January Stock-Risers: 2028 Defensive Line

We're onto Week 2 of our latest rankings update. Last week, we released our updated <a href="https://prepredzone.com/north-carolina/rankings/2028-rankings/">2028 class rankings</a>, and we've been churning out content since then. As always, I started by going <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/01/behind-the-scenes-of-the-2028-rankings-update-january/">behind the scenes</a> of the update, and then wrote about the <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/01/3-things-to-know-about-the-2028-class/">class as a whole</a>. This week, we're looking at all the defenders who rose in the rankings. Here are our 2028 interior defensive line stock-risers.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2028 Defensive Line Stock-Risers</h2>    It's almost a foregone conclusion that Atunku will rise in the rankings in the future, as I'mjust not quite sure whether to rank him as an interior or edge defender. He'll line up at either, and his athletic profile is unique. He's an elite field athlete in the throwing disciplines, and that explosive strength pops on film. Basically, once we know how he develops physically, we'll know which position he'll play in college, and we'll have a better idea of exactly where to rank him in the context of the class as a whole.     Ibe was a reclassification from the 2027 class, and for him in particular, it seems to have been a great move. He's a compact, explosive run-stopper who has some pass-rushing upside, and he's thrived against some talented interior offensive linemen. His get-off is impressive, and we've seen him split double-teams to create havoc.     It's rare to see a guy Chandler's size line up outside the tackle, but he'll rush the passer from anywhere. He's taken snaps at nose tackle, edge rusher, and even as a standup outside linebacker, where he still has the quickness and length to disrupt the quarterback. He's significantly larger than when he first hit our radar and few players across the state had as productive a sophomore season as Chandler.     Flowers is up 10 spots since the start of the season, and considering he started inside the Top 30, that's a significant jump. His get-off is ridiculous, and about once a game, he'll derail a play from the snap. He has a relentless motor, and he hasn't lost a step since adding weight. In fact, he looks faster than he did before the season. His early production has caught the attention of college coaches, and he's had a busy January on the recruiting trail.     Hopkins has been on our radar for a while, and while his tape isn't the flashiest, he's quietly improving as much as any interior lineman in the state. It helps that he's grown a bit since we last had him in camp, and he hasn't lost a step with his bigger frame. Hopkins can two-gap as an interior defender, and he eats up space, but still has the quickness to shoot gaps and make tackles in the backfield.    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.

We're onto Week 2 of our latest rankings update. Last week, we released our updated 2028 class rankings, and we've been churning out content since then. As always, I started by going behind the scenes of the update, and then wrote about the class as a whole. This week, we're looking at all the defenders who rose in the rankings. Here are our 2028 interior defensive line stock-risers.