Nate’s Big Dogs of the Week: State Quarterfinals

<strong>DAKOTAS-- </strong>We dive into state quarterfinals across the Dakotas. We had a high amount of top performances this week, as we logged 15 Big Dogs of the Week in this edition as we are down to some of the final teams as we are getting closer and closer to reaching the Dakota Dome and the Fargo Dome for South Dakota and North Dakota for state finals! <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="56566" first="Rugby" last="Ryken"] | QB | Yankton (SD) | 2023</strong> <strong>Stat Line: </strong>26/31, 329 passing yards, six touchdowns. Ryken gets my nod for top-performing QB1 last week in the Dakotas. We unleashed some recent film on Ryken to take a look at his game. Even when he’s off-balance he still shows a high level of great arm strength and good precision. With that arm strength, he has also had a really good touch when making short and intermediate throws to his receiving core. His size is really quick. I would say his biggest development is on his short routes to put a little more zip on the football, as I think this junior has more zip in his throwing arsenal that what he shows off. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2EZseg">So Tape </a>| <a href="https://twitter.com/rugbyryken">Twitter</a> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="56466" first="Jack" last="Kratz"] | Athlete | Vermillon (SD) | 2022</strong> <strong>Stat Line: </strong>23 rushes, 87 yds three touchdowns. and 17/20, 203 yds. When traveling throughout Wisconsin a few weeks ago is when I really started to see Kratz’s talent level show out. He had to switch from WR to QB this offseason due to [player_tooltip player_id="56521" first="Charlie" last="Ward"] sticking to just basketball, and has really been a forceful asset for the Tanagers rushing attack. When you evaluate his tape, you see a young man that is all over the place on both sides of the ball. He’s a really effective north-south runner in play-action and has a lot of speed in his wheelhouse to get from point A to point B. He also is really elusive in his runs off the snap. Defensively, this young man is a ballhawk. That speed mentioned cashes in strongly, as his speed and motor allow him to move up multiple levels of the defense to make a play on the football. Not to mention with that motor, comes a lot of physicality in his contact. His total package on both sides of the ball has brought the Tanagers to their first state semifinals since 1999, which is an incredible feat. I certainly see a scholarship-level football future in this young man, no doubt about it! <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2GCB4M">Week 1-8 Tape</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/kratz_jack">Twitter</a> <strong>Brady Bierema | RB | Avon (SD) | 2022</strong> <strong>Stat Line: </strong>24 carries, 316 all-purpose yards (238 rush, 78 receiving), one touchdown. Bierema had another strong outing against the Alcester-Hudson Cubs logging over 300 all-purpose yards in a 30-14 win in the 9B quarterfinals. This young man has consistently overpowered defenses all year as this Pirates team has seen at least five touchdowns per game and has scored over 50 points in 50% of their games on the season. Bierema will face a tough test this week against Dell Rapids St Mary’s, but with his fearless demeanor, I expect Bierema to be on my list yet against this week of Big Dogs. <a href="https://twitter.com/BBierema">Twitter</a> <strong>Karson Carda | RB | Aberdeen Central (SD) | 2023</strong> <strong>Stat Line: </strong>34 carries, 248 rushing yards. Carda is a first-time nominee on our list of Big Dogs of the Week and I’m sure glad I found this young man’s film with 2023 rankings coming up! Carda is a well-put-together 6’0 195 pound tailback that runs really well downhill and showed that off big time upsetting #2 Brookings in the state quarterfinals as a #7 seed. There is a lot to like in the quickness when Carda makes his cuts as he makes swift cuts at the point of attack and then can switch directions well. Carda is just scratching the surface as far as his game goes as I can’t wait to see how he does against a tough Pierre defense on Friday night. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2GDtZr">Game Tape vs. Brookings</a> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="208978" first="Aidan" last="Devine"] | RB | Fargo Shanley (ND) | 2022</strong> <strong>Stat Line: </strong>35 carries, 197 yards, two touchdowns (1 rush, 1 receiving) When I watch Devine’s tape, I still to this minute have a hard time believing that some college football program has not looked at this young man’s speed, and thought man this kid would be solid in my backfield. The spring in Devine’s speed is what cuts the cake in my eyes as he’s a terrific east-west runner that takes an army to take down on contact. He also is a really athletic cutter when changing directions on his runs. Devine also has really great patience as he waits for the play to develop on the run before making his move. I would say the biggest development in this young man’s game come from his skills as a pass-catcher. He uses those same skills listed, but I think can develop more patience on short passes to hit the gaps at a stronger rate. If you are going up against Devine, do not think you can grab this kid around the ankles with one body, as he shows time and time again that with his strong lower body he can run thru contact easily. No offers, but I think more interest will develop after the season ends. <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>More Big Dogs across the Dakotas:</strong></span> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="56559" first="Hadley" last="Wallace"] | RB/LB | Hanson (SD) | 2023</strong> <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/13038264/615b40065b474906b8ec4737">Game Tape</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/HadleyWallace24">Twitter</a> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="56549" first="Brenden" last="Begeman"] | RB/DB | Herreid-Selby (SD) | 2023</strong> <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/13368947/617d50a23df4d30ba8188645">Game Tape</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/BrendenBegeman">Twitter</a> <strong>Riley Shippy | RB | Winner (SD) | 2022</strong> <a href="https://twitter.com/riley_shippy">Twitter </a> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="205383" first="Michael" last="Rostberg"] | QB | Fargo Shanley (ND) | 2023</strong> <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/12928856/615a2684c12509055072008e">Game Tape</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/MichaelRostberg">Twitter</a> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="56527" first="Trevor" last="Sayler"] | LB | Herreid-Selby (SD) | 2022</strong> <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/11443473/616dc2c4386e090ef40628ba">Defensive Tape</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/sayler_trevor">Twitter</a> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="208983" first="Hank" last="Kraft"] | RB | Timber Lake (SD) | 2022</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="105505" first="Aiden" last="Barfuss"] | RB | Winner (SD) | 2022</strong> <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2En7xw">Highlight Tape</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/AidenBarfuss">Twitter</a> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="77462" first="Cedar" last="Amiotte"] | RB | Wall (SD) | 2023</strong> <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/14339965/615b3cef7bd38704486b27a2">Highlight Tape</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/CedarAmiotte">Twitter</a> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="56526" first="Trey" last="Sayler"] | LB/FB | Herreid-Selby (SD) | 2022</strong> <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2G8AD2">Highlight Tape</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/TreySayler">Twitter</a> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="93078" first="Nate" last="Ricke"] | QB | Madison (SD) | 2022</strong> <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/11569320/5fb3fac90660a2052c6df054">Highlight Tape</a> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;