Nate's Big Dogs of the Week: Week 9, Part I

DAKOTAS-- We launch into Week 9, as we load up our queue and produce our first batch of top performers in what is the final week of regular season football for some programs across the Dakotas, and others that will have one more week to shine before we head into full swing and we start talking about playoffs, you kidding me? As I feel that this season flew! Without further ado, I hand off our first eight Big Dogs of the Week from across North Dakota and South Dakota! <img class=" wp-image-201687 aligncenter" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/09/BigDogsoftheWeek-1-300x187.jpg" alt="" width="353" height="220" /> [player_tooltip player_id="89279" first="Luke" last="Fraser"] | RB | Hamlin (SD) (2024) Stat Line: 219 all-purpose yards (156 receiving, 63 rushing), two touchdowns Frasher showed to be the total package last week for the Hamlin Chargers doing a little bit of everything in their offense. His tape shows off probably one of the most effective pass-catchers in the Class of 2024 running backs with an extended reach for the football. He also shows what an effective team player he was on film with his downhill blocking ability. Luke also showed loose hips when moving side to side to evade a defender. His speed really shows out well, especially on deeper routes. There is just a lot of versatility in his game as just a sophomore that is going to be fun to watch for many years to come as one of the top sophomores in the Dakotas from our first looks in 2024. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2G6xn4">Game Tape vs. Warner</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/Luke_Fraser7">Twitter</a> Mason Klabo | QB | Fargo Davies (ND) (2025) Stat Line: N/A There was a lot to like about Mason’s tape against Fargo North. He showed solid arm strength on his short-yardage throws from my eyes. I also liked how his footwork worked inside the pocket. He shows a quick release that gets the ball out quickly as just a freshman. I enjoyed watching his ability to get his yards in short chunks but had one play that went a long distance for a 96-yard touchdown. I really like Mason’s calm demeanor he plays with as the QB of the future for the Eagles. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2G7FVh">Game Tape vs. Fargo North</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/mason_klabo">Twitter</a> [player_tooltip player_id="101184" first="Ryan" last="Krog"] | QB | Elkton-Lake Benton (SD) (2023) Stat Line: 14/26, 281 all-purpose yards (221 passing, 60 rushing) seven total touchdowns (4 pass, 3 rush) As I compared [player_tooltip player_id="101184" first="Ryan" last="Krog"]’s tape from earlier in the season to now, this young man has shown strong improvement. I really like how much his arm strength has improved especially as he has some zip on the football on his deeper throws. His ball placement on his throws was also fun to watch in his film vs. Colman-Egan as he made some difficult throws into higher traffic areas with great poise. He also showed great extension of plays with his legs and made well-balanced throws from the run. When Ryan moves on the run he also runs with great discipline and can get thru higher traffic areas well with his strong lower body. Certainly, a 2023 QB to watch on the recruiting trail as the floodgates have opened for the junior class. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2G8FmG">Game Tape vs. Colman/Egan</a> Gabe Kranzler | DB | Sioux Falls Roosevelt (SD) (2022) Stat Line: Two interceptions. A newcomer to our Big Dogs of the Week, it was Gabe Kranzler who was a ballhawk thru the air for the Sioux Falls Roosevelt Roughriders this weekend. I really liked watching Gabe’s attention to detail when reading the receiver’s routes as he gave himself a solid cushion to crush the wide receiver into. He also showed tremendous placement in the secondary sealing the wide receiver to run right into his coverage and setting himself up for success to get two key interceptions for the Roughriders defense. Also a big fan of his longer than expected reach, as on multiple sets of film, he shows a will to go high to get the football and shows good balance to bring a tipped ball into his balance. Kranzler also shows solid footwork when he made the interception, as he was not an easy prospect to bring down after causing a turnover. A under the radar corner that is deserving of some college football after watching his film. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2G7psq">Game Tape vs. SF Lincoln</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/G_kranzler21">Twitter</a> [player_tooltip player_id="56500" first="David" last="Schmitz"] | RB/LB | Oakes (ND) (2022) Stat Line: 19 carries, 204 rushing yards, four touchdowns. We were able to scan Schmitz’s midseason tape to grasp what a solid performer he is for the Oakes Tornadoes. I enjoy watching his burst go to work in the open field. He can be identified as a running back that runs slippery and shows his wheels to get from north to south with that speed. He also shows some good footwork, especially from the inside rushing lanes. I think this kid needs more credit based on how he runs as he can be a tough tackle to make especially if you don’t hit him on the right angle. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2FuESF">Midseason Tape</a> | Kaden Krause | QB | Milbank (SD) (2022) Stat Line: 27 carries, 189 yards, three touchdowns. Krause can be identified as a diamond in the rough prospect that had a hot game in a 27-15 win over Redfield. From the limited film I could find, Krause is a quarterback in my eyes who outplays his measurables. When the football is in his hands he shows excellent athleticism with his carries. In the open field, my vision tells me that although he’s 5’8 150 pounds he runs with grittiness and a will to move the ball upfield. I’m excited to how Krause & the Milbank Bulldogs compete in the playoffs as they have played well against strong 11A competition. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2E7cJU">Game Tape vs. Sisseton</a> [player_tooltip player_id="56459" first="Jordan" last="Johnson"] | RB | Brandon Valley (SD) (2022) Stat Line: 10 carries, 147 yards (14.7 per carry), three touchdowns. Johnson’s midseason tape shows some quite strong vision running in between the tackles. He has the patience to wait for the hole to open before accelerating thru his progressions. Johnson shows really great consistency across his film, as you’ll never see plays on his tape from what I glanced at that were short-yardage runs unless he was deep in the red zone ready to score a touchdown. I can’t speak on his film from last week, but if Johnson can develop a stronger burst to get that big gain on his film, I think we could see even better how much of a stud this young man is at tailback for the Lynx. I’m still quite surprised at this point of the season that Jordan doesn’t have an offer yet, as I think there are some programs missing out on this young man and his level of consistency. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/video/3/11571564/615dd9f6b534d4053c30c895">Midseason Tape</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/johnsonjordan02">Twitter</a> Trey Maaland | QB | Deuel (SD) (2024) Stat Line: 21 carries, 161 rushing yards, three touchdowns. Maaland put together a solid game in a nailbiter 36-34 win over Clark/Willow Lake. He runs really well in high traffic areas and explodes well on his burst thru smaller windows. He uses his solid athletic ability in his footwork, as that was the driving force for getting him just enough separation to score just under 60% of the Cardinals scoring on Friday night. Maaland shows patience in his runs, as he runs off what his offensive line gives him and uses that shift in his feet to go the distance. I believe over the next few seasons, Maaland can work on his stamina to stay the course on those longer runs he had on Friday night. Otherwise, a solid performance for this young man last Friday night as he lastly showed poise throwing the football under some pressure. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2G7vXZ">Game Tape vs. Clark-Willow Lake</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/treymaaland">Twitter</a>