Recruiting Spotlight: Dom Dietel – Litchfield (2022)

After a solid junior season for him and his team, Litchfield’s [player_tooltip player_id="116193" first="Dom" last="Dietel"]’s offseason didn’t start the way he had hoped. Usually a three-sport athlete, he didn’t even make it out of the basketball season’s first game before his junior year in athletics was over. Despite the setback, Dietel has made sure an injury doesn’t define his offseason. "I played basketball this year," Dietel said. "In the first game, with about 15 seconds left in the game, I came down awkwardly and tore my ACL. I had to get surgery and have been rehabbing from that." Dietel was able to start his rehab almost immediately. "Rehab has been going great. I was able to put weight on it almost right away. I got my brace off and have been cleared to do some light leg lifting. I am hoping to be able to do some light jogging in a few weeks. I hope to be ready for the start of football." Injuries are never positive, but Dietel has used the time off his feet to work on an area he would not usually focus on. "A week after my surgery, my doctor said it was okay to start lifting upper body as long as I didn’t put any weight on my leg. I have been lifting arms every day for two months. I was a leg heavy person and didn’t work on my arms as much. The injury has forced me to work on my arms and how physical I am." The Litchfield Dragons’ football team was an experienced group. "We had a strong senior class," Dietel told prepredzone.com. "We knew we had a chance to make a run at whatever playoffs we were going to have." They were also a physical group on defense. "Our defense improved from last year," the two-way starter said. "We didn’t have many passing teams in our conference, so we ran a 5-3 a lot. The defensive line kept people off our stud linebackers like Wyatt Larson. We had returning corners like Tyson Michels, who locked things down out there." Offensively, the Dragons primarily moved the ball through the air. "We had a great passing game. We ran a spread offense. Our running game consisted of sweeps and bubble screens. Our offensive line gave the quarterback time to throw." Dietel rarely came off the field. "I started both ways," the 6’4" 275-pound junior said. "I started on offense all year as a sophomore, and towards the end of my sophomore year, I took over the defensive tackle spot. This year I continued that. I had a good year on offense, and I improved a lot on defense." The soon-to-be three-year starter’s role switched in 2021. "Last year, I played right tackle, and I talked to Coach, and with the way we throw with a right-handed quarterback, we decided to switch me to left tackle. The hardest part about the switch was switching my pass set. When you pass set on the right, you are kicking back with your right foot. I am right-handed, so my left wasn’t as strong as my right, so it took me a while to get used to, but I put the work in during the offseason." On the left or the right side, Dietel is effective. "I am a good pull blocker and a good pass blocker. I could get better at my down blocks and getting to the second level. On defense, I was the nose tackle. I am strong, so I can hold my ground. I was able to read the blocking too." Already a top lineman in the state, Dietel is not resting on his past successes. "I want to work on my hand position and my footwork. Last year, sometimes, I would set too far outside and let the pass rush inside. I have been watching a lot of film to make sure I focus on those things." College coaches have noticed his skills. "A lot of coaches have been reaching out," the Dragons’ big man said. "I have been attending virtual visits. Once the DI dead period is over, some coaches want me to come and see campus. Right now, I am waiting. I am not worried about it." Dietel thinks he is being looked at as an offensive player. "Most of the coaches say they like me because of my size and strength. They think I am light on my feet. I have talked to coaches from Bemidji State, and South Dakota State and have had contact with a lot of other coaches." Once he gets healthy and gets back on the field, contact with coaches should soon turn into interest and offers.