Top Uncommitted OL’s in the Dakotas (2022)

This is going to be one of my favorite articles in this segment. The trenches is where the game is won or lost and almost everybody knows it. This position group is the stereotypical underrated, most hardworking group on the field and I’m always happy to write about and help out any lineman possible. Here are the five I picked for this particular article; [player_tooltip player_id="271407" first="Alex" last="Haeffner"]- Sioux Falls Washington Haeffner is a big, smart man that can move, with good hand technique, every defenders nightmare. At Right Tackle, he gets off the ball well,  protects the edge well on both pass and run games, and can climb levels quickly. His hitch step is quick and gives him enough depth to get good position to make his block on the DE or blitzing LB. He has good peripheral vision to get off a double team block and block a late blitzer. He keeps a good base when he climbs levels to make blocks at the second and third levels. Along with his big frame, he has a lot of strength to latch on and bury any defender in his path. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2GC6DP">Senior Season</a> [player_tooltip player_id="204775" first="Thomas" last="Ostrem"]- Tea Area Ostrem was another athletic tackle this season. He was used to pull across the formation and could kick out or lead up the gap on some runs out to the perimeter. He has really good feet to position himself for the best block on either a run or pass play. He never had to bury his guy, he was smart enough to get the first guy out of the way and then climb next level to help his backs downfield. He did a great job finding the biggest threats and taking them out of the play, helped create all the long runs for the offense. On pass plays, he made his DE a complete non-factor, shuffled his feet quickly to keep his guy in front of him and his QB upright. He was also smart and quick enough to pick up blitzes on the pass plays as well. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2GLdbJ">Regular Season </a> [player_tooltip player_id="151258" first="Conor" last="Hedges"]- Bismarck Hedges was a big man that wanted to roll kids in the other jersey. Primarily showing his pull-blocks, he moved quick but controlled as he climbed up the field and was able to find the tackler and bury him first. On each snap, he set his sights on a defender and didn't stop until he put them on the ground, whether it was at the Line of Scrimmage or ten yards down the field. He has a quick first step to gain the ground for the best position for the block. He did really well making the open-field, stalk blocks on LB's and DB's when he climbed levels. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2GJCQX">Senior Offensive Highlights</a> [player_tooltip player_id="151146" first="Chase" last="Wickoren"]- Wahpeton Wickoren was another quick right tackle that set the edge pretty well. He had good feet and moved quickly to block his guy on the play. He used his hands well and placed them perfectly when making down blocks on the tackles or LB's down from him. His motor worked well, especially with his feet driving through the whistle and burying his defender. He did really well pass blocking, keeping his guy off the QB whether that be sticking him at the line, or just driving him out of the play and letting his QB roam. He was also smart with the defender that wasn't facing him, blocking him without drawing a flag. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2GbqBN">Senior Season</a> [player_tooltip player_id="149453" first="Trent" last="Farren"]- Rapid City Central Farren playing Center is like the bully at the end of the block. After snapping the ball, he sets himself and really opens the gap for his backs, while tossing a defender on most plays. Most of his clips, he's throwing more than one kid, knowing the job wasn't done until the whistle blew. Every play he was blocking until the whistle, whether he was close to the ball, or still ten yards away from it. His footwork was near perfect when snapping then picking up blocks, and he was smart when climbing levels, shoving guys off to his teammates then blocking the next biggest threat downfield. By his first clip on film, he definitely likes to have fun when he makes pancake blocks. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2GJSwK">Senior Season</a>