2028's Getting Ready to Take Off in the New Year

The promising class of 2028 saw many get their first taste of varsity competition this past fall. Others excelled well enough in junior varsity and freshmen play which hopefully translates into game time in 2025.   But, as we all know, hope is not much of a strategy.   It's about the work and the grind and how relentless you are in driving to your goals. Getting off to a good start and getting attention from scouts and coaches is important as a freshman, but the guys who make the quantum leap between seasons are the ones who wake up and grind.   In this report we will take a look at a handful of 2028 ballers who are off and running getting acclimated to varsity football and are already committed to the grind. All played well enough to get attention and have coaches and fans eagerly looking forward to seeing how big the next step will be in their second season.   So, without further adieu, let's take a look at some rising stars from the freshman class:   [player_tooltip player_id='1351253' first='Carter' last='Raney'], 5'10, 165, LB/SS, Spring Hill, '28, is coming off an excellent freshman season when he showcased his baller skills as one of the top defensive backs in his class. He is a multi-positional athlete who plays both ways but really shines as a headhunter safety who floats over the top in zone coverage or collapses down to nail the ball carrier at the line of scrimmage. Transitioning from linebacker to safety this past season, he seamlessly shifted gears to secondary play and was a standout along the way. He plays an aggressive game and with good closing speed and a nose for the ball he lights people up when he moves in to stop the run. He is currently ranked ninth overall in the class of 2028 and is looking to take the next step and dominate this fall.   [player_tooltip player_id='1578110' first='Ryder' last='King'], 5'10, 165, RB/DB, Blue Valley, '28, is another rising-star defensive back/athlete who really stood out on tape. Although he is a two-way player who can play running back or return kicks, he is really impressive as a baller of a free safety with a nose for the football. Pre-snap you can see him reading the play and getting positioned before flying to the perimeter to shut it down in a hurry. With those next-level instincts, he can play like a centerfielder free safety and shut down the other team's passing attack, but is also comfortable moving in quickly to make bone-jarring tackles. For the year he made 47 tackles and intercepted three passes, including an impressive pick-six. This spring he will be lacing up his cleats in 7v7 with the Kansas Elite. Get your popcorn out for this kid in 2025.   [player_tooltip player_id='1591883' first='Beckett' last='Kullberg'], 6', 175, TE/WR, Blue Valley North, '28, may be flying under the radar now but that won't be the case in the near future as he has big-time potential in his game. He can play any number of positions but has really blossomed as a hybrid tight end who can line up in tight as a traditional TE, split out in the slot or play as an H-back. He runs precise routes and is fearless going over the middle and making the contested catch. He has a good catch radius with sticky hands and can climb the ladder going to the apex point of the pass. He has a feel for the passing game and knows how to sink into the soft spots in zone or get open when the play breaks down. This spring he will be fine-tuning his skills in 7v7 with Building Champions. Get this guy on your watchlist, he's getting ready to make some noise.   Elijah Bergeson, 6'1, 170, RB/WR/LB, Winfield, '28, is coming off a solid season for the Vikings as a versatile athletic playmaker who can go both ways and play numerous positions. This past fall he worked his way up to being the number-four receiver in the Winfield offensive scheme and took advantage of his opportunities, scoring a receiving TD against Labette County. On offense next season he is slated to shift from wideout to running back. On defense he really stepped up as a back-up linebacker who eventually started and made 20+ tackles. On defense he is an aggressive player who moves exceptionally well going to the ball. He is a hammer of a hitter and moves well laterally and when storming the gate off the edge. He is also a standout on special teams. This spring he will be playing 7v7 with the Kansas Colts.   Coben Joseph, 5'10, 235, OL/C, Wellington, '28, after stepping away from the game for a brief period of time, he came back strong with a solid freshman season getting acclimated to the high school game. Although he can play multiple positions along the offensive front, he settled in at center and got better with every game. With both the Wellington junior varsity and freshman teams having successful seasons, he and his young gun mates are looking to make some noise in 2025. As a center he was a vocal leader in the trenches, with a strong base, quick feet and maintains good pad level. He also positions himself well in using his leverage and footwork to dominate along the line. In the off-season he is a dedicated powerlifter and is already hard at it for 2025. Get him on your watchlist, he is getting ready to take the next step.   [player_tooltip player_id='1591888' first='Payton' last='Thoman'], 5' 9, 150, ATH/DB, Shawnee Mission NW, '28, is another athletic multi-positional player who has baller written all over him. On offense he is a dangerous receiver and elusive runner but where he really jumps off the tape is on the other side of the ball as a smothering defensive back. He can play any of the positions in the secondary but really shines as a lock-down corner with next-level read and react skills. He diagnoses the play instantly and either flips his hips and blankets the receiver or shifts gears and flies like a torpedo to the point of attack. He moves well laterally and working through traffic to get to the ball and when he gets there hits like a sledgehammer. He has been turning heads this past fall and is just getting started. Get this guy in your line of sight, he is getting ready to go off in 2025.     In conclusion, get these guys on your watchlist and follow their development and progress over the next few years. And, as usual, if you run across players flying under the radar give me a shout via DM on X.

The promising class of 2028 saw many get their first taste of varsity competition this past fall. Others excelled well enough in junior varsity and freshmen play which hopefully translates into game time in 2025.