The 2028 class is shaping up to be special, with several prospects having statement junior campaigns. In this edition of my “Film Room Sessions,” I want to highlight five junior prospects who have stood out while watching tape or rewatching games from this season.
These five 2028 prospects look ready to make some noise on the recruiting trail:
Royce Anderson, 2028 – LB – Millard North – 5’11” 210 lbs – (@RoyceOnX)
The Mustangs have some dudes in their LB group, including junior Royce Anderson, who may fly a little under the radar but plays with a non-stop motor. Royce has been quite productive so far with 40 tackles, six TFLs, and a half sack. When you cut on the tape, you see a player with a rapid-fire trigger who shoots through his gaps to blow up RBs in the hole or time up his blitzes perfectly to pressure the QB. Royce shows some control amid the chaos, sitting back to avoid getting caught up in traffic and then fitting the run when he sees the RB step into his gap. He tracks the ball well and has an underrated short-area burst that keeps him in pursuit from snap to whistle. Anderson uses great leverage and technique when wrapping up for tackles, making him a sure stopper in the open field. Anderson also showed he can flip his hips to drop into coverage, with solid sideline-to-sideline range and a sharp break on the ball. Productive, high-intensity linebacker who can bring the juice to your LB room!
Isaiah Herchenbach, 2028 – DB – Elkhorn – 5’9 160 lbs – (@Isaiahherch11)
Isaiah Herchenbach started showing flashes as a sophomore and has now turned those flashes into a great junior campaign as a two-way starter for the Antlers. Through eight games, Isaiah has posted 21 catches, 322 receiving yards, two receiving touchdowns, and 33 tackles on defense. It’s hard to pin Isaiah to one side of the field, as he shows true upside as a slot receiver and a slot CB on defense. Offensively, he shows great burst at the snap and quickly chews up his opponent’s cushion before making a sharp change of direction at the top of the route. Crisp footwork and explosiveness going in and out of his breaks. Herchenbach showed he can create separation against man coverage and has great instincts for exploiting zone and finding the soft spot in coverage. Good hands at the catch point with great wiggle and burst afterward that can lead to some big gains. Defensively, his agility and instincts really stand out in his coverage. He does a great job reading the opposing receiver’s hips and changing direction with them throughout the route. Isaiah plays with a nice level of physicality for the CB spot, showing his willingness to fight off perimeter blocks to make a tackle against the run or when challenging receivers at the catch point.
Kamerin Sealey, 2028 – QB/ATH – Sandy Creek – 6’1″ 185 lbs – (@Kamsealey3)
The Sandy Creek Cougars look in prime position to make a deep playoff run and defend their D1 title, with a huge part being the stellar play of junior Kamerin Sealey. Sealey continues to make the case as the top player in 8-man, racking up 2,020 passing yards, 1,106 rushing yards, 28 passing touchdowns, 21 rushing touchdowns, 36 tackles, a TFL, an interception, and a forced fumble. The biggest part of Kamerin’s game that sticks out on tape is how well he sees the entire field, which lets him read defenses while also maneuvering the pocket effectively. He is a very accurate passer to all levels of the field, but especially on deep passes, where he made incredible throws with elite placement and timing for his receiver. A very confident, poised passer who clearly trusts his arm talent and the players around him. Sealey’s also very slippery in the backfield as he can escape pressure and extend plays outside the pocket, while also flashing great accuracy on the run. Kamerin can also burn defenses on the ground as one of the state’s more effective running QBs. He is very agile, with great contact balance that helps him stay upright after contact, plus the burst and acceleration to fly past defenses once he finds the open field. Kamerin has put together consistent tape and production since entering the high school ranks and deserves some serious attention on the recruiting trail.
Oliver Rickett, 2028 – OL – Skutt Catholic – 6’3″ 220 lbs – (@OliverRick44436)
Skutt Catholic’s Oliver Rickett is a bit of an under-the-radar prospect right now, but I think he definitely has the tools to shoot up some recruiting boards over this offseason. I first caught wind of Oliver during Skutt’s game against Platteview, in which the Sky Hawks had a dominant running night. Rickett brings a ton of versatility on the offensive line, as he can play on the left or right side and switch between guard and tackle. I don’t have a ton of film on Oliver, but from what I’ve seen, I was really impressed with the physicality he displayed, especially at the point of attack. He can generate a lot of power behind his initial punch and knows how to get his hands inside his opponent’s frame before driving them off the ball. Good mobility that lets him get out in space on pulling plays or climb up to seal off the second level and keep going downfield. Great motor that runs from snap to whistle. Oliver has good size at 6’3″ and 220 pounds with room to continue adding some bulk. Definitely looking forward to seeing an end-of-season tape!
Dylan Micek, 2028 – EDGE – Shelby-Rising City – 6’5″ 205 lbs – (@dylan_micek)
Scoping out some of the 8-man prospects, it’s hard to miss Shelby-Rising City’s Dylan Micek, who has really stepped into his own during his junior campaign. Now in a starting role, Dylan has recorded 49 tackles, 12 TFLs, five sacks, and a blocked kick. Dylan catches your eye just from the roster sheet with an impressive 6’5″, 205-pound frame that still has plenty of room to keep on adding mass. He can use his explosiveness off the ball to generate a powerful bull rush at the point of attack, using his strong base to drive them off the LOS. Micek has also shown he can win with finesse, with solid bend when rounding the edge and the lateral quickness to cross up blockers with inside moves. Dylan does a great job setting the edge and defending the run, with excellent closing speed that results in dropping opponents for splash plays in the backfield. Micek brings some versatility to how you can use him, as he’s lined up as a stand-up edge rusher and with his hand in the dirt. He plays with a physical mindset and an intense motor that runs red-hot. Great tackler at the point of attack. Colleges definitely need to get eyes on this guy— expect a big jump at the next rankings!
