Favorite Films: Tape that Impressed me – 2028 Rankings, Part IX

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Be sure to follow me at</em>&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/BrendanScoutsNJ">@BrendanScoutsNJ</a>&nbsp;<em>for the latest prospect-specific coverage both during the season and off-season.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>For my complete, comprehensive coverage for the class of 2028 rankings, scroll down the bottom of this article to read more!</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Enjoy our newest rankings release by using promo code “mankarious30” for 30% off your first subscription to Prep Redzone New Jersey</em></strong>!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Being a part of our rankings team, I have the opportunity to see all sorts of film. A guilty pleasure of mine in that process is that I get to highlight prospects with film that I absolutely enjoyed watching. In this piece, I do exactly that.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">My Personal, Favorite Films from Prospects in the Class of 2028</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1011819"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-678ff6a2ea4b3"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">I typically do not bother watching film where prospects do not identify themselves; however, given that [player_tooltip player_id='1597975' first='Robert' last='Rossano'] appears to have started varsity as a freshman on the 3-time Group V State Champion, I simply had to watch. Rossano alternated at either guard spot and might have been designated the pulling guard... and pull with authority is something he did often and well. Moving very quickly, Rossano gets to his assignment in a hurry and keeps his feet churning through contact. Something more advanced, Rossano can turn on a dime and adjust his path when his assignment looks to olé him, as well as peel back inside. As he pulls, and climbs to the second level alike, we see Rossano get through the hole quickly and with acceleration as a lead blocker would. Moreover, Rossano finds cloth at the second level exceptionally well. Touching back on the prior note about him peeling back, his feet are also quick enough to effectively peel back in pass protection. It appears that the freshman state champion also does a good job of controlling his opponent's chest plate, grabbing cloth well when drive blocking. Unfortunately I get the sense that Rossano's college upside will depend on how big he grows. That said, I would encourage him to learn how to snap if he has plans to play collegiately.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["991979"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-678ff6a2ea51a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Currently top 5 in his class and the top receiver in it as well, [player_tooltip player_id='991979' first='Thomas' last='Mitchell'] has the potential to be special. As a receiver we see Mitchell has the variety in his releases to get free releases and the speed to blow past coverages untouched. Defenders must attack him at his hips, for if they go too low Mitchell will break their low tackles. On the other hand, Mitchell also can also absorb hits and keep going. As a pure receiver he uses his hands well, tracks the deep ball nicely, and can make off-balance catches look easy; as a route runner he has the ability to manipulate his speed on short-to-intermediate routes over the middle. Although his route tree is not yet complete, more than any other receiver scouted thus far, Mitchell dramatically snaps and sinks his hips to create extra separation atop his routes. Given Mitchell's dynamicism, he has served as a punt returner.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["972304"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-678ff6a2ea560"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">As Winslow was the class of Group IV, they will look to see how they stack up against national power house IMG and then versus Jersey's #1 team in Bergen Catholic. By this time [player_tooltip player_id='389746' first='Cameron' last='Miller'] will be long gone and competing within the college ranks and [player_tooltip player_id='972304' first='TJ' last='Maddox'] will look to fill his time share. All this said, there is a golden opportunity for the young freshman to make a name for himself with a breakthrough game. Maddox possesses speed that I would describe as "raw" and does a nice job using his hands to catch the ball. When the pill is in his hands, he certainly knows what to do with it, using his athleticism and ball carrier vision to spring big gains. With a little shake &amp; bake to him, we see that he can make a man miss. As he grows older and lives in the weight room, he will get stronger and stay upright through contact more. However, make no mistake about it: Maddox is unabashed and willing to give up his body in order to make come up with the ball. He is used mostly on intermediate and short routes, as he is trusted to create for himself. As he prepares for his sophomore season, it would benefit Maddox to work on his hips to open up </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1280846"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-678ff6a2ea615"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1280846' first='TJ' last='Maset'] might be the next Blue Devil to excel in the trenches. Maset has shown on film that he is strong enough to lock out and create separation at the line of scrimmage when on defense. In doing so, he is capable of creating penetration to block PATs and make tackles for loss. When trying to knife into the backfield Maset will rely on the swim move; however, he must train his eyes to look down the line for kickers, for at moments I saw him get caught flat footed. When Maset is at his best he is quick enough to chase pulling guards to the point of attack and blow up plays. Like any young lineman, as he trains and develops his pad level will decrease and thus make him more effectively. Offensively he moves upfield nicely and looks to bring a level of physicality on offense. Maset brings forth maximum effort and blocks his opponents chest-to-chest. As mentioned a moment ago, he moves well in space and is thus used in quick rocket screens often. Closing out, in pass protection we see him extend his arms to reach at times, where he would be better suited to cock, load, punch, and reload on a more consistent basis. The irony is that he does this when double teaming though.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Class of 2028 Rankings Release</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/01/2028-rankings-update-scouts-notes-for-players-114-101">Ranking Notes, Player #114-101</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/01/2028-rankings-update-scouts-notes-for-players-100-91">Ranking Notes, Player #100-91</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/01/2028-rankings-update-scouts-notes-for-players-90-89">Ranking Notes, Player #90-81</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/01/2028-rankings-update-scouts-notes-for-players-80-71">Ranking Notes, Player #80-71</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/01/2028-rankings-update-scouts-notes-for-players-70-61">Ranking Notes, Player #70-6</a>1<br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/01/2028-rankings-update-scouts-notes-for-players-60-51/">Ranking Notes, Player #60-51</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/01/2028-rankings-update-scouts-notes-for-players-50-41">Ranking Notes, Player #50-41</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/01/2028-rankings-update-scouts-notes-for-players-40-31/">Ranking Notes, Player #40-31</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/01/2028-rankings-update-scouts-notes-for-players-30-21">Ranking Notes, Player #30-21</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/01/2028-rankings-update-scouts-notes-for-players-20-11">Ranking Notes, Player #20-11</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/01/2028-rankings-update-scouts-notes-for-players-10-6">Ranking Notes, Player #10-6</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/01/2028-rankings-update-scouts-notes-for-players-5-1">Ranking Notes, Player #5-1</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/01/watchlist-wonders-prospects-i-demand-film-on-2028-rankings-i">Watchlist Prospects of Note, Part I</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/01/watchlist-wonders-prospects-i-demand-film-on-2028-rankings-ii">Watchlist Prospects of Note, Part II</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/01/favorite-films-tape-that-impressed-me-2028-rankings-part-i">My Favorite Films, Part I</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/01/favorite-films-tape-that-impressed-me-2028-rankings-part-ii">My Favorite Films, Part II</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/01/favorite-films-tape-that-impressed-me-2028-rankings-part-iii">My Favorite Films, Part III</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/01/favorite-films-tape-that-impressed-me-2028-rankings-part-iv">My Favorite Films, Part IV</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/01/favorite-films-tape-that-impressed-me-2028-rankings-part-iv">My Favorite Films, Part V</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/01/favorite-films-tape-that-impressed-me-2028-rankings-part-vi">My Favorite Films, Part VI</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/01/favorite-films-tape-that-impressed-me-2028-rankings-part-vii">My Favorite Films, Part VII</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/01/favorite-films-tape-that-impressed-me-2028-rankings-part-viii">My Favorite Films, Part VIII</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/01/favorite-films-tape-that-impressed-me-2028-rankings-part-ix">My Favorite Films, Part IX</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->