2028 Rankings – Top Five Spotlight

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Get 25% Off Your Subscription By Entering Knight25 In The Coupon Code Area. Enjoy!</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the month of June, we always give our rankings a fresh update and add more players to each class. We kicked off our ranking update series with the 2028 class. In case you missed it, <strong><a href="https://prepredzone.com/oklahoma/rankings/2028-rankings/">we released the 2028 Top 50 earlier this week.</a></strong> These prospects just finished up their freshman seasons and there are quite a few that have already made names for themselves. In this breakdown, we're taking a look at the best of the best (for now) with the top five prospects in the latest update. Keep it locked in to Prep Redzone Oklahoma for more 2028 prospect breakdowns and more ranking updates each week!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1214367"],"_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-684a3161d255b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Stillwater wide receiver [player_tooltip player_id='1214367' first='David' last='Thomas'] jumps up to the top spot in the state's 2028 class in our latest update. Around this time last year, we knew that Thomas had the potential to be one of the state's more impactful freshmen. He lived up to the hype and then some during the 2024 season. Thomas is so dynamic with the football and he doesn't get enough credit for what he's able to do at the wide receiver position. Stillwater has a few different guys at the position so he's not being force-fed the ball every time they pass. But when he gets his opportunities, he more than takes advantage of them. We've been fortunate to be in person to see Thomas make some spectacular plays. Like every player on this breakdown, Thomas has already earned multiple offers and that train isn't going to slow down anytime soon. He's a special talent and an underrated player in the return game as well. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1328118"],"_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-684a3161d25bb"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Rejoice Christian standout [player_tooltip player_id='1328118' first='Kamieon' last='Compton-Nero'] was one of the more impressive prospects that we watched this spring, regardless of class. We watched Rejoice at team camp and everything that Nero did was so smooth and he didn't look like a player that had just finished his freshman year. At quarterback, he didn't look like a player that was getting ready to become the full time starter for the first time this fall. He didn't play as much defense on that morning but we can only assume that it was just as smooth and at times, effortless for the Rejoice standout. Similar to Thomas, he was another prospect that was on our radar going into the 2024 season and he certainly answered the call. But now, all eyes are going to be on Nero as he looks to lead the Eagles to another state championship. His future might be on the defensive side of the ball but he's going to be one of the more electric QBs in Oklahoma this fall. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["473891"],"_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-684a3161d2606"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Washington quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='473891' first='Creed' last='Barrett'] was ready for the moment when he took over this Washington dynasty as a freshman and led them to another state championship. From start to finish, Barrett was ready and never flinched. He continues to be a top five overall prospect in the state's 2028 class and the unquestioned #1 at the quarterback position. Barrett ran away with our Freshman Of The Year award a year ago and we're looking forward to seeing what he does for an encore. Washington has lost a few key pieces on offense so we're looking forward to getting eyes on Barrett this fall to see how he responds. Following his freshman season, Barrett would earn multiple D1 offers. Similar to Nero, Barrett is a guy that just doesn't look like he just finished his freshman year. Every time we've watched him in person, even going back to middle school, he's always been one of the top players on the field. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1532195"],"_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-684a3161d264d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Out of the five prospects in the top five, Union defensive lineman [player_tooltip player_id='1532195' first='Terrance' last='Evans'] is one that we haven't seen up close and in person. Everything has been based on film with Evans so he's a high priority for us to see when it comes to this fall. But based on what we saw during his freshman season, Evans has the potential to be the next dominant interior defensive lineman in the state and we're going through quite a good run at that position in the last few years. Evans was successful against some really good 2025 prospects last year as just a freshman. Because of that, he got on everyone's radar and earned multiple SEC offers. The film is really good. We watched Union in person this spring but Evans wasn't in action. We're looking forward to seeing him in person at some point this fall. He has all the tools to be an elite guy in the middle of a defensive line. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1522522"],"_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-684a3161d2693"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Poteau linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1522522' first='Ryder' last='Waddell'] rounds out the top five and he made a significant jump in this latest update. In our initial 2028 rankings, Waddell checked in at #20 as an intriguing prospect with a high upside based on his build. After watching him in person at our camp last month and then seeing him continue to tear up the camp circuit, there was no doubt that he was going to jump up in the top ten and he checks in at #5 in this month's update. Waddell feels like a prospect that is just scratching the surface on what he's going to be in a few years. The length and overall size will stand out immediately when you watch him. The Poteau defender looks like a guy who will flourish as an edge rusher or an outside linebacker in the right defensive scheme. Waddell has earned the attention of D1 coaches and it's not going to slow down anytime soon as he continues to progress physically and on the field. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->