Rivals Roundtable: Which 2028 prospect will you be watching this fall?

[ad_1] Rivals Roundtable: Which 2028 prospect will you be watching this fall?

Jayden Wade (Picture by Jeff McCulloch/Rivals.com) Standout prospects within the 2028 class will take a giant step ahead as sophomores this coming season. Which one will our nationwide analyst staff be watching the closest this fall? Adam Friedman, John Garcia Jr., Adam Gorney, Greg Smith and Sam Spiegelman give their takes beneath.

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FRIEDMAN: Tahj Grey Grey is superior nicely past his years and is on observe to be one of many prime defenders within the 2028 class. At practically 6-foot-3 and 220 kilos, the Montvale (N.J.) St. Joseph's Regional standout has the instruments to be a devastating defender. Grey has the velocity to stay with working backs and tight ends in protection whereas displaying the power and bodily type that can permit him to be a playmaker close to the road of scrimmage.

He's slated to play linebacker this fall however he's trending towards being an edge defender on the subsequent stage.

Grey's provide sheet already options Oregon, Texas A&M, Ohio State, Penn State, Tennessee and plenty of others.

GARCIA: Jayden Wade

The California native is ready to be the set off man at IMG Academy after ready his flip to be QB1. Earlier than his first official begin, the 6-foot-4, 190-pounder has collected gives from the nation’s prime applications together with Ohio State, Michigan, Oregon and scores of others, because of what seems to be a can’t-miss talent set as a respectable dual-threat expertise.

Wade has a fast movement on a powerful arm, has clocked a number of 4.4-second laser 40-yard sprint occasions and carries himself with a mixture of California cool and Florida confidence whereas competing with and in opposition to a few of the nation’s prime prospects on daily basis.

If he can flash and start residing as much as lofty expectations this fall, Wade has an opportunity to develop into a family identify within the sport earlier than he ever units foot on a university soccer subject.

GORNEY: Marcus Fakatou There are a number of fascinating gamers already within the 2028 class and I all the time like to begin at quarterback, however within the West, Orange (Calif.) Lutheran defensive finish Marcus Fakatou is the identify I will be watching.

Fakatou has already been on the scene for a couple of years in California and at 6-foot-7 and 258 kilos, the 2028 prospect is a putting determine. He is not absolutely there but by way of approach however he performed a major quantity as a freshman within the nation's greatest highschool soccer league and will solely develop extra within the coming years as a result of his work ethic is off the charts.

There are a number of similarities between Fakatou and Oregon star defensive finish Matayo Uiagalelei on the similar stage besides Fakatou is a couple of inches taller. We'll see if the identical success is discovered and it needs to be as a result of Fakatou has all of the instruments to be particular.

SMITH: Fantastic Monds IV Monds is a participant that your complete nation will know by the point he leaves highschool. He’s acquired terrific bloodlines with a number of members of the family having performed faculty soccer. Monds is already standing at 6-foot-2, 200-plus kilos. He’s additionally productive throwing for two,500 yards and 25 touchdowns, and working for 600 yards and eight touchdowns.

The Florida native is already closing in on 20 scholarship gives from across the nation. It’ll be enjoyable to see his growth over the following few years.

SPIEGELMAN: Calvin Ursin One 2028 prospect I am very enthusiastic about is athlete Calvin Ursin out of Watson (La.) Reside Oak. A two-way standout, we have been capable of consider Ursin within the camp setting and in reside sport motion. He's a projected huge receiver at 6-foot-2, 180 kilos with through-the-roof verified testing as an underclassman.

Ursin's potential to make performs down the sector, assault the ball in mid-air, make contested catches, assault completely different ranges of the sector and make performs in area is excellent. He performs offense, protection and particular groups for Reside Oak however finally we challenge him to be among the best receivers within the 2028 class.