PRZ WI Stock Up Showcase: First Looks Preview

The Prep Redzone WI Stock Up Showcase is quickly approaching, and there is a ton of talent that will be in attendance that I can’t wait to get my eyes on live for the first time! Of course I have seen the Hudl highlights of these athletes, but getting a chance to see how they perform in person is always a little different than the pure highlights. I have high expectations for the eight athletes listed below. Today, I want to break down what led me to these high expectations, and what I’m looking forward to seeing from them on Sunday!

Drew Braam Drew Braam 6'2" | 215 lbs | LB Oak Creek | 2024 State WI , ’24 LB- Oak Creek (Drew’s Highlights)

The 6’2″ 210 lbs sophomore possesses an excellent frame to continue building upon. The highlights show an effective blitzer and an ILB who does a great job of reading the flow of the play, staying in, and filling his gap. It also shows me that Braam has sideline to sideline range and is an easy mover, laterally speaking. That range and lateral agility are two areas I’m excited to see him show off on Sunday. The testing portion, and the one on one battles should be great stages for him to display both. Braam finished the season with 58 tackles, 11 TFLs, 3 sacks, 1 INT, and 5 PBUs further pushing my excitement to watch the young stud prove his three down versatility on Sunday!

Thomas Laufenberg Thomas Laufenberg 6'3" | 230 lbs | DL Sparta | 2024 State WI , ’24 QB- Sparta (Thomas’ Highlights)

The sophomore out of Sparta High School is a name that instantly jumped out to me as I was looking through the list of attendees. He already checks in at a reported 6’2″ 190 lbs, with a 4.9 40 time. I look forward to watching him verify those numbers early in the showcase. Then it’s time to show off that right arm. The highlights show a QB that is a threat to every level of the field. Thomas has a naturally strong arm, and his 63+% completion percentage has me excited to watch him be able to control the ball and put it exactly where he wants it with touch and/or velocity. Laufenberg’s release is another aspect of his arm that I can’t wait to get a look at in person. On tape, Thomas looks like he can get the ball out quickly with a smooth, compact throwing motion. Thomas has a great shot at putting himself in the argument for QB1 of the 2024 Class, and I can’t wait to watch. His film is making a strong case already.

Drew Mears Drew Mears 6'0" | 175 lbs | QB Fox Valley Lutheran | 2022 State WI , ’22 QB- Fox Valley Lutheran (Mears’ Highlights)

I’m excited to get a look at one of the state’s hidden talents at the QB position. The 6’ 180 lbs QB is looking for his first offer, and a strong showing Sunday could really help his cause. He has a lot to show off too. Not only was Drew responsible for the passing offense, the strong athlete was also his team’s leading rusher. So, he will have my attention right from the start as he demonstrates the type of athlete he is during the testing portion of the day. Then when we get to the battles I’m excited to see him showcase his accuracy and touch. It won’t be easy as he will be throwing to receivers he isn’t used to working with, but I’m hyped to watch him quickly read the DB’s leverage and drop passes into spots according to that leverage. His highlights show him doing it, so I hope to see it Sunday!

Najeh Mitchell Najeh Mitchell 5'9" | 175 lbs | ATH West De Pere | 2023 State WI , ’23 RB- West De Pere (Najeh’s Highlights)

When it comes to Najeh we could talk about so much that I want to see. We could talk about his very impressive receiving abilities out of the backfield, 35 receptions at a rate of 17+ yards/rec. We could talk about his lightning quick feet, and short area agility that make him a nightmare to corral in small areas and a sharp route runner. Basically we could talk about anything that represents the elite level playmaker that Najeh is, but really the one thing I can’t wait to see the West De Pere junior do is run the 40. This past summer the 5’9″ 170 lbs athlete posted a 4.38 laser verified 40 time. If that doesn’t get your attention then read it again. 4.38 second 40 time. The dude is going to put on a show from start to finish, and I can’t wait to see it live!

Austin Moe, ’23 OL/DL- Brodhead (Austin’s Highlights)

When it comes to Austin, the first thing I can’t wait to get a first look at on Sunday is seeing how he looks in person. He is listed at 6’4″ 265 lbs, and he looks like it on film. What I look forward to seeing is his arm length and how consistently he uses it to win in the one on one battles. With the hand usage, I’m excited to see his full pass rush repertoire on display. His film shows the strength to bull rush the interior of the OL, push-pull IOL, and solid lateral agility to defeat blocks. The honorable mention All- State DL prospect is also a solid OL, so I’ll also be interested to see if he goes DL or OL on Sunday. Either way he will be an athlete I have my eyes on!

Carson Nickel, ’22 DL- Elkhorn (Carson’s Highlights)

Carson definitely makes this list of dudes I can’t wait to get a first look at Sunday because I think we may have a hidden gem on our hands. The 6’4″ 205 lbs edge rusher has an intriguing senior highlight tape. It looks like he has the length to win with at the next level, and he has a solid first step off the ball. The kid also has very active hands that I believe are going to shine on Sunday during the one on one battles. I only see stats from three games for the senior, but in three games he collected 12 tackles, 3 TFLs, and 1.5 sacks. This dude is disruptive, and I’m excited to see him show it on Sunday!

Taylor Schaefer Taylor Schaefer 6'3" | 230 lbs | LB Southern Door | 2023 State WI , ’23 LB/DL- Southern Door

I’m jacked up to see the 6’2″ 225 junior LB in person on Sunday! I’m most excited to see him in the one on one battles. Taylor’s film is full of him making dominant plays while playing downhill. He is a stout run defender who easily roams the tackle box filling gaps, and shedding blocks on the way to 135 tackles, 16 TFLs, and 7 sacks. I’m first interested to see if he works out at DE or LB as both are listed on his Twitter. If he goes with LBs then how he performs in coverage battles on Sunday will be very intriguing. If the hard hitting junior can excel there then there isn’t many questions you can have about his game, and he should become a highly sought after prospect as the attention turns to the Class of 2023!

Teague Szudy Teague Szudy 6'0" | 200 lbs | RB Oregon | 2022 State WI , ’22 RB- Oregon (Teague’s Highlights)

The 6’ 205 lbs senior RB has the frame to grab your attention, and the film is exciting. The 1,100+ yard rusher is a strong runner between the tackles who runs through contact and has the speed to be able to create big plays on a weekly basis. He also has proven to be a viable receiving option, and blocker. The thing I’m excited about on Sunday when it comes to Szudy is getting him in front of more coaches because he is under the radar right now. I’m also pump to see what his athletic testing results will be. Having those numbers out there to go along with his big frame, and strong film will be huge for him! Check out his film linked above by his name!