Wisconsin's Top-10 Hardest Senior Hitters of 2020

I’m very excited to bring to our subscribers this newest PrepRedzoneWI feature highlighting the hardest hitters of the 2021 class from this past Fall season. Hard hits are what makes football, football, and there are a multitude of reasons that the "biggest hits" videos on Youtube generate tens of millions of views, but it really boils down to the fact that people love them. They conjure animalistic feelings of excitement and pleasure, and big tackles and blocks can really shift the tide of momentum to one team’s favor and change the course of a football game. Additionally, players that are known and feared as big hitters make impacts throughout the course of 60 minutes that extend far past the pain a WR, RB, or QB feels after getting popped on a single play. They affect game plans, timing, adjustments, and the execution of plays, as well as work themselves into the consciousness of offensive players and throw them off their game. I took it upon myself to watch as film on as many 2021 seniors that I could find that played this past Fall and rank the PrepRedzoneWI Top-10 Hardest Senior Hitters of 2020. Check out who made the list, who hits the hardest, where they’re going to play in college, and why I think they hit so hard. As a note, I made this list off of Hudl film available, and besides [player_tooltip player_id="31202" first="Braelon" last="Allen"] I tried to base this mostly off of senior film. Thanks for reading. 1) [player_tooltip player_id="30795" first="Owen" last="Arnett"] (Arrowhead) DB. 6’, 215 lbs. Committed to the University of Virginia on a PWO. 3x All-Conference, 2020 All-State. Shakes ball-carriers to their core when he hits you, and is one of the hardest stand-up hitters in the state who can send you on your butt without even having to go after your legs. Also strong enough to send kids 5+ feet out of bounds on sideline collisions. He had some massive hits on his senior tape and just freezes kids in the open field when he puts his pads on them, and sent kids airborne and backwards in what looks like pretty innocuous hits set up by only a few steps. Overall just a really powerful and forceful hitter who can put you on his butt anyway he wants. 2) [player_tooltip player_id="30748" first="Austin" last="Dahlke"] (Edgar) LB. 6’1, 195 lbs. Named PrepRedzoneWI State Player of the Year. Led the state in sacks and TFLs in the Fall of 2020. 2x All-Region, All-State. Offered by Saint Francis University, a PWO from Colorado, a PWO from San Diego State, Northern Colorado, PWO from Nebraska, PWO from Northern Illinois, PWO from Western Kentucky, PWO from Colorado State, Illinois State, Bucknell, St. Thomas, Augustana, Valparaiso, Northern Michigan, UMary, Bemidji State. Had possibly the best senior Fall season of any prep in the state of Wisconsin, and the first two hits of his Hudl are two of the biggest I saw all year. He’s a heat-seeking missile on the gridiron and can send you flying or absolutely crumple you if he gets a full head of steam. His stiff-arm is more like a jab, and he’s the most impressive combination of speed and strength on this list. 3) [player_tooltip player_id="30725" first="Hunter" last="Wohler"] (Muskego) DB. 6’2, 190 lbs. Committed to Wisconsin. Compared to his junior film there is a lot less hitting in the Wisconsin commits senior Hudl film. However, it’s still obvious that he is a talented hitter that runs the alley better than anyone in the state and is an excellent tackler who sends ball-carriers legs flying and wraps up with an impressive amount of force. He had a goal-line hit against Arrowhead around 2:50 into his senior tape that showed off some of that incredible pop that is all over his junior tape. Just a brick wall of a safety who brings the pain in the hole. 4) [player_tooltip player_id="30914" first="Tate" last="Sauerwein"] (Lake Holcombe/Cornell) RB/LB. 5’10, 210 lbs. Uncommitted. Has a 4.0 GPA and a 29 on the ACT. He was named All-Region, Chippewa County Player of the Year, Lakeland Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year. In 2020 in seven games posted 137 carries for 1,146 rushing yards and 12 rushing TDs plus a receiving TD and a passing TD. Also posted 106 tackles and 16 TFLs. Particularly vicious with his arms/hands, as he throws a mean double foreman extension when lead-blocking and also has a violent stiff-arm and finishes runs with authority. Also runs through lead blockers and ball-carriers and rarely goes backwards and can create so much force as a tackler that ball-carriers go airborne and get lifted off of their feet. It just looks like he plays every play with as much violence as possible. Someone needs to sign my man! 5) [player_tooltip player_id="30852" first="Riley" last="Christensen"] (Belmont) LB. 6’2, 220 lbs. Committed to UW-Lacrosse. In 2020 posted 50 tackles, 12 TFLs, 1 sack and rushed 118 times for 1,372 yards and 26 TDs. Named All-State, 2x 8-Player OPOY, 2x All-Region, 2x Conference POY, 3x All-Conference. First hit on his Hudl shows him absolutely slamming a kid into the turf face first and continues the theme by crumpling ball-carriers when he gets ahold of them. When he tackles someone, they go to the ground quick, and he also is a violent lead-blocker and has himself a really impressive truck-stick when he chooses to use it. He’s usually the strongest player on the field when he plays, and he uses that strength whenever he can to hit his opponents, and hit them hard. 6) [player_tooltip player_id="30779" first="Noah" last="Galindo"] (Germantown) LB. 6’3, 230 lbs. Uncommitted. First Team All-Conference and All-Region. Posted 120 tackles, 17 TFLs, 4 sacks, 3 FF, 3 FR, 2 INT in eight games in 2020. The largest player on this list measuring in at 6’3, and 230 lbs., Galindo completely envelops and swallows up ball-carriers when he gets ahold of them. He’s another hitter who reminds me of a brick wall, as he rag dolls kids when they try to run through him like someone running at a concrete barrier in that midsecond right after impact with the body kind of wiggles. It’s really hard to get him to go backwards as a ball-carrier, even if he’s in a compromising body position, due to his overwhelming size and strength. Runs through attempted blocks with ease as well. I’m pretty stunned he doesn’t have more college football interest at this point. 7) [player_tooltip player_id="30896" first="Caden" last="Mulhollon"] (Wilmont) LB/DB. 5’10, 205 lbs. Committed to the Mount Union Purple Raiders. 2020 Southern Lakes Conference Defensive POY, Senior LB of the Year Finalist, 3x All-Conference, 2x All-Region. Creates a lot of momentum and force when he’s running down ball-carriers and gator rolls with torque and violence to throw kids multiple feet or into the ground hard. Really athletic RB who has great range and go can go run down ball-carriers all over the field. 8) [player_tooltip player_id="30743" first="Mac" last="Strand"] (Xavier) LB. 6’2, 220 lbs. Committed to UMD. Wisconsin LB of the Year, All-State, Wisconsin Player of the Year finalist, Conference POY, First Team All-State. One of the strongest players on this list who doubles as a savage of a FB/lead-blocker, he crushed a couple of QBs and will run you over before you know it as a ball-carrier. Also strong enough to suplex you if he gets the momentum and can put you on your butt no matter what position he’s playing. 9) [player_tooltip player_id="30818" first="Will" last="Straka"] (Mineral Point) LB. 6’1, 215 lbs. Committed to UW-Platteville. Named All-State, All-Region as both a LB and a RB. In 2020 posted 50 tackles, 8 TFLs in 6 games. An incredibly thick 215 lber. who sends would-be tacklers flying off of him when he runs the ball, Straka’s powerful quads and legs are hard hitters in themselves, and when he lowers his shoulders to try and run you over it is going to hurt. As a tackler, he does a great job of playing low and is strong enough to consistently get kids legs off of the ground when he tackles them, and also possesses the strength to really send you backwards if he gets a full head of steam. Overall a really strong and balanced athlete who is equally physical as both a ball-carrier and a tackler. 10) [player_tooltip player_id="30767" first="Brock" last="Lampe"] (Kenosha Bradford) LB. 6’1, 225 lbs. Career stats of 316 tackles, 30 TFL, 5 sacks, 2 FF, 2 INT, 1 TD. Holds offers from Roosevelt University, Carthage, St. Norbert College, Northern Michigan, Bemidji State. A speedy LB for his size, Lampe’s acceleration allows him to run through ball-carriers and swing people down with strength. I like how he hits mostly due to how much effort and how hard he goes every play, and it’s not uncommon to see him go airborne when he gets ahold of someone. He also has impressive leg drive and has the lower body strength to not give up an inch when he meets you in the hole. Looks really hard to get away from him if he gets his hands on you. Honorable Mention *special shoutout* [player_tooltip player_id="31202" first="Braelon" last="Allen"] (Fond du Lac) SS/OLB. 6’2, 220 lbs. The phenom out of Fondy receives a special shoutout for multiple reasons, although he technically isn’t the hardest hitter in the state at this moment due to the fact that his season won’t begin until the Spring. He’s also a unique prospect due to the fact that he reclassified from the 2022 class into being a ’21 this Fall/Winter. Nevertheless, based off his sophomore tape alone he’s the hardest hitter in the state. He possesses a rare and special natural pop that, when combined with his absurd weight room numbers, make him one of the hardest hitters I have ever seen over my almost 10 years of watching highlight tapes on Hudl. He used to have his bio say "the hardest hitting safety in the nation" and you will be hard pressed to find someone to beat that claim. He’ll be the hardest senior hitter, and the hardest hitting prep in Wisconsin overall, once his Spring season concludes, but as of right now I can’t name him #1. [player_tooltip player_id="30822" first="Kyle" last="Dietzen"] (Omro) LB. 6’, 215 lbs. Committed to UW-Oshkosh. Named All-State. *Plays senior season in the Spring* Matthew Stephany (KLC) LB/SS. 2022. 6’1, 200 lbs. First Team All-Conference. In 2020 posted 87 tackles, 12 TFLs, 3.5 sacks. [player_tooltip player_id="30773" first="Rudy" last="Detweiler"] (Stoughton) LB. Committed to UW-Whitewater [player_tooltip player_id="30749" first="Mason" last="Buehler"] (Muskego) DB. Committed to Winona State [player_tooltip player_id="30771" first="Logan" last="Ertl"] (Wauwatosa West) LB. Committed to Minnesota State University-Moorhead [player_tooltip player_id="30729" first="Marcus" last="Mbow"] (Wauwatosa East) OT. Committed to Purdue [player_tooltip player_id="30765" first="Grant" last="Gerber"] (Eau Claire Memorial) DE. Committed to St. Thomas