On the Rise: 2028 Rankings Risers

*Grab yourself a Prep Redzone subscription for 30% off with code Johnson30. Now is the time!*   The offseason work was put in and athletes in the Class of 2028 are already starting to reap the rewards of it in the form of a boost in their ranking. Whether it was an updated look at their tape, clips from summer camps, or live viewing of their performances, the athletes in today's article proved that they were worthy of a bump. Today is all about how they did it and the traits that earned them this jump. So let's dive in, and make sure to keep a close eye on these kids this season as we wait to see if it carries over to Friday nights.    Rise: #50 to #30   Parker is an athlete I was lucky enough to watch live this summer, and it was very apparent that the Pulaski OT has made a big stride forward in his development. He has always had the great size at 6'5" 270 lbs, but the way he can move around the trenches at that size is vastly improved from a year ago. He is light on his feet, agile, can change direction. It shows up in his pass pro and his run blocking. Parker is now able to consistently get himself in the right leverage and body positioning, and when you pair leverage with the power he has built over the years you get a punishing OL. Parker looks the part of a Top 10 OL in his Class and that is where he finds himself now.     Rise: #62 to #33   We recently talked about Diesel during our Player of the Year Watch List, and now he is back after a big leap in our rankings update. The 6'3" 190 lbs safety now holds the #1 DB spot and will also be manning the QB1 spot for the Storm. The reason behind the rise is the tools that he is quickly developing. Size and length to handle the physicality and coverage demands of the position. The tape shows the strong instincts as a sophomore. This summer we saw examples of his ability to play 1 on 1 coverage. Coming into this season I am most confident in his ability among 2028s to be able to deliver on the three key pieces of the safety position. Run defense, over the top coverage, and the ability to play 1 on 1 when needed.     Rise: #53 to #40   The main reason for the rise of Jace from 53 to 40 was simply rewatching his sophomore tape and comparing it to the rest of his Class. The 2028 OL is 6'2" 245 lbs and has barely started to tap into the available space on his frame. He is so quick out of his stance and is able to generate power to move IDL at his size almost instantly. His ability to run his feet through his man and overpower them jumps off the tape. It leads me to think about the type of dominance he would have if he can get up to that 260, 270, 280 range. Especially if he can remain as mobile as he is. The Bay Port standout is going to be an OL to keep a close watch over. His rise might not be done here.     Rise: #64 to #41   Next up we have one of the CBs that makes up the talented secondary at Arrowhead. [player_tooltip player_id='1629736' first='Anthony' last='Vetta'] is a 5'11" 170 lbs CB with a great blend of aggressive play style and the athleticism to capitalize on that style. Anthony is very quick to read and react. His closing speed flashes on tape nearly every single rep. He can be more aggressive because he has the closing speed to be able to recover if he does get caught out of position. I love the timing he shows to disrupt the catch to finish plays. CB is so difficult to play at a high level, but Anthony was delivering big plays as a sophomore on a defense that won the D1 State Championship. Coaches, make sure you have this kid on your radars.     Rise: #70 to #42   Elias might be the most consistent performer that I have seen in the Class of 2028. I have been able to watch him at multiple camps this summer and he has never disappointed. The 6'1" 200 lbs LB perfectly fits the mold of the modern LB. Athletic to be able to play on third down. Instinctual and quick to process plays as they unfold. He also has the knack for working through traffic without getting hung up on OL. Reed won't shy away from the physical side of the position either. We labeled Elias a stock riser after the summer camp circuit and it is showing up here as he jumps nearly 30 spots in our rankings despite all the new additions.     Rise: #59 to #46   I'm fired up to see Zach on the field this fall. I have a feeling we are going to see him take that next step in his development. He looks the part at 6'4" 285 lbs, and in 2025 he was already flashing that ability to control the line with his strength and eat up blocks. Zachary also showed that he could impact plays on his own and even power through double teams. The big DL did undergo labrum surgery this offseason, but I'm confident we will see him be a key part of one of the best DLs in WI this season early and often.     Rise: #67 to #49   The more I go back and watch Khalil the more impressed I get. The frame is there at 6'2" and he easily carries 210 lbs, telling me he can add even more when he arrives at the next level. The OLB jumps off the tape with his ability to impact the run and pass game. Against the run he can take on blocks on the edge or corral RBs in 1 on 1 scenarios out in space. Vs the pass Khalil is advanced in his ability to drop into coverage, show a high level of awareness, and the range to be able to go make plays and run with guys. The range is also there for him to be able to rush off the edge from a wide alignment. This is a kid you need to have on your radars.     Rise: #112 to #66   Mace is coming off a fantastic sophomore season while helping Whitefish Bay made an unbelievable playoff run. A rewatch of his tape from last year was a big reason behind the rise. The dual sport standout is so explosive in space. Both with the football after the catch and while creating separation before. The way he can cut on a dime and accelerate out of breaks or jukes left plenty of DBs reaching at air. The rising 2028 WR can also simply win with his vertical speed. He is going to be a kid that defenses have to dedicate multiple guys to this season. I'm excited to see how he looks while trying to better his 2025 numbers.     Rise: #99 to #69   The Bay Port OL is well represented in today's article. Our 2nd member of the group in this article is [player_tooltip player_id='1709718' first='Carter' last='Schmiedel']. Carter is coming into this season about 12 lbs heavier than he was in 2025. That extra size is only going to make the powerful IOL more of a force. He was already pancaking DL and LBs, sometimes with his initial contact. The big man has excellent range for the guard position, pulling across the formation or leading through up to level two. Carter's ability to play with power while also being very athletic is going to be a combo that intrigues plenty of college coaches over the next couple of years.     Rise: #157 to #71   Aedyn put together a strong offseason and earned himself a massive jump up our boards. The WR started the spring by being #4 in the Shuttle at the PRZ WI Spring Showcase with a time of 4.22 seconds and he was #1 in the 40 yard dash with a laser-verified 4.61 seconds. Looking back at his 2025 tape you see flashes of those numbers. You see it even more in his work through the summer. Aedyn is a very good route runner. Watch his clips from his Northwestern camp and how explosive he comes out of breaks and how fluidly he goes into them. The rising 2028 WR/DB has the athletic tools to be a mismatch out wide. I'm excited to see him this season at Port Washington.     Rise: #130 to #102   Donavion was a kid that I knew was going to be right there among the Top 100 overall players in this Class. The 6'1" 280 lbs DL is coming off a season where he was able to produce several examples of his ability to be disruptive as a 1 gap DL. The stout DL has built up a strong base that has given him an explosive first step. His quickness off the snap is able to be transformed into power when he gets hands on the OL. His range when he gets into the backfield allows him to line up all along the DL because once he defeats his block he has the ability to chase down the ball. Not something you see from many 280 lbs DL. I can't wait to see what he looks like this season.

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