Putting Oregon’s Best 2028 Lineup on the Field “D”

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>What's it look like when you put Oregon's best lineup for the 2028 class out on the field. This isn't just a recruiting thing. It's the top individuals at their position who are projected to be the most influential for their teams this coming season. Have a look as we break down each side of the ball.&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>*Athletes will only be featured on one side of the football&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DEFENSE&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The defensive front is a super impressive group led by the state's #1 prospect [player_tooltip player_id='1654734' first='PJ' last='Tautu'] who holds offers from the likes of Oregon St, Washington St, and San Diego St. He was a 1^st&nbsp;team all Mt Hood selection on O but projects more on defense. Don't be surprised to 6-5 230-pound DE/TE [player_tooltip player_id='2106040' first='Leofatu' last='Filipe'] with similar offers in the near future. I could see him blowing up this summer.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Very few sophomores earn 1^st&nbsp;team all-state honors, especially on both sides of the football, with [player_tooltip player_id='2105987' first='Mark' last='Bailey'] doing just that and helping his team to the state title. I see him being a division 1 guy as well.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2105931' first='Max' last='Matijacic'] of Lake Oswego brings division 1 genes to the table, earning honorable mention all TRL honors last season with [player_tooltip player_id='1609799' first='Brennan' last='Christian'] being undersized for the position but being an absolute monster at D End. He has totaled 72 tackles, 10 TFL's, and 8 sacks the last two seasons for the Wolverines.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>LB [player_tooltip player_id='1609761' first='Tyler' last='Holmes'] of West Linn projects as a D1 guy. He was an underclass MVP at the Northwest Collegiate Showcase at WOU last summer, the regions' premier event.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1601596' first='Ashton' last='Randall'] of 4A Estacada and [player_tooltip player_id='1609795' first='Mikey' last='Covey'] of 3A Cascade Christian will be state POY favorites at their classification level this coming season. Both have upped their stock significantly on the camp circuit.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1609803' first='Justice' last='Edmiston'] of West Albany had an outstanding freshman season and earned honorable mention all Mid-Willamette honors last year. His junior campaign will be important for him from a projection standpoint.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1076647' first='Kade' last='Laraway'] could have been listed on either side of the ball as he should be considered one of the top two-way threats in the state. He was a 2^nd&nbsp;team all-Metro LB last year. [player_tooltip player_id='2067926' first='Ryder' last='VanDeweghe'] is another Silverton athlete listed here with the 5A state champs bringing back a litany of talent. He finished with 80+ tackles, 7 TFL's, and 3 sacks last season, earning 2^nd&nbsp;team all-conference accolades.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>West Linn breeds talent in the secondary and the 2028 class looks no different, with the state's #7 overall prospect [player_tooltip player_id='1609758' first='Jake' last='Hamper'] being a 1^st&nbsp;team all-state projected DB, and [player_tooltip player_id='1609760' first='Luke' last='Cutting'] right there with him. You&nbsp; could see both of those guys listed among the state statistical leaders offensively also. [player_tooltip player_id='1612591' first='Ethan' last='Peng'] of Jesuit happens to be a WL product as well. He is an elite baseball player who will be among the Metro's best.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When the PRZ rankings are updated [player_tooltip player_id='1425922' first='Tahkai' last='Smith'] of Westview could make one of the biggest jumps up the board. He is listed here on D but is also one of the state's top receivers finishing the year with 31 catches and 700+ total yards to go with 3 TDs.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last but not least [player_tooltip player_id='1609776' first='Tevin' last='Candelario'] who stepped up big for a top 10 Willamette program as a sophomore, making 30 tackles and earning all-conference honors.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DL [player_tooltip player_id='2106040' first='Leofatu' last='Filipe']&nbsp;6-5 230 Thurston&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DL [player_tooltip player_id='1654734' first='PJ' last='Tautu']&nbsp;6-4 265 Central Catholic&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DL [player_tooltip player_id='2105987' first='Mark' last='Bailey'] 6-3 255 Silverton&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DL [player_tooltip player_id='2105931' first='Max' last='Matijacic'] 6-1 240 Lake Oswego&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DL [player_tooltip player_id='1609799' first='Brennan' last='Christian'] 5-11 225 Willamette</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>LB [player_tooltip player_id='1609761' first='Tyler' last='Holmes'] 6-1 200 West Linn&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>LB [player_tooltip player_id='1601596' first='Ashton' last='Randall'] 6-2 210 Estacada&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>LB [player_tooltip player_id='1609803' first='Justice' last='Edmiston'] 6-1 200 West Albany&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>LB [player_tooltip player_id='1609795' first='Mikey' last='Covey'] 6-2 195 Cascade Christian&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>LB [player_tooltip player_id='1076647' first='Kade' last='Laraway'] 5-10 200 Mountainside&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>LB [player_tooltip player_id='2067926' first='Ryder' last='VanDeweghe']&nbsp;6-0 195 Silverton&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DB [player_tooltip player_id='1609760' first='Luke' last='Cutting'] 6-1 180 West Linn&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DB [player_tooltip player_id='1425922' first='Tahkai' last='Smith'] 6-1 165 Westview&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DB [player_tooltip player_id='1609758' first='Jake' last='Hamper'] 6-0 175 West Linn&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DB [player_tooltip player_id='1612591' first='Ethan' last='Peng'] 6-1 175 Jesuit&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DB [player_tooltip player_id='1609776' first='Tevin' last='Candelario'] 5-11 150 Willamette&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->