Checking Out Film of Emerging Iowa 2028s

Get 30% off your first billing cycle with code: howe30 in the coupon code area   We're a week into May, inching closer to the start of the 2026 season. Prep Redzone Iowa has continued preparations for it by rifling through student-athletes' highlight videos and churning out evaluations.   If you don't yet have highlights on your Hudl page, interested college coaches will be looking for them on there and elsewhere. Ask for help if you need it in compiling a video with any clips you have.   Here's another batch of fresh reports:    As a sophomore in 2025, Brant served as South Tama's starting quarterback. The young signal caller completed 34 of 67 throws for 354 yards and five touchdowns against five interceptions. He added 79 yards and four scores on the ground. Brant also shined on defense, registering 19 tackles, 16 of which were solo stops. He recovered a fumble as well. When watching Brant's <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/20572164/69f4f3895b3e842c2360cda0" id="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/20572164/69f4f3895b3e842c2360cda0">10th-grade highlight video</a>, we witness an athletic prospect capable of developing into a next-level player at multiple positions. He's a patient runner with good vision when plays are designed to utilize his legs. Brant operates with a mix of speed and power when carrying the rock. He shows a good feel in the pocket, moving to safe locations while keeping his eyes down the field. Brant releases the ball in a timely manner, putting zip on it to fit into tight windows. Arm strength to stretch the field also is present. Brant has the looks of a guy ready to break out in 2026.     I first saw Mericle for an in-person scout at last year's Back to Ballin 7v7 tournament during April of 2025 in Cedar Falls. He impressed, and I wanted to check in with what he did during his sophomore season at West Liberty last fall, so I looked up his 10th-grade highlight video. It opens with a 90-plus-yard touchdown pass where he gets the ball down the field without a lot of effort, a play that features his arm strength and touch. Mericle moves well in the pocket, feeling the pressure and flashing smooth footwork leading him to areas to set up and throw. Again, the arm strength is easy whether firing the ball into tight spaces or chucking it deep down the field. Mericle sees the field well and quickly cycles through his progressions. He's a quarterback prospect with a lot of upside and a chance to take a big step forward in 2026. And that's saying something, considering he completed 58.4 percent of his passes for 1,661 yards and nine touchdowns against eight interceptions last season.     Jackson laid the foundation for would could be an impactful final two prep seasons with his play as a sophomore in 2025. The offensive lineman paced Vinton-Shellsburg in pancake blocks. Jackson illustrates how he gets the job done between the lines during his <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/18432780/690bb8a4870e2f0be640e1f9" id="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/18432780/690bb8a4870e2f0be640e1f9">10th-grade highlight video</a>. He stands out for his physical brand of football and for finishing blocks. Jackson is a fluid athlete that thrives getting out in space and picking off defenders in opening holes for teammates. Active hands that are well placed help him control the opponent once engaged. It's a skill set that also would work on defense as a disruptor on the line or at middle linebacker. Jackson is an interesting prospect and one to watch for as a breakout candidate in 2026.     Mouton got his feet wet on the Vinton-Shellsburg varsity as a sophomore last fall. The linebacker delivered 11.0 tackles, six of which were solo stops, along with a tackle for loss and a fumble recovery. He also chipped in 16 rushing yards on a pair of carries. Mouton has set himself up for a breakout season in 2026 as we can see when viewing his <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/22725751/69cbcc490a602f2231f9f275" id="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/22725751/69cbcc490a602f2231f9f275">10th-grade highlight video</a>. It's a well-rounded set of skills as a defender on the second level of the Viking alignment. Mouton diagnoses plays and gets downhill in a hurry when he reads the run. He also looks adept at dropping into coverage when he sees the quarterback looking downfield. Mouton's back-pedal and smooth changing of direction give him a chance to develop as a safety or slot cornerback. He's one to watch moving forward.     Production was not a problem for Nathan during his sophomore season of 2025. The well-rounded running back rumbled for 1,276 yards (7.3 YPC) and 10 touchdowns, adding five catches for 42 yards. He accounted for more than two thirds of West Burlington's offensive yardage. On top of that, Nathan averaged 30.2 yards on five kick returns, including one he took back to the house. He's built solidly, which helps in gaining the tough yards, as we witness when watching his <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/23054911/69a6cd16a727d1e499cc4b3a" id="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/23054911/69a6cd16a727d1e499cc4b3a">10th-grade highlight video</a>. Nathan opens the proceedings with an 87-yard kickoff return TD. He evades would-be tacklers and runs over them before hitting another gear in the open field. Nathan does much of his damage running between the tackles with some wiggle but mostly via power. He flows well with the play and exhibits patience when allowing blocks to set up. Nathan can get to the edge and turn it up the field when the action sends him that way.

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