Nate’s Big Dogs of the Week: Week 10 & Playoffs

<strong>DAKOTAS--</strong> We roll into one of the final weeks of the season for our Big Dogs of the Week series across the Dakotas. Last week we saw some high school football programs dive into their first week of playoffs and others finished up their final week of the regular season. Regardless, we still were able to find nine Big Dogs of the Week across the Dakotas to let the Prep Redzone Dakota subscribers know about. Find out who they are below! <strong>Dylan Kindt | Quarterback | Garretson (SD) | 2022</strong> <strong>Stat Line:</strong> 290 all-purpose yards (150 pass, 140 rush) It was another record week for Garretson’s quarterback Dylan Kindt. Dylan shows off his precision on the bulk of the throws he makes. I really like how this young man throws the deep ball as if he just took a little arch off of it would be an even better-thrown ball. He’s not going to beat you with his legs on every play, but he shows some excellent poise inside the pocket. As of right now, Kindt is second in the state when it comes to passing, with over 2000 passing yards with 23 touchdowns to go along with it. I believe Dylan could be a small school’s hidden gem as one of the best southpaw passers in South Dakota this year. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2FxnBp">Game Tape</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/DylanKindt1">Twitter</a> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="93077" first="Payton" last="Eben"] | Athlete | Canton (SD) | 2022</strong> <strong>Stat Line: </strong>146 rushing yards, two touchdowns. Broke the Canton High School school record for receptions in a 43-28 win over Lennox in the final week of the season. Payton really is the jack of all trades for the C-Hawks. I think his best stuff is for sure at tailback as he shows quick feet moving laterally and has great speed to flash along with it. I like his alertness when addressing contact coming his way as he always has his hand ready to shed off blocks from defenders. Eben is also a capable pass-catcher out the backfield from the film I have watched and will help out getting short yardage on the later downs. Let’s not forget, he also has a solid boot as the C-Hawks punter and has consistently averaged 41+ yards per punt this season with a good showing on the hangtime scale. <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/14037877/6077a1ddab92961804fa9379">Jr Tape</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/PaytonEben">Twitter</a> <strong>Erik Salmen | Running Back | Hitchcock-Tulare (SD) | 2024</strong> <strong>Stat Line: </strong>15 rushes, 139 yards, two touchdowns. Every week I get submissions for Big Dogs of the Week, I will always see Erik Salmen’s name pop up at the top of my radar and the more I watch his film I can see why. Erik is a downhill runner that has good speed that gets even better when he sees a lane he likes. I like Erik’s versatility in his runs as you will see him a favor for the power inside but can also make the turn to the outside lanes. At 5’11 200 pounds, he shows off good lower body strength to power thru contact. The biggest development I would love to see out of Erik over the coming years is his juke abilities improve side to side as that would add another great asset to his game. This kid fills out a stat sheet in other avenues as well. His film shows proficiency as a long snapper and I like his attacking ability at linebacker. He’s a linebacker that can press a ball carrier below the first level of contact barely out the backfield. A 2024 prospect to watch in the coming weeks as playoffs are in full force and new rankings come out soon! <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2FjTLT">So Tape</a> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="149446" first="Grayson" last="Hanson"] | Athlete | Platte-Geddes (SD) | 2022</strong> <strong>Stat Line: </strong>32 carries, 194 yards, four touchdowns, 1 rec for 13 yards, three-2 pt conversions. <strong>Defense</strong>: 22 tackles Grayson has not put up his most recent film from this season, but from what I watched from this young man this summer at the Augie prospect camp, it’s no surprise to me he was dominant in the first round of the 9AA playoffs against Chester Area. Based on what the eyes can see, I love the way this kid switches directions when his hips turn with the football in his hands. He’s considered a magician in my honest opinion as you need to make darn sure you know where #11 is lining up in the Black Panthers offense. He’s as much as an athlete offensively as he is on defense. You will find Grayson on the front lines of contact at linebacker as he’ll be one of the first hitters to make contact on the Black Panthers defense which is why I’m not surprised he exploded last Thursday night for 22 tackles. I guarantee Grayson will get more college football attention after the season ends, as he’s one I’m still surprised hasn’t gotten an NAIA offer at least thus far. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2FAu1K">Late Season Jr Tape</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hanson_grayson">Twitter</a> <strong>Peyton Millis | Wide Receiver | Spearfish (SD) | 2022</strong> <strong>Stat Line: </strong>8 receptions, 128 yards.<strong> Defense/ST: </strong>Five tackles and a perfect 4 for 4 on PATs. Peyton showed in his game tape against Belle Fourche, that he has some good range to go along with his 6’3 size. He shows in my eyes as a reactive wide receiver that will make the adjustments needed to get the best angle on the football. Peyton is also key in the Spartan’s short game, as he provides a quick-out on screenplays to get the positive yardage needed for a first down. He shows good footwork on his brakes as well. Defensively, Peyton makes long strides to attack the top of the first level and can shed off blockers quickly. I also like how physical he is with his contact when clinging to the football. He also brings good speed and elusiveness on special teams and that speed gets even stronger when he sees a lane he likes. Very light college interest from the D2 level although this young man has been working his tail off to get himself to the next level and from what my eyes can see, he’s deserving of that opportunity with all the potential he shows off. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2GCAvx">Game Tape 7-9</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/MillisPeyton">Twitter</a> <strong>Trevor Hinkle | Athlete | Cavalier (ND) | 2022</strong> <strong>Stat Line: </strong>22 carries, 123 yards. 2/2, 57 yards, four total touchdowns (2 pass, 2 rush). <strong>Defense: </strong>10 tackles, two interceptions, one forced fumble. Trevor’s performance is one of the best stories this late in the season for our Big Dogs of the Week. All year, he had taken approximately 5-8 snaps for the Tornadoes total on the year. He got handed the keys to the QB1 position in a playoff game due to his teammate getting injured and blossomed really well in a 52-6 win over Wyndmere-Lidgerwood. Watching some of his reps, he looked a lot more polished than you would expect when you throw your backup QB in there. He showed solid arm strength and quality mobility to extend plays and get yards outside the pocket even while getting thru some contact on his runs. I’m excited to see this Tornadoes team make a run to the FargoDome! <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2GAtyB">Game Tape</a> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="56550" first="Tray" last="Hettick"] | Quarterback | Herreid-Selby (SD) | 2023</strong> <strong>Stat Line: </strong>11/19, 206 all-purpose yards (183 pass, 23 rush), six total touchdowns (5 pass, 1 rush) Watching Tray’s game tape against Northwestern Area was well put together as far as his skillsets go. You can consider Tray a director of the offense, as I love watching his hands move to get his wide receivers in better spots so he can make the best throw possible. I like how fluid his quick release is when he’s throwing on shorter routes. Tray also does a great job with extending plays, as he reacts in a timely fashion when a defender is coming into his wheelhouse and then breaks out the pocket. I love how he reads the defense as he’s not a quarterback that doesn’t see his first look and then jets for the run, he’ll quickly read his second look and make that throw if it’s there. A lot to like about this young man’s arm strength especially when he goes beyond 20+ yards on his throws. Hettick certainly has college football in his future. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2G9sGf">Game Tape vs. Northwestern Area</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/tray_way_0">Twitter</a> <strong>Kyle Odenbach | Quarterback | Thompson (ND) | 2022</strong> <strong>Stat Line: </strong>34-43, 396 passing yards, four touchdowns. <a href="https://twitter.com/KyleOdenbach">Twitter</a> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="151267" first="Josh" last="Grosdidier"] | Running Back/Linebacker | Mitchell (SD) | 2022</strong> <strong>Stat Line: </strong>39 carries, 253 yards, three touchdowns. <strong>Defense</strong>: 8 tackles, 1.5 tackles for a loss. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2GAhra">Game Tape</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/GrosdidierJosh">Twitter</a>