AYF Nationals: Class of 2028 Prospects That Caught My Eye Part 2

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It was a great week of football at the AYF Nationals in early December. Teams and athletes from all over the country earned their way to play for an AYF National title in Kissimmee, Florida. After previously releasing <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2022/12/ayf-nationals-class-of-2028-prospects-that-caught-my-eye-part-1/">part one</a> of the 2028 prospects that caught my eye, here's a look at part two of the 2028 prospects that stood out to me with what I saw on the field.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["551745"],"_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":"-One of the best 7th grade Defensive Backs I have ever seen during my 13+ years of evaluating middle school football talent. Does nearly everything at the position, at an elite levelu003cbru003eu003cbru003e-Has that u0022dog in himu0022 that coaches and players talk about. Gives up a decent amount of height right now, but could care less and plays fearlesslyu003cbru003eu003cbru003e-One of very few 2028 prospects playing in the 14U bracket, he jumped a route and turned it into a game-winning pick-six in the fleeting seconds of AYF National semi-finals","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["551760"],"_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":"-I really like the way Watkins Jr. throws the ball around the field. The ball sounds and looks different coming out of the release of some quarterbacks, and this description fits himu003cbru003eu003cbru003e-Told him and his father, he reminds me a lot of how former three-star prospect and current San Diego Quarterback, u003cstrongu003eRe-Al Mitchellu003c/strongu003e looked and threw at this age. Crip passes with some serious zing on themu003cbru003eu003cbru003e-Like the aforementioned Mitchell,  Watkins Jr. is on the shorter side and will benefit greatly when he hits a growth spirt. That said, he does a phenomenal job of moving around and finding throwing lanes to help get the ball to his talented supporting cast","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["551774"],"_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":"-One of the members of that impressive supporting cast I mentioned that Watkins Jr. has, is this rocked up Running Backu003cbru003eu003cbru003e-There were at least three or four Running Backs on the 12U Islands Best Braves team that showed they could play, but I took a particular liking to Jacksonu003cbru003eu003cbru003e-Is a great combination of speed and power. He needed the smallest crease to be able to explode through the line and pick up big chunks of yards. Again, out of all the backs I saw on the Braves, the biggest upside has to be here","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["551831"],"_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":"-The final IB Braves 12U athlete to get mentioned in this article (there will be more teammates mentioned) is one of the more dangerous 2028 Wide Receivers I have seen thus far, in [player_tooltip player_id='551831' first='Zion' last='Anderson']rnrn-You name a football trait or buzz word you hear used to describe Wide Receivers and this kid checks the box. From size and ball skills, to body positioning and route running u002du002d has has it allrnrn-There is a long way to go, but I can see Anderson becoming a certifiable deep threat option on the outside to the level of becoming a major P5 prospect","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["551907"],"_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":"-Tough kid Running Back/Linebacker out of Detroit who played a very physical brand of football for the Detroit 12U All-Starsu003cbru003eu003cbru003e-Undeniably one of the team leaders that teammates listened to when he spoke up. Not just a mouth, he backed it up with his play. Started at Linebacker, Running Back and on Special Teamsu003cbru003eu003cbru003e-To draw somewhat NFL comparisons to him, think former NFL Pro Bowler Aaron Pierce as a Middle Linebacker and former Philadelphia Eagle/current Detroit Lions Running Back coach Duce Staley as a Running Back. Thicker, shorter guys who were difference makers","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_player_details_selected_featured_image":551929,"_player_evaluations_5_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_5_player_details_player_name":"Cole Sternlieb","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_5_player_details_graduating_class":"2028","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_5_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_5_player_details_position":"2408","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_5_player_details_school":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_5_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_5_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"-Nothing flashy about Sternlieb and how he ran the ball, but the kid just produced game-in and game-out for the Jersey Shore 12U All-Starsu003cbru003eu003cbru003e-Like his class of 2026 older brother Caden Sternlieb, Cole is a very strong kid for his age. Has the same barrel-chested build but plays Running Back instead of Offensive Lineu003cbru003eu003cbru003e-For his efforts was named MVP of the Jersey Shore 12U All-Star Team and the tournament during the week. His contributions went a long way to securing the National Title for the squad","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_player":["551949"],"_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":"-The Arizona prospect caught my eye right away when going to check out the Arizona Champions 12U team at AYF Nationals. He passed the eye test with flying colors right awayu003cbru003eu003cbru003e-Absolutely shredded for being just a 2028 prospect. With his advanced build and physical appearance, looks like he could easily pass for a high school freshman, not a seventh graderu003cbru003eu003cbru003e-Following the success of Airzona-native Bijan Robinson at the University of Texas, it's hard for me to not draw a comparison in playing styles. At a well-proportioned 160-pounds he uses great vision and patience to explode through the line for big gainers","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":7,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-639b8c0be21e9"} /-->