Recruiting Class Breakdown: Dakota Wesleyan

MITCHELL-- We take a look at the 17 players from South Dakota that signed their letter of intent to Dakota Wesleyan yesterday for football. In total, Dakota Wesleyan signed 7 players from our Class of 2021 rankings. I broke down the recruiting class of South Dakota natives and project how each player will be utilized at the next level and what they bring to the Tigers roster. Enjoy! Dylan Albrecht, OL, Sioux Falls Lincoln Albrecht is a well engaged offensive lineman coming to the Tigers. He has a stable hand position on whoever he gets his hands on. Not a complete bully on the line, but he keeps his defensive lineman in check. He could use some development in staying active when an opponent makes a second move, but I’m sure the Tigers with work with him to improve on that. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2EGhCp">Senior Tape (Weeks 2-4)</a> Ty Van Hull, DL, Viborg-Hurley Van Hull will need to fill out a little, but this kid offers great instincts and sound movement. His ability to advance past the first level and get into the backfield is what I like about his tape. Van Hull brings scrappiness to the Tiger’s defensive line after being such a battler for powerhouse Viborg-Hurley, who has contributed to three additions from this year’s signing class. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2EbjmV">Senior Tape </a> Ben Harms, OL/DL, Rapid City Central Harms is a lineman that plays the game really low to the ground but has some slipperiness to his game. Harms’s ability to turn his hips quickly from his experience from kickoffs will help him out at the next level. He shows a good first step off the line but could use some development as far as his body control once he’s where he wants to be. Harms will be a well-engaged talent in Mitchell. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/video/3/11168146/5faf0c3c478d9f0218a76706">Senior Tape</a> Tate Kessler, DB, Viborg-Hurley Kessler played a little bit of everywhere for the Cougars but will play at defensive back at Dakota Wesleyan. Kessler does an excellent job with being a textbook tackler, which will help the secondary and the Tiger’s special teams. His solid vision and knack for quickly getting to the football will help add some depth to the Tigers roster. <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/14043196/5ec9673e688e740c9c2192e9">Junior Tape</a> Rave Uhlich, LB, Garretson Uhlich’s attacking ability is something that’s going to be a significant asset at DWU. The way he clamps to where the ball is going gives me a gut feeling, he’ll be a strong starter in the Tigers’ future. He has an excellent burst to use where he wants to go; whether that’s off the edge, thru traffic, or into the heart of it, Uhlich can get it done. A very tough player coming out of Garretson. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2F0fJq">Signing Day Tape</a> [player_tooltip player_id="56293" first="Kale" last="Stevenson"], RB, Watertown My colleague and I saw Stevenson was a next-level player; we just learned yesterday where he was going. Stevenson models a much larger size than the tag says (5’9, 185) and runs with a big burst if he gets some space. Placing Stevenson at running back will change from what he’s used to at quarterback, but I think his legs outweigh his quarterback ability in the long run. Stevenson is also strong with yards after contact. [player_tooltip player_id="56347" first="Logan" last="Serck"], RB, Alcester-Hudson Stevenson and Serck are coming from similar roles, making the transition from QB to a full time running back. Serck was an All-State performer last year with some twitch in his legs to make some moves at tailback. Like most newcomers, he’ll have to fill out a little but still have to give the Tigers a back that can get lost in traffic. You could see some trickery with Serck, as he does have some arm strength in his years of quarterbacking for the Cubs of Alcester-Hudson. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/video/3/12184412/5f997f63bee0b40bfc2ea3db">Senior Tape</a> [player_tooltip player_id="56278" first="Josh" last="Rowse"], LB, Pierre Rowse may not be the biggest kid on the football field, but he can knock some people around at linebacker. Rowse is the player than dives into the rush before a tackle to make darn sure the ball carrier will be stopped. Rowse does really well in being patient yet ready to make a play when it comes his way. Rowse is one of three South Dakota linebackers signed by DWU, all of which will make the linebacker room better over time. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2Emu4J">Senior Tape</a> [player_tooltip player_id="91748" first="Jake" last="Williams"], DB, Wosley-Wessington Williams is a pure example; you don’t need to be the biggest guy to maneuver some more prominent players around. At 5’10 170, Williams shows off a solid tackler not only in high traffic situations but brings that same energy on special teams. Williams was a kid I learned about late in the season, and I certainly thought he was cut for the next level and it shows in every avenue he played in at Wosley-Wessington. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/video/3/11263962/5f8e47db19b0321ab8cccc28">Senior Tape</a> Ethan Rogich, OL, Sioux Falls Lincoln Rogich is undoubtedly a talent you needed to see live to see the impact he made for the Patriots. Rogich’s has some excellent toughness being a starter for Sioux Falls Lincoln for three straight years and was first-team all-conference as a senior last season. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2DV40N">Junior Tape</a> [player_tooltip player_id="56361" first="Braden" last="Peters"], OL, Flandreau Peters has an excellent punching ability on the line that shows how much grit he plays within the trenches. Peters doesn’t have the quickest feet I’ve ever seen, but he is a guy that can get out there and pull block and finish a defender with ease. Peters is more developed on finishing his man vs. punching his man in the trenches out quickly. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2ERd35">Senior Tape</a> Ethan McCune, DL, De Smet McCune has a knack for staying real physical, whether on the offensive or defensive side of the ball. He’s sound at clearing up running lanes and getting after tailbacks on that first level. McCune is being brought in as a defensive lineman, but I think he has the speed and mobility to play some linebacker for the Tigers, too, possibly. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2EUwRb">Senior Tape</a> Connor Kerkhove, OL, Bridgewater-Emery Kerkhove has a significant first step off the ball. His ability to stay grounded and go punch somebody in the throat on every play is what I love about Kerkhove’s game. I think this kid would have been on more radars with a little bigger measurables because the talent is undoubtedly there, and Dakota Wesleyan found Kerkhove just 35 minutes east of Mitchell. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/video/3/9771867/5fc5329d19b03d09c0a71d8f">Senior Tape</a> [player_tooltip player_id="56298" first="Layton" last="Eide"], LB, Deuel I love how Eide sets up to make a play once that ball is snapped. His stance will help him get some leverage at the next level. Eide uses his excellent vision between the tackles to stay the course and make a play on the ball wherever it is. Eide is a player that will blend in well with [player_tooltip player_id="56278" first="Josh" last="Rowse"] and Rave Uhlich, all of which are South Dakota linebackers that can lay the hit stick on film. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2EVCZM">Senior Tape</a> Samuel Callies, TE, Howard I can see with the Tigers moved on this kid; Callies is what you look for in a sound blocking tight end. The other positive about this 6’2 220 tight tend is his quick turning ability as on tape; he uses the sharp turn in his hips to explode on a defender that didn’t even know he could turn that quick. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2EWBXG">Tape vs. Castlewood</a> [player_tooltip player_id="56400" first="Chase" last="Cermak"], WR, Miller Cermak has some very fluid footwork he puts on display. His turns on his route running look very natural. Look for Cermak to be a sound slot wide receiver over the next four years in Mitchell. Cermak has good foot speed while in pursuit. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2CaUtu">Senior Tape</a> Ky Becker, WR, Kimball/White Lake Becker got two first downs for every football he caught this season at White Lake. He will be a prospect that will be a substantial deep ball threat in the years to come and will be a team leader, as he was team captain for both the basketball and football team. Becker also will show off some solid stamina as a cross country runner during his high school years. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2EANz0">Other Tape</a>