2028 Rankings: Watchlist to Ranked

One of my favorite things about each rankings cycle is the players who move from the watchlist to our rankings. Players will often claim a profile and end up on the watchlist, or we may place them there if we've heard of them, but don't have varsity film to evaluate. In our latest 2028 rankings update, seven players made the leap from the watchlist to the rankings. Here, we're breaking them all down.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Which 2028 Prospects Moved From Our Watchlist to Our Rankings?</h2>    It's probably time to change Person's profile picture, as he's not the same little guy who popped up on the radar in middle school. He's now a shifty running back who's flashed the physicality to bang inside with high school seniors. He's completely unafraid of contact and seeks it out as a blocker. He's still the No. 2 guy at the running back position for Mallard Creek, but that's totally fine if he's willing to pick up those tough yard, when needed.     A compact space-eater on the inside, Martinez is a true nose guard prospect as a sophomore. While he's often asked to tie up interior blockers to allow room for West Iredell's talented linebackers to work, he's flashed the ability to blow up plays before they really even start. His strength and pad level are major pluses, and with time, he could turn into a really well-rounded interior defender.     Despite being a bit smaller than his brother, I like Martin a bit more on the offensive line. He plays left tackle for an improving North Stanly team and thrived as a highly athletic people mover in the running game. Even as a left tackle, he showed the ability to pull and stay square, rarely overstepping or leaning over his feet. He could still play defensive line, too, but I like him best on the offensive side of the ball. If he can add some good weight this offseason, he'll have quite the future as an interior offensive line prospect.     Like his brother, Martin is a two-way player for an ascending North Stanly team. While most of his season highlight tape is focused on his offensive guard film, I really like him as a quick interior defender. He's relentless on both sides of the ball, and he'll routinely have big finishes to blocks or chase down ball carriers from behind. His strength really shows up offensively, and he's flashed that at the point of attack as an interior defender. Given the chance, I think he could turn into a true D2/FCS defensive line prospect.     Stroud's athletic profile suggests he could be a late riser once he's finally able to find consistent playing time on one of the best and deepest teams in the state. He's a true 200-pounder, with excellent speed and burst. He can play both ways, but we think he'll carve out a nice role as a change-of-pace back for Grimsley as a junior, and have him ranked on the offensive side of the ball.     Price has been on our radar for a while, but we just didn't have the varsity film to push him into the rankings at the time. A weight room warrior (And member of the 1,000-pound club), he battled through injuries to have an electric end to the season. His get-off is rare for his size, and his strength shows up on the field. Be on the lookout, as he may be a guy who rises considerably in the next rankings update, especially if he stays healthy.     A two-way player, Herman actually reached out via email, confident that his film would impress us, and he was right. The playmaker is our highest-ranked player who came from the watchlist this update. He has excellent vision as a running back and good quickness and start-stop ability. Those traits show up on the defensive side of the ball as well, helping him match receivers in man coverage. And when he gets his hands on an opponent's pass, you know he's going to both complete the catch and do some damage on the return.    There's plenty to come from Matt Morrow, Joshua Graham, and me on the 2028 rankings over the next week. Stay locked in with Prep Redzone for more insights, evaluations, and rankings updates. Want to share Prep Redzone with a friend? Promo code Helms30 will get them 30% off their first billing cycle for any subscription.

One of my favorite things about each rankings cycle is the players who move from the watchlist to our rankings. Players will often claim a profile and end up on the watchlist, or we may place them there if we've heard of them, but don't have varsity film to evaluate. In our latest 2028 rankings update, seven players made the leap from the watchlist to the rankings. Here, we're breaking them all down.