’28 Rankings Update: A Closer Look at Versatile Athletes

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 Athletes I found that needed an updated evaluation or one on their profile for the first time:    We last <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/04/fresh-evaluations-for-top-performers-in-2028/">evaluated Ehlers</a> back in April. That means the profile needs updating with what he showed us as a sophomore for a team that made it back to the UNI-Dome, this year in a larger class. He posted 34.5 tackles, 32 of which were solo stops. Ehlers added a pair of tackles for loss, a forced fumble, two interceptions, including a Pick-6, and three passes defended. He averaged 20.9 yards on seven kick returns. On top of all that, Ehlers completed six of eight passes and averaged 4.0 yards on three carries. He added 10 pounds to his frame since the last update. Ehlers looks the part of a next-level defensive back. We saw that in the state semifinals against Pella, when he racked up seven solo tackles, including a stop for loss. Ehlers thrives as a cornerback on this level, as we can see throughout his <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/22115196/68fd4e3e6d6867f4f09c0a73">10th-grade highlight video</a>. He's sticky in coverage with fluid actions in changing directions. There's also a path to being a college safety here.     Daye Jr. has been on our radar for awhile, but we last wrote an evaluation on the PCM sophomore way back in April of his freshman school year. Thankfully, his ultra-productive 2025 season is captured within his <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/20691857/68e91f250032ec3e0ef03ba6">10th-grade highlight video</a>. Daye Jr. rolled up 1,097 yards (6.3 YPC) and 12 touchdowns rushing, added a two-point conversion and catching a pair of passes for 26 yards. The Mustangs reached the Class 2A quarterfinals in a nine-win campaign. Daye Jr. gets to the holes quickly and picks up steam as he advances. He's fast in a straight line and gets to the edge in a hurry. Daye Jr. can pick his way between the tackles and run with power inside. Believe or not, his frame has room to add strength, giving him upside carrying the rock with the attributes to move off of the position if a college saw that move being beneficial to he and the program.     It's time to check in with Vanderlinden after last evaluating him for the previous update all the way back in June. That means we have a sophomore season to check out. He mostly line up at quarterback, throwing for 447 yards (14.4 YPC) and three touchdowns. Vanderlinden added 169 yards (4.1 YPC) and a score on the ground. All three of his tackles were solo stops. We can view him throwing the football <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/22551423/6925ca5bc61f738cea2f3101">HERE</a> and running with it <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/22551423/6925c662c5142346c72ab129">HERE</a>. Vanderlinden pushes the ball down the field with a fluid delivery and arm strength. He's capable of dropping it in the bucket, and there's zip on underneath routes along with a knack for keeping plays alive with his legs. Speaking of which, Vanderlinden gashes defenses on designed runs via burst and top-end speed. It's easy to imagine the skill sets working at multiple positions on the next level.     We last highlighted Lass before he played his sophomore season at Ogden in 2025. He was credited with 10.5 tackles, eight of them being solo stops. Lass came up with 3.5 tackles for loss and shared a sack. He intercepted a pass and caught two balls as a receiver. When watching Lass' <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/22973639/6942bc24df690cf4e87278b4">10th-grade highlight video</a> at linebacker, we can see an active performer on the defense's second level getting to the ball in a hurry while operating within the framework of the defense. Lass looks smooth in his back pedal when dropping into coverage, keeping the door open for slotting into the secondary in college depending on how his frame develops. It's projectable and capable of adding mass without the loss of any explosion.     Walter was last evaluated by Prep Redzone way back in the early summer. Since then, he enjoyed a sophomore season in which he delivered key contributions for a Class 4A state quarterfinalist. Walter carried the ball three times and caught six passes. FIve of his seven tackles were solo stops. He did the most damage on special teams, where he averaged 20.1 yards on seven kick returns. Walter's exploits are on display when watching his <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/20566403/691e17ea2727ce863ba2d8e2">10th-grade highlight video</a>. He flashes potential as versatile weapon with the ball in his hands on offense, traits that also shine through in the return game. Walter shows a lot of potential as a defensive back, too. He runs well with receivers, changing directions easily and closing quickly.     Drake flashed potential as a prospect on both sides of the ball when watching him at the Back2Ballin 7-on-7 tournament early last year. I caught him at a live scout again during the season, when the Clippers took on a state-semifinalist in Newton. Drake was doing a little bit of everything for CCA this season. He took advantage of his opportunities in any of the three phases and further developed for what should be greater contributions in 2026. We see that when watching his <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/20414862/6900e60ad971a01e0b854a9e">10th-grade highlight video</a>. There's potential for development on both sides of the ball. Drake looks comfortable making plays as a slot receiver and defensive back. He displays a good feel for finding holes in the defense with crisp routes. As a cornerback, Drake changes directions and closes on the ball well.

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