Prep Redzone Dakotas 2024 Rankings: 20-11
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DAKOTAS– With our first-ever rankings release for the Class of 2024 out today, we wanted to start with what the subscribers talk about, the ranking positions. We kick it off here breaking down our top 20 in the Class of 2024,…
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Continue ReadingDAKOTAS– With our first-ever rankings release for the Class of 2024 out today, we wanted to start with what the subscribers talk about, the ranking positions. We kick it off here breaking down our top 20 in the Class of 2024, as we start with the first 10 spots from #20 to #11. We will continue the rest of the top 10 tomorrow for the subscribers of Prep Redzone Dakotas. Enjoy!
Austin Johnson Austin Johnson 6'1" | 205 lbs | LB Watertown | 2024 State SD | WR/DB | Watertown (SD)
When you roll the tape on Johnson there are so many skillsets to his game to like in the coming years for the Arrows. As a slot receiver, Johnson shows good balance on the heavier contest balls that come his way. He has solid hip rotation on the other side of the football as he can transition nicely when closing in on the football for a turnover. He shows a good physicality level for his age with his tackling ability. A well-put-together (6’1 180) incoming sophomore that has a lot of potential to climb up our 2024 rankings in the coming years.
Zachary Sykora Zachary Sykora 6'1" | 190 lbs | ATH Valley City | 2024 State ND | ATH | Valley City (ND)
Sykora is a prospect for Valley City that has a plethora of skills on both sides of the ball that has a lot of promise. Another prospect on this list that makes solid contact on his tackles, just slightly better than what we saw out of our #20 ranked prospect. Sykora is also a bully fullback at 6’1 190 pounds that look a lot bigger on tape than his size advertises. Even though he lines up at fullback on tape, this young man also has solid feet and can make a defender turn in the opposite direction if they are not in a good stance. Fun prospect to watch at #19 in our rankings in the Class of 2024 out of North Dakota.
Isaac Jarovski Isaac Jarovski 6'0" | 170 lbs | WR Sioux Falls Lincoln | 2024 State SD | WR | Sioux Falls Lincoln (SD)
Jarovski is a strong route runner than uses his footwork to his full advantage. He shows a quick burst off the snap on his deeper routes and is has just a great knack for finding the first down markers with ease. He has plenty of time to grow, but he has a longer catch radius than most 5’10 incoming sophomores I have watched on tape. Solid twisting ability to get separation from the secondary especially in the red zone.
Zak Juelfs Zak Juelfs 6'1" | 245 lbs | DL Sturgis | 2024 State | OL/DL | Sturgis Brown (SD)
Juelfs is going to be a fun prospect for the Scoopers in the coming years in my eyes. He shows a solid push off the line that still has some raw ability, but has plenty of time to develop. I have watched a lot of nose guards in the younger ages that do not have the solid mobility Juelfs shows on tape as he’s just a clinger to the ball the carrier and is not a prospect you want to ease off on near the backfield as he will take it out on your quarterback if you are not careful. Solid size at 6’1 225 pounds. His physicality level is quite strong now and will be a fun prospect to watch as he gets bigger and stronger with three years left of varsity football coming.
Aiden Barfuss Aiden Barfuss 5'11" | 195 lbs | RB Winner | 2024 State SD | Running Back | Winner (SD)
You ever watch the film and you love what the young man is doing and want to see more of it? That’s exactly how I feel about Barfuss’s short yet solid film. This young man has really solid downhill speed and the ability to get in and out of high traffic areas with some simplicity. At tailback, Barfuss is a scary sight for defenses when the jets turn on when he sees an opening as it’s all downhill for him and then the entirety of the defense. A lot of potential to untap about this young man in the upcoming seasons.
Owen Hoyme Owen Hoyme DB Kindred | 2024 State ND | Running Back | Kindred (ND)
There is a lot of like with the explosive cutting ability on tape that Hoyme shows out of Kindred. He has a really solid burst and watching his quick turns in his hips is fun to watch when you dive into his tape. Hoyme is a tailback prospect that starts his runs inside and then with his well-put-together lower body, explodes to the outside that makes him a tough catch down the sidelines. Also shows that he has good hands in the red zone. I certainly want to see more film out of this kid come this season for sure as this kid is a four-sport athlete that is super athletic.
Carson Leonhardt Carson Leonhardt ATH Faulkton Area | 2024 State SD | Linebacker | Faulkton Area (SD)
Leonhardt certainly has some raw ability when it comes to his game but is one of the only prospects from this list that I have watched live and in person at the Northern State Big Man camp this summer. His skill set is solid defensively as he can shed off blocks in a quick span of time and will make a play on the football when the ball carrier comes his way. The one development Leonhardt needs to make to work on his leverage offensively as he still needs to work on his balance with his lower body and more efficient hands to drive the defender away from his ball carrier. If he can put those skills together and put on some more solid size, I think he will be a solid small school prospect out of Faulkton in the end.
John Bugbee John Bugbee 6'8" | 340 lbs | OL Mandan | 2024 State ND | Offensive Line | Mandan (ND)
There is not much of any film yet available on this young man, but whenever I see a 6’6 325-pound offensive linemen at his age competing at Division I prospect camps this summer, let’s just say we get a little excited for the future with the untapped potential that is out there for Bugbee and the Braves. If there is one thing I know about Mandan, is their lines almost always churn out well such as NDSU commit Jaxon Duttenhefer Jaxon Duttenhefer 6'4" | 255 lbs | DL Mandan | 2021 State did. Excited to watch this young man this season!
Aidan Hedderman Aidan Hedderman 6'3" | 170 lbs | QB Sturgis Brown | 2024 State SD | QB/DB | Sturgis Brown
Hedderman’s quarterback film showed a prospect that is developing some solid touch on the football. When I watch Hedderman’s film it senses to me that a game of catch with his wide receivers as he has a really calm demeanor inside the pocket. His touch really sticks out on his deepest throws as he has solid percison on those throws as well. Hedderman will need to work on his arch on the ball in his throws over 10-20 yards, but he has plenty of time for development. I really enjoy the plethora of quarterbacks I have noticed over the last few months coming out of Sturgis with the other being Class of 2023 QB Owen Cass Owen Cass 6'0" | 190 lbs | QB Sturgis Brown | 2023 State , who I got my full eyes on at the SDSU prospect camp earlier this summer.
Jett Carlson Jett Carlson P Aberdeen Central | 2024 State SD | Wide Reciever | Aberdeen Central
Carlson is a defined first down stick finder as he has a solid vision on where to line up on his route to make sure he finds the sticks. One thing I liked most about Carlson’s film was the build up with it. He started by getting consistent first downs and then he decided to take the top off the defense and go deeper and then showed off a strong move to get good separation from the defense. He also showed a solid kicking leg from inside 30 yards with some raw hangtime that can improve over the coming years. Carlson also will need to get stronger with his frame. He stands at 6’2, but he is a prospect that gets pushed around a little more on his routes than I would prefer. Some extra time in the weight will solve that for this young man over his next three seasons.