Prep Redzone WI Showcase: Nate’s 10 Best

<strong>WAUKESHA-- </strong>Before I break out into my two positions I scouted heavily on Sunday at our Prep Redzone Wisconsin Showcase at Carroll University; I wanted to tip the cap to my "10 Best" with 10 prospects that played at their best when my eyes were watching all over Schneider Stadium on Sunday afternoon. <em>Offensive Line</em> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="146547" first="Thomas" last="Paasch"], OL, Green Bay Southwest (WI) (2023)</strong> <em>Twitter: @ThomasPaasch3</em> I came away very impressed with Paasch in the early L drills. For having such a stout frame for an offensive line, he really carried himself nicely with his turning ability and was one that finished each drill with a strong motor. When I rolled Paasch’s film from his sophomore season, the first thing I came away impressed with was his versatility. He played all five offensive linemen positions as a sophomore, which shows that this kid will do whatever it takes to help his team in any of those spots. He is a push-first prospect who gets his hands around quickly on the defender but could use some development to get even better leverage in the coming seasons with the size he has. Paasch shows the ability to drive kids into the second level but could draw a stronger finishing punch. A great student that carries a 3.5 GPA. I certainly believe this young man has the frame (6’6, 295) to develop into a sound college football prospect. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2FStk0">So. Tape</a> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="31295" first="Ethan" last="Hansen"], OL, Appleton North (WI) (2022)</strong> <em>Twitter: @EthanHansen78</em> Hansen was another hog molly that ran the L drill with a strong motor. Hansen was the first offensive linemen that caught my eye in drills, and it’s easy to see why when you roll his film. Hansen has such solid footspeed to move around the line quickly and is finisher-type blocker college coaches love to watch. Ethan has an excellent pad level which allows him to get sound leverage on the defenders he goes up against. I love how quickly he can get to the outside to pave even more space for his tailback. If you are looking for an OL prospect that blocks until the whistle is blown, Hansen is your guy. Hansen was also first-team all-conference this Spring and placed on the podium as a heavyweight at the WI state wrestling tournament. Based on what I saw on Sunday at Carroll and on film, I feel this young man is well-deserving of more attention, especially at the Divison II/FCS level, as he’s only gotten light interest in the Northern Sun thus far. [embed]https://twitter.com/MJ_NFLDraft/status/1396569071429332992[/embed] <a href="https://twitter.com/MJ_NFLDraft/status/1396569071429332992">Jr. Tape</a> <em>Quarterback</em> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="31342" first="Robby" last="Michael"], QB, Kohler-Sheboygan Lutheran-Sheboygan Christian (WI) (2022)</strong> <em>Twitter: @robbymichael15</em> I had watched Robby on film before the WI Showcase yesterday, but my goodness is this kid a versatile athlete no matter where you line him up. From what I saw in the L drill, Michael looked to have the best flip in his hips from what I saw from skill positions at the Prep Redzone Wisconsin Showcase. He played like a go-getter yesterday, lining up at WR, DB, and of course, QB. The first stick out in Robby’s film is just how darn elusiveness this young man when he leaves the pocket. You can clearly tell he has so much trust in his wide receivers as he has good precision to lead them to go up and get the football inside a small window. The KLC offense was explosive with the deep ball last year, and I would love to see Michael get more throws out within 10-15 to test his zip on the ball even more. Michael was also dynamic on the defensive side of the ball, grabbing six interceptions in 2020. With a couple of visits already in play this Spring, I’m really excited to see how Michael’s camp season turns out this summer as he can hopefully create a splash on his recruiting trail with the options he gives programs in multiple spots. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2EPtq4">Jr. Tape</a> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="104384" first="Matthew" last="Miller"], QB/LB, Fall River (WI) (2023)</strong> <em>Twitter: @mmiller1827</em> When I watched Miller get into his stance on Sunday, I saw a kid that showed off a ton of tools in drills that just draws him as a next-level prospect. His testing numbers were middle of the pack, but his film was extremely impressive. Miller’s film has a wack to it quite literally. I have seen many hard-hitting linebackers, but this kid’s film just draws you in early with his physical hitting ability. Miller is a sideline to sideline linebacker that has some mobility to lock in on coverage or use his stretch to get a ball carrier around any sidelines. On the offensive side of the ball, Miller continues his fierce playing ability as he’s an aggressive runner that just punches you in the with his downhill running ability. He has fluid hips to turn quickly. Miller is the next prospect on deck for the Fall River-Rio Rebels to play scholarship-level college football, mark my words. What is awesome? He has two years left to get even more physical and stronger in the weight room than he already is. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/video/3/9739296/5faec5eb664afd0a988d67d7">So. Tape</a> <em>Defensive Back</em> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="118556" first="Isaac" last="Hyland"], DB, St. Marys Springs (WI) (2022)</strong> <em>Twitter: @IsaacHyland</em> Hyland drew my attention with his explosiveness in his legs in the early testing sessions. Hyland’s tackling ability is extremely textbook. He is not a kid you want to leave unblocked when he crashes into the backfield as he has an explosive blast off the line to get his tackles. This kid’s extension ability on his tackling is fantastic as he can reach excellent lengths to put the ball carrier on their rear end. Hyland shows a burst out the gates at tailback and is a prospect that feeds off contact instead of staying away from it. Hyland is a defined inside runner with good patience, waiting for the play to develop before entering the lanes. In my eyes, Hyland has a ceiling as an FCS or a high Division II prospect where he could be a ball hawk all over the field on Saturdays. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2FSBwv">Jr. Tape</a> <strong>Will Van Laanen, DB, Mequon Homestead (WI) (2024)</strong> <em>Twitter: @WVanLaanen2024</em> Van Laanen had the most fluid footwork amongst freshmen I saw on Sunday at our Prep Redzone Wisconsin Showcase. Not only was his footwork great for his age, but he also had an aggressive burst while closing out his drills. Van Laanen showed a similar quick twitch in hips from the YouTube videos I found of him online. I think one of the biggest developments this young man can work on over the next few years is his backpedal and his footwork. He is a solid prospect for flipping his hips multiple ways, but you don’t catch much action on film of him working in reverse. Van Laanen also stuck out to me as a probable two-way player at Homestead in the coming years as I came away impressed with his WR reps on his YouTube clips. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XoQOMwgBURA">2024 Tape</a> <strong>Anthony Ward, DB, Madison Memorial (WI) (2022)</strong> <em>Twitter: </em><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0">@ant_ward2x</span> Ward caught the eye of very close to every scout and college coach on Sunday in Waukesha. In his second Prep Redzone Wisconsin Showcase, he showed off more skill than just high topping the football really well, as we saw at Showcase #1. He was the fastest runner in the 40-yard dash (4.63) amongst DBs and once again showed off excellent ball skills attacking the WRs very well on every rep he got in 1on1s. Ward doesn’t yet have his tape up from his spring season with the Madison West club team, but his sophomore tape is sure fun to watch. He does really well with his footwork and adjusting speeds based on what the WR is bringing his way. His backpedal is solid, and he is a dynamic return man that can make some defenders miss due to the quick turn in his feet. I love his reactive ball instincts when the offense comes his way, as he can turn on a dime and make a play. Ward picked up his first Division III offer earlier this spring, and I believe his ceiling will grow higher this summer with the help of prospect camps. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/video/3/13050574/5d5786ae5ef6e60a6ca0194c">So. Tape</a> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="31289" first="Quincy" last="Thomas"], DB, Waukesha South (WI) (2022)</strong> <em>Twitter: @Quincyqt02</em> Thomas was solid in the early testing sessions, especially in the shuttle and the broad jump, where he had some of the best improvements from jump #1 to jump #2. A solid north-to-south runner at the ball. When I watched Quincy’s film last year from the Blackshirts shortened season, I saw a reactive cornerback that can get a good extension when he needs it with his 6’0 frame. He has a great physicality level with his ball skills and is a DB you don’t want to meet on a tackle if you are a ball carrier. I also love the chippiness Thomas plays with. Thomas has good footwork and has the tools and size at DB to be competitive at the college level. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2EeHGa">Jr. Tape</a> <em>Running Back</em> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="118489" first="Jayden" last="Lor"], RB, Wauwautosa East (WI) (2022)</strong> <em>Twitter: @JaydenLor30</em> Lor ran some solid shuttle numbers at the Prep Redzone Wisconsin Showcase. Where this young man stuck out to me was in 1on1s, where he showed a solid pass-catching ability and a strong twist in the hips to evade the defenders. Lor will not be the biggest RB you will ever see (5’5, 186), but it’s his explosiveness that got me fired upon his film. What is surprising is Lor is mainly utilized on inside runs where he shows patience early on the run just to explode when he hits the hole he wants. It will only take one or possibly two cuts for this kid to break for 12-20 yard runs. Jayden also is not afraid of contact despite his frame. Lor has just taken two visits thus far to Concordia-St. Paula virtually to UW-Eau Claire. I feel this kid can get his name out there with various D3 and D2 camps this summer. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2F1tKa">Jr. Tape</a> <strong>Cortez LeGrant Jr. , RB, Sun Prairie (WI) (2023)</strong> <em>Twitter: @d_legrant</em> LeGrant Jr. nearly matched his 40-yard dash from our last Wisconsin Showcase at 4.56. Cortez also posted the second-fastest shuttle amongst running backs at 4.34. I didn’t get to catch him during 1on1s, but our fellow PRZ scouts told me some more great things. I got the chance to watch LeGrant’s sophomore film at Sun Prairie and came away impressed. His ability to bounce to the outside quickly with a quick flick of the hips to change directions freed him up to use his stamina, and then he bursts to outrun the secondary for some key touchdowns for the Cardinals. LeGrant Jr. could use another 20-25 pounds in the weight room to improve his stock at the college level for the tailback position, but he also has some strength in his lower body, as he sheds off tacklers pretty easily. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2FS2pd">So. Tape</a> &nbsp;