PrepRedzoneMN Top Performers Awards: Week 4

Although some Week 5 games have already gotten underway, I still wanted to address some of Minnesota’s Top Performers from Week 4 of the 2020 high school football season before Friday Night Lights kick off on this warm November weekend. These aren’t the only top performers from around the state from last week, but these are without a doubt impressive individual efforts and surely qualified the athletes to win one of our PrepRedzoneMN Week 4 Top Performers Awards! Let’s get to it. Thanks for reading! [player_tooltip player_id="18065" first="Jake" last="Schwinghammer"] (Tartan) LB. Recorded 20 tackles, 4 TFLs, 2 sacks, one scoop and score for a TD vs. Hastings. Watching the film and Tartans #47 looked fast and diagnosed plays quickly while eating up space on ball-carriers with ease. He’s aggressive when getting off blocks and can run twists efficiently. He can cover, blitz, and support the run really well and is a tackling machine. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2EWeDL">vs. Hastings</a> [player_tooltip player_id="18095" first="Connor" last="Braaten"] (Cambridge-Isanti) QB. 6’5, 205 lbs. Completed 22 passes on 33 attempts for 2 passing TDs and 2 rushing TDs vs. Chisago Lakes. Watching the film and Braaten looked great throwing the pass from 3-step and 5-step drops from the pocket and running some RPOs and throwing the run. He also threw a solid block helping out his RB on a run too which I liked. When he sets his feet he was delivering accurate balls and can add some solid touch to make tougher passes on corner routes and and deeper out breaking routes. He’s an active NSIC recruit still. <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/7101099/5f9eee013449120ba8704b07">Week 4 Highlights</a> [player_tooltip player_id="49849" first="Andrew" last="Ali"] (St. Paul Highland Park) LB. 5’11, 210 lbs. 2022. Against St. Paul Johnson he was a tackling machine and shot through gaps impressively. He was always around the football. He recorded 15 total tackles and a FR and a FF. [player_tooltip player_id="18537" first="Ismael" last="Kante"] (Park Center) LB. 6’2, 190 lbs. 2022. In the Pirates Week 4 matchup with Forest Lake he totaled 16 tackles, 2 TFLs, and a FF. Austin Ayobamidele (Park Center) WR/DB. 6’2, 170 lbs. 2022. Against Forest Lake had a nice little stat line of 6 receptions for 186 yards and a TD. The ‘22 prospect is getting D1 interest from South Dakota State and North Dakota State, and for good reason as he looked like a total playmaker last week. He’s an impressive deep threat and eats up DBs cushions easily, and you can tell the DBs respect his speed because he saw a lot of off-coverage and made some easy 10 yard gains on simple hitches. He also made a nice play on a WR screen where he cut back across the field for a first down. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2EWcYu">vs. Forest Lake</a> [player_tooltip player_id="18207" first="Nyle" last="Dickel"] (MPLS Washburn) LB. 6’3, 220 lbs. Against arch-rival Southwest in the “Southside Showdown” I got to cover live, Dickel was moving really well for his size and recorded 19 tackles and 4 TFLs. He’s current leading the state with 61 tackles through 4 weeks. His size and strength help him to rarely miss tackles - and this was against one of the stronger runners in the state in Southwest’s [player_tooltip player_id="18071" first="Nick" last="Flaskamp"]- and can go sideline to sideline. I also really like how instinctive he is and how he can quickly diagnose runs and get to the backfield quickly. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2EX76P">Week 4</a> [player_tooltip player_id="49841" first="TJ" last="Chiabotti"] (North Woods) RB. 5’11, 195 lbs. 2022. The junior RB went off last week vs. Barnum to the tune of 27 carries for 228 yards and 3 TDs + a defensive INT. He’s got a really strong lower body, and runs hard through weaker tackle attempts and is an explosive cutter that showed up nicely on film. Wish he had more plays on the game highlights! <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2EXVqB">vs. Barnum</a> Mason O’Malley (Tri City United) RB/LB. Playing against Belle Plaine he rushed for 144 yards and 3 TDs and defensively posted 11 tackles and 2 TFLs. Nate Litke (Spring Lake Park) ATH. 5’11, 180 lbs. 2022. Versus St. Louis Park he rushed for 199 yards and 4 TDs and returned a kick for a touchdown. On film the KOR was super impressive, as he hit the sideline and turned on the jets and was gone. As a RB I really like his vision and lower body strength and his leg drive. He’s tough to bring down and can power through weaker tackle attempts and smaller defenders. He’s a solid looking 2022 prospect. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2EXcbE">Week 4 Highlights</a> August Butler (MPLS Roosevelt) QB. 6’2, 200 lbs. Playing against 612 rival MPLS South - a game I luckily got to cover live - he threw 20 times and completed 14 passes for 283 yards and 2 passing TDs plus 2 rushing TDs. He is a nice sized prospect and throws a good looking ball from the pocket or on the move. He’s got good arm strength and can throw a really accurate deep ball. Plus he’s a load to bring down as a rushed and a really nice red zone weapon. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2EX0CS">Week 4</a> Lucio Fialo (Benilde-St. Margaret’s) ATH. Against Bloomington Jefferson he recorded 9 tackles, a PBU that won the game, and one kick return for a TD. On film his kick return for a TD was really exciting as he exploded up the middle of the kickoff coverage and out ran the Jaguars defenders with a nice stiff-arm on the final tackler for a TD. He’s also a hard-hitting LB who throws a mean shoulder in run support and runs the alley really aggressively as a safety. He really throws his whole body into tackles and takes good angles in pursuit. He’s dynamic and athletic and would be a great DB/LB at the next level. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2EWUHP">Week 4 highlights</a> [player_tooltip player_id="18153" first="Thomas" last="Myers"] (Moorhead) LB. 6’2, 205 lbs. Against Rogers he was living in the Royals backfield and tallied 5 tackles, 6 TFLs, and a sack. The potential DII NSIC linebacker put his hand in the turf and played some DE, and was a really strong edge defender. He made some impressive tackles with blockers on him, and he works tight down the LOS and tackles low and strong. He had a heckuva defensive performance. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2EWiPk">Week 4 vs. Rogers</a> Sanjay Redd (SMB) RB. 2022. Playing against the #2 team in AA in MPLS North the junior Wolfpack running back had 27 carries for 181 yards and 3 TDs plus 2 catches for 37 yards and a TD. The junior All-American track and field competitor showed off his insane speed with multiple big TD runs that he made look scary easy. A couple TD runs he didn’t even get touched, and this is against a very fast and very talented Polars defensive unit. He’s a FBS prospect who I’m excited just on my radar. <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/13064796/5f9dd9a75ca95f07dc02f05c">vs. North </a> [player_tooltip player_id="23686" first="David" last="Collins"] (St. Michael-Albertville) RB. 5’10, 185 lbs. Versus a tough and strong Prior Lake Laker defense he had 336 total yards and 4 TDs. Threw a couple sweet spin moves and nasty jump cuts to give himself space and had some really impressive runs. His balance and strength make for an incredibly exciting RB to watch, and his highlights from last week are a must see. He’s playing his butt off and is looking like a scholarship back this season. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2EWY4A">vs. Prior Lake</a> [player_tooltip player_id="49852" first="Brandon" last="Hoban"] (Delasalle) QB. 6’2, 185 lbs. 2022. Against North St. Paul went 30-44 for 371 yards and 2 TDs. Was slinging the ball all over the field and looked mobile and athletic. He scrambles well in the pocket and can improvise when things break down and has a naturally strong arm with some impressive accuracy at the high school level. No wonder he’s getting a good amount of contact from NDSU. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/video/3/13357312/5f9ede4d6898c20a54f1c283">vs. NSP</a>