28s Who Made a Name for Themselves This Season

The Prep Redzone WI Winter Showcase is coming up on November 30! Register at the link<a href="https://events.prepredzone.com/e/2115/register/stock-up-showcase-wisconsin"> HERE</a> and use code MJohnsonWinterPRZ for a discount!   The current sophomore class in WI saw so many breakout performances. The athletes who are able to make a name for themselves as underclassmen are usually the ones who are towards the top of the rankings by the time graduation comes. They are the early bloomers who are able to spend years crafting and refining the more intricate parts of their game because they are further ahead in their development. So just who are some of those sophomores who used the 2025 season to be their stage for a breakout performance? Let's talk about it, and watch some tape along the way.    One of the top breakout athletes on the OL this season was sophomore LT [player_tooltip player_id='1718683' first='Adrian' last='Gschwind'] of Waupun. The Waupun offense was one of the most dominant this past season, piling up yards and points in a hurry. None of that would have been possible if not for the emergence of the 6'5" 260 lbs sophomore. Adrian already has a great frame for the position. He is filling out well and utilizes his long arms on the field. On tape there is so much to be excited about. The big man demonstrated a strong anchor in pass pro vs bull rushes. Range to pull across the formation and power to reset the line of scrimmage in the run game or flatten the defender he is kicking out when pulling. The 2028 is at a great point in his development. It is now time to take things to the next level. More fluid in his movements, more flexibility in his knees and ankles so that he can win the leverage battle and continuing to add as much strength as he can comfortably and effectively use. Big things are ahead for Adrian.      Mace is having one of the best seasons at WR among all 2028s. He has piled up 43/650/9 on the season. A season that has Whitefish Bay one win away from Camp Randall after entering the postseason as an 8 seed. Mace scored twice in Level 3, including the game winner. The clutch playmaker made both of his catches, and several others throughout the season, thanks to elite ball tracking skills. His timing, catch radius, and ability to go up and get it at the high point with his explosiveness helps him win downfield so often. The 2028 WR does a great job with his route running to create separation. The underclassman already makes it look effortless getting in and out of breaks and can get back to top speed so quickly. The 2028 WR is a dangerous playmaking threat out wide that the next level will want to check out early on in the process for him.     Mondovi's offense has been very effective and balanced throughout the season. It is a big reason why the team is still alive and looking to earn a trip to Madison on Friday. The Class of 2028 is heavily involved in that success and that includes WR/OLB Beau Spindler. On offense the big target has amassed 49/899/8 receiving. On defense he has 44 tackles, 6 TFLs, and 3 sacks.   Watching the tape, I love the way this kid plays WR. He is so strong after the catch and requires gang tackles to get him down. He is able to force extra yards with that power and balance. As strong as Beau is, he also has the finesse and soft hands to reel in catches all over his large catch radius. Plus he has flashes of some savvy route running. It is impressive watching how consistently he gets open. Dive into his tape.      This right here is one of the best overall players in the Class of 2028. I can easily see Azi working his way into a high level, Power 4 type of recruit by the time he is a senior. The strides he has made in one year, on and off the field, is elite. As a freshman he was 260 lbs. He is now a rock solid 300+ lbs at 6'3". I was able to watch him in action this season and he jumps out from the crowd. Elite power to hold the line of scrimmage while eating up blocks. Or he can attack out of his stance, easily drive his OL off the ball and then flash his quick, violent hands to shed them. I also saw him run through and over double teams just in the game I watched live. The kid is a budding talent with rapidly developing traits. He just recently posted all his highlights from the season. One of the games is below. Go through it and several others.      I was excited to see the impact that the sophomore WR could have for Appleton North. What I didn't expect was to watch Alijah become one of the best returners in the entire state as a sophomore. As a kick returner, Alijah posted 7 returns for 156 yards and a TD. As a punt returner, Alijah went off for 13 returns, 178 yards, and 1 TD. Then on offense he added 27/274/1, which was second on the team in all categories. The rising sophomore is an electric athlete. With any touch he can take it the distance. We are talking about speed, agility, burst, vision, and that innate playmaking knack for creating something out of nothing. The ceiling is so high for the WR/returner.     Jake is looking more and more the part of a high-level TE recruit with each season. The sophomore has an outstanding frame and is continuing to grow and fill it out. He is now up to 230 lbs, and that added size has made him a big impact in the run game. His highlight reel is loaded up with his run blocking prowess. Jake consistently drives guys off the line several yards and usually washes them far away from the designed gap. His initial pop and leg drive both are backed up with power. Then as a receiver he is showing that he is becoming a smooth athlete in his routes. He can easily cross the field and get into open zones. The 2028 is looking like an athlete with a lot of potential and a very high ceiling. If he continues to grow and fill out that frame more we could even see potential to play on the OL at the next level with his length, and rapidly developing run blocking talents. Either way, big things are coming for Jake.      There was a lot of hype and excitement for the new QB1 at Catholic Memorial. It was well deserved, and being lived up to with CM still in the playoffs and with Dalton putting up 1,886 passing yards with 28 TDs along with nearly 200 rushing yards and 4 more TDs. The tape is far more impressive than the numbers are. The sophomore is already so technically sound from his feet to his release. The ball gets out of his hand quickly. We see him make quick decisions and smart reads. Dalton also does a great job of not putting the ball in harms way while creating this big plays. The rising 2028 does a great job of pushing the ball downfield and has the arm strength to be able to drive it into windows as well as take the top off the defense to his speedy targets. This is going to be a name to know in this Class. So get him on your boards, today.     If you like disruptive, violent, explosive defensive players then Taft is going to be an athlete for you. At 6' 195 lbs the sophomore has been a wrecking ball on the West De Pere DL. The interior of the DL in particular. He has piled up 50 tackles, 10 TFLs, and 4 sacks on the season. While undersized, Taft has found ways to dominant. The '28 flies off the line with an explosive first step and can turn that quickness into violent power to defeat blocks with his strong hands very quickly. Taft also has outstanding range to chase down the QB or RB outside the pocket. This kid plays with reckless abandonment and disrupts a ton of plays with that style. DT probably isn't his future home, but somewhere on defense is. Don't sleep on this kid.     Bay Port has been on a heater these past two seasons piling up wins, a championship, and producing a lot of next level talent. With all that going on it isn't easy for an underclassman to find a consistent role. However, LB [player_tooltip player_id='1077370' first='Asher' last='Fontaine'] has done that. He currently has 56 tackles, 5 TFLs, and half a sack and the team still has at least one more game to go this Friday. The sophomore has earned a starting spot at ILB and has the traits to turn himself into one of the best at his position. Asher has an intriguing blend of instincts, sideline to sideline range, and a fantastic ability to fly through traffic untouched while closing on the ball. His timing and burst paired with those quickly developing instincts make him a nightmare to try and get an OL up to. Keep a close eye on him. Dive into some of his highlights to get more of a feel for his game.

The Prep Redzone WI Winter Showcase is coming up on November 30! Register at the link HERE and use code MJohnsonWinterPRZ for a discount!