Day 1 Standouts: Prep Redzone Wisconsin Showcase OL/DL
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Day one of the Prep Redzone Wisconsin Showcase is in the books! It was a very competitive event with some of the best OL and DL prospects from Wisconsin, Illinois, and Minnesota in attendance. After going through my notes, pictures,…
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Continue ReadingDay one of the Prep Redzone Wisconsin Showcase is in the books! It was a very competitive event with some of the best OL and DL prospects from Wisconsin, Illinois, and Minnesota in attendance. After going through my notes, pictures, and memories of the event I have come up with 10 players that really stood out to me with their performances. Ahead I will identify each prospect, where they go to school, and a quick reaction of what made them stand out to me on day one. Let’s get it!
Logan Burress Logan Burress 6'0" | 230 lbs | DL Hartford | 2021 State WI , Senior DL- Hartford Union
Logan ended up being one of my favorite athletes from Day One. He was one of, if not the most, athletic prospects on the field. He carries his 6’ 215 lbs frame really well. The first step, burst, and overall speed was the best I saw in the one on one battles. The OL was having a hard time of keeping their bodies in front of him all night. Logan also did a really nice job on a few reps of turning that speed into power. Burress passed the eye test with flying colors. I will be very interested to see what his 40 and shuttle times come out to be. That burst really showed up in the shuttle too along with the flexibility you want to see in that type of drill. Great day throughout for Logan.
Luke Dalton Luke Dalton 6'5" | 300 lbs | OL Marian Central Catholic | 2022 State IL , Junior OL- Marian Central Catholic
Luke was a tone setter for the event. Every rep, drill, and test you could feel how hard he was going. He looks the part of a college lineman too with his 6’5’’ 300 lbs frame. It’s a clean 300 too. His technique was very sharp in the drill work and once we got to the one on one battles I didn’t want to miss a rep. Dalton sets a very strong anchor against bull rushes and he has the lateral agility to mirror defenders that tried to attack him with speed. His aggressive mentality really showed up in the finish of his blocks and the way he played through the whistle. This felt like a business trip for Luke and he showed out in front of a lot of college coaches. Awesome performance all night by him.
Jack Dotzler Jack Dotzler 6'7" | 265 lbs | OL Waunakee | 2022 State WI , Junior OL- Waunakee
If I was to pick the best offensive lineman from the night I would give it to Jack. His frame was the best of the bunch. It had the length at 6’7″ and is already filling out really nicely at 267 lbs. He had sharp technique in the drill work and looked like a natural athlete in the testing portion. Where he really took the cake was in the one on one battles. I don’t think he lost a rep and only was given trouble by some of the best of the best DL prospects. The way he used his length to get his hands on quickly and the reactive athleticism he showed to mirror defenders or set his anchor was on another level. Dotzler is a legitimate FBS level talent. He checked off every box.
David Gauderman David Gauderman 6'2" | 225 lbs | ATH Wittenberg-Birnamwood | 2023 State WI , Sophomore DL- Wittenberg- Birnamwood
Our current #1 overall player in the Prep Redzone Wisconsin sophomore rankings came out and proved why he holds that spot. He came in at a reported 6’2″ 230 and he looked like it. He is already a well put together athlete and he showed out in the timed events. I watched his shuttle attempts and the ease that he changed direction with and the speed out of those change of directions were one of the most impressive reps of the bunch. Once he got to the one on one battles he more than held his own against the older competition. David has the makings of a special prospect and is going to be a must watch over the next couple of seasons. I loved watching him handle himself against some of the best upperclassmen in the state and surrounding states.
Brendan Harder Brendan Harder OL D.C. Everest | 2021 State WI , Senior OL- D.C. Everest
Brendan was a player that kept catching my eyes over and over with his performance throughout the night. He first caught my eye in the shuttle runs. He looked very smooth and under control in both attempts. His athleticism and body control at roughly 6’2″ 275 lbs was impressive. His technique looked clean in the drill work as well. Once we got to the one on one battles, Brendan got into some great battles and held his own. I did not know a lot about Harder coming into the night, but I am a fan of his now. He made a name for himself last night.
Curtis Jaskulke Curtis Jaskulke 6'3" | 215 lbs | DL Stoughton | 2021 State WI , Senior DL- Stoughton
Curtis had a great night from start to finish. At 6’3″ 210 lbs, Curtis has the frame and the length to work with. His arm length really caught my eyes early while he was running his shuttles. Once we got to the drills it was clear that he possesses some special burst. That burst was on full display in the one on ones. I don’t think he lost a single battle. His first step and overall speed paired with his length and flexibility made it very hard for even the top offensive linemen to block him. Curtis might have done the most for himself at the event last night. I know he caught my eye and the eye of a lot of coaches out there. It was awesome to watch.
Evan Oberg Evan Oberg 6'4" | 255 lbs | OL DeForest | 2022 State WI , Junior- DeForest
Evan had a strong night. He proved to be a natural athlete and was a smooth mover. Every time I would watch a rep or battle from him he was going all out and winning. He is a big kid already with excellent length at 6’4″ 240. Oberg has a very sturdy build too that generates a lot of power. That power was on display in the one on one battles. Evan was able to generate a good amount of push in his bull rush and he played with his hands well too. It led to a lot of intense one on one battles. He came out on top in a lot of them too. He’s an up and coming kid to watch.
Martell Owens, Junior DL- Logan High School
Martell had an excellent night. I was interested to see if he went OL or DL for the Showcase and he chose DL. That really helped show off his impressive combination of size, speed, and power. The lateral agility he demonstrated in his pass rush during one on one battles was next level for a 6’2″ 270 lbs junior and he was able to win with power as well. The best way I can describe Martell from what I saw is violent. He plays with strong and heavy hands and when paired with his quickness it makes him a stud defender. Of all the battles, Martell was the only player I saw give OL Dotzler any problems in one on ones. They had the best battle of the night in my eyes. There is a lot to work with here.
Gabe Rousseau Gabe Rousseau 6'3" | 275 lbs | OL Stoughton | 2022 State WI , Junior OL- Stoughton
Gabe is a powerhouse. He didn’t get a chance to play this fall due to Covid, and he has taken that time to absolutely kill it in the gym. He was easily one of the best frames at the Showcase coming in at 6’4″ 273 lbs, and one of, if not the most, powerful players in attendance. Gabe wasn’t just strong either. His technique was sharp in drills and the one on one battles. Speaking of the one on ones, if any player attempted to win with power Rousseau buried them. If I had to guess, I would say that Gabe had the strongest anchor of the bunch against bull rushers and when he had to move laterally there wasn’t an issue. This is going to be a guy to watch in the spring season here in Wisconsin.
Brock Ward Brock Ward 6'4" | 285 lbs | OL Appleton East | 2021 State WI , Senior OL- Appleton East
Brock had a great night. He is a big dude at 6’4″ and roughly 280 lbs. Brock first caught my eyes in the shuttle with his body control. He also was very technically sound in the drill work rep in and rep out. Once we went from the drills and tests to the one on ones Brock proved that not only was he athletic, but he has the strength and tenacity to play at the next level. He has the anchor and the reactive athleticism you need to see out of a player that can play at the D2 level or higher. Ward is one of the better senior OL in the state and he proved it on Day One.