Make Your Case for #1: Breaking Down 2028’s Top 3 Prospects

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Be sure to follow me on Twitter 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>After watching countless hours of film, in my mind there are three prospect above all else in our current roster for New Jersey's graduating class of 2028. Unfortunately none of these prospects happen to play the same position; however, each have a case as to why they deserve to be the #1 prospect in the Garden State. See just exactly why this is the case based on what I saw on film below. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Class of 2028's #1 Prospect</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1206968"],"_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-67912bd584a9c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The moment [player_tooltip player_id='1206968' first='Tahmere' last='Brown'], a Pennsylvania native, took his Texas Redshirt and transferred to 5-year postgraduate school The Pennington School in New Jersey, my friend and colleague <a href="https://x.com/PRZPAvic">Vic Castillo</a> from Prep Redzone PA reached out and told me all about this phenom. Vic was not kidding and I am glad he did. I typically tend to overlook postgraduate schools due to the fact that they do not play much in-state competition, but Brown is simply too good to ignore. I view him as more of a tailback than linebacker due to the immediate burst of speed he has. What makes him a clear-cut dude is that he actually manages to continue to gain speed as he climbs into a defense's back-end levels. On stretch plays to the outside Brown shows solid vision when he sees daylight. As big and sturdy as he is, you best bring your best technique and form to tackle; otherwise, expect to bounce off of him or sustain a blow from his lowered shoulder. Brown has also shown that he can get airborne, safely hurdling pile ups on his way to big gains. Quickly, as a linebacker he can quickly accelerate and get back to full-fledged pursuit speed if he is stopped in his tracks. In a similar breath he bounces right back up if he dips too low. Brown is also an excellent leverage tackler and commits to taking his read steps. A few more things I hope to see next ranking update are for him to tuck the ball tighter to his body, clips of him in pass protection and as a pass catcher, and clips of him in pass coverage.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Two and Three Think They Should Be First</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["916571"],"_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-67912bd584b0d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">When I see 5'9" 155lb defensive backs, I typically do not think much. [player_tooltip player_id='916571' first='Phoenix' last='Evans'], however, has made this old man look foolish and reconsider his ways. Evans job serious burn on varsity and appears to be a student of the game. On film we can see certain formations or plays that you just knew were scouted out. Without an iota of hesitation, Evans flies up, makes plays, and forces opposing offenses to eliminate that play from their playbook. Moreover, Evans has elite closing speed, showcasing it in every direction. As a tackler, this youngster is far from afraid from contact has he looks to come up and lay the smackdown on ball carriers - keeping his feet churning through contact - particularly when he looks to clean up a pile or gang tackling. Evans is a fighter along the perimeter when keeping his force run fit. No matter where he travels on the field, Evans sticks to his assignment line glue, again, to every orifice of the field. Changing direction on double-moves or route fakes is not an issue for Evans either, as he can flip his hips quickly, fluidly, and with ease. Body control and moving in every direction are what elevate him from "damn good" to "elite:" he is excellent at covering receivers and influencing their route without contacting them what so ever. Evans can continue to push to be #1 as he improves his wrapping, leg drive on profile tackling, and adding hard jams or press coverage to his tape.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["836216"],"_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-67912bd584b53"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1597948' first='Jackson' last='Vaughn'] closed out his freshman season with a bang. Not only did he cap the season off with a state championship, he was a big factor in that game en route to four sacks in the clinching game. Vaughn's 8 minute film ought to be truncated, but it shows that he is a pass rushing specialist. In terms of his get off Vaughn's second and third step are quick and devastating, enabling him to easily get around defenders. Technique is added to this element of speed as we see him dip &amp; rip to finish. Vaughn's body appears to go from low-to-high as he goes through the phases of his pass rush. Something very subtle he does, we see him work back toward the middle of the line when interior pass rushers get wide, showcasing his nuanced understanding to pass rush as a team. For his aged I would describe Vaughn's hips are ahead-of-schedule since we see flashed of them at moments but not yet all the time. Although he had 8 sacks on the season film shows that he is constantly terrorizing and pressuring quarterbacks, looking to make a play on the ball when he does so. At moments Vaughn has been asked to play in space as a standup linebacker in obvious passing downs when Bergen Catholic went to a 3-man front. A few things I noticed that will aid Vaughn in climbing the rankings is that it appears that he might only play one side of the line and that in what I saw of his highlight tape I did not catch any clips of him defending the run. </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><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/01/the-class-of-2028s-deepest-position-running-back-part-i">The Deepest Position Group: Running Backs, Part I</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/01/the-class-of-2028s-deepest-position-running-back-part-ii">The Deepest Position Group: Running Backs, Part II</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/01/make-your-case-for-1-breaking-down-2028s-top-3-prospects">Who Deserves to be 2028's Top Ranked Prospect?</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->