2023 Rankings Update: The February Preview
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How else do us football scouts get thru these cold Midwest winters? Evaluate all the talent we can find throughout the Dakotas especially as we turn the page after National Signing Day to the incoming seniors in the Class of…
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Continue ReadingHow else do us football scouts get thru these cold Midwest winters? Evaluate all the talent we can find throughout the Dakotas especially as we turn the page after National Signing Day to the incoming seniors in the Class of 2023. It has been a while since we updated our Class of 2023 rankings and a lot has changed in the meantime. These seniors are these college football programs main focus at this given time, although a few are still adding just a few more names to their 2022 classes.
What We Have Noticed
Since we launched the site back in October 2020, we have seen more offers come flying out to this class especially at the Division I level much sooner. To our count six Division I scholarship offers have gone out before the end of February, which appears to be much sooner than the 2021 and 2022 classes had. Why is that? We believe that this Class of 2023 is one of the deepest we have seen in the Dakotas, as when I rated the top 100 prospects, I have felt more confident that ever before that every single one of these young men have a chance to play at the next level. The Class of 2021 and 2022 sent two prospects each to the Power Five level, and the numbers for Division I talent were slightly down in the Class of 2022, but in my opinion it was due to the amount roster spots, not the talent that class offered as their were five less players play Division I football than the Class of 2021. The Class of 2023 still will have to fight against the transfer portal, but as far as additional roster spots, they should be in great shape looking ahead in this recruiting class.
We Have a New #1 Prospect in the Class of 2023
What does the Class of 2022 have in common with the Class of 2023? I tweeted it out earlier today, but this high school goes back to back with 2022 and 2023’s #1 overall prospect, Harrisburg High School. They added Sioux Falls Roosevelt transfer linebacker Richard Benenge Richard Benenge 6'2" | 220 lbs | LB Harrisburg | 2023 State this offseason and boy has he made some noise in the last month or so on the recruiting trail. It started with San Jose State, and then we saw our first Pac 12 offer ever (to date of the site) hit the Dakotas as Benenge was offered next by the Arizona Wildcats. What makes Benenge such a stellar prospect? I have always been really impressed with his massive motor, but his slipperiness he has to get between the gaps of the offensive line is what draws my eyes most. He also has elite vision, and positions himself well to get from point A to point B to connect with the ball carrier quickly and with a oomph of excellent contact on every play, not just a few plays. He also has marketed himself really well on a national stage, going to well-known camps all over the country and putting South Dakota on the map. Rich is also very well put together at a sizeable 6’2 220 pounds with I’m sure plenty of strength growing this offseason and into his senior season and first season with the Tigers. Those skillsets, that motor, and that drive to compete on a national level is what sealed the deal for me to make Benenge our new #1 prospect overall in Dakotas Class of 2023. Bravo Rich!
Check out his tape:
New Names in the Top 10
Rankings, recruiting and perceptions change all the time on the recruiting trail which is why since last update we thought it was evident with the talent of this Class of 2023 to add four new prospects to our Top 10. Three are names you have seen and t are new names to our 2023 rankings:
The New Faces in the Top 10:
Karter Menz Karter Menz 6'5" | 215 lbs | DL West Fargo Sheyenne | 2023 State | Defensive End | West Fargo Sheyenne
Abraham Myers Abraham Myers 6'4" | 215 lbs | DL Sioux Falls Washington | 2023 State | Defensive End | Sioux Falls Washington
The Stockrisers into the Top 10:
Griffin Wilde Griffin Wilde 6'2" | 175 lbs | WR Sioux Falls Jefferson | 2023 State | Wide Receiver | Sioux Falls Jefferson (up from #21)
Gabe Gutierrez Gabe Gutierrez 6'2" | 225 lbs | LB Sioux Falls Lincoln | 2023 State | Linebacker | Sioux Falls Washington (up from #15)
Jason Maciejczak Jason Maciejczak 6'4" | 320 lbs | OL Pierre | 2023 State | Offensive Line | Douglas (up from #12)
Top Duo in the Top 25
Perhaps you are wondering, which team has the best duo instead the top 25? That belongs to the Sioux Falls Jefferson Cavaliers secondary, with new addition London Kolb London Kolb DB SF Jefferson | 2023 State (#23), and Beau Gilblin (#25). Kolb is one of the hardest hitters via contact in the Dakotas, and Giblin has excellent instincts with reacting to the football. These two on defense with with star QB Taylen Ashley Taylen Ashley 6'0" | 175 lbs | QB Sioux Falls Jefferson | 2023 State and lengthy WR Griffin Wilde Griffin Wilde 6'2" | 175 lbs | WR Sioux Falls Jefferson | 2023 State on offense, makes the Cavaliers one of the biggest jumpers in my book in 11AAA in the upcoming 2022 season.
What’s Next on Tap in the Coming Weeks
Stockrisers– Who climbed up the rankings either in their position spot or overall? Who is at the top of our rankings, but climbed up higher than we expected? Who climbed a few spots, but their value as a football prospect improved more than their rank will show? Those are the questions we will answer in the coming weeks.
New Additions- Who from North Dakota really highly rose up our recruiting board? Who are some names we now know at a higher level than we did before? Who were our biggest misses we wish had on our radar sooner? We will uncover all the new data, questions, and new faces, etc. throughout the coming weeks!
Position Breakdowns- Which skillsets set prospect A from prospect B? Did prospect A finish his play with great stamina vs. prospect B that gave up blocking before the whistle blew? We will answer all those questions with our positional breakdowns over the coming weeks.
All in All
Regardless of where you rank on our 2023 rankings board, I will always say, use it as fuel this offseason and into the incoming season. If you love your rank, work your tail off to keep it. If you want a better rank, work your tail off even harder to rise higher. With watching the Super Bowl, we learned about lots of data that said the football scouts were wrong on Cooper Kupp for example. We off course don’t want to be that wrong, but we will own it if we are! With that being said, never stop working hard, whether it’s in the offseason, off the field, on the field, in the classroom, keep grinding so you have a great opportunity to get your college paid for by the great game we call football. Just so you know, our scout group chats get stoked for you regardless of who or what division you get an offer from, that’s just how much we love scouting football in the Dakotas!