CMFA Defensive Camp & Combine: Day Two, Part II Standouts
COLD SPRING, MINN– We move into Part II of the standouts we got to watch at the Central Minnesota Football Academy Defensive Camp and Combine. These five young men really showed their work ethic and strong physical play in Tuesday afternoons…
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Continue ReadingCOLD SPRING, MINN– We move into Part II of the standouts we got to watch at the Central Minnesota Football Academy Defensive Camp and Combine. These five young men really showed their work ethic and strong physical play in Tuesday afternoons session at Rocori High School.
Sam Zauhar, DB, Rocori (2023) | Hudl Tape
I came away impressed with how well Zauhar looked in his stance on Tuesday afternoon. He was a defensive back that was stuck like glue to his wide receiver in the reps I watched from the defensive backs group. Sam also did a solid job at staying physical when the ball was coming his way to get in position to make a play on the ball when it came his way. He’s certainly not the biggest DB on the field but plays with a strong feel for the position and has sound body movement for the entirety of his routes.
When I watched Sam’s film, I saw a kid that just flies to the football wherever it is. He has really active footwork when climbing into that first or second level which creates him a sound pad level when he meets the ball carrier due to the solid bend in his knees to get sound physicality on the ball carrier. His play has remained consistent across all the films. Zauhar should certainly see more PT this coming season with the Spartans graduating Tucker Haakanson and Camdyn Bauer Camdyn Bauer QB Rocori | 2021 State MN .
Brady Blattner Brady Blattner 6'2" | 225 lbs | LB Rocori | 2022 State MN , LB, Rocori (2022) | Twitter
Blattner was a kid that made my big dogs of the week list last season in their game against Hutchinson and played at that same high level on Tuesday afternoon. Blattner is an oversized middle linebacker at 6’2 230 pounds and was by far the best put-together prospect I have seen at the linebacker position so far this spring and summer of the camps I have attended. In the early drills, he showed off the most rapid first step I saw from the linebacker group. When he went to work in drills, you can just tell how much of a feeling he has for the linebacker position. When he made contact in man-on-man drills, he showed a solid drive in his feet while making the play.
When I watched Brady’s tape, I saw plenty of similarities to what I saw late last fall. He is a kid that can pounce into that first level and lay a physical hit wherever he is on the field. He does solid work controlling the sidelines and is a player that never shies away from contact regarding if he’s the main man making the tackle or making a gang tackle. He also has a strong vision even when he out of his stance that always reads the ball wherever it goes. Blattner mainly has interest from mostly the D3 level right now, but there is a Northern Sun program in the mix that he is attending their prospect camp in the coming weeks that may draw more attention to him at the D2 level, which I see as a strong fit for this young man. Brady also has terrific character and can carry a conversation better than most 17-year-olds.
Grant Tylutki, LB, Rocori (2025) | Twitter
Grant was by far my favorite young prospect at the CMFA Camp & Combine at Rocori over the last two days. You watch this kid’s frame and watch him move, and there’s not a chance in heck you would think that this kid is heck you would believe he was going in the 9th grade. He showed a great shuffle in his feet and strong legs for his age. He also caught our attention for his athletic ability when he would flip his hips during drills. Do not be surprised to see this young man on our upcoming 2025 watch list, as he’s going to be a special player for the Spartans over the next several years.
No tape available quite yet, but expect to see this kid get some quality Varsity reps as an incoming freshman at Rocori.
Sam Craft, DL, Rocori (2022) | Hudl Profile
Craft had to be one of the most under-the-radar linemen I got to watch this week. He has the ideal size to play scholarship-level college football in my eyes. He has a big physical frame at around 6’3 280 pounds and strides really well for his size. When I watched Sam in drills, he had one of the most physical hands I watched from the DL group on both days I was at camp. He has a solid stance and a player that had a great feel for the position, as I could tell during 1on1s and drills.
Craft doesn’t have his junior tape as of yet, but stay tuned because it might be out soon. He is very strong academically, as he got a 33 on his most recent ACT. Craft is a sleeper you need to know about in the Class of 2022.
Tiegen Drontle, DL, Rocori (2022) | Twitter
Tiegen was another physical competitor I got to watch perform at a high level on Monday afternoon. What I liked most about his game is how well he attacked in 1on1s from both sides of the defender as his skill set was evenly matched on both sides. Not only how well he attacked, but he showed a high level of physicality from what I watched on Monday.
Drontle on tape shows that he has long arms that can not only get around defenders with ease but can stretch tall to either knock down a QB’s pass or, in his film’s case, go up and get a PBU if needed. He has a powerful attacking ability to get into the backfield and wreak some havoc. On the limited film I watched, he looks to show the same punch on the ball carrier that I saw this week at the CMFA Camp & Combine, which is promising to go into his senior season. Drontle could be a solid small school prospect in the coming years as a to-be senior that could move to linebacker at that level.