2023 Dakotas Ranking Update: The Stockrisers, Part One

With the update of our Class of 2023 rankings last week, we will look at Part One at some of the biggest stockrisers from the 2023 class as we have now advanced our prospect list to 160 prospects. The biggest difference between our last update and our most recent update is this summer; we have been able to watch more prospects in person than ever before in the Dakotas, which in my opinion, helps us evaluate these young men better and at a higher level. With the rankings side of it, it will always help a kid’s rank if we see him at any prospect camps out there, as these camps are super important to put the Dakotas on the map at the college level. The conversations I have with our fellow scouts across the nation are very similar as it’s much easier to buy stock in a prospect that we have seen live vs. one we have not seen at prospect camps or hasn’t updated their film since the season ended. Not all of these young men I am writing about today as stockrisers I have seen at camps, but I have seen them put in the effort to make their presence known on tape and, of course, at camp. We will follow up tomorrow with Part Two of our stockrisers from the Class of 2023. Enjoy! <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="101217" first="Lucas" last="Slack"] | Quarterback | Brandon Valley (SD) | <a href="https://twitter.com/lucas_slack8">Twitter</a></strong> <strong>Ranking (before/after): </strong>30, now at 22. <strong>The Why:</strong> Slack got a bump in the rankings because of two main things. When I watched him at SDSU a couple of weeks ago now, he showed a demeanor in his play that I really enjoyed watching. He showed solid accuracy and landed many throws in the reps I watched right in the player’s chest he was throwing to. It was also easier to move Slack up the rankings this time around because we are confident he’s the new QB1 at Brandon Valley and has a strong plethora of wide receiver options to throw to in the 2021 season. I also really like his mobility in the pocket; as that demeanor I mentioned, he stays calm even when there is a rusher in his wheelhouse and still makes a strong throw despite immense pressure. Those are the reps I always want to see on film, which is why I have Slack as a near-top 20 prospect in the Class of 2023 in the Dakotas. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2EvvUB">So Tape</a> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="101165" first="Jason" last="Maciejczak"] | Offensive/Defenisve Line | Douglas (SD) | <a href="https://twitter.com/Coachmajic">Twitter</a></strong> <strong>Ranking (before/after): </strong>25, now at 12. <strong>The Why:</strong> Just watch the film, my friends. Maciejczak is a prospect I will run out of adjectives to describe how physically gifted he is. Maciejczak is not a prospect as a tailback you want to meet if you are an inside runner, as he has such a physical presence on every play. Let’s add if you get that short gain, by the time Maciejczak has his hands on you, you will more than likely end up as a loss because this kid has so much strength and drive in his hips from his lower body. I also love how versatile he is. He lines up at linebacker, defensive end, and fullback. I think he’s the most fun to watch at the fullback position as he’s just a pile driver when it comes to putting defenders on their rear end and creating vast amounts of space for his tailbacks. Maciejczak has a ton of upside and has the size that would be such a match at the FCS level, which is why I have him in the #12 spot in the Class of 2023, which is usually projected at the D1 level. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2EYA4z">So Tape </a> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="56559" first="Hadley" last="Wallace"] | Running Back | Hanson (SD) | <a href="https://twitter.com/HadleyWallace24">Twitter</a></strong> <strong>Ranking (before/after): </strong>19. Now at 13. <strong>The Why: </strong>Wallace was a prospect I heard from a source that could be a climber for us in the coming years on our rankings, and when I rewatched his tape, he showed that he was deserving of that. I really enjoy watching Wallace as a downhill runner as once he’s by you, he has the stamina to stay the course of the run. Wallace is most effective when he gets extra steps in motion in the backfield, as that extra movement allows him to use his vision to set up the run how he wants. He is not the most extensive tailback I have ever seen, but he’s got a lot of durability on his runs, and it usually takes multiple defenders to make a play on him. Wallace also does a solid job with his footwork inside, as he uses it effectively there to then be able to bounce outside where he will usually win the foot race on the outside lanes. I certainly think Wallace has those next-level capabilities, as I’m sure this young man will grow more in the weight room over the summer and fall. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/video/3/13038264/5fb834cad2250e0600df2001">Jr Tape</a> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="101157" first="Kael" last="Miedema"] | Offensive Line | Sioux Falls Washington (SD) | <a href="https://twitter.com/miedema_kael">Twitter</a></strong> <strong>Ranking (before/after): </strong>80, now at 6. <strong>The Why:</strong> If you have read any of my content here at Prep Redzone Dakotas, you have probably found out by now when I miss on a prospect; I own it at a 100% level as I will do the same on [player_tooltip player_id="101157" first="Kael" last="Miedema"] of Sioux Falls Washington. Miedema is a left tackle that is the bus driver that will make you want to get out of the way when he is coming thru. He has a really high contact level, and with his 6’8 310-pound frame, it won’t take much for this young man to pancake a defender on the turf due to his athletic ability and, of course, his size. It’s also where Miedema is attacking on tape as his contact level is spot on to make a solid push on the defender and is what stuck out to me to it was a no-brainer to place him amongst our top 10 prospects in the Dakotas. He has very long arms that when a defensive lineman is starting to attack, he has a solid reach to assure his QB [player_tooltip player_id="56456" first="Max" last="Thomson"] is protected. With Miedema coming in the #6 spot, we project him as a Divison I prospect that I feel strongly could be an FBS kid as we hope to grow more of them here in the Dakotas from recent years! <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2EbttP">So Tape</a> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="101152" first="Carson" last="Yale"] | Quarterback | Des Lacs-Burlington (ND) | <a href="https://twitter.com/carsonyale">Twitter</a></strong> <strong>Ranking (before/after): </strong>59, now at 37. We move to another 6’8 stockriser but from North Dakota, Des Lacs-Burlington QB [player_tooltip player_id="101152" first="Carson" last="Yale"]. You ever had that older brother that is significantly taller than you and holds the ball really high, so you can’t get it? That’s what I think about when I watch Yale throw the football. What I liked most about his throwing ability is the level the ball is thrown on. Yale doesn’t give it a ton of arch and throws it on a line with solid precision for his Lakers wide receivers to make a play on the football. He is predominantly a pocket passer but can make plays with his legs in short-yardage situations. I would say the best throws Yale makes are from 15-20 yards as he shows an excellent zip on the football from that range of throw. He also can make throws the run that is set up well and offer good balance with his feet. Yale had attended a few Division I camps and had some excellent showings this summer which his move to the #37 spot put him on the cusp of that borderline Divison I-Division II level in the coming years with room to grow. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/video/3/12278965/5f8c68bbb3c9e70b0c0d29d3">Jr Tape</a>