A multisport junior out of Bishop McDevitt who I’m becoming increasingly familiar with as his high school career progresses. Currently listed at 6’0, 175 pounds, he is a former Prep Redzone camp participant who impressed during his appearance and has remained on our watch list ever since. He contributes at wide receiver and defensive back, although I particularly like his long term projection on the defensive side of the football. He recently uploaded a first seven games highlight reel, essentially an extended midseason compilation, approximately one week ago. He has also been consistent about sharing individual game footage throughout the season, which I appreciate. His newest reel runs approximately two minutes and does an excellent job consolidating his best production. After reviewing it, I believe he has shown enough to graduate from our watch list and enter the official Pennsylvania 2028 rankings as soon as possible.

One of the most interesting aspects of his game is how comfortable he appears playing near the line of scrimmage. Given his 6’0, 175 pound frame and athletic skill set, I would ordinarily expect him to project primarily as a cornerback, safety or wide receiver. However, his defensive responsibilities extend well beyond traditional secondary alignments, and I appreciate that he is demonstrating this versatility to college coaches. His opening highlight features him intercepting a tipped pass and returning it for a touchdown, immediately showcasing his awareness and ability to capitalize on turnover opportunities. Although the deflection creates the opportunity, he still has to recognize the football, secure the interception and finish the return. It is an excellent opening rep for a player who has already demonstrated that he can contribute in multiple phases of the game.

His second highlight is particularly intriguing because he is aligned in a three point stance within what appears to be a 4-3 defensive front. He attacks the offensive blocker with a spin move, initially working inside before redirecting outside and finding a path toward the quarterback. He closes quickly, generates pressure and helps force an incompletion. I love the movement ability and urgency here, especially considering he is primarily identified as a wide receiver and defensive back. He doesn’t look uncomfortable operating at the line of scrimmage, and his ability to create disruption from that alignment adds another dimension to his defensive profile. He also demonstrates the ability to play near the line with his hand off the ground, giving his coaching staff flexibility in how they deploy him. If he continues adding size and strength without sacrificing athleticism, I wouldn’t completely rule out a future outside linebacker projection.

Another impressive rep features him working near the line of scrimmage, shedding an offensive block and locating a ball carrier developing toward his side of the field. He attacks the rushing lane and finishes with a tackle for loss, demonstrating the physicality and recognition I want to see from a box safety. This is where I particularly like his collegiate potential. He has the movement skills of a defensive back but is willing to engage blockers, attack downhill and contribute directly against the run. I could envision him developing into a versatile box safety who can handle tight end coverage assignments, match up with different offensive personnel and provide reliable run support. For a defensive coordinator who enjoys moving players around and experimenting with different alignments, that versatility could make him a useful piece.

The remainder of his two minute highlight reel features several additional tackles for loss, reinforcing how effectively he recognizes offensive concepts and attacks developing plays. His initial get off is encouraging, and he consistently demonstrates the ability to create penetration or disruption shortly after the snap. What stands out is the variety of ways he can affect an offense. He can create turnovers in coverage, generate pressure near the line of scrimmage, shed blocks and finish plays behind the line. That is an unusual combination of responsibilities for a 175 pound defensive back, and it speaks positively to both his athletic versatility and his understanding of the game. I still want to see how his coverage technique develops against more traditional receiving assignments, but his willingness to handle physical defensive responsibilities is an encouraging part of his evaluation.

Overall, I’m extremely happy to finally move him from our watch list into the official rankings. His progression since attending our camp has been encouraging, and his consistent film uploads have made it easier to recognize how much he contributes to Bishop McDevitt’s defense. I believe his strongest long term projection is as a versatile safety, particularly one who can work near the line of scrimmage, handle matchup coverage responsibilities and support the run. His ability to rush the passer and contribute from different defensive alignments only strengthens that projection. He has an excellent feel for offensive concepts, impressive closing speed and a willingness to play with physicality despite his relatively lean frame. This is exactly the type of developmental progress I want to see from a former camp prospect, and I’m excited to get him ranked after such an encouraging first seven games highlight reel.

Zyare Howard-Shank Zyare Howard-Shank 6'0" | 175 lbs | ATH Bishop McDevitt | 2028 PA recently attended our showcase and did an excellent job. Last season, he played on junior varsity for Bishop McDevitt. He demonstrates a good ability to play both as a slot defensive back and as an outside cornerback. At both positions, he shows a good ability to cover. He also does a good job of breaking on the ball when it is thrown near him. He also shows a good ability to make tackles in the open field. Howard-Shank has a chance to be a good player this year, and he should be able to get on the field to play varsity. He should be ranked in the 2028 class the next time we do rankings.