We continue to move through tape from across the state and now we stop to highlight some of the 2028 prospects who are moving up our boards big time.
Check out these five 2028 prospects who should also be moving up your recruiting board ASAP:
Gerrit DeWaard, 2028 – OL – Malcolm – 6’8″ 290 lbs – (@GerritDeWaard54)
Malcolm’s Gerrit DeWaard is a player who already brought in a lot of attention after racking up an impressive list of P4 offers, but has seemed to turn it up a notch in year 3. On top of being the Clippers bookend tackle on offense, he currently leads the defense in tackles with 26 total stops, a TFL, and a forced fumble. Gerrit stands out immediately with the next-level frame that has already brought coaches to the table, standing at 6’8″ and 290 pounds with great strength and athleticism to match. Offensively, Gerrit is a bit of a “dancing bear” as he combines his towering size with great footwork and mobility as he moves through his blocks. He can quickly climb to the second level to seal off lanes and has the power in his base to drive defenders out of plays. DeWaard is a very heads-up player whose eyes constantly scan the defense for blitzing LBs or stunting linemen before he gets his hands on someone and drives them into the dirt. Defensively, he is extremely hard to corral, using his length and power to outgun linemen at the point of attack. He then flashes the lateral burst to chase down the ball carrier for the stop. Impressive player who should continue to see his stock soar with this type of play!
Jacob Brown, 2028 – DL – Scottsbluff – 6’6″ 230 lbs – (@JacobABrown2028)
Scottsbluff junior Jacob Brown is a player who is off to a hot start and looks primed for a nice debut at the next rankings update. Just looking at the roster sheet, Jacob flies off the page with next level measurables at 6’6″ and 230 pounds with plenty of room to continue bulking up his frame and elite length that will hold up well in the trenches. He has an excellent get-off when firing off the ball and does a great job using his length to extend and create separation from blockers at the line of scrimmage. For being 6’6″, Jacob attacks with great leverage and maintains it throughout the rep, while also displaying a powerful leg drive to move blockers off the ball. He’s a very good athlete with great lateral quickness that helps him hawk down ball carriers and move along the line of scrimmage as he pursues the ball. I have limited film from Jacob on the offensive side, but given his mix of strength, athleticism, and size, I’m sure he can handle business on that side of the ball as well. Buy stock ASAP!!
Scott Miner II, 2028 – QB – Omaha Westview – (@ScottMinerII15)
Junior Scott Miner II continues to show why he’s one of the top dual-threat QBs in his class after a strong opening third of the season. So far, Scott has completed 57% of his passes for 603 yards and five touchdowns, while also tacking on 104 rushing yards and two touchdowns on the ground. My biggest takeaway from watching Scott’s tape is that he can flat-out sling it with a rocket arm that can nail the deep ball right on the money. He seems very smooth through his throwing motion and can put a ton of speed on his delivery. Miner showed he is a more nuanced passer who can not only hit the deep ball but also be accurate and timely with throws over the middle or in the short/intermediate range. Scott has a good feel for when to layer his throws over defenders and can even dip into his baseball background to bust out some interesting throwing angles around defenders. Strong runner who can plow through a defender when he needs to or give them a quick juke to drop them in the open field. Off the field, Scott has also been a great leader and communicator with his teammates, which has certainly helped the Wolverines’ ascension in recent years.
Treshawn Finley, 2028 – WR – Bellevue West – 6’0″ 170 lbs – (@Tre7finley)
Bellevue West’s Treshawn Finley caught my attention at a summer 7v7 tournament, and although it’s taken a bit to settle in, so far he’s doing that. After three weeks, Finley leads the Thunderbirds in receiving with 11 receptions for 158 yards and two touchdowns. When you watch Treshawn’s tape, you see a receiver with elite downfield speed who can slip past safeties and spring free for a big play downfield. You can also hit Treshawn for a quick screen and allow his twitchiness and speed to take over as he gashes through defenses and finds open lanes. Finley adds value as a versatile offensive playmaker, with 101 rushing yards this season, making him a fun, speedy option to feed on sweeps, end-arounds, and other plays that let him show off his skills in the open field. Looking forward to seeing more tape from Treshawn’s junior year!
Cayson Schlotfield, 2028 – RB/LB – Gretna – (@blitzthegame22)
The Gretna Dragons look like the team to beat in Class B with great play on both sides of the field, including two-way star Cayson Schlotfield. Cayson has been a busy man for the Dragons as he’s recorded 340 rushing yards (52 carries), 89 receiving yards, 35 passing yards, seven rushing touchdowns, a passing touchdown, a receiving touchdown, and 26 total tackles. Offensively, Cayson is a very interesting player who isn’t just versatile within the offense but also a well-rounded runner. Cayson is an RB who can bowl over defenses with tough, physical runs between the tackles and has the frame to absorb punishment and dish it out. He has a powerful, balanced base and runs with excellent pad level, making it extremely difficult to bring him down on initial contact. Additionally, he is also very shifty and can work well within tight quarters, with quick feet and cutback ability that let him bounce runs outside or into a different lane. Cayson can also work as a pass catcher out of the backfield and I’m sure he could be effective if moved into the slot or an H-back type of role. Defensively, this dude is a hammer and has been one of the Dragons’ top enforcers since his freshman campaign. Schlotfield is a very smart linebacker who is very accurate when reading his keys and has a quick first step when he triggers downhill. A great prospect who deserves more looks on the recruiting trail!
