Breakout South Dakota 2028s on the Rise: Part 1

Now that we sit nearly at the mid-way point of the 2025 fall season we have a much cleaner view of what this 2028 South Dakota class looks like especially from a tape perspective. There's been in my eyes, more varsity starters than we've seen in recent years especially in 11AAA with this sophomore class. Who's been making the noise? You can find out which 2028 prospects have been on the move!    Shep has been a 2028 defensive end that has been an enforcer on the Cavaliers defensive line thus far this season. All summer long this kid was in the weight room and it's showing on the field as the now 6'3 225 pounder is showing plenty of skillsets showing his craft. He has the light hands getting off blocks and his long nearly 6'8 wingspan has been disruptive for quarterbacks to find room to throw when he's down the line into the backfield. You also can't miss the strength that's apparent at the point of attack around the edges as Shep is one of the best in this 2028 class and setting the edge with his range with lateral movement more like a linebacker at times.     When I look aheade at the upcoming release of our 2028 rankings, the biggest riser I can tell that will be in my top-tier will be 2028 wide receiver [player_tooltip player_id='1602491' first='Braylon' last='Treasure'] of Sioux Falls O'Gorman. Braylon is one of the most impressive route-runner that's out there in this class and showed it last summer at camps as a 2028 that has electric change of direction on his routes for his age. We've had this young man on our radar since he was an eighth grader playing 7v7 and is one of very few 2028s in the state getting a lot of attention from Division I schools this early.     The sample size on tape isn't huge at the moment, but [player_tooltip player_id='1601682' first='Joe' last='Kayser'] of Bridgewater-Emery-Ethan is a 2028 prospect in the trenches that you can tell the upside is starting to brew in his sophomore season at BEE. The 6'4 300 pounder is a run-clogging defensive tackle that impresses me in muliple areas. Obviously, the strength against inferior competition size-wise is an advantage but outside of that I am impressed with how well Joe moves at his size down to the ball. He's also fluid with his hands getting off blocks and I feel there's solid wiggle room to smoothen out getting off blocks. Surely one I hope to see more tape and at our Prep Redzone Dakotas Showcase this winter.     Mason proved a point this Spring as our Offensive Line MVP at our Prep Redzone Dakotas Showcase and thus far in the 2025 season he's done it again with not allowing a sack thru the first four weeks of the season. As a trench monster that plays on both sides of the ball, where I have seen the growth the most on either side appears with Mason's get off in a couple areas. The first area is his first step certainly has gotten quicker and the second area is how efficent and agile Mason looks getting off blocks as a defensive tackle. The growth on offense aligns in pass-protection as it didn't take long to gauge the sound hand placement and technique that Mason has continued to growh. I know I've said it before, but it's worth repeating that Mason has one of the best work ethics you will see in this 2028 class.     Ethan has been a 2028 that each time I peak at his linebacker tape, I see steady growth week by week this season has one that has boosted his football IQ at a different position than we have him graded at the moment. His suddenness downhill to the ball has been a area that I have seen a lot of growth and can be noted from his first clip against Sioux Falls Jefferson as clearly Ethan has the length but the agility this 6'3 180 pounder is boosting is showing more proficency. The efficency Ethan is also showing in pass coverage is another area that I have seen the growth pick up quickly as one of the better pass cover linebackers so far in this SD 2028 class.

Now that we sit nearly at the mid-way point of the 2025 fall season we have a much cleaner view of what this 2028 South Dakota class looks like especially from a tape perspective. There's been in my eyes, more varsity starters than we've seen in recent years especially in 11AAA with this sophomore class. Who's been making the noise? You can find out which 2028 prospects have been on the move!