August Rankings Update: Behind the Scenes of the 2028 Class

There's a lot of behind the scenes work that goes into each rankings update. Some of the process is the same for every update, but some things are unique to each class and time of year. We updated our rankings for the rising sophomore class just before the season starts.   In this special piece, I'm looking at what went into building the August update, going behind the scenes of the 2028 class rankings. What themes and thoughts are developing and what is there still to learn as we approach one of the busiest times in the high school calendar?   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Behind the Scenes of the 2028 Class</h2>   If you're familiar with this piece, you know the drill, but if not, allow me to briefly explain its purpose. We're always player-focused, so everything we do is from the lens of scouting. However, it's also helpful to step back and examine some of the themes and trends that have developed within a class. This macro view can inform the micro view.   Here, I've got numbers, stats and thoughts to accompany our latest 2027 rankings update and always welcome thoughts and feedback.   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Why Update the 2028 Class in Late August?</h3>   This is one of the more unique (and frankly, difficult) updates for us in the whole career of a high school class. We've updated the rising sophomore class three times (including this one) since the end of last season. That means we've already captured almost all of the 2028 class that has varsity film.   And honestly, there isn't typically a ton of movement over the summer in recruiting for this group either. So what's changed in these rankings?   On one hand, this rankings update for the 2028 class is difficult. On the other, it's one of my favorites. Our policy is essentially, "Don't rank players without varsity film, but be liberal with exceptions."   Basically, if we've seen a player in camp or have on good authority that they'll play (and play well) soon, we rank them. Consider it a way to "call our shot" with prospects.   Players like [player_tooltip player_id='1648980' first='Carter' last='Pilon'] (WR/DB, Providence Day), [player_tooltip player_id='1687429' first='Easton' last='McCullen'] (OL, Union Pines), and [player_tooltip player_id='866234' first='Kylen' last='Crisp'] (QB, Walter M. Williams) don't have much (if any) varsity film, whether because they sat behind older players or just didn't crack the field as freshmen, but the upside is real and we listen to what coaches and other scouts have told us.   Other players snuck onto our radar in unexpected ways. Overhills OL/DL [player_tooltip player_id='1669833' first='Lincoln' last='Wedderburn'] doesn't have a ton of hype, but when I was evaluating some running backs and saw a massive guard blowing open holes, he was quickly added to our rankings database.   Midway RB [player_tooltip player_id='1687440' first='Wesley' last='Tew'] didn't have the type of numbers as a freshman that screamed at us when it came to rankings, but when we saw his 4.7 40 at 6'1," 180 pounds, we were intrigued. He also put up a 33-inch vertical and benched more than most of the linemen, making it clear he deserved to be ranked.   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">2028 Class By the Numbers</h3>   Unfortunately, I was out of office last weekend, and forgot to export the rankings to my spreadsheet for proper tracking, so I don't have my exact numbers, but I do have a few tidbits from this update.   First, we have 162 ranked prospects, up from just over 120 in the spring. We also have 118 watchlist players in this update. In total, those 280 players are spread across 165 different schools across the state.   It's early, but we have a midseason update planned for October and I think we could see upwards of 250 ranked players, if not more.   If you have other questions or want me to further break down some of the numbers, just reach out on Twitter (<a href="https://x.com/whelms21">@whelms21</a>).   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">New Players To Know</h3>   I won't list every player we've added, but there are a few intriguing prospects worthy of special shoutouts. Here are some intriguing new players:   [player_tooltip player_id='1149961' first='Braxton' last='Johnson'], QB, Reidsville (From Watchlist)   [player_tooltip player_id='1623278' first='Bradley' last='Kule'], OL/DL, Hopewell (From Watchlist)   [player_tooltip player_id='1698691' first='Gavin' last='Bullock'], LB, West Johnston   [player_tooltip player_id='1743452' first='Christian' last='Ivy-Teague'], DB, Providence   [player_tooltip player_id='1709614' first='Cassell' last='Cruickshank'], Edge/TE, E.E. Smith   There's plenty to come from Matt Morrow, Joshua Graham, and I on the 2028 rankings over the next week. Stay locked in with Prep Redzone for more insights, evaluations, and rankings updates. Want to share Prep Redzone with a friend? Promo code Helms30 will get them 30% off their first billing cycle for any subscription.

There's a lot of behind the scenes work that goes into each rankings update. Some of the process is the same for every update, but some things are unique to each class and time of year. We updated our rankings for the rising sophomore class just before the season starts.