Looking Back at the Class of 2021 Rankings
With college and high school football wrapped up across the country I felt it was a great time to look back on our previous rankings and see how the top players performed in their first season at the collegiate level.…
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Continue ReadingWith college and high school football wrapped up across the country I felt it was a great time to look back on our previous rankings and see how the top players performed in their first season at the collegiate level. Today we will start with looking back at the Top 10 from the Class of 2021. We will give a quick breakdown of their first season and then look ahead to see what the future may hold. Let’s get it started!
#1. JP Benzschawel, OL- Wisconsin (Grafton)
The 6’6″ OL had all the tools you could want in a high school OL recruit to go along with a bloodline that included his dad, brother, and uncle all playing at Wisconsin before him. Benzschawel earned the #1 stop after years of dominating play that highlighted his easy movement skills, elite level strength, and ability to dominate in every fashion. Whether pass blocking or run blocking JP had the upper hand. During his first year at Wisconsin JP didn’t see any playing time, but that shouldn’t be a surprise as the OL factory has several talented linemen above him.
Verdict: JP will get his time to shine as the upperclassmen continue to graduate or declare for the draft. Check back after next season to see if he is able to make a jump into the lineup. Bright future still ahead!
#2. Hunter Wohler, DB- Wisconsin (Muskego)
Hunter saw action in a handful of games for the Badgers as a freshman. The 6’2″ DB collected 17 total tackles, 3 TFLs, 1 sack, and 1 pass breakup in limited time. Hunter worked his way up to second on the depth chart at one of the safety positions behind John Torchio. The redshirt junior may return next season, but expect Wohler to put up a big fight for a larger role as a true sophomore. Big things are ahead for Hunter.
Verdict: Slight impact as a freshman tells me they trusted him and wanted to get his talent on the field in any way that they could. Expect a larger role in 2022 for the #1 DB and #2 overall player in the Class of 2021 here in WI.
#3. Braelon Allen, LB- Wisconsin (Fond du Lac)
The 6’2″ 230+ lbs RB went to Wisconsin as a DB, but switched to the offensive backfield. What a decision that was as the freshman broke out with an amazing freshman season. He finished the year with 157 carries, 1,109 yards, 12 TDs, 6 receptions, and 37 receiving yards on the way to several honors. Those honors included Second Team All- Big Ten, 2X Big Ten freshman of the Week, and Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week once. He also finished the season winning the Las Vegas Bowl MVP.
Verdict: The young star is just getting started in Madison. He looks like the next big time back from the RB factory, and he has a ton of potential ahead of him. The late switch to RB tells me that he could make some huge strides with a full offseason at the position. Everyone is going to know the name. If they don’t yet.
#4. Ayo Adebogun, LB- Wisconsin (Homestead)
The 6’3″ 205+ lbs edge rusher didn’t have any statistics for the 2021 season in Madison. That isn’t surprising as the young stud needed time to continue to put on size. Wisconsin also has an extremely deep LB corps ahead of him filled with veterans that have NFL talent. Several of those players have declared for the draft opening up more opportunities for the former #1 edge rusher in WI. Keep an eye on him this spring.
Verdict: Don’t give up on the kid. We knew it wasn’t going to be his time early on with the depth and talent at the position. I’m excited to see how he has spent the past year. Between the talent he demonstrated in high school paired with a year in a college program you can expect him to be developing well. Can’t wait for him to get his shot.
#5. Loyal Crawford, RB- Independence CC (Eau Claire Memorial)
Loyal graduated as the #1 RB in the Class of 2021. He had so many of the elite athletic traits you looked for in a speed back that led him to being one of the best playmakers in the state. Unfortunately, his time at Madison was short lived as he was removed from the team after an incident between him and another teammate. This put him on the path towards looking for a new home. He made multiple visits, and in the end he decided to go the JUCO route as he committed to Independence CC in early January.
Verdict: I haven’t given up on the elite playmaker. I have faith he will capitalize on his second chance and make his way from JUCO to a new D1 home. He is too talented, and if he can prove that his past is in the past then I believe he still has a very bright future. College coaches, make sure you know about this dude. He should ball out at the JUCO level.
#6. Marcus Mbow, OL- Purdue (Wauwautosa East)
The former OL2 saw some action in one game for the Boilermakers as a freshman. The 6’5″ 305 lbs lineman has the size, strength, and athleticism to build on coming out of high school that should eventually get him on the field consistently if he continues to put in the work. Purdue fielded several talented linemen in 2021 making it unsurprising that he didn’t crack the starting lineup, but expect that to change as the years go by.
Verdict: His time is coming. It’s clear that he has completely bought into the program and is just waiting for his moment. When it comes I believe he is going to make it hard to take the job away from him. Big fan of Marcus, and can’t wait to continue to watch his career unfold.
#7. Hayden Nelson, DL- UCLA (Brookfield Central)
The 6’3″ 235 lbs freshman edge rusher didn’t get to see the field in his first year in LA. We don’t see many true freshmen get the opportunity to do that, so don’t lose faith on the former Brookfield Central standout DL/TE. He has the tools to build upon. It won’t be easy, but the late flip to UCLA tells me they believe in him and he quickly believed in what they are trying to do. Keep buying in and good things will happen.
Verdict: UCLA is on the come-up, so Nelson is going to have to work hard to get on the field. Lucky for him, he has the tools and traits building blocks. All he needs is time.
#8. Drew Biber, TE- Purdue (Cedarburg)
The 6’5″ 225 lbs TE out of Cedarburg didn’t get to see the field much if at all as a freshman. Looking at the depth chart that doesn’t surprise me as Purdue had a pair of talented dudes ahead of him. Lucky for Biber, he had a pair of athletes to learn from over the past season. The big man is going to have his moment. He is too big, too athletic, and too sure-handed to not eventually have his time to shine. It isn’t an exciting start, but it should be a great ending to his career.
Verdict: Purdue has been pumping out TEs the past several years. If he works hard and bides his time then Drew could be in line to be the next one of them. I’m rooting hard for him, and can’t wait to keep watching.
#9. Austin Dahlke, DB- Colorado (Edgar)
One of the most impressive high school seasons that I have covered belongs to Austin. That performance led him to become the first Prep Redzone WI Player of the Year. He carried that momentum into several PWO offers from the FBS level and jumped on one from Colorado. The walk on didn’t see the field in 2021, but that can’t be surprising. It is going to be an uphill battle, but I have seen Dahlke do his things. If he continues to grind and make plays he could eventually get a shot. The 6’1″ 190 lbs DB has a knack for playmaking.
Verdict: It won’t be easy, but Dahlke is a playmaker. If he can scratch and claw day after day he could have a shot despite being a walk on. Having that grind could eventually earn him a scholarship as well. I’ll continue to follow one of my all time favorites.
#10. Max Bredeson, ATH- Michigan (Arrowhead)
The 6’2″ 222 lbs walk on TE worked his way onto the field against Northern Illinois on September 18. That’s wildly impressive for a walk on true freshman. The former high school QB made a quick flip as he also earned Scout Team Special Teams Player of the Week during a great week of practice getting the starters ready for Nebraska. It was clear that Max had the physicality in high school as he would rather run right through defenders instead of pass over the top of the defense.
Verdict: The future looks great for the walk on who has already been making a name for himself early and often. Look for that role that he has carved out to grow even more as he continues to gain the trust of coaches and develop his game. The future looks bright, especially for a player starting out as a walk on!