SDSU Prospect Camp: Midwest Standouts Part IV

BROOKINGS, SD-- We move the dial to 12 standouts we found intriguing from the SDSU Prospect Camp in Brookings, South Dakota last Thursday from all over the Midwest! [player_tooltip player_id="101217" first="Lucas" last="Slack"] | Quarterback | Brandon Valley (SD) | 2023 When I saw [player_tooltip player_id="101217" first="Lucas" last="Slack"] on the SDSU camp roster, I was intrigued to see the Lynx new QB1 in action. Lucas showed excellent form early in drills hitting the bulk of his throws right in the chest of the other quarterbacks. He also had a really good zip on the football as they proceeded thru more drills in the session. When I watched Luca’s film from his sophomore season, I saw a kid that shows a lot of durability. In the first four-five clips of his film, he showed poise under duress being able to keep on his feet and either make a play with his legs or release a short pass for still positive yardage. He also has good awareness and releases the ball quickly when he sees an opening in the defense and will make the right play every time. Although he’s a solid runner that can get 5+ yards on most of his film, I think he will need to develop the discipline as a runner to avoid the big hit as some of the hits I saw would make me nervous as the OC. Watching Lucas in the pocket is like a game of catch, as he looks super comfortable when he has time inside the pocket. I am excited to watch this young man in his junior season to see if he can bring the Lynx back to Vermillion as he’ll have plenty of options to throw to in [player_tooltip player_id="93090" first="Sam" last="Scholten"], [player_tooltip player_id="151230" first="Peyton" last="Carroll"], [player_tooltip player_id="56568" first="Nate" last="Andresen"], and others. He also got 3rd place at the state tournament on the wrestling mat this winter. No offers currently, but he has been camping heavily with the Division I programs like SDSU, NDSU, and a few other Power 5 programs. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2EvvUB">Jr Tape</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/lucas_slack8">Twitter</a> [player_tooltip player_id="148741" first="Harrison" last="Rosenberg"] | Wide Receiver | Clear Creak-Amana (IA) | 2022 Harrison had a strong session in testing in the 40-yard dash and the broad jump, where he finished inside the top third for the wide receiver position. He also was very impressive in Indy drills, showing one of the strongest flips in his hips from the wide receiver group I watched in Brookings. When I watched his junior tape, Harrison showed he’s a wide receiver prospect that you do not need a lot of space to fit the ball into for him to have success, as he also shows an outstanding balance on the sidelines. He also shows off a great football IQ as he understands where to position himself to assure his team gets 1st and ten on the next play. He is a solid player on stop routes and can create a decent cushion with that stop route right at the line of scrimmage. No offers, but plenty of interest from the Division II and the Division I FCS level. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2EUr9x">Jr Tape</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/HarrisonRosenb7">Twitter</a> Luke Kokat | Tight End | Union Grove (WI) | 2022 Luke was one of the prospects that stood out to me in the L-drill at the tight end position. He ran just inside a 5.0 on his 40-yard dash and was one of the top broad jumpers (8’8 and 9’) at the TE position. Luke showed a solid improvement in the second rep of his pro-agility and logged a 4.59 the second time around. I really liked watching the mix of Luke’s film. He starts off with a full-on body, as I call it, a "bully" block on the line and then shows a move like he was ready to block and then slides out for a 15-yard red zone touchdown. He also shows that he can leverage on a linebacker very quickly with his momentum on the move. I really like this young man’s versatility at the tight end position, and it’s no wonder the Northern Sun has too, as Luke holds plenty of Division II offers and has FCS potential from the eyes of our National Director of Scouting. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/video/3/11324516/5fc852fc9677700ba8335869">Jr Tape</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/luke75260698">Twitter</a> Cael Schulte | Offensive Line | Central Lyon (IA) | 2022 Although he came in as one of the smaller offensive linemen at SDSU, I really liked Cael Schulte’s balance for his size when he tested in the broad jump. Not only that, but this young man has potential from a length prospect as he came in at 6’3 for his height and measured 6’6 with his wingspan. Cael gives off a having a future as a blocking tight end at the college level. His film shows off loose hips and as a mobile blocker that has quick feet. He has very active hands, as in my eyes, that looks like his biggest strength as a more undersized offensive lineman. He would be a college prospect to add 20-25 pounds, and he would become a solid blocking tight end. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2FHzHV">Jr Tape</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/CaelSchulte">Twitter</a> Peyton O’Laughlin | Quarterback | Burlington (WI)/Steel City Prep (PA) | 2022 Peyton was a big stick out to me when all the quarterbacks were throwing the ball into the basket. He showed precise accuracy as a prospect; I do not recall missing the net once during that portion of the drill. He showed good flexibility throwing to both sides of the baskets setup without overstretching his throws. I just found out last night that Peyton was a Class of 2021 prospect that just reclassified to the Class of 2022 and is taking a prep school year at Steel City Prep in Pittsburgh. After watching Peyton throw on the run in Brookings, it did not surprise me when I pulled up his film and saw a quarterback that has such solid zip on the football while on the move. Peyton also looks to have a ton of poise in the pocket and solid ball placement. I will be intrigued to follow Peyton’s prep school season in Pittsburgh as I think he’s going to turn some heads that college coaches wish they would have seen in his senior season at Burlington due to his accuracy and great mechanics. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2Ebgus">Sr Tape</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/OLaughlin0823">Twitter</a> [player_tooltip player_id="116267" first="Eli" last="Anderson"] | Wide Receiver | Fairmont (MN) | 2022 Eli again brought his A-game to the SDSU prospect camp, very similar to what I saw at the Prep Redzone Minnesota Showcase &, more recently, at the Fairmont Combine. He tested similar numbers at our Prep Redzone Minnesota Showcase in the 40-yard dash and had a top-four broad jump amongst wide receivers at 9’6 in Brookings. I have talked about Eli mainly at wide receiver but let’s not forget how solid he is at defensive back. He makes really physical contact when making a play on the ball carrier. He also has the speed and footwork to have sound positioning when running with his wide receiver. At WR, he has the gas and the brakes and can turn both on without much notice to the defensive back. Eli is one of a few in the Class of 2022 that I am still very shocked that he does not have an offer yet as he has all the physical skills I am looking for if I am recruiting for the WR position. Someone needs to offer this young man and soon! <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2EgsTV">Jr Tape</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/EliAnderson22">Twitter</a> [player_tooltip player_id="56549" first="Brenden" last="Begeman"] | Running Back | Herreid-Selby (SD) | 2023 When I watched Brenden for the first time last Thursday, I saw a kid who started with some raw ability but got super comfortable after watching multiple reps and got super comfortable in the pass-catching drills I watched. He showed that he had been really working on his speed this summer as he has dropped his nearly .20 seconds since he appeared at another combine in South Dakota earlier in the summer. He also tested well in the broad jump covering an average of about 9 feet in both reps he had. Begeman improved on two-thirds of the reps he had in the testing sessions. Begeman has to be one of the most demanding kids to tackle in 9-man football in South Dakota. He’s not only well-put-together at 6’2 195 pounds, but his ability to be a slippery tailback that not only has a burst but also has a muscular twitch in his hips to create separation from the defender. Even when he lines out wide, he is a player that can be a playmaker and doesn’t need much space to make a tough catch. He could see a little more development with his vertical when he’s out running routes, but if he can put that together, watch out. As a DB, Brenden has a long, long stretch that is another asset to his game. The versatility of this young man is off the charts, and I highly encourage college coaches to get out to Northern South Dakota on Highway 12 to take a look at this kid. Not to mention, the Wolverines as a program is full of workhorses, and you might find plenty of more talent on your trip to Herreid or Selby, South Dakota. No offers as of yet. Jr Tape | No Twitter but reach out to <a href="https://twitter.com/FootballHsa">Herreid-Selby Football</a> to inquire. [player_tooltip player_id="49920" first="Zander" last="Dittbenner"] | Quarterback | Mankato West (MN) | 2022 Zander was a participant at our Prep Redzone Minnesota Showcase this winter, and he showed again why he is one of the top leftie ball throwers in the Midwest in my eyes. He showed off some solid mobility in Brookings and had the solid arm strength you would like to see at the next level. Zander’s percison on his release is what sticks out to me on film as he puts the ball right in the breadbasket to give his WR the best chance to advance the football for plenty of yards. I like the plethora of throws he can make, long or short. He also uses his strong motor to accelerate for extra yards. When he sets his feet for longer throws, that is when you see his most substantial accuracy, in my opinion, although he has good accuracy on short and medium-length passes. Zander has no offers at the moment, but I see a pursuit for his talents in the late summer before the school year starts for when the Northern Sun really starts opening up their doors to him as they have all been consistent in their interest. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/video/3/11100263/5fbbde58a018da03b0ebc664">Jr Tape</a> | Twitter Connor Dodd | Wide Receiver | Harley-Melvin-Sanborn (IA) | 2022 Connor was a prospect I got to watch early in testing during the broad jump. He was super consistent in the board jump by jumping a 9’6 both times and really crushed it on the second attempt of his pro agility, clocking in at a 4.28 and improving as well in his second run at the 40-yard dash improving by .05 seconds at 4.57. Connor has a powerful burst on the outside lanes when the pitch comes his way, and it becomes a track meet that he’s going to win most of the time with his blazing downhill speed. He makes good reads with his runs and has the patience to let the play develop and then find the best hole to run through. Not a prospect that shows a ton of footwork on his runs but is a one-cut back that can cause some significant problems if he has the right angle. Connor also logged four interceptions last year for Harley-Melvin-Sanborn. In my eyes, Connor could be a solid athlete at the next level as a small school prospect that has the versatility to be a sound return man at the next level based on his straight-line speed. No offers as of yet. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2EYuHR">Jr Tape</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/ConnorDodd23">Twitter</a> Ben Headlee | Defensive Line | Harrisburg (SD) | 2023 News flash, our 2021 Hog Molly of the Year and SDSU commit [player_tooltip player_id="56248" first="Ethan" last="Headlee"] has a little brother that cracked our top performers from SDSU. Ben tested towards the middle of the pack as far as the 40-yard dash, but I feel this young man has a lot of untapped potential based on what I saw last Thursday in Indy drills. He’ll have two more years to tap in on that potential, and I am sure he has a growth spurt very soon. Let us not forget, it was Ethan’s senior season that really made his mark and turned into a Divison I prospect based on his ability to finish blocks, pack in strong physical punches on his way to being our inaugural Hog Molly of the year in South Dakota. As the film becomes available, we at Prep Redzone Dakotas will tell you all about it! No Tape Yet | <a href="https://twitter.com/HeadleeBen">Twitter</a> [player_tooltip player_id="116258" first="Josh" last="Kirchoff"] | Wide Receiver | Chanhassen | 2022 I got the chance to watch Josh in his first pro-agility rep and came away impressed with this young man from the Chanhassen Storm. He also topped out in the 40-yard dash at 4.65. Josh has a solid football IQ and knowing where those first down markers are. He is also a wideout that can work in tight windows of space and can still play on the ball. He does that consistently throughout his film, which should be an eye-opener to college coaches looking for a wideout that can maintain sound balance and solid hands despite someone in the secondary being constantly in his wheelhouse. Josh is also a solid performer in motion as he can run inside or outside to gain 5-10 yards for the Storm offense. Josh is a prospect that was All-District Honorable Mention last year but is still a very under-the-radar prospect to watch in his senior season in Chanhassen. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2EgLgj">Jr Tape</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/josh_kirchoff">Twitter</a>