Best Newcomers of the 2028 Rankings Update

With the debut of the first 2028 Rankings Update came 50+ new names among the ranked athletes. Those new athletes made their personal debuts throughout the rankings, providing us with new top end talent and excellent depth to the Class. These new athletes are the focus of our article here. We are going to dive into the tape and discuss what traits they have that stand out most as they prepare for the 2025 season to show off how they have developed this offseason. Let's dive in and discuss the best of all the newcomers in the 2028 Rankings!     Owen debuts as our #1 TE/LB combo athlete. He is well on his way towards building a prototypical frame that would shine at either position at 6'3" 220 lbs, and just as important the rising sophomore has the balance and body control to be able to move, acceleration, change direction and pad level very quickly and naturally. The big frame is also loaded up with power and explosive burst. So much so that he even was able to take snaps on varsity at DL. Owen has the range to be able to rush off the edge and stretch the field vertically on offense then go up and get it at the high point over the defender. Get this kid on your radars today. He is going to be a special talent.     Our top newcomer at the offensive line position in the Class of 2028 is the massive athlete out of West Bend West. Christian checks in at an elite 6'6" 290 lbs with long arms. Watching through his highlights it quickly becomes apparent that Christian is able to use that frame to create a lot of momentum and power in the run game. A combination that allowed him to reset the line of scrimmage multiple yards downfield to open up running lanes or allow him to wash the DL away from the hole and down the line of scrimmage. I'm excited to see how his footwork and overall athleticism/flexibility have developed this offseason. If those areas are improved then he is on his way towards pushing for OL1 territory.     I love the tape that Luke Davis has published from last season. As a freshman Davis was the starting left tackle on varsity. While he may not have the prototypical length for the position he makes up for it with outstanding footwork, balance, agility, and overall reactive athleticism. The rising 2028 OL is so light on his feet, whether it be getting deep to cut off a speed rusher or having to react to counter moves, Luke is able to mirror pass rushers so well. On top of it that quickness and agility show up in the run game too as he is able to win the leverage and positioning battle against the DL. I'm pumped to see him back on the field this fall and watch him develop into an eventual 4 year starter on the OL by the time his senior year rolls around.     One of the top mismatches in this Class is looking like the 6'3" 185 lbs WR out of Appleton East, [player_tooltip player_id='1709710' first='Carlos' last='Nunn III']. Turn on the tape and it is very apparent that Carlos was a nightmare to cover. He towered over DBs his age, using that big frame to easily box out defenders and reel in passes. What you don't expect is the speed he flips to after the catch. Multiple times you see him win with speed, beating angles and creating space in the open field with that second gear. The big man is also a redzone stud, tracking the ball, adjusting, and high pointing the ball with great timing and strong hands. Carlos is on his way towards being one of the premier talents of this Class. This will be one to keep a close watch over.     I love the way Rylen plays in the trenches. The 2028 is building a big, long, strong frame in that Reedsburg weight room and his freshman tape gives a great look into it. On defense Rylen launches off the line and instantly turns that initial spring into power. Pair that with heavy hands and you get a kid that is able to engage and disengage quickly. For being a bigger athlete Knuth has really solid range in the backfield to chase down plays and wreck havoc in the backfield. The '28 has great instincts, quickly finding the ball while fighting off the blocks of OL. Then on offense Knuth is a bulldozer of an OG, delivering pancakes on kickoff blocks and driving level one defenders into level two, opening up massive holes for his RBs. The potential is sky high for Rylen with three years of HS ball still ahead of him. I expect to see him work his way further and further up this list, even with waves of new additions.     I can't wait for that first tape from Logan this fall because he is bigger and stronger than ever. That is exciting because even as a freshman Logan was standing out with his blocking abilities as a TE/FB hybrid, whether it be kicking out an end or attacking level two and springing his back for a big gain. Logan has a great sense of who the most dangerous defender is and landing a key block on them. Having him back bigger and stronger this year is going to make him even more of a force, and I hope to see him get the ball in his hands some too. He is a difference maker without needing the ball in his hands, though.     You don't see many 205 lbs freshmen earning All-Conference honors as a varsity OL, but it is pretty clear that Dane isn't like many freshmen/sophomores. The most impressive part is that his future looks brightest with his defensive play. That long, lean frame can burst off the line of scrimmage from a two or three point stance. Even as a freshman Dane was able to win with that burst/speed or with power and use of his hands. When engaged Dane did well using that length to maintain separation and then his quickness to get to the heels of his man while finding the ball then closing quickly on it. Harrell seems to do everything with that next level blend of quickness and power. He is violent, yet also shows great instincts and quick play recognition that allows him to make the timely play. The two way impact player is going to be needed in a big way this fall in the trenches.     Cooper suited up for the JV team in 2024 and played like a man among boys. At 6'1" 200 lbs Cooper stood out from the crowd while running routes. It seemed like every play he went out for a pass Cooper was able to settle into a spot that the defense had neglected, showing a great sense of his awareness during the play. However, where he shines the most is at ILB. Cooper was really good in the middle of the field pursuing sideline to sideline and closing quickly. Ehr also did well battling through blocks and showed a strong pop running through OL on his blitzes. Grafton has a strong collection of LBs ahead of him for him to learn from. When his time comes I have high hopes for Cooper.     Nehemiah is an impressive athlete who is just starting to scratch the surface on what he could be. The 6'3" 170 lbs WR runs a 4.8 40, led the JV in receptions, yards, and TDs and in the offseason qualified for State in the 4X1 and $x1 relays. Nehemiah has great length for the WR position, and it shows up on tape as he soars above DBs for the catch. He has powerful hands that rip the ball away in traffic. His long strides quickly eat up ground when he wants to get vertical. After the catch it is surprising watching Steward knife through the secondary with sudden cuts. He has a great nose for how to attack the secondary and maximize his yards after the catch. I hope we get to see him on Friday nights. He seems to be ready for that next leap in competition.     We round out our Top 10 newcomers to the 2028 Rankings with the DL out of Bay Port. The 2028 DL has been in the weight room steady and is working his way towards big numbers including a 425 lbs squat. A squat that hit the depth you look for. That improved strength is going to be huge for him this fall as he goes to war in the trenches. Watching the DL/FB in 2024 the first word that comes to mind is physical. Every highlight shows Carter running over a defender as a lead blocker for his QB or getting underneath the chinstrap of a TE or OL and driving them off the ball then wrecking havoc in the backfield. Carter plays like he is looking to punish his opponent. It is only going to be more dominant this fall with the strides he has made in the weight room.

With the debut of the first 2028 Rankings Update came 50+ new names among the ranked athletes. Those new athletes made their personal debuts throughout the rankings, providing us with new top end talent and excellent depth to the Class. These new athletes are the focus of our article here. We are going to dive into the tape and discuss what traits they have that stand out most as they prepare for the 2025 season to show off how they have developed this offseason. Let's dive in and discuss the best of all the newcomers in the 2028 Rankings!