2020 Underdogs

This story is an extension to the "Hidden Gems" segment from earlier this summer. As we inch closer to the 2020 season, hopefully, there has been a few more players from Classes 4A and below that I have thought of to mention that should turn heads this fall. This list is used to highlight the graduating Seniors this upcoming season he may fly under many coaches radar. Class 4A- Delano FB/LB- Adam Brown- Height/Weight N/A I have the opinion that 4A is some of the best football to watch in the State of Minnesota, with that being said they're plenty of the athletes in the Class that go D1. Brown has received some game day invites, but no offers as of yet. Watching his film, he plays the LB position really well, he gets quick reads, has a good pass-drop in coverage, and fills in run support in a big way. Above all on defense, he delivers a good hit AND wraps up! Offensively, he is a hard runner, puts his head down and turns the wheels until he is brought down, which is not an easy task. in the pass game, he seemed to sneak into his routes to get open out of the backfield and become a reliable target, being able to turn a short gain into a big gain with both his speed and power in the open field. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2DSHrL">Highlights</a> Class 3A- Mora DT/LB- Tanner Grangruth- 6'0" 210 lbs. 3A always has some big sleepers every season, Grangruth is my 2020 3A sleeper. Usually I compliment Offensive Linemen for sticking Defensive Linemen, this guy is the opposite. Playing mostly defense, he gets a quick and powerful first step and sheds the O-linemen almost as quick as the snap. Running up the middle without doubling this guy is almost impossible, but he also has a motor to run backs down from the backside. He plugs the middle so well that the quick fullback dives are not effective. Grangruth is another kid that gives everything he's got to the whistle, then does it again for the whole game. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2CRCR5">Highlights</a> Class 2A- Pipestone Area WR/DB- Dawson Schelhaas- 6'2" 165 lbs. Now I try not to favor my hometown too much, but I could not leave this kid unmentioned for this season. Schelhaas emerged as a favorite target for Pipestone in the later part of the season. Receiving a little playing time in the beginning of his Junior season, he worked his tail off and became a both-way player to finish the season. My main reason for putting Dawson on this list is because the Arrows, under Coach Clay Anderson were a run-first, small-ball type offense. In the 3AA Section Title game against Redwood Valley, Schelhaas was a dangerous vertical threat, catching a 60-yard bomb for a TD late in the first half that ultimately gave the Arrows enough momentum to come from behind and punch their ticket to the State Tournament. Under new direction in Coach Scott Boomgaarden, the offensive look may look a little different in favor for Schelhaas and the Pipestone offense. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2Cf9cn">Highlights</a> Class 1A- Underwood RB/DB- Krosby Aasness- 5'11" 170 lbs. I'll never know what it's like to transition from 9-man to 11-man football, Underwood made it seem pretty simple as they qualified for State in their first year in the Class. Krosby Aasness helped lead the charge with some pretty good runs and kick returns, but more so on the defensive side. He plays well in man and zone coverage, but does really well in making a sure-handed tackle instead of going for the big hit. He always comes flying in to help on the gang tackles. He is good at sticking to his man in pass-coverage and getting in good position to make a play. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/video/3/10529364/5dcfa1a0d225770d806e6a10">Highlights</a> Class 9-man- Nicollet ATH- Nathan Duis- 6'0" 175 lbs. 9-man, though on a smaller field, has a lot of big time players making big time plays, if you can play football, you can play football no matter how many men on the field. Nathan Duis listed himself as a RB and a LB, his film shows him playing almost every position, seeing his athleticism, he very-well could. He's got speed and power, nothing too flashy, just gets the job done on the field. Along with his athleticism he has football sense too, getting good pass-run reads on the defensive side and finding the open space on offense. He makes good throws in the wildcat or speed plays that Nicollet runs when they want to get tricky. Duis is also smart on the read option when he is the wildcat QB. Defensively, he also fields his position well, either getting a pass drop or plugging the gap and making the tackle in run support. On both sides, he has good lateral movement for both running the ball and scraping down the line on defense. http://www.hudl.com/v/2CGnZE