2028 Rankings Debut: The Top 70

The 2028 West Virginia rankings have made their long-awaited debut as an up-and-coming rising sophomore class begins to make their names known. This class has the potential to be one of the most talented groups of prospects in recent memory in the state, given what they have shown so far, with many more expected to emerge in the years to come. Here are the 61-70 ranked 2028 prospects at this point in their young careers in our eyes.    A high upside offensive line prospect in the 2028 class to know is Chapmanville's [player_tooltip player_id='1624421' first='Jeffrey' last='Barker']. He could blossom into a future high-level prospect if he steadily develops over the next three years with the physical tools he possesses. Barker is quickly growing into his 6'5 frame with more work to be done in that regard, but is showing consistent progress and putting in the work to get there. He's a raw ball of clay that can be molded into a future top big man prospect in this class and should look like a much different player by his senior year.   <blockquote class="twitter-tweet">What a week‼️<a href="https://twitter.com/CRHSTigersFB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CRHSTigersFB</a> 7/7- 14 reps 185 bench 30 reps 225 squat<a href="https://twitter.com/WVUfootball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WVUfootball</a> 7/7- Went 2-0, in competition learned a ton from some top coaches in the nation. <a href="https://twitter.com/UCWV_Football?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@UCWV_Football</a> went 1-1 against some dawgs<a href="https://twitter.com/JuniorDayAth?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JuniorDayAth</a> went 1-1, made some great connections with coaches <a href="https://t.co/FYrSWUqMDH">pic.twitter.com/FYrSWUqMDH</a>— [player_tooltip player_id='1624421' first='Jeffrey' last='Barker'] (@J_Barker09) <a href="https://twitter.com/J_Barker09/status/1933926449393676532?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 14, 2025</a></blockquote>     2028 University ATH [player_tooltip player_id='1624325' first='Nico' last='Maisel'] is well known for his performance on the wrestling mat, but is a quality young football prospect as well. He saw a lot of reps at quarterback on the Hawks' freshman team last season, but receiver or safety is likely his best position as a prospect. Maisel is a versatile athlete who has the physical tools to make a difference on the varsity team in some capacity in the future. He'll have to wait his turn behind a loaded upperclassmen skill group, but Maisel will be a name to know down the road on the football field.      Martinsburg boasts a talented 2028 group of prospects with a ton of potential, and that continues with LB/WR [player_tooltip player_id='1624382' first='Landen' last='Herring']. He was a standout on their freshman/JV squad last season and showed promise as a linebacker prospect. Size will determine his ceiling at that position, but Herring flashed real upside there as a young player. He flies to the football with athleticism that will translate to future varsity success when his opportunity comes. Herring could get on the field as a receiver, too, in the future, but he has a bright future at linebacker if he keeps developing.   <blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Freshman/JV season recap.<a href="https://twitter.com/PrepRedzoneWV?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrepRedzoneWV</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/coachdavewalker?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@coachdavewalker</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/One11Recruiting?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@One11Recruiting</a> <a href="https://t.co/KfKKljWXwH">pic.twitter.com/KfKKljWXwH</a>— [player_tooltip player_id='1624382' first='Landen' last='Herring'] (@LandenHerring28) <a href="https://twitter.com/LandenHerring28/status/1942052758292504674?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 7, 2025</a></blockquote>     A promising specialist prospect in the 2028 class to know moving forward is Parkersburg South's [player_tooltip player_id='1624456' first='Wyatt' last='Bartley']. He got a small taste of varsity action as a freshman and will continue to earn expanded opportunities on Friday nights as he gets older. Bartley has an early jump on his fellow 2028 kickers with his leg strength and ability as a young specialist. He's developed well on kickoffs for his age and is capable of reaching the end zone at times, which will only continue to improve as he gets older and stronger.   <blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Had a great day at <a href="https://twitter.com/WVUfootball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WVUfootball</a> I Got 2nd in field goal comp for 9th, 10th and, 11th grade. Had some great kickoffs with a 58yd kickoff. And a 47yd field goal. <a href="https://twitter.com/Coach_ThompsonL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Coach_ThompsonL</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/coachpkirkland?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@coachpkirkland</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/TuckerDonati?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TuckerDonati</a> <a href="https://t.co/R2lHmFYjnU">pic.twitter.com/R2lHmFYjnU</a>— [player_tooltip player_id='1624456' first='Wyatt' last='Bartley'] (@bartley_wy2638) <a href="https://twitter.com/bartley_wy2638/status/1935434766305652745?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 18, 2025</a></blockquote>     The most productive freshman receiver in the state last season by far was 2028 Clay County WR [player_tooltip player_id='1580722' first='Joel' last='Elliott']. He totaled 41 catches for 911 yards and 15 touchdowns in the Panthers' high-flying offense while adding 38 tackles and 2 interceptions on defense. Elilott is likely to be a future stock riser in the rankings as his body develops and matures, as he has a head start in the other areas compared to most 2028 receivers in the state. He's a gamer and has natural playmaking ability with impressive concentration for his age when bringing in passes. Elliott likely feels slighted by his current ranking and will have a great opportunity over the next three years to prove we have him too low.      Another 2028 University ATH prospect to know in the future is [player_tooltip player_id='1624359' first='Elijah' last='Morris']. He did a lot of good things on the Hawks' freshman team as a running back, which originally caught our attention, but he was a top performer at defensive back at our Combine Series camp earlier this summer, too. Morris has some juice with the ball in his hands as a young playmaker and should develop nicely in their program once his varsity opportunity comes in the future. Ultimately, the position he emerges at is to be determined, but Morris has the potential to excel in a few different spots due to his raw athletic ability as a young player.      2028 Philip Barbour ATH [player_tooltip player_id='1430947' first='Robbie' last='Jones'] is likely to be the Colts' starting quarterback this season after earning opportunities there as a freshman. It was on defense, however, where Jones emerged as a freshman standout, picking off seven passes on the year. There isn't much game film to evaluate from Jones right now, which likely has him lower in the rankings than he deserves, but it will work itself out as he further makes a name for himself on Friday nights and gets film posted.     A young offensive lineman who impressed us in person at a camp earlier this year was 2028 Linsly OL [player_tooltip player_id='1673535' first='Eliott' last='Wade']. He was a freshman varsity starter for the Cadets last season and will be a key piece to their future success along the line as their anchor at center. No game film to evaluate from Wade yet, but from seeing him in person, he'll be a name that colleges will want to monitor over the next three years. His strength and physicality were impressive to see in person against some talented and older defensive linemen at the camp we saw him at, while also showing fearlessness for a young lineman and a quality wrestling background to utilize as well. Wade is the younger brother of our #2-ranked 2026 QB [player_tooltip player_id='402801' first='Braden' last='Wade'], so the athletic genes are there for him to develop into a serious college football prospect in the future in some capacity.     [player_tooltip player_id='1624447' first='Ryant' last='Lyons'] will be a solid piece for Weir to utilize over the next three years as they bounce back from a tough 2024 season after making the playoff semifinals in 2023. He could be labeled as an ATH in the rankings, but should be a standout at defensive back for the Red Riders this season. We got to see Lyons perform at quarterback this offseason, where he showed some potential and could be their starting quarterback as an upperclassman down the road. Length and athleticism are apparent in Lyons' game as a young player, which should translate to varsity success sooner rather than later.     We just have a small sample size of game film to evaluate from 2028 Martinsburg OL [player_tooltip player_id='1624413' first='Dalton' last='Munson'], but we're confident he'll be a name to know in this class. Early size is already there for Munson to utilize moving forward, and it will appeal to colleges when he's older. That early size proved to be an issue on the Bulldogs' freshman team last season against opposing players his age. Munson should develop well in their program and become a future varsity starter in time.

The 2028 West Virginia rankings have made their long-awaited debut as an up-and-coming rising sophomore class begins to make their names known. This class has the potential to be one of the most talented groups of prospects in recent memory in the state, given what they have shown so far, with many more expected to emerge in the years to come. Here are the 61-70 ranked 2028 prospects at this point in their young careers in our eyes.