Sophomore Spotlight: Houston 2028 Offensive Standouts

Texas high school football is officially only two weeks away, and players of all classifications and talents are gearing up to make their debut, begin their breakout year, or build off their storied career. Some of the most exciting stories heading into a new season are the rising sophomores coming off an electric and/or surprising freshman campaign. Continuing to navigate the state's class of 2028, let's check out five offensive standouts from Houston.    One of the class's best players in the entire nation, Rhodes is a true all-purpose back with a physical frame and a dynamic skill set. Micah thrives at utilizing his elite contact balance and change of direction to shed tackles and break off long runs. He also possesses elite footwork that sets up running lanes and offsets defenders. In addition to these attributes, Rhodes boasts stellar overall speed, along with great burst through the line of scrimmage. He is a powerful runner with the twitch and elusiveness to sift through all levels of the defense. After rushing for over 900 yards and 10 touchdowns as a freshman, Michah should be in store for a massive 2025 season. The superstar tailback already holds offers from powerhouse programs such as Ohio State, Oregon, and Texas.      Another dynamic and physical back with some serious juice to his game, Simon had an insane freshman season with over 1,600 yards and 21 touchdowns. Simon has an electric skill set, combined with the polish and durability of a veteran. He possesses great patience and vision, setting up his blocks at the line of scrimmage, then using his burst and acceleration into the second level. Sean also maintains good pad-level and little wasted movement as he breaks off long runs with stiff arms, truck sticks, and hurdles. After a historic season that included a 350-yard game, Simon will lead the Bulldogs' backfield again in his sophomore season. He has already earned 12 offers from schools such as Tennessee, SMU, and Nebraska.      Gaines is a gunslinger signal-caller who throws the ball with a quick release and some serious zip. "TK" projects to be a strong-armed pocket passer at the next level. He excels at stepping up in the face of pressure and delivering strikes downfield. As a freshman, Gaines already demonstrated the ability to put passes in small windows both down the middle of the field and outside the numbers. His accuracy and anticipation allow his receivers to regularly catch the ball in stride. Additionally, Gaines possesses solid movement and speed when outside the pocket. In his freshman campaign, Gaines ran the Bulldogs' offense at a first-class rate, compiling nearly 2,000 yards and 18 touchdowns. Expect TK to break out to another level this season and build upon an offer list that includes schools such as Baylor, Vanderbilt, and Texas Tech.      A versatile gadget of an offensive weapon, Mitchell may not be the biggest player in the state, but he may be the fastest, and he plays with great physicality. He has incredible overall speed, posting a 10.17 100m and a 4.37 40. Dillon also possesses great footwork and change of direction, constantly eluding defenders at all levels of the field. He can line up anywhere on the offense and plays with great contact balance for his size. An absolute nightmare for opposing teams, producing over 1,400 yards and 26 total touchdowns as a freshman. As Mitchell continues to build up his frame, expect him to continue to dominate for the Panthers and have an elite sophomore season. He has received plenty of offers already, from schools such as Florida, Georgia, and Texas A&M.      Likely to soon be one of the most sought-after recruits in the country, Edwards had a dominant freshman season, while already possessing the frame of a Power 4 left tackle. He showcases significant power and finish in the run game, along with agility and precision in pass protection. Edwards excels at firing out his hips and driving edge rushers into the second level. He plays with heavy hands, a high motor, and some pure nastiness that make defenders' tasks impossible. R'Monie will continue to develop and serve as the anchor for the Mustangs' offense. He has already received a collection of offers from schools such as Texas A&M, Ole Miss, and Arizona.

Texas high school football is officially only two weeks away, and players of all classifications and talents are gearing up to make their debut, begin their breakout year, or build off their storied career. Some of the most exciting stories heading into a new season are the rising sophomores coming off an electric and/or surprising freshman campaign. Continuing to navigate the state's class of 2028, let's check out five offensive standouts from Houston.