Five 2028s to Know out of Sioux Falls

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We look at five more 2028 prospects we met from our new 2028 South Dakota rankings hailing from Sioux Falls that intrigue us in this class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1597617' first='Dax' last='Wachal'], DL, Sioux Falls Jefferson</strong> <a href="https://x.com/DaxWachal09">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the two Wachal twins on the Cavaliers defensive linemen, we meet [player_tooltip player_id='1597617' first='Dax' last='Wachal'] of Sioux Falls Jefferson. When I put together the 2028 rankings, I kept coming back to this young man's tape, as I believe Dax has one of the highest upsides in this 2028 class overall in South Dakota, as I have been hearing about him and his twin brother for over a year now from various sources across Sioux Falls. The 6'0 200 pound defensive end, has a game-speed that plays with another gear and he surely is one of the most physical hitters in this 2028 class overall. Dax also has the athletic mobility off the snap more like a linebacker getting to the edge, not a edge rusher that plays with bad intentions when he makes contact. I would love to see where Dax's skillsets are at in less than a year from now for sure.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1597618' first='Shep' last='Wachal'], DL, Sioux Falls Jefferson </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I genuinely had a tough time as an evaluator trying to figure out which of the Wachal twins I liked more out of the Sioux Falls Jefferson in their defensive trenches. Shep in limited reps has an excellent foot fire off the snap for his age and you can gauge the high level of finesse this young man plays with when he approaches the backfield. Not to mention, he showed off a sound athletic base that surely passes the eye test as a defensive end/EDGE over the next several years of HS football and into the next-level and at 6'3 205 pounds, that validates that already. Man, I cannot wait to see more tape out of Shep in the coming years as this young man surely is really wirey right to the ball on a constant basis based on what I see so far.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1222878' first='Jason' last='Trooien'], DL, Sioux Falls O'Gorman </strong><a href="https://x.com/JasonTrooien">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1614906,"width":"273px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/01/Jason-Trooien-1-crop-768x505-1738298863.webp?w=768" alt="" class="wp-image-1614906" style="width:273px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It was just over two years ago already I was pointed out to Jason at a 7v7 tryout and man did this young man pass that eye test the earliest out of this 2028 class. Jason is another one that I feel has a very high ceiling in this class as a multi-sport athlete that is an athletic spicemen at 6'3 205 pounds. I haven't gotten much recent tape of Jason, but even a year ago he showed off a defensive linemen that looked like a man amongst boys with his athletic base, get off, and dominance at the point of attack. I'll be fired up to get more tape on Jason in the coming year or less cause I think he could be a stockriser in this next 2028 update with all that growth.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1597643' first='Jason' last='Koenes'], Punter, Sioux Falls Christian</strong> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Some years it takes till at least late sophomore year to start finding specialists that intrigue us just due to the lack of the tape thats out there, but that's not the case with 2028 punter [player_tooltip player_id='1597643' first='Jason' last='Koenes'] of Sioux Falls Christian, who in my eyes have one of the best specialists groups in the state. Jason shows off a absoulute booming punting leg and at his age too, I am really intrigued with his hangtime he gets constantly on his punts. Jason also is a specialist that doesn't need much wiggle room to protect the ball and get his punts off with ease, which also intrigues me as just a freshmen that bombed a 68 yard punt to show off his game initially and also has good size at 6'1 180 pounds to grow over the coming years of HS football even more.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1602525' first='James' last='Ratchford'], WR, Sioux Falls Lincoln</strong> <a href="https://x.com/JamesRatchford0">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 5'10 150 pounder 2028 wide receiver out of the 11AAA state champions Sioux Falls Lincoln, is the first wide receiver from Sioux Falls that cracked our list tonight. James really impressed me as a pass-blocker ahead of the ball on tape and it was very constant and relatable to what I have heard about his football IQ. James shows off too, sound hands and good footwork with his releases as a route-runner and can get defensive backs to stack up heavier if he gets is a persistent routine. James is also versatile on where he can line up as as an outside or inside wide receiver that looks like a best fit in the slot. James is one that his development will intrigue me.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->