cause turnovers in a multitude of ways. His active stick and positioning skills make Anderson a ground ball machine. Once Anderson has secured possession, he will get his head up and fire a clearing pass to an open teammate or leg the ball out himself. Off-ball, Anderson has demonstrated that he is a high IQ prospect with a full understanding of team defensive concepts.

Highlights

Samuel Bruce

HEIGHT 6'2"

WEIGHT 165

POS SSDM/M

CLASS 2027

View Player

Samuel Bruce

State: Virginia

School: West Potomac

Club: DC Express

Bruce is a pit-bull defensive midfielder who flipped from Mercer to Maryland back in October. His speed, powerful build, and smooth lateral footwork make Bruce a menacing on-ball presence. Bruce does a fantastic job of getting into a ball carrier early in their dodge and then stopping him cold or causing a turnover. He is also a master at delivering timely crowbars that put the ball on the turf. Or Bruce can play a patient style of SSDM where he stays glued to a ball carrier for a long stretch, patiently waiting for his opportunity to cause a turnover with a stick check or by taking the body. Bruce's scoop-and-go skills make him a plus player in the transition game. He is especially adept at crashing into a scrum, coming out with possession, and then racing downfield. Bruce's remarkable defensive instincts enable him to flawlessly execute slides, hedges, double teams, and recoveries.