Prep Redzone Dakotas Showcase: The WR Standouts
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FARGO, ND– We make one last hoorah in Fargo before we move our talents to Minnetonka, Minnesota. The last group we will evaluate were five of the top wide receivers we got to watch at the first-ever Prep Redzone Dakotas Showcase.…
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Continue ReadingFARGO, ND– We make one last hoorah in Fargo before we move our talents to Minnetonka, Minnesota. The last group we will evaluate were five of the top wide receivers we got to watch at the first-ever Prep Redzone Dakotas Showcase. Take a look at who they are as we turn the page to 2022 for our next Prep Redzone Dakotas Showcase, stay tuned!
Ethan Hanson Ethan Hanson 5'7" | 160 lbs | WR Surrey | 2023 State | Wide Receiver | Surrey (ND) | 2023
He wasn’t the biggest kid on the football field but I really liked the speed Ethan Hanson Ethan Hanson 5'7" | 160 lbs | WR Surrey | 2023 State had when the ball entered his hands and he hammered the gas pedal. Hanson was a “first look” prospect I was intrigued by that I hadn’t watched tape on before which now we enter the film lounge to see what he brings from Surrey, ND.
Hanson has instinctive vision as a defensive back. He reads right into the ball carriers eyes like a hawk that cannot keep their eyes off their prey. His speed offensively certainly comes out big-time in the open field as he shows a fluid hip turn to get to that point of speed especially with his runs that go to the outside. Going into his senior season, I believe Ethan can work on his tackling ability as I believe he has more contact in his body that he can throw at the ball carrier than he did in his junior tape.
Jr Tape vs Cavalier | Twitter
Tate Hoffman Tate Hoffman 5'10" | 180 lbs | RB Miller/Highmore/Harrold | 2023 State | Wide Receiver | Miller-Highmore (SD) | 2023
The Hoffman last name was just a common name for top performers from South Dakota that perfected their craft in Fargo. Tate did a solid job working his speed in 1on1s and performed super well in testing last Sunday. This young man has some excellent footwork that I don’t think gets enough credit.
I give this kid a lot of credit. You watch his tape and you see almost all of his reps as a running back out the backfield. He enterred the camp as a wide receiver, which can only mean that Hoffman wanted to improve his hands and become an even more versatile threat for the Rustlers in his senior season. Taking care of business like that will not go unrecognized by college coaches that attended the Prep Redzone Dakotas Showcase if not giving them more of a reason to take a look at Hoffman further. Hoffman has a strong ability to finish his runs with excellent stamina. Add that stamina, those shifty feet I talked about and there’s not much doubt in my mind that this young man will be on a college football roster come the Fall of 2023.
Easton Ogle | Wide Receiver | Rapid City Stevens (SD) | 2023
By far, one of the biggest risers to crash into our Prep Redzone Dakotas showcase in Fargo was Rapid City Steven’s WR Easton Ogle. The Dakotas should know by now that I have been a buyer of stock in the Raiders for more than a year now, but the numbers that Mr. Ogle put up in Fargo, no doubt in my mind rose some eyebrows in the best way possible to college programs all over the Midwest. Ogle ran a 4.62 40 yard dash and a 4.24 shuttle, wihch had some (including mine) jaws dropping around the those testing areas. Ogle backed up his speed in 1on1s too, looking sharp on his route running ability as well.
Easton’s junior tape shows off some wiggle in his footwork right out the gates and then explosion out of screen plays where he turns on a dime upfield. For his size, he also has a great stretch that make his arms stretch out quite a bit longer than you might expect. Ogle also has burner speed on deep routes to add to his resume. He does a solid job coming back on his routes especially last season against the #1 team in 11AAA, Harrisburg. I’m going to go ahead and coin it now, Ogle is the fastest man on turf the West River has to offer at any position of the incoming seniors. I can’t wait to see what kind of plays Ogle and now seasoned QB Jed Jenson Jed Jenson 6'0" | 170 lbs | QB Rapid City Stevens | 2023 State can make as seniors as I think they will be a sleeper duo to watch out for in 11AAA.
Carter Van Donge Carter Van Donge 5'11" | 165 lbs | WR Sioux Falls Christian | 2023 State | Wide Receiver | Sioux Falls Christian (SD) | 2023
I was impressed by Carter’s game in person in the testing sessions, but videos posted after the event made me even more impressed with this young man. Van Donge showed some consistent numbers, running in the 4.7s in both 40 yard dashes. He showed great burst out of the gates and had solid brakes that I think will improve even more this offseason as he enters his senior season at Sioux Falls Christian.
Van Donge is another WR from the PRZ showcase, that might look smaller on the measurables side, but the range he can cover backs up his strong route running ability. Carter also shows great awareness on film as in one game tape against the 11A state champs, the ball was thrown into triple coverage but using those sound instincts, Van Donge was able to make the catch and give his Chargers a touchdown. I think with some added weight in the weight room this offseason, you’ll see Van Donge for sure playing on Saturdays in the Fall of 2023.
Peyton Millis Peyton Millis 6'3" | 160 lbs | WR Spearfish | 2022 State | Wide Receiver | Spearfish (SD) | 2022
One of the best kept secrets in far western South Dakota, and a young man travelled nearly 8 hours one-way to our Prep Redzone Dakotas Showcase, was wide receiver Peyton Millis Peyton Millis 6'3" | 160 lbs | WR Spearfish | 2022 State of Spearfish. How did he look? I had a handful of coaches come to us after the event and told me that this young man has that “it” factor to play on Saturdays, and from what I watched, I could not agree more. Peyton ran some crafty routes and showed with his skillsets that he not only had the speed, but a lot of size too with some of the rangiest hands I thought I witnessed last Sunday in Fargo.
From both sides of the football field when you watch Peyton’s film you can just read how high his football IQ is. That route running I saw last Sunday matches the film which is always a good sign for the college coaches to see the consistency that he has there. Millis has long arms to grab that football at 6’3 that might be just out of reach for smaller WRs. I genuinely think this young man is just as strong defensively as he is offensively, as which college program wouldn’t want a lengthy defensive back that has a good motor and a significantly high contact level? Somehow this senior only has one offer to his resume and his recruitment is still wide open for college programs to inquire now! Millis also has grade A character too.