How early is too early?
As everyone’s focus shifts to the way-too-early mocks for next year’s NFL Draft after last week’s three-day extravaganza, the scouting department at 247Sports has been busy burning the midnight oil assembling our first initial Top247 rankings for the class of 2028.
The goal? To identify the rising high school juniors that we think at this stage have the best chance to one day have their names called by the NFL commissioner.
It’s far from an easy exercise, but the first full-fledged Top247 marks a key milestone in a recruiting cycle as the rankings transition from a watch list to more of a formalized big board.
Of course, plenty of changes are coming as we gather more data points on this wave of prospects in the coming years, but some of college football’s next difference makers have already emerged and we’re ready to put the spotlight on them.
A NEW NO. 1: 5-STAR ATH A’MIR SEARS
Sometimes it can be hard to describe what separates a player from others, but when you see it, you know it. Long before Travis Hunter was a Heisman Trophy winner and must-watch TV, he was one of those prospects — the rare recruit where you simply couldn’t take your eyes off him because you knew magic was about to happen.
A’mir Sears has us feeling a similar way, and that’s why he’s the first five-star in the class and sits No. 1 overall in the initial Top247. A wiry, two-way playmaker with big-time athleticism and exceptional processing powers, Sears — like Hunter — is a cheat code any time he steps on the field. And much like Hunter, opinions are already split on where the ceiling is higher: cornerback or wide receiver?
This past fall, Sears carried a Pembroke Pines (Fla.) West Broward program not known for its football success to its first-ever state championship appearance in Florida’s second-highest classification. He did so by totaling 61 tackles, 11 pass breakups and three interceptions on defense to go along with 49 catches for 942 yards and 11 touchdowns on offense.
Sears debuted in the rankings last summer with the title of CB1, but now carries the positional tag of an “athlete” as we believe that he’s also one of the top pass catchers in the class with his easy bounce and high-end ball skills, which were on full display at a loaded Battle Miami tournament back in January.
SEE THE FULL TOP247 PLAYER RANKINGS
The list of college suitors has only continued to grow for Sears, who is hoping to narrow things down in the near future. He is set to play the upcoming season at Miami Columbus, which will have produced first-round picks this year in both the NFL and NBA (Fernando Mendoza and Cameron Boozer).
