5A 2028s to Look Out for Pt. 2

The 2028 class is so LOADED with talent, I couldn't contain all the names I wanted to highlight to just one article. Take a look at some more standout 2028s from MN's second biggest class!    Sivongsay saw significant varsity time as a sophomore, making his impact felt as a wideout early and often. He put out some solid tape, where he showcased some versatility both blocking and receiving. He stood out on short routes, maximizing the early separation between himself and the DB within the first 7 yards. When asked to block, Sivongsay does a nice job of position blocking, often effectively sealing the DB off from the rest of the play, preventing him from making the tackle. I'm excited to see his growth as an athlete over the offseason, and he'll be someone to watch during his junior year.     Sargent was another sophomore who saw a lot of varsity time for the Blaze next season, playing an effective role on both the defensive and offensive line. He's a powerful athlete, capable of displacing opponents on both sides of the LOS. As a guard, Sargent plays low with a stout base, and his hand-fighting is solid for a younger prospect. He can absorb bull rushes with the best of them and does a great job playing physical in pass-pro. He's shown flashes of greatness when run blocking, too, and once he gets underneath a defender's pads, he can put them on skates. Sargent should be an athlete to watch this offseason.     Another Burnsville sophomore who was a standout last fall, Parham, played in 5 games for the Blaze as an EDGE/TE. He's got a solid frame on him, and he isn't afraid to be physical at the point of attack. Parham possesses a quick first step of the LOS when he's rushing the edge, and his athleticism and agility make him a tough ask to base block. He plays read options well, staying home and forcing the handoff, but his speed allows him to crash down inside and still make a tackle. I could see him being a stock riser this offseason, especially if he hits the camp circuit hard.     An absolute UNIT of a sophomore with a scholarship frame on him, Zilka put together some very intriguing tape from his sophomore campaign. His size is evident in his film, but he moves uncommonly well for a sophomore with a 6'6" frame. He's quick for his size, but also possesses a substantial amount of power, which allows him to both effectively bull-rush tackles and occasionally beat them around the edge or with moves across their face. He's big and tough for offensive linemen to move, which makes him a threat in the run game as well. I think he's got breakout potential written all over him, and I'd love to see him run it at some camps this spring.     A crafty and highly touted 2028 prospect, Barajas is a quick receiver who put out some great tape from his sophomore season. I really liked this fall tape; it showed off a lot of fantastic qualities that I think will serve him well at the varsity level next season. The speed is evident, and causes problems for DBs when he goes deep. But Barajas also can make defenders miss, and his vision with the rock in his hands allows him to rack up YAC. CDH loves using him in motion, and I completely understand why. Getting Barajas to build up speed to either run a route or take a jet sweep can cause a lot of problems for DBs/LBs forced to cover him. I'm excited to see what he can do at the varsity level next year.     A quick and physical OLB with a solid build, Verdeja is an athlete who shows off a lot of promising traits on his sophomore tape. His speed and aggressiveness stood out to be first. Verdeja is quick for a 190 lb 2028, and he closes the distance with ball carriers rapidly, which causes a lot of problems for offenses near the LOS. He's a very adept run defender, and when he doesn't make a tackle, Verdeja does a nice job sealing the edge and forcing the ball carrier back through the middle, right to his ILBs. I'd love to see more tape from him going forward.     A slick DB with upside as a kick returner, Curtis put forth some varsity film from his sophomore campaign that leaves me excited to see what he can do going forward. Curtis is quick and adept in both zone and man coverage. He's not scared to be physical when tackling wideouts and does a good job of fighting through blockers on screens to make the play. I love his pursuit as well. Curtis can hawk down receivers across the field and make drive-saving tackles. He's got solid ball tracking and contests passes well. Curtis is on track to be a standout varsity corner next season.     An ILB who frequently plays with a dogged tenacity at all times, Classen is a varsity athlete whom I'm excited to see more of in the future. He plays downhill well and works hard through blockers to get to the RB. He's patient when pursuing the ball carrier, careful not to overpursue or allow glaring cutback lanes. Perhaps my favorite part of his tape is how he collisions lead blockers. Classen can light up fullbacks and still make the tackle with the RB seeing minimal gains. He takes optimal pursuit angles when flowing to the alley, too.     A two-way athlete for the Highland Park Scots, Wicks saw time as both a TE and LB during his sophomore year. On defense, Wicks is a solid run blocker, capable of forcing ball carriers back up the middle and racking up TFLs in the process. Perhaps my favorite part of his game is how Wicks never gives up on a play. On both sides of the ball, he frequently plays to the whistle, blocking defenders until the last possible moment on offense and always looking for work, and giving dogged pursuit toward ball carriers on the other side of the field. If he can put on some weight this offseason, I think Wicks could be quite a prospect.

The 2028 class is so LOADED with talent, I couldn't contain all the names I wanted to highlight to just one article. Take a look at some more standout 2028s from MN's second biggest class!