2028 OL and DL Climbing Towards the Top 100

*Use code Johnson30 for 30% off a Prep Redzone subscription*   We are just a few weeks away from camp season! A major timeframe for athletes across the state to separate themselves from the crowd. It is a time for them to focus on their own game and recruitment. Athletes are going to be earning offers and for the Class of 2028 we are going to see them establish spots on the recruiting boards of coaches across every level. Having a couple months to go up against their peers 1 on 1 on this stage is the fastest way to start to figure out who fits where, and I have a feeling it is going to push several OL & DL who are just outside our Top 100 into that elite group of athletes. Right there in today's article we are going to talk about a few of those athletes.    Cooper has fit really well into the run heavy Neenah offense. While the '28 isn't the biggest at 6'3" 245 lbs, the OT has learned to open up running lanes at a very consistent rate. First off, the motor is fantastic. Every rep on his highlights you see him pounding his feet into the ground, reworking his hands, and always trying to drive his man to and through the whistle. On top of it, his ability to play low and win the leverage battle makes that high motor even more valuable. Plus we are seeing that he is building on top of a solid base of strength because with the use of leverage we are seeing him move DL on his own and very quickly with double teams. I love the way this kid attacks and as he continues to fill out that frame we should see him become even more dominant and climb the rankings.     Turner is another athlete that has the frame to continue to grow into over the coming years and when he does we should see his game continue to improve. Looking back to 2025 the OT has shown that he is light on his feet, getting good depth in pass pro and changing direction efficiently to stay in front of his defender. He also does well using his hands to control his man. If Turner can continue to build up his strength on his frame to match the athleticism that he plays with then the '28 will be an OL to keep a close eye on.     I'm very excited to see how Kayden performs this summer. The 5'11" 270 lbs athlete has some solid sophomore tape. As a pass rusher Kayden is relentless and that high motor leads to a lot of disruption. The compact athlete is able to win with leverage and very active hands. As long as the QB has the ball Kayden is hand fighting and countering his moves and angles that he is attacking OL with. His heavy hands were able to get IOL off balance several times and that led to him being able to show his burst to get into the backfield and after the football. Kayden also has shown a solid anchor against the run game. As he gets stronger over the coming years of high school football we will see that part of his game become even more impactful.     Hunter feels like an IOL that is on the verge of making that leap in his development. He has a solid frame for the guard position. The tape shows he has an effective quick set that can provide a solid anchor to set the pocket for his QB. Plus his upper body strength jumps off the tape as he throws DL to the ground on several of his reps. He moves in well in short areas to pick up stunts too. Now it is time for the lower body strength to take a step forward and that nasty mentality to show up on a more consistent basis. As his traits start to improve and he gets even more experience we could see that leap sometime this summer or fall. Keep an eye on him.     Kellen is a small school DL who will be well worth keeping a close eye on. Watching through his sophomore highlights gets me excited or his summer and future. Kellen is a twitchy athlete in tight quarters, easily making OL miss or at least getting angles so he only has to defeat half a man on his way into the backfield. Kellen does really well with his balance and change of direction too. His tape shows him constantly be able to counter when his initial plan doesn't work. Crow also stands out with his ability to turn his quickness into power when he makes contact with OL. This is a disruptive 2028 DL that should be able to put together a solid summer.     Donavion is another DL who I can see making a big jump this summer. The 2028 is now up to 6'1" 280 lbs, and that extra size is only going to make him more disruptive. The 2025 season tape shows a kid that can burst out of his stance and instantly turn that speed into power to drive OL off the line and into the backfield. The big man has surprising range too and has multiple impressive chase downs. That burst and speed has also helped him be an effective pass rusher. Along with the speed the 2028 has shown he can dip and win with his hands to get to get into the backfield. I can see a big summer coming for the 2028 DL.     Derek looks like he is ready for that big leap and breakout summer. He sure looks the part at 6'4" 290 lbs and the tape shows that the massive frame is equipped with the power to dominate. There are also many clips showing Derek drive his man off the line and a many times he will get his DL onto the ground. So the power and the mentality are there to dominate the trenches. His anchor is also very strong, and pair that with accurate hand placement and you get an OT who can control edge rushers in pass pro. I think we see Derek make one of the bigger jumps during our next rankings update.

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