Prep Redzone Dakotas Showcase: DB and LB Standouts

FARGO, ND- After diving into our All-Camp Team yesterday from Sunday in Fargo, we now will spend the rest of the week diving into the position groups. We start with defense, why? Because defense wins championships as they say, which couldn’t be more correct. We evaluate here some of the defensive backs and linebackers that stood out in Fargo, some that made our All-Camp Team and some that need your eyes as next-level talent and why. [player_tooltip player_id="89290" first="Hudson" last="Flom"] | Defensive Back | Grand Forks Red River (ND) | 2023 <img class="wp-image-240261 alignnone" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/11/4-Hudson-Flom-200x300.jpg" alt="" width="144" height="215" /> Starting off with the early drills, Flom caught my eye with his excellent extension level when turning his hips. With his testing numbers, Flom improved on his 2nd attempt across the board with the 40 yard dash, shuttle, broad jump, and l-drill which is always a great thing to see kids improve with the more reps they get in. Flom on tape, shows off a rangy safety that can cover some solid ground. I really think his speed on the field looks faster than his testing numbers. Hudson shows a great contact level when he makes the connection with the ball carrier. A prospect that will usually seal the ball carrier as 2nd contact as he jumps into the second level of play. When seen in pass coverage, Flom does great work with his vision and getting his head around and using his length to get pass break ups in areas that are tough to get. I think some work on his straight line speed this offseason would be a great development for Hudson going into his senior season. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2GHAfY">Jr Tape</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/FlomHudson">Twitter</a> Keaton Schwab | Defensive Back | Fargo Davies (ND) | 2023 <img class="wp-image-240257 alignnone" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/11/8-Keaton-Schwab-200x300.jpg" alt="" width="144" height="215" /> Schwab was a first look prospect for me at the Fargo Showcase and I was impressed with what my eyes saw. He did open my eyes, by finishing inside the top three in the shuttle drill and was tied for the fastest L-drill out of all defensive backs in Fargo at 7.46 seconds. I am glad I found Schwab’s film for sure. For his size (5’7) he offers a lot more reach than you would expect of a prospect at that size. Schwab gives you an excellent hip turn on film just like I saw in drills, as he can change directions on a dime when the ball does. With his good speed, in run coverage can be a defensive back that can reach first contact at the first level. In my eyes, Schwab has a great football IQ as he puts himself in the right position on film to make the right play on the ball for his team vs. just going for the interception. Also makes well-connected contact when he’s in the outside rushing lanes. <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/16323250/61947e55e9858104cc6b8ea3">Jr Tape</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/KeatonSchwab">Twitter</a> [player_tooltip player_id="161258" first="Tyree" last="Shorter"] | Defensive Back | Sioux Falls Lincoln (SD) | 2023 <img class=" wp-image-240256 alignnone" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/11/9-Tyree-Shorter-200x300.jpg" alt="" width="144" height="215" /> A defensive back prospect I got to watch in person during the season, I was excited to see Tyree go to work at the Prep Redzone Dakotas Showcase. Shorter’s best testing was in the 40 yard dash where he finished in the top 40% of the defensive back group. Tyree’s film shows off some strong footwork for this junior safety. I also love how much ground this young man can cover. He can play as a deep safety, but yet can also be a big-time crasher to blast into the first level of the rushing attack of the opposing team. With his solid footwork and great speed, Shorter is another prospect that outplays his measurables and that footwork allows him to jump around wide receivers on their routes to make a play on the ball. I see college football in Tyree’s future for sure. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/video/3/12810031/6188694cb01870040c0b1fe8">Jr Tape</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/Tyreeshorter23">Twitter</a> [player_tooltip player_id="226693" first="Brady" last="Bauer"] | Defensive Back | Mobridge-Pollock (SD) | 2022 <img class=" wp-image-240264 alignnone" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/11/1-Brady-Bauer-200x300.jpg" alt="" width="143" height="215" /> Bauer was a prospect that really made the most of his Prep Redzone Dakotas Showcase experience as a late blooming senior. Not only did Brady collect his first college football football offer from the showcase, but he put up some outstanding numbers across the board in testing and overall, finishing in the top 3 amongst all defensive backs at the showcase. Bauer does a solid job being a glue guy in coverage as on the reps on film I’ve seen him take he does a fantastic job on keeping the speed of the wide receiver contained and right with him. I also love his vision and from my eyes, he does a solid job tracking the football even especially when he can read that the throw is off line and he’s got the great instincts to make a play on it. I also really like his pursuit speed. When the ball is in the air, Brady’s point A to point B burst is solid and it’s no wonder he was running in the 4.7s in Fargo. Whoever is lucky enough to land this late-bloomer of a senior prospect is not only going to get a great athlete on both ends of the ball and could be effective in the return game, but a young man with Grade A character to go along with it. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2G2isN">Sr Tape</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/Brady_Bauer1">Twitter</a> [player_tooltip player_id="56464" first="Hayden" last="Gilbert"] | Defensive Back | Viborg-Hurley (SD) | 2022 <img class="alignnone wp-image-240260" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/11/5-Hayden-Gilbert-200x300.jpg" alt="" width="144" height="215" /> By far one of the most slept on seniors at the Prep Redzone Dakotas Showcase, Hayden answered the call by performing at a really high level on Sunday. He finished tied for first in the 40-yard dash which is impressive, being that he was the biggest defensive back at the showcase at 6’3 195. I said it in a tweet after the event, but I liked watching this kid’s ball instincts when going for the football as he played with an aggressive, yet determined mindset in the 1on1 reps I watched on Sunday. To add, his 40 yard dash times matched his Hudl account, which is a rare sight to see in this day in age! Watching the tape on Gilbert, I love how he reacts when the football is in the air as he makes a very strong instinctive move with his long frame to get the best view possible to make a play on the football. When he drops deeper into coverage there also is a lot to like about Gilbert’s footwork, as he knows how to work it to his advantage. Watching Hayden make contact with the ball carrier at the 9-man level is to me unfair, because he’s so freaking physical on his tackles and has a man amongst boys mentality with it. His alertness is also one of his strengths, as on numerous occasions on film you see him make key takeaways late in the play just showing off how ball-hungry he is. The Cougars have now sent two players to the Division I level in the Class of 2021, and I hope [player_tooltip player_id="56464" first="Hayden" last="Gilbert"] is the next, because watching his film, I’m just in shock not more Northern Sun schools have inquired or he hasn’t seen the attention of a PWO from the Division I level. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2G8ph3">Sr Tape</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/Hayd3nGilbert">Twitter</a> Ethan Carrier | Defensive Back | Detroit Lakes (MN) | 2023 <img class=" wp-image-240263 alignnone" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/11/2-Ethan-Carrier-200x300.jpg" alt="" width="143" height="215" /> One of two Carrier boys you will read about tonight, Ethan is was a first-teamer on our All-Camp Team yesterday. Carrier took hardware in three of the four testing categories showing some great ball skills on 1on1s from what I witnessed on Sunday afternoon. When I dove into Ethan’s film, his film gave me some excitment on both ends of the football. Starting at corner, this young man showed a lock and unload motor, as on one particular play he went from battling a blocker to switching directions with great speed and unloading on a ball carrier a solid distance away from where he was. That play alone wasn’t the only bounce we saw on tape. His ability to bounce off would-be tacklers as a running back is excellent for his size, as he can bully defenders onto their rear end pretty easily in his junior season. When it’s his turn to block, he plays with a strong head of steam with great contact and pad level. An excited junior prospect that WILL get college football opportunties in the future, no doubt about it. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2GPPF2">Jr Tape</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/EthanCarrier14">Twitter</a> Linebackers Mason Carrier | Linebacker | Detroit Lakes (MN) | 2024 <img class="alignnone wp-image-240238" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/11/23-Mason-Carrier-200x300.jpg" alt="" width="144" height="215" /> Another Carrier that carried a first-team grade on our All-Camp Team from Sunday, Mason had a heck of a day in Fargo and watching him on 1on1s really pointed out that there might be a duo of brothers that the state of Minnesota needs to be paying attention too at the next-level from the same high school that produced Minnesota Vikings WR Adam Thielen. I am going to say it, Mason Carrier might be one of the most physical linebackers I have seen in Minnesota’s Class of 2024. He just has such a great pad level and gets such good leverage it’s incredibly fun to watch. Not only does he show that bully mentality on defense, but he also plays fullback for the Lakers as well in which he reminds me of a bus travelling downhill that has lost it’s brakes as he has the demenor to use his excellent force to drive the defender to the turf. This young man just plays with a chip on his shoulder with a team-first mindset. He’s already well-put together too (6’1 200) and to think there is two years of high school football left in this kid, that has to be a scary sight for opposing coaches in 4A football. Ethan also carries a 4.0 GPA to go along with his accolades on the football field. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2GLeey">So Tape</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/MasonCarrier5">Twitter</a> Peter Dryburgh | Linebacker | Hillsboro-Central Valley (ND) (2023) <img class="wp-image-240237 alignnone" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/11/24-Peter-Dryburgh-200x300.jpg" alt="" width="144" height="215" /> After making our Big Dogs of the Game list in the 11B state championship game, Dryburgh came out to be one of the top prospects at linebacker in Fargo on Sunday. What stood out to me most watching him up close vs. the FargoDome was just how long of a linebacker he really is as in 1on1 rep, he really showed off some terrific length when stretching for a pass break up. Not only does Dryburgh excel as a linebacker but he’s also a terrific blocking tight end. Dryburgh is a prospect that can push the defender into the second level of the field with great leverage and contact level. Defensively, he shows that same physicality on tape. Peter can get off blocks very quickly from the outside and become a menace in the backfield. Yet again, he had 4 interceptions in 2021 so to say this young man is solid in coverage is an understatement. Standing at 6’3 210 pounds, I certainly feel this young man has college football in his near future especially at the tight end position. Buy stock now, college coaches! <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2GUgKE">Jr Tape</a> [player_tooltip player_id="241909" first="Hudson" last="Hackel"] | Linebacker | Perham (MN) | 2024 <img class="wp-image-240236 alignnone" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/11/25-Hudson-Hackel-200x300.jpg" alt="" width="144" height="215" /> This name might ring a bell to some in NW Minnesota as the little brother of North Dakota commit [player_tooltip player_id="49840" first="Colton" last="Hackel"], brought his talents to Fargo and in our eyes, passed the eye test for another stud coming from the Hackel family. Hackel was in the top three for linebackers when it came to his speed, and had some solid reps in 1on1s that we caught with showing a willingness to learn even more. What do the first three from this linebacker list all have in common? The ability to be two-way prospects that show a willingness to be solid blockers too at FB or TE. Hudson shows as a linebacker a good attack level into the backfield. I think he has some development in his game as far as his awareness goes, but that will come with time for this sophomore. Hackel makes good contact level that can force turnovers especially around the low to mid-section. He also plays the momentum game at a high level on with his blocking ability at fullback which can get to the second level. Not a prospect that you want to get thru your offensive line untouched, as he has a solid motor from point a to point b. Hudson is a prospect I will be keeping tabs on over the next few years, for sure as I think he has solid potential to be a college football prospect. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2GQ2KQ">So Tape</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/HackelHudson">Twitter</a> Layton Ludwig | Linebacker | Minot (ND) | 2022 <img class="wp-image-240233 alignnone" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/11/28-Layton-Ludwig-200x300.jpg" alt="" width="144" height="215" /> Layton finished in the top half of all drills at linebacker as the Minot linebacker came off a solid season with 46.5 tackles and 6 sacks to his resume. Ludwig shows on tape that even in a longer stance he shows great reactiveness with his feet by being able to quickly adjust to where the ball is going with good instincts and good speed. He also shows very shift hands to make a move around the offensive line to get free and make a play on the football. Based on where Ludwig lines up at middle linebacker, I think this kid has a solid island that he can cover with a solid activity level. Ludwig certainly favors going to his right, so I would love to see this senior this offseason work on that reactiveness I mentioned going to his left side. I certainly think this senior could be a solid small-school prospect coming out of Minot. <a href="https://twitter.com/LudwigLayton">Late Season Tape</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/LudwigLayton">Twitter</a>