2023 Rankings Update: The Newcomers, Part I
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We hit on the heavy hitter late evening yesterday, now it is time to spread the football field and dig into the newcomers 2023 class from the February update. These 13 prospects sealed their way into the 2023 rankings for…
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Continue ReadingWe hit on the heavy hitter late evening yesterday, now it is time to spread the football field and dig into the newcomers 2023 class from the February update. These 13 prospects sealed their way into the 2023 rankings for many reasons and you are about to learn what we saw in evaluations of these young men as we start to break down the newcomers from the 2023 rankings list. Give her a look!
Easton Ogle Easton Ogle 5'11" | 175 lbs | WR RC St. Thomas More | 2023 State | Wide Receiver | Rapid City Stevens (SD)
Easton was one of our biggest standouts at our first ever Prep Redzone Dakotas showcase up in Fargo. Not only did he log one of the top times in the 40 yard dash, he showed some exceptional footwork that was electric to watch in person. Easton has a very solid twitch in his hips that you want out of your slot receiver and has enough of it to turn what looks like a short gain, into a solid amount of yards with how efficient he works his footwork. Easton is a very strong route runner and just needs a slight window to work his hands effectively between the secondary. His burst off the snap jumps off well, but when he makes his move and sees his opening, that is when you really see his speed on his route really bust out. Easton starts his journey on our rankings coming in at #32.
Logan Okstad Logan Okstad 5'7" | 175 lbs | RB Grand Forks Red River | 2023 State | Running Back | Grand Forks Red River (ND)
Logan shows off some superb speed when he can cut thru that inside/outside lane, which is usually the spot he starts his run in thru. He also values solid patience waiting for the gap to open up before cashing in on his mark. A development for this young man will be trying to develop a better cutting ability and strong finishing speed this offseason, as Logan would be considered an undersized (5’7 170) yet well put together back that has a lot of upside going into his senior season. Improving those two skillsets alone for those college coaches reading will allow him to jump up our rankings that next time around, as Logan starts his ranking just inside our top 120 prospects in the Dakotas.
Christian Busch Christian Busch 6'4" | 250 lbs | OL Pierre | 2023 State | Offensive Line | Pierre (SD)
Christian did a excellent job raising his stock late in the 2021 season. His mix of being able to latch onto the defensive line and drive them forward against their on will is what set the tone for us ranking Christian where we did. He also has that finishing skillset I love most about watching offensive linemen, as he’s certainly a kid that will keep his motor running until that whistle is blown. He also holds the defender accountable from an angle, as he is able to lock up their foot balance and place them in vulnerable positions to eat the turf. He also can advance his blocks to the second level, which is another skillset this young man possesses. Christian has solid hand fighting technique that really can pack an ample punch. Some additonal work adding more strength to his punch and frame in the weight room, will only drive this young man to be a higher ranked offensive line prospect during the next rankings update, as he sits in the #33 spot overall right below Easton Ogle Easton Ogle 5'11" | 175 lbs | WR RC St. Thomas More | 2023 State mentioned above.
Joey Desir Joey Desir 5'11" | 170 lbs | DB Shiloh Christian | 2023 State | Athlete | Shiloh Christian (ND)
There is a ton to like about Joey’s vision in the secondary for Shiloh Christian. He has excellent vision, due to being a quarterback on the other side of the ball and has an instinctive ability to read the quarterbacks eyes at a high level. Joey also can feel out the ball control the ball carrier has and when it’s loose, can steal the ball right out of their hands. He also has loose hands to become a rangy defensive back that can shed off blocks quickly and hammer the inside rushing attack. I would state the biggest development Joey can make is throwing more contact level into his tackles, as he shows good contact, but I think he has more juice left in the tank to become more of a heavy hitter in the 2022 season for Shiloh Christian. Joey certainly is a scholarship level prospect in my eyes.
Jake Vanhout Jake Vanhout 6'3" | 280 lbs | OL McCook Central-Montrose | 2023 State | Offensive Line | McCook Central-Montrose (SD)
Jake makes his first glimpse of film look have a “man amongst boys” mentality even though the pace he looks to be playing at is not even at full speed yet! He really knows how to take control with his latching ability with his hands and is able to drive clean leverage multiple yards into the second level. I love how Jake reacts in zone reads as he uses his leverage to push and punch with a double-engage move that keeps every linemen in check. He shows a sizeable bend at the line and good positioning. I think he can grow on developing a finishing move for sure to even extend out his resume even stronger. He has solid foot speed to get across the line and pull block in front of his ball carrier. I believe we have untapped one of the most under the radar offensive line prospect in South Dakota in McCook Central-Montrose’s Jake Vanhout Jake Vanhout 6'3" | 280 lbs | OL McCook Central-Montrose | 2023 State , a 6’3 280 pounder that should get some college-level attention here soon as a probable D2 level prospect. Excited to see who takes interest in this young man at prospect camps this summer, as this wouldn’t be the first time D2s have taken interest in a Fighting Cougars offensive linemen. Jake jumps onto our rankings at 45 and rising.
John Luger John Luger 6'0" | 185 lbs | RB Standing Rock | 2023 State | Running Back | Standing Rock (ND)
The biggest thing I took in with John Luger John Luger 6'0" | 185 lbs | RB Standing Rock | 2023 State at our Prep Redzone Dakotas showcase, is just how elusive this young man is. John is a fighter for every yard he can get as a quarterback that gets a lot of run plays called in his playbook. He has the shift back to get to the outside lane and really assure that he’s taking advantage of his great balance he brings along the sidelines. He certainly has some swagger with his footwork that can flip his hips from side to side to take the defender off balance. Watching John, he shows faster game time speed than his 40 yard dash might have showed up in Fargo as a first time camper. John is such a solid playmaker for Standing Rock, I would love if he got a college football opportunity with all that athleticism he brings to the table. He is a sub top 130 prospect and I do think his stock will rise this offseason and into the 2022 season.
Robert Hutchinson Robert Hutchinson WR SF Jefferson | 2023 State | Wide Receiver | Sioux Falls Jefferson (SD)
Robert has some solid route-running ability and a good sized vertical to go up and get the football in the air. The secondary pay this kid a disservice by giving him so much cushion to either run thru their pass coverage or he can use his footwork short to have plenty of yards of separation to work with. Robert is a wide receiver prospect that can thread the nettle over the middle of the field and can fit inside that tight window and make a play. I like his tape best on those intermediate routes he gets into action with QB Taylen Ashley Taylen Ashley 6'0" | 175 lbs | QB Sioux Falls Jefferson | 2023 State . Robert shows some length with his work, that sometimes can overextend but still can get loose into the open field. I think this young man was a few more game tapes away from being inside our top 85 prospects, but checks in just inside the top 100 in the Dakotas for the moment.
Tate Mart Tate Mart WR LaMoure-Litchville-Marion | 2023 State | Wide Receiver | LaMoure-Litchville-Marion (ND)
My first look of Tate Mart Tate Mart WR LaMoure-Litchville-Marion | 2023 State was when I arrived at the 9-man championship as a late arrival due to the snowstorm, as him and the Lobos created their own storm winning their state title game. Tate brings some strong elusivness in his footwork that really shines out nicely from the slot back position, along with his return game. Off the pitch from the outside, Tate is a deadly weapon when he hits the open field as that is when you see his straight line speed really come out on blast. I haven’t seen too many 9-man prospects across the Midwest that are as fluent and effective in the return game as LaMoure-Litchville-Marion’s Tate Mart Tate Mart WR LaMoure-Litchville-Marion | 2023 State . I think Tate could be a great small school prospect, that could really dominate. I see Tate as a probable stockriser the next time we update our our North Dakota rankings for sure.
Eric Zeyon Eric Zeyon DB SF Washington | 2023 State | Defensive Back | Sioux Falls Washington (SD)
Eric shows off some solid footwork and a lot of finesse I like to see from the cornerback position with excellent speed. He shows quick instincts to find the football and shows off a massive trigger off a kickoffs to accelerate to the ball carrier quickly. He also has an elusive burst as a return man, and if he can develop a stronger finishing speed with added stamina, he could be a fun return man to watch in the 2022 season. He also has has a good football IQ as on his pass breakups, he makes the smart football play and goes for assuring that football is not going in anyone’s hands but the ground. He should see more varsity reps in 2022.
Jayden Wiebe Jayden Wiebe 6'1" | 170 lbs | DB Pierre | 2023 State | Defensive Back | Pierre (SD)
Jayden’s first 20 seconds of tape is must watch material. I loved his physicality level from start to finish in that clip, as he shows very tight coverage and fantastic finesse to stay the course for the duration of the play and grab that interception. Jayden stands at 6’0, but there is a solid reach that carries along with him. He has excellent instincts when he’s playing even with the ball and can still make an efficient play with a slight turn in his body if he’s not all the way around. He also can close into the next level into the inside zone and bring you some a physical big hitting presence with his added wrestling background for the Govs. His well-rounded footwork can turn on a dime and with that solid downhill speed can get to the ball very quickly even if he starts 4-5 yards from the play. With his influx of being successful in press man and his outstanding skillsets like I said a few weeks ago, this young man is well on his way playing college football in 2023.
A Few More Newcomers:
Collin Knorr Collin Knorr 6'2" | 200 lbs | LB South Prairie | 2023 State | Linebacker | South Prairie (ND)
Trey Huber Trey Huber ATH Clark-Willow Lake | 2023 State | Athlete | Clark-Willow Lake (SD)
Rylan Olson Rylan Olson 6'5" | 190 lbs | WR Des Lacs-Burlington | 2023 State | Athlete | Des-Lacs Burlington (ND)