Future Friday: Class of 2028 Prospects To Know 9/16

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Interested in reading this and more? Use the code&nbsp;<strong>AlPops30</strong>&nbsp;for 30% off a&nbsp;<a href="https://prepredzone.com/subscribe/?brand=next">Prep Redzone Next Subscription</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Athletes in the class of 2028 are just beginning their seventh-grade this school year. However, there are at least 20 prospects in this class that already have verbal scholarship offers. Furthermore, there are hundreds of athletes in this class that nobody has even heard of yet, that WILL be scholarship players down the line. Here's a look at some to take note of, very early.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_6324c5facfa43","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["447762"],"_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":"If you want to talk about simply naturally athletic kids in the class of 2028 from Indiana, Prather has to be the place to start. Watching some of his recent game filmu002du002dwhich, by the way, he has played both seventh and eighth grade ball this seasonu002du002dhe's out there just having fun. A two-sport athlete (also plays basketball) he's a promising dual-threat Quarterback that plays for Guion Creek Middle School and the Indianapolis Gridiron Select. Doesn't have the prettiest mechanics in the world, as he throws with a bit of sidearm action. However, at the end of the day he's winning right now and throwing motions are correctable. He has a while to go yet, but there's certainly something to Prather's game.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_6324c865cfa44","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["438734"],"_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":"Simply put, watching the film of his first two games, LaCombe is a man among boys at Whitehouse Junior High in Eastern Texas. Physically it's just not a competition, as LaCombe is a 6-foot, 155-pound athlete that was doing 51.5u0022 box jumps this summer, while most of his competition was playing X-Box. His stat line from the first two games says it all. His team is 2-0 and has been victorious by a combined 56-8. In the first game, LaCombe accounted for three touchdowns, 10 tackles and interception. He followed that up in the second game with four touchdowns, four different ways: rush, passing, interception return and a fumble return. Carson is the younger brother of Class of 2026 Prep Redzone Next National Watchlist Quarterback, [player_tooltip player_id='284185' first='Tyler' last='LaCombe']. If I had to make a guess right now, I'd say Outside Linebacker looks like a potential position in the future, but we have a while to figure that out.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_6324cb99cfa45","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["432284"],"_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":"I've long been a huge fan of fellow 2028 Quarterback prospect [player_tooltip player_id='404832' first='CJ' last='Cypher'] out of Georgia and think he's one of the leaders in the clubhouse in terms of ability in this class. That said, McKee is absolutely right there tied with Cypher from what I've seen him do on the football field this year.  McKee is a 5-foot-11, 140-pound righty who will eventually end up at Pickerington North High School. He's the catalyst for a seventh-grade team that hasn't allowed a point through four games. In their most recent game, a 63-0 victory, McKee went 9-of-17 for 246 yards and four touchdowns in the air. The dual-threat also scored two touchdowns on two carries for 70 yards. He's going to be very, very special.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_6324cf4bcfa46","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["442176"],"_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":"Got my first up close glimpse of Rodriguez last spring on the campus of Rutgers University at the Gamechangers Combine and liked what I saw. Fast forward five months and I saw him play live again, this time in a real game, and I'm all the way on board with the Rodriguez train. Kind of a do-it-all type of guy for the Brick City Lions (one of the top youth programs in the state) he's extremely versatile. Has really great size and length. Can play Running Back or Wide Receiver on offense and Defensive Back or Outside Linebacker on defense. Right now, as a seventh-grader, he's nearly identical to how current Wisconsin Running Back Chez Mellusi looked on this level. Rodriguez has a monster Offensive Line in front of him and along side [player_tooltip player_id='409942' first='Gabe' last='Kemp'], the duo are a nasty one-two punch.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_6324d186cfa47","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["425663"],"_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":"If you don't pay attention to prep football in New England you're probably the majority, rather than the minority. So it may (or may not?) come as a surprise that many of the top high school teams are prep schools or private school programs. However, one public school that football junkies around the country know, is the No.2 ranked Central Golden Eagles. A large majority of this team comes from the feeder program of the Springfield Tigers and 2028 Athlete [player_tooltip player_id='425663' first='Xavier' last='Thomas'] is on the come up. He's a violent football player that does everything from return kicks and punts, to score rushing touchdowns to jaw-dropping hits as a Safety/Linebacker hybrid. Saw him live in action last spring at a Prep Redzone Next camp and walked away impressed he's only a 2028 prospect. Keep an eye out here.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_6324d2d9cfa48","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["447349"],"_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":"The saying you can't teach speed has never rang louder, clearer and truer than it does for Jernigan. The class of 2028 prospect from Louisville, Mississippi has it all at this point. He has the agility and vision to shake would-be tackles in close range, the explosion to accelerate past them with ease and the sprinter-speed that allows him to pull away as he runs towards paydirt. In addition to his speed and athletic ability, he already has very promising size for a prospect in just the seventh-grade at 5-foot-8 and 155-pounds. In speaking with our Mississippi high school scout in the area, he tells me the hype is real and that this kid could be the real deal. We have some time yet, but I have zero reason to say otherwise at this point.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_6324d6a0cfa4a","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["423414"],"_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":"The one thing I need to constantly remind myself of as I evaluate middle school prospects, is that I need to see continued improvement as they progress towards high school.  For 6-foot, 202-pound [player_tooltip player_id='423414' first='Kweli' last='Fielder'] not only has he improved, but he's transformed. The cousin of fellow 2028 prospect [player_tooltip player_id='404832' first='CJ' last='Cypher'], Fielder is the starting Left Tackle for the Carrollton Trojans. Without his height being truly verified at this stage he was 5-foot-10 in June and has tacked on two inches since then. He's also a basketball player with tremendous feet and a frame that must have the coaches at Carrollton High School (currently ranked No.15 in the state) drooling. While I stand down on the fact that I think he's a future SEC Offensive Tackle, he has really flourished as a Defensive Tackle during the early stint of this season. For that reason (and others) I'm even more confident that Fielder is going to be a big time name to know come National Signing Day 2028, if everything goes to plan.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /-->