A 2028 Pennsylvania junior currently ranked among the top 240 prospects in his class, listed as a defensive back and wide receiver on our site. He is a player I have sitting right on the cusp of a Division I grade, although I wasn’t quite ready to give him that designation during my preseason evaluation. Checking in on his development, he is now listed at 6’0, 175 pounds, having grown an inch and added five pounds of muscle since my previous evaluation. He also self-reports a 4.5 second 40 yard dash and a 9’8 broad jump, two excellent testing numbers for a prospect with his size and positional versatility. Those improvements are encouraging, especially when considering how I envision him projecting as a defensive back at the collegiate level.

His recruiting activity has also picked up, with recent game day invitations from Colgate, Temple and Eastern Michigan. That is encouraging traction for a junior whose athletic profile and versatility should appeal to college coaches. I was also pleased to see how consistently he has been uploading film throughout the season. Unlike some prospects who only post an occasional highlight on Twitter, he has made single game cutups available on Hudl, along with an early season reel covering his first three games and a three and a half minute midseason tape posted toward the end of September. That gives me a much better opportunity to track his development and evaluate how his athletic traits are translating into actual game production.

His midseason tape opens with an excellent offensive rep from the slot. He shows a tremendous get off and release at the line of scrimmage, immediately accelerating past the linebacker or defensive back responsible for matching him in coverage. He attacks vertically up the seam with impressive speed, taking advantage of a safety vacating the middle of the field. He catches the football around the 35 yard line and outruns the remaining defenders for a touchdown. It is a strong opening rep that highlights his acceleration, ability to separate and overall playmaking potential. Another offensive clip has him catching a pop screen near the line of scrimmage, reading the blocks developing in front of him and turning the opportunity into a 45 yard touchdown. He demonstrates the vision and open field ability to make something happen without needing to be targeted downfield.

One of my favorite defensive reps has him aligned in press coverage against a wide receiver who appears to have at least three or four inches of height on him. This is the alignment I envision him playing at the next level, working as an outside cornerback with the confidence and physicality to challenge receivers directly at the line of scrimmage. He gets a little handsy during the rep, but he stays competitive throughout the route, recognizes the developing slant and undercuts it for a pass breakup. I love the confidence he displays against a bigger target. He isn’t intimidated by the size difference and clearly enjoys making life difficult for receivers trying to release against him. There are some technical details to clean up, particularly with his hand usage, but the foundation for a disruptive press corner is there.

The tape also includes a quarterback snap that essentially turns into a designed draw, giving him another opportunity to showcase his athleticism and ability to create with the football. Later, he returns to the slot, works an outside route, makes a defender miss after the catch and finishes another touchdown. I appreciate that he is putting these offensive plays near the beginning of his midseason tape rather than exclusively marketing himself as a defensive back. Even though I remain most interested in his potential at cornerback, he is demonstrating legitimate offensive versatility while continuing to produce tackles and pass breakups defensively. That is an interesting approach to his recruitment, and I applaud him for showing college coaches the different ways he can contribute.

The back end of his tape is loaded with defensive reps, and this is where his personality as a player becomes particularly evident. He is an aggressive, physical defender who plays with a chip on his shoulder and brings noticeable energy to the secondary. He does a good job cleaning up plays, pursuing the football and finishing tackles when opportunities develop in front of him. At the line of scrimmage, he is especially pesky, constantly competing with receivers through contact and hand fighting to disrupt their timing. He is the kind of cornerback who can frustrate an opposing wide receiver throughout an entire game. That aggressiveness can work against him if he doesn’t become more disciplined with his hands, and I could see some of those habits drawing penalties at the collegiate level. However, I would much rather work with a confident, competitive press corner who needs to refine his technique than one who is hesitant to challenge receivers physically.

Overall, this midseason evaluation reinforces the confidence I had in his preseason ranking. His improved measurements, reported testing numbers, recruiting invitations and consistent film updates are all positives, but the most encouraging part is seeing the same competitive traits and athletic ability show up on tape. I still want to see continued technical development in coverage, particularly with his hand placement and ability to remain disciplined against different releases. Nevertheless, he is making a strong case for himself as one of Pennsylvania’s better 2028 defensive back prospects. I had him approaching a Division I grade before the season, and what I’ve seen so far makes me increasingly comfortable with that projection.

Grayson Schmell Grayson Schmell 5'11" | 170 lbs | DB/WR Allentown Central Catholic | 2028 State PA is a good two-way player. As a wide receiver and defensive back, he is an excellent player. As a defensive back, he is legit in coverage. He covers wide receivers at a high rate. He is good at both safety and cornerback. At both positions, he shows good fundamentals. He knows how to cover an area in zone coverage and man. He rarely, if ever, gets beat deep. Finally, he is a good tackler, especially in the open field. Then on offense, he is a good receiver. He shows excellent speed after he makes the catch. He even played wildcat quarterback, where he ran the ball well. Schmell is a complete player in the 2028 class.

Grayson Schmell Grayson Schmell 5'11" | 170 lbs | DB/WR Allentown Central Catholic | 2028 State PA possesses an intriguing combination of size, athleticism, and versatility as a young two-way player. At 6-foot-1 and 180 pounds, he has the physical profile to create matchup problems at receiver while bringing length and range to the secondary. Schmell’s ability to contribute on both sides of the football gives Central Catholic another valuable developmental piece. As he gains varsity experience, his confidence and production should continue to rise. Schmell is a young prospect worth keeping on the radar throughout the 2026 season.

Grayson Schmell Grayson Schmell 5'11" | 170 lbs | DB/WR Allentown Central Catholic | 2028 State PA is a smooth athlete who plays well as a cornerback. In coverage, he shows a good ability to play both man-to-man and zone coverage. He is a playmaker who created two fumbles. He also shows good ball skills. If the ball is thrown near him, he usually makes a play on it, as he has 6 pass breakups. Schmell also showed good tackling ability, especially in the open field. He is a talented player in the 2028 class.