First look at some of VA's ranked 2028 prospects

In this article, I give my first impression on five Class of 2028 prospects from the state of Virginia. Make sure to check out the updated Class of 2028 rankings here.    Reaves, who is massive, is a right tackle who plays with a strong base and generates a lot of movement in the running game. He and his teammates along the offensive line helped two running backs run for 1,000-plus yards this season. Reaves is consistently physical at the point of attack and has good initial strike power. His highlights are over eight minutes long and in sequential order. I'd like to see him re-arrange it to show his best ten plays in the beginning.     Jackson, like [player_tooltip player_id='1720886' first='Kyan' last='Reaves'] (see above), is another big offensive lineman with strong movement skills and solid quickness of his stance. He too is consistent with finishing his blocks. Based on the pass reps I evaluated, he demonstrates good control in pass protection. In a couple of those reps, Jackson handles counter moves well. You also get a glimpse of him being able to reach the second level and finish blocks. Great looking prospect.     Whiteside's highlights show that he's a true two-way player (cornerback and wide receiver) who produces explosive plays on offense, defense, and special teams. Despite only playing five games this season, he made 20 tackles (six for a loss), intercepted two passes, broke up another nine passes, and was credit with 450 total yards of offense and six total touchdowns. That, my friends, is demonstrating versatility and the ability to be a high-impact player. You get a chance to also see some of his top-end speed on both sides of the ball. His closing speed on one tackle, where he covers 10 yards quickly and drills the ball carrier behind the line of scrimmage before he can gain another yard, certainly stands out.     Gist's highlights show that he has strong playmaking ability, body control, and the physicality to finish through contact. There's a few plays where his concentration at the point of catch stands out. Gist comes down with a few contested passes. I think Gist adjusts well to zone coverage and knows how to leverage his frame against defenders. He'll need to continue developing burst off the line and quicker transitions in and out of breaks.     Gambrel's highlights showcase him making a good number of plays on the outside using his quickness to make plays in space. There's a few plays where he shows good instincts pressing the line before bouncing runs. Gambrel also has the ability to slip through tight lanes. He's on the smaller side and will need to continue developing his top-end speed.

In this article, I give my first impression on five Class of 2028 prospects from the state of Virginia. Make sure to check out the updated Class of 2028 rankings here.