Six 2028s To Watch Out For In The 614

The class of 2028 has completed its first high school season. With the season concluded and game tape ready for review, here are six freshmen in Columbus to watch out for in 2025 and beyond.    Hairston took over the running back position for Africentric in the middle of the season, and the freshman made his mark in the Columbus City League as they went 6-1 with him starting after a 1-3 start. Hairston is a great straight-line runner who can one-cut his way to a long gain. He can muscle forward for extra yards with a good pad level. With experience and development, Hairston can solidify himself as one of the best ball carriers in Columbus in the near future.      Szabo stepped in week one and led Kilbourne to their first win in over a season and their best season since 2020. Szabo is a great runner and opens up plays for his arm with his legs. Jackson accounted for nearly 2,500 yards and 23 touchdowns in his freshman season. His arm is in a great spot as a freshman. At times, he can loft balls in the air while throwing them down the field, but with time and development, Szabo can turn his big arm into a more impactful weapon than it currently is. Szabo re-opened many eyes on Worthington Kilbourne football, and I am eager to see what he can do with the Wolves in the future.      McKnight stepped up for the Panthers when injuries in the secondary created an opportunity. McKnight does a great job finding the ball and getting into pursuit. He wraps up, tackles aggressively, and finishes tackles nicely. McKnight plays a dangerous game in coverage as he leaves gap space for him to bait passing lanes, but does a great job with his hands to knock balls down and is smart enough to get away with that style of defensive back play. He is versatile, as he can play both safety spots and line up in the slot. McKnight stepped up in his freshman season, but I am excited to see how he contributes heading into 2025.      With injury striking the Westerville Central football program, [player_tooltip player_id='1637565' first='Brock' last='Baumann'] stepped in and never gave up his starting job. Plugging in at right tackle, he showed his intelligence and ability immediately. He shows good mobility and can create gaps in the zone run game. He has good hand usage and uses his long arms to shove off edge rushers. Baumann showed good promise in 2024, and I wouldn't be shocked to see his name rise in the future.      Antoine made a significant impact on all aspects of the game and was a star on special teams. He possesses excellent top-end speed and can cut swiftly to create big returns. Walnut Ridge used him as a target on designed runs from the wide receiver position and as a wildcat quarterback. Defensively, he lined up at every defensive back position and showed his physicality, laying big hits. He is versatile and can line up at almost any position of both offense and defense. As a freshman, he showed great athleticism, and I am excited to see what he can do in his future seasons.      Abem got moved into the starting lineup as the center late in the season after some injury issues, but he showed potential in his short tenure. He does well in the zone run game and can create gaps with good power and leverage. He shoves well and can bully smaller defenders up front. His height can be an advantage for him as he often gets defenders lifted and off balance. We will see how much playing time Abem gets next season for Harvest Prep, but he showed his coaches that he can be an intriguing prospect to come in the following seasons.

The class of 2028 has completed its first high school season. With the season concluded and game tape ready for review, here are six freshmen in Columbus to watch out for in 2025 and beyond.