Wisconsin's Top Returning 8-player Recruits

Wisconsin's 8-Player football stars are some of the most under the radar and under appreciated prospects in the entire state. With enrollment numbers decreasing throughout the state - and decreasing participation in football - a lot of smaller schools are having to consider adopting to the 8-player rules and regulations of the WIAA. Although people may look at this as a bad thing, that couldn't be further from the truth. In 2015 (according to the Wausau Daily Herald) there were only 21 8-man programs across Wisconsin, but heading into the 2020 season that number has almost doubled to over 40 schools (from the WIAA site) across the state playing 8-man football. A lot of these schools started as 11-man programs, but had to downsize the classification due to smaller rosters. For almost every school having to bump down to 8-man, it has been a success. Newman Catholic made the move from 11 down to 8-man in 2016, and they have since appeared in a couple state championship games. The players that make up these teams are versatile, athletic, and tough football players whose game translates perfectly fine to 11-man college football, and I have seen that in-person myself. It is for this reason - along with some others - that makes PrepRedzoneWI wonder why a lot of these returning stars are not being more heavily recruited. With that thought in mind we thought it would be beneficial to give these kids some exposure and release to our readers some of "Wisconsin's Top Returning 8-player Recruits." Check out below for more analysis of the players, their game film, and what they do well as football players. Thanks for reading! [player_tooltip player_id="30852" first="Riley" last="Christensen"] (Belmont) LB/QB/ATH. 6'2, 210 lbs. @RileyChrist4 2019 WFCA 8-Player All-State selection. 2019 WFCA All-Region selection. Has coaches following him on Twitter from Western Illinois, UW-River Falls, UW-Eau Claire, UW-Oshkosh, MSU-Moorhead, NDSU, Culver-Stockton, UND, Augustana (SD), Coe College, UW-Whitewater, Sioux Falls, UW-Lax, Northern State, Ball State. Rushed 250 times for 1,960 yards and 30 TDs. Passed 107 times with 50 completions for 854 yards and 11 TDs. Also had 6 catches for 211 yards and 3 TDs. On defense recorded 99 tackles, 71 solo with 3 sacks, 8 PBUs, 5 interceptions, 2 TDs. With great speed for his size, Christensen is just a straight up football player who can run, throw, catch, tackle, block, and anything else you need him to do. With that aforementioned speed and size, he's a matchup nightmare for opponents and without a doubt the best returning 8-man recruit in Wisconsin. The only returning All-State player from 2019, Christensen hopes to lead Belmont to that always elusive state championship in 2020. I think he projects best as a LB at the next level, and his instincts and physicality will make him an exciting collegiate backer. You'll be hearing a lot more about him in 2020. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2CVTH1">Junior Season Highlights</a> [player_tooltip player_id="30829" first="Alex" last="Laughlin"] (Gibraltar) WR 6'0, 195 lbs. @LaughlinAlex11 2x All-Region selection. GPA 3.698. ACT 23. Career receiving yards=3,156, 37 career TDs, 1589 career rushing yards and 23 career TDs on the ground. 247 career tackles. Offered by Upper Iowa, SMSU, University of St. Francis. Graphics from UMD, USF, Northern State. Laughlin is the owner of a ridiculous stat line from his prep career, and the Fish Creek native has a great chance to help Gibraltar avenge their 2019 loss to Newman Catholic in the playoffs and get to that state final. One of the only players on the list with reported scholarship offers, Laughlin is a long, smooth WR whose first play of his Hudl made me literally say "wow" as he snagged a ball way up in the air over a safety on a deep post route. Not only is the athleticism obvious, Laughlin is a fearless, competitive wideout who can locate and high-point the football better than anyone on the field and is dangerous after the catch with a slick little one step cut and the speed to run away from you in the open field. He's a fun one to watch. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2CNRE6">2019 Highlights</a> [player_tooltip player_id="30977" first="Jack" last="Anderson"] (Alma Center-Lincoln) QB. 5'11, 150 lbs. 2019 WFCA All-Region selection. A recent article from leadertelegram.com writer Jack Goods brought to light for me how this years senior class of football players will be on their seventh coach in four years, an unheard of number of turnover for any high school program. With this context I am even more excited about Anderson, his game, and Alma Center-Lincoln who is getting preseason 8-man buzz for the first time in a long time. Anderson only has game film on his Hudl, but in it you can see that he's an athletic QB with a quick release and a ton of zip on his ball, as well that he moves well in the pocket and make throws on the run quite easily. He's also dangerous on the run, and I could see him potentially playing a few positions in college, including quarterback. Stay tuned to see if Alma Center-Lincoln can keep this hype train rollin. <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/9688360/5dafdd6c6e8c150dd8751bcc">Lincoln vs. Prairie Farm</a> <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/9688360/5dafd976b534be0d4c0e24b5">Lincoln vs. Bruce</a> <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/9688360/5dafd689dfd8a70e20f712e3">Lincoln vs. Clayton</a> [player_tooltip player_id="30951" first="Luke" last="Steebs"] (Gibraltar) QB. 5'10, 160 lbs. 2019 WFCA All-Region selection. The QB throwing to [player_tooltip player_id="30829" first="Alex" last="Laughlin"], Gibraltar's QB1 is a very good athlete who had no problem hitting receivers in stride well on the run or in the pocket, juking the ankles off defenders, and even playing DE for Gibraltar's defense. With the ability to beat you with his arm or with his legs in the well run read-option offense, I would love to have Steebs on my college football squad, <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2C3DwN">vs. Algoma</a> <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2BzXZL">vs. Lena/STAA</a> [player_tooltip player_id="30938" first="Dawson" last="Van Meter"] (Luck) LB/ATH. 6'1, 215 lbs. @Dawson98455207 2019 WFCA All-Region selection. GPA 3.6. 3x All-Conference selection. 2019 state champion. Has coaches following him on Twitter from Carroll University, Minot State, Northern State, Wyoming, University of St. Thomas, Coe College, Dartmouth, Augustana (SD), Upper Iowa, NDSU, UMD, Simpson College, UWEC, Minnesota State-Mankato. Junior season recorded 105 tackles, 41 solo, 12 TFL, 1 interception. Van Meter is a big, strong, and elusive LB who is a good tackler, instinctive at reading his keys, and a big hitter once he gets ahold of you. He's also a physical kid who has no problem taking on blocks. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2D5d7q">Junior Season</a> [player_tooltip player_id="30906" first="Dylan" last="Ackermann"]n (Newman Catholic) DB/ATH. @dylan_ackermann 5'11, 150 lbs. 2019 WFCA All-Region selection. Has mostly baseball coaches following him on Twitter. #12 for Newman Catholic is an accomplished two-sport athlete who shows himself to be a dangerous WR on his game film from 2019. He also took some snaps at QB and DB (where he was named All-Region), and it's obvious that Ackermann is a very good athlete with a lot of upside as a football player. <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/9645823/5eb1b58f0dc11b0fbc76cccd">vs. Luck</a> <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/9645823/5eb1b45f8cd4970c38c3c907">vs. Belmont</a> <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/9645823/5d9b6fd53df51417e8ea5edc">vs. Wisconsin Heights</a> [player_tooltip player_id="30987" first="Spencer" last="Evenson"] (Sevastopol) DB. 5'9, 160 lbs. 2019 WFCA All-Region selection. I'll keep it short for Evenson. Watch this play I have linked...what more do you need to see? <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2BqJES">"Speed Kills"</a> [player_tooltip player_id="30979" first="Gavin" last="Wulf"] (Newman Catholic) LB. 6'0, 190 lbs. 2019 WFCA All-Region selection. A smaller, speedier LB who has a ton of room on his frame to grow and has no problem hitting you in the mouth, Wulf has a high-motor and is relentless in his pursuit of the ball-carrier. He also possess a very useful natural tendency to rip the ball out, something no DC is ever going to dislike. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2CSQaC">Junior SZN LB</a> Grant Bass (Oakfield) QB. 6'4, 190 lbs. A great thrower with good strength and phenomenal touch on the ball, the Oakfield 2021er can beat you with his legs or his arm, and is poised for a big senior year season. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2CCCp4">QB1</a> Blake Justmann (Oakfield) DE. 6'5, 200 lbs. Looked like the biggest kid on the field in his sophomore highlights from 2018, so I'm sure he's only gotten bigger. Justmann can work around you or through you as a pass-rusher and has a ton of room to put on weight. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2DawtU">Sophomore Highlights</a> Corbin Behrmann (Florence) WR. 6'2, 175 lbs. Recorded 15 receptions for 336 yards and 5 TDs and also posted 53 tackles and 4 interceptions. Behrmann is dangerous with the ball in his hands from either the WR or RB spot, and has no problem lighting you up on defense or kickoff. Also has good top-speed that made him very difficult to catch in 2019 <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2CJK07">Junior Highlights</a> Avery Starzecki (Clayton) RB C/o 2023. 5'10, 160 lbs. Can't help but like what I see on film from the Freshman last fall. Definitely didn't look like a frosh out there. <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/13105887/5d912466f31d040d10c5ed66">vs. Prairie Farm</a> <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/13105887/5daf1c6602bb48087cb4f3bc">vs. Northwood/Solon Springs</a> Will Knaack (Phillips) C/o 2022. DB. Playmaking DB with ball-skills and can tackle. <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/11419717/5d740b1cff03800f3829c703">vs. Marion</a> <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/11419717/5d9ac343ff0cac0cf4e19532">vs. Chequamegon</a> <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/11419717/5d7fcda36e8b360b5cef91ab">vs. Three Lakes</a> Tyler Bishop (Winter) 6'2, 205 lbs. Austin Henschel (Elkhart Lake-Glenbeulah) 6'3, 180 lbs. Don't sleep on the 8-player recruits in 2020-21! I hope you enjoyed.