Rivals released its <a href="https://www.on3.com/rivals/rankings/player/football/2028/">initial rankings for the 2028 cycle</a> on Monday. That crop of prospects are beginning their sophomore seasons this month as a new set of eyes begin to look at what they have to offer on the gridiron.



The 2026 recruiting cycle is way ahead of schedule from a commitment standpoint. Some of the best in the 2027 cycle are beginning to announce their college decisions, too. So what about 2028?



Well, just one of the 100 recruits ranked by Rivals on Monday is currently committed. Looking at the cycle as a whole, just four have taken their name off the board. Below is a look at those four sophomores who are already pledged, as of Aug. 18:



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rb-elijah-hall-ohio-state">RB <a href="https://www.on3.com/rivals/elijah-hall-244358/">Elijah Hall</a> — Ohio State</h2>



School: Tampa <a href="https://www.on3.com/high-school/blake-tampa-fl-19519/">Blake</a> Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 48 NATL. (No. 5 RB)



Checking in at No. 62 in the initial Rivals rankings, Hall has the makings of an elite running back and he wasted no time with a commitment to <a href="https://www.on3.com/college/ohio-state-buckeyes/">Ohio State</a> in June. He picked up an offer from head coach <a href="https://www.on3.com/rivals/coach/ryan-day-133992/">Ryan Day</a>, running backs coach <a href="https://www.on3.com/rivals/coach/carlos-locklyn-150366/">Carlos Locklyn</a> and Co. after impressing at a camp and jumped in the boat just a few days later. As a freshman last season, Hall rushed for 829 yards and eight touchdowns. He’ll continue to blossom for Blake and looks to be a big early get for the Buckeyes. 



“What made me commit early was the amazing experience I had when I stepped foot in their facility,” <a href="https://www.on3.com/teams/ohio-state-buckeyes/news/ohio-state-buckeyes-recruiting-football-elijah-newman-hall-commitment-running-back/">Hall told Lettermen Row after committing</a>. “I was treated well, my mother was treated well, and we were greeted with love from every coach we met.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-wr-seven-rashad-purdue">WR <a href="https://www.on3.com/rivals/seven-rashad-240912/">Seven Rashad</a> — Purdue</h2>



School: <a href="https://www.on3.com/high-school/buford-ga-10836/">Buford</a> (Ga.) Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 132 NATL. (No. 27 WR)



Rashad began to pick up Power Four offers this summer, including one from <a href="https://www.on3.com/rivals/coach/barry-odom-133371/">Barry Odom</a> and <a href="https://www.on3.com/college/purdue-boilermakers/">Purdue</a>. That offer came in June and he then pledged to the Boilermakers on Aug. 1. As a freshman for <a href="https://www.on3.com/high-school/mountain-view-lawrenceville-ga-14393/">Mountain View</a>, the 6-foot-5 pass-catcher hauled in 29 receptions, more than 500 yards and four touchdowns. He’s now transferred to Peach State powerhouse Buford, where he’ll catch passes from Nebraska quarterback commit <a href="https://www.on3.com/rivals/dayton-raiola-161968/">Dayton Raiola</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ath-ramar-thomas-boston-college">ATH <a href="https://www.on3.com/rivals/ramar-thomas-250127/">Ramar Thomas</a> — Boston College</h2>



School: West Roxbury (Mass.) <a href="https://www.on3.com/high-school/catholic-memorial-west-roxbury-ma-821/">Catholic Memorial</a> Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 149 NATL. (No. 11 ATH)



Checking in at 6-foot-2 and 185 pounds, Thomas chose hometown Boston College just a couple days after picking up his offer from <a href="https://www.on3.com/rivals/coach/bill-obrien-132632/">Bill O’Brien</a> and the staff in Chestnut Hill. Thomas has been racking up personal records on the track this summer and can do a little bit of everything on the football field. He threw and rushed for three touchdowns a piece as a freshman for Catholic Memorial, per <a href="https://www.maxpreps.com/ma/west-roxbury/catholic-memorial-knights/athletes/ramar-thomas/football/stats/?careerid=ir0q3qug8o311">MaxPreps</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-edge-simote-tupou-arizona">EDGE <a href="https://www.on3.com/rivals/simote-tupou-260773/">Simote Tupou</a> — Arizona</h2>



School: Henderson (Nev.) <a href="https://www.on3.com/high-school/null-28465/">Pinecrest Academy Sloan Canyon</a> Rivals Ranking: No. 191 NATL. (No. 21 EDGE)



<a href="https://www.on3.com/college/arizona-wildcats/">Arizona</a> swooped up an early commitment from Tupou on July 10. Head coach <a href="https://www.on3.com/rivals/coach/brent-brennan-132959/">Brent Brennan</a> and the Wildcats jumped in the mix after the 6-foot-1, 235-pounder stacked up an impressive freshman résumé. Per <a href="https://www.maxpreps.com/nv/henderson/pinecrest-academy-sloan-canyon-pirate/athletes/simote-tupou/football/stats/?careerid=nck0fkiepp7n7">MaxPreps</a>, he tallied 64 total tackles (38 solo) and a whopping 16 sacks in nine games for Pinecrest Academy. Tupou will be one to watch in the Silver State across the next couple of years.

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