3 Things To Know About the 2028 Class

We're off and running with our <a href="https://prepredzone.com/north-carolina/rankings/2028-rankings/">2028 rankings update</a>, and the sophomore class is in the spotlight. Overall, we added 64 players to the rankings to bring the total up to 281 in the class. We also had 58 players move up at least one spot in the rankings, including <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/01/behind-the-scenes-of-the-2028-rankings-update-january/">11 who rose more than 20 places</a>. Here, I'm zooming out a bit, giving fans three big-picture things to know about the 2028 class as a whole.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2028 Rankings Update: Three Things To Know</h2>   The class of 2028 is in the spotlight, and fans may not be familiar with this younger class as a whole. One of the best ways to interact with an unfamiliar class is by identifying trends and comparing them to those of past classes. There's plenty to know about the class of 2028, but here are the first three things I think of when it comes to the class as a whole.   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">1) There are Plenty of Elite, Unoffered Prospects</h3>   Partially due to the transfer portal, and partially due to the <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/01/three-things-to-know-about-the-class-of-2027/">2027 class being so good at the top</a>, there's a lot of meat on the bone, so to speak, with the class of 2028. Whereas past classes have had 50+ prospects with multiple offers at this point in their high school careers, it's harder to find players towards the top who have been offered than who haven't.   Sure, guys like No. 1 [player_tooltip player_id='651159' first='Braylon' last='Clark'] and No. 3 [player_tooltip player_id='548207' first='Grayson' last='Williams'] are combing through their dozens of offers, already trying to trim down extensive lists, but others near the top are either just being offered or awaiting early offers.   West Charlotte athlete [player_tooltip player_id='422544' first='Jamil' last='Watson'], for example, has been in our top 15 for months, but the recruiting floodgates have only just begun to open. Princeton do-it-all running back [player_tooltip player_id='1616304' first='Teo' last='McPhatter'] remains our top back in the state, despite a lack of true college interest at the moment. No. 2 running back [player_tooltip player_id='1616114' first='John' last='Evans Jr.'] posted a 2,000-yard season as a 210-pound back at the 7A level and still doesn't have the type of recruiting interest you'd expect.   Even a top 6 guy like [player_tooltip player_id='1687752' first='Tyson' last='Williams'] is just starting to see his recruitment get rolling after a couple of summer offers stemming from elite camp performances and a big sophomore season.   So, don't take a lack of offers for a lack of talent. The offers will come, trust us.   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">2) Need a Front-Seven Piece? We Have Several</h3>   Take one look at our 2028 rankings, and you'll likely spot an early trend: This class is loaded at the linebacker, edge, and defensive tackle positions. Five of the top nine and 10 of the top 20 are front-seven players, and that's not including athletes [player_tooltip player_id='422544' first='Jamil' last='Watson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1815375' first='Isaiah' last='Woodburn'], who could, and should (respectively) play linebacker at the next level.   The linebacker class, in particular, is loaded.   We don't even have to choose between production and potential with most of these players. We have 10 off-ball linebackers ranked who both had at least 100 tackles and are listed at at least 200 pounds in our system. Some, like [player_tooltip player_id='1880225' first='Connor' last='Smith'] and [player_tooltip player_id='951250' first='Caleb' last='Foley'], have size and speed combinations that would match up favorably with the best in our 2026 class.   Our 10th-ranked linebacker, not including athletes who may switch to linebacker in the system, is ranked 53rd. You'd have to jump to the 80s or 90s to find the 10th-ranked linebacker in our 2025, 2026, and 2027 classes (and the <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/01/january-stock-risers-2027-lbs/">2027 linebacker class</a> is pretty good as well).   It's not just the guys at the top, either; we had seven linebacker stock-risers and nine newcomers to the rankings in this update, both the most among any position group. Add in the defensive line and edge rushers, and 40% of both our stock-risers and newcomers are in the front seven.   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">3) Opportunities for Playmakers</h3>   While the top-end of the rankings is loaded with bigger guys (In addition to the talent on the defensive side of the ball, this offensive line class is excellent, with five Top-50 and 14 Top-100 players), there's plenty of opportunity for guys at the skill positions to rise.   We only have 15 players in the Top 50 who are listed as QBs, RBs, WRs, or TEs, but that next part of the rankings is loaded.   Typically, we see more early contributors further off the line of scrimmage. It's actually rare to see younger classes with more linemen than skill players. But, I don't think it's a given that this class finishes that way.   We have 20 skill players ranked between 51 and 100. We have another 22 ranked between 101 and 150. I think we see several of those guys push into the top 50. A lot of them have straightforward paths to rise in the rankings.   Quarterbacks [player_tooltip player_id='1616112' first='Jonah' last='El-Amin'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1616143' first='Ryan' last='Rizzuti'], for example, have all the arm talent in the world and contributed some as freshmen, but sat behind older, established passers on great teams this season. If the production comes next season, they'll move up. Receiver [player_tooltip player_id='1852705' first='Jaleek' last='Parson'] was among the state leaders in receiving this year, and if he adds another 15-20 pounds, we'll feel even more comfortable moving him up (more than the 47 spots he jumped in this update).   The tight end class is intriguing, with just four ranked players, but all four either moved up at least eight spots or debuted inside the top 160. [player_tooltip player_id='1616145' first='Henry' last='Evans'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1665296' first='Brayden' last='Crain'], in particular, look like players who could finish as Top-40 players.   Finally, the running back situation in the middle is interesting, with several talented players who played on teams with losing conference records. Several of those players are difficult evaluations. Guys like [player_tooltip player_id='1272624' first='Luke' last='Pagan'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1421052' first='Matthew' last='Ziglar'] play in brutal conferences. Each thrived against the non-conference slates, but the raw numbers don't look amazing, as their teams were outgunned by elite state-title contenders in conference play.   Clark is our top overall prospect, and we have some high-upside potential Power Four guys in [player_tooltip player_id='1636010' first='Tylan' last='Grimes'], [player_tooltip player_id='1616138' first='Xavier' last='Hutchens'], [player_tooltip player_id='1394018' first='An'Dre' last='Ramseur Jr']., and [player_tooltip player_id='1421082' first='RJ' last='Lynch'] in the 20-30 range (Especially if Ramseur and Lynch can grow just a bit). Beyond that, the Group of Five and FCS range is loaded after a couple of down years in terms of the overall number of receiving prospects in that range in North Carolina.   We expect guys like [player_tooltip player_id='1646712' first='Noah' last='Dulin'], [player_tooltip player_id='2112027' first='Zakai' last='Milton'], [player_tooltip player_id='590094' first='Amari' last='Coulter'], [player_tooltip player_id='1657753' first='Doc' last='Caldwell'], and [player_tooltip player_id='1616136' first='Ian' last='Lhuillier'] to see their recruitments start a bit later, but by the time they have to choose a college, they should all have plenty of options.   Again, a lot of this will change with the spring and summer evaluation periods, but that's where things stand as of now.   This is the time of year when we have the most time to dive into film, reevaluate prospects, and change our minds about players. Send your film on Twitter/X (<a href="https://x.com/whelms21">@whelms21</a>), so I can evaluate you. Want to share Prep Redzone with a friend? Promo Code Helms30 is good for 30% off your first billing cycle.

We're off and running with our 2028 rankings update, and the sophomore class is in the spotlight. Overall, we added 64 players to the rankings to bring the total up to 281 in the class. We also had 58 players move up at least one spot in the rankings, including 11 who rose more than 20 places. Here, I'm zooming out a bit, giving fans three big-picture things to know about the 2028 class as a whole.