Colorado 2028 Initial Watchlist – Linebacker Position Breakdown

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>USE PROMO CODE ALPOPS40 for a discount on your Prep Redzone Next subscription. Colorado is full of talent, specifically in the greater Denver area, and the Linebackers below fit the bill. Between your snotbubble-causing Mike's and your athletic Will's and Sam's, the four prospects below come with different skill sets but check the box when it comes to next-level potential.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The initial <a href="https://prepredzone.com/colorado/rankings/2028-watch-list/">Prep Redzone Next Colorado 2028 Watchlist</a> is live and&nbsp;<strong>will be updated three more times before August 2024</strong>. Continue to check out the other position breakdowns as they're released on PrepRedZone.com/Next.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["684609"],"_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":"Pound for pound, they don't come much tougher in Coloradou002du002dor any other state for that matteru002du002dthan [player_tooltip player_id='684609' first='Ryder' last='Hoffschneider']. I first saw him last year as a member of the AYF National Championship-winning 303 Legends team, as he starred as a fullback and middle linebacker despite being on a team full of 2027 prospects. He's one of those throwback kids that will smash you in the mouth at every opportunity he gets. The muscled-up 5-foot-10, 175-pounder is also a standout wrestler that went 23-8 with 18 pins during the 2022-2023 season. The Highlands Ranch PREP Mountain Lions prospect is a stud, period.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["984499"],"_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":"If you've ever read any of my other player reviews over the years, I make no secret about how much I love football players who also wrestle. Like Hoffschneider above, [player_tooltip player_id='984499' first='Evan' last='Ingalls'] is also a force on the mat and went 23-8 with 15 pins in 2022-2023 at 153. Back to the gridiron, Ingalls has put on some serious muscle since wrestling season and is now listed at 185 pounds and stands 5-foot-9 (size is not verified). He looks very comfortable in his stance and plays on the balls of his feet at all times. On top of wrestling and football, he's also an accomplished rugby player. He's wearing No. 44 for the Colorado Jr. Buffs this year.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["984684"],"_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":"While Hoffschnedier and Ingalls are more of your typical Middle Linebackers, Hogg looks like a unique athlete. Listed at 5-foot-10 and 145 pounds, he plays middle linebacker but really fits the mold of an ATH (athlete) more than anything else. He's a longer kid and can chase down sweep plays to the outside going away from him. Offensively he can play quarterback or running back, which allows him to sharpen the same ball skills he shows off in pass coverage, when he's able to pick off a pass. Long term, I wouldn't be shocked to see the South Jeffco Outlaw eventually be considered an Athlete above all else.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["983682"],"_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":"Rounding out the linebacker prospects making the initial Colorado 2028 Watchlist is [player_tooltip player_id='983682' first='Kaiden' last='Vaughn']. He's unofficially listed on social media at 5-foot-7 and 135 pounds, which means he is significantly smaller than the other three 'backers on the list but that doesn't mean he can't play. As an Outside Linebacker, Vaughn flanks Hoffschneider on that vaunted Highlands Ranch PREP Mountain Lions defense this year. Also a talented baseball and basketball player, his overall athleticism allows him to get in a good position to make plays against the run or the pass. Vaughn could very well fall back to a strong safety or nickel type of player in the high school ranks, given his quickness and ability to tackle in the box.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":4,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-650a0c4659538"} /-->