’28 Rankings Update: A Closer Look at Tight Ends

Get 30% off your first billing cycle with code: howe30 in the coupon code area   <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/01/how-latest-28-rankings-update-came-together/">How Latest '28 Rankings Update Came Together</a>   Prep Redzone Iowa dropped a <a href="https://prepredzone.com/iowa/rankings/2028-rankings/">Class of 2028 rankings update</a> on Monday. The site dedicated itself to putting in the time as you can see by the number of student-athletes in there with evaluations attached to their profiles.   That's really the goal. We're trying to evaluate as many of you as possible in hopes of helping as Iowans receive exposure. By the way, that's another call for video highlights on your Hudl page (which we can then put in your Redzone profile). We need film to scout.   With that in mind, I'm adding evaluations in these positional breakdowns on guys we've not written about since before the season or not at all. It allows for highlighting more student-athletes while waiting on new film for players whose current film already has been evaluated. There also are reports generated from in-person scouting opportunities.   Here are '28 tight ends I found that needed an updated evaluation or one on their profile for the first time:    Severson has continued his ascent as a prospect and, in turn, up the Prep Redzone rankings. The latest update had the Madrid star as the state's No. 1 overall player in the 2028 Class and top tight end. Some of the country's best Power 4 programs agree, having already furnished him with an impressive list of scholarship offers. Severson is a tremendous athlete, not only evidenced by what he does on the gridiron, but also with what's accomplished on the basketball court. He's currently leading Tiger hoopers in scoring (24.8 PPG) and rebounding (9.4 RPG) as a 10th-grader. We can witness his talents in both sports on his <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/18401126/Jevyn-Severson/highlights">Hudl page</a>. His football ceiling is what has so many people excited. There's explosive athleticism, speed and physicality already with potential for much more. Often lining up as an H-Back, Severson frequently delivers at least a chip block before running crisp routes. When assigned to block, he dishes out pancakes like he's at a high school fundraiser.     Lange has proven to be a prospect on both sides of the ball with his production for Mount Pleasant in 2025. The sophomore piled up 41.0 tackles, 27 of which were of the solo variety. He registered 18.5 tackles for loss and 13.0 sacks. As a tight end, he hauled in 17 balls for 251 yards (14.8 YPR) with a pair of touchdowns. He also was credited with 15 pancake blocks, illustrating his abilities as a well-rounded performer at the position. When watching his <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/20187494/6965343b2f73beb116a7af65">defensive highlights</a> from last season, we see an explosive edge that beats opponents with speed and power. During his <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/20187494/69667b67cc281153c14f3d77">offensive highlights</a>, Lange flashes upside as a precise route runner and a bully as a blocker. It seems like Lange is just scratching the surface of his potential, making him a prospect worthy of more attention on the recruiting trail.     There's a limited amount of video evidence of Clark's talents on his <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/20451046/Dane-Clark/highlights">Hudl page</a>. That's a result of smaller statistical contributions while getting his feet wet as a sophomore on the Humboldt varsity during the 2025 campaign. He caught five passes for 80 yards (16.0 YPR) and three of his 5.0 tackles were solo stops. What he flashed as a ninth-grader landed him a game-day invitation from the Iowa Hawkeyes. It also probably helped that he's the son of program great, Dallas Clark. The bloodlines are strong, and the young Clark looks the part during the few clips publicly available. One one, he blocks effectively and releases for a 13-yard reception. There are also basketball highlights of him showing athleticism and agility, along with speed. His frame is such that it can comfortably add good weight, which helps make him a prospect on which to keep an eye next fall. A breakout would not be a surprise, at all.     We last wrote about Helming following our last 2028 Class update all the way back in June. That means we hadn't yet posted an evaluation of his <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/20041122/69021e77d10a11090b9ce074">sophomore highlight video</a>. There's no better time than the present after releasing another update for the cycle in late January. Helming took the next step in his development during his 10th-grade campaign on the varsity in the fall while also absorbing reps in the both sides of the ball in non-varsity contests. It included a couple of catches for 29 yards and a touchdown as a receiver and a whole lot of blocking. He was credited with one pancake block but opened up a lot of other running lanes and bowed up in pass protection beyond that. Helming gets the job done lining up in multiple locations, including the slot, in-line and as an H-Back.     Hanfelt saw action in the varsity in 2025 while also developing his skills on the sophomore level in hopes of larger contributions to the top team next fall. Ankeny boasts a long history of producing prospects for the next level, so guys often must wait their turn. The foundation is present for Hanfelt to take advantage when the opportunity comes his way in the fall. It's based on athleticism. He's a multi-sport contributor, including being a club basketball player with Iowa United. Hopefully, Hanfelt puts together a highlight tape in the not too distant future. His status as a prospect is intriguing.     Unfortunately, we can't find any video highlights on Weldin's Hudl page. What we have to go on his that he contributed on the varsity as a sophomore in a program that went back to the UNI-Dome in 2025 and has a long history of developing talent for the next level. Weldin has a frame capable of adding good weight without the loss of any speed or agility. We look forward to seeing how he develops this offseason and what he can add to a Tiger outfit that should provide him opportunity following graduation losses.

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