Stock risers: The Southwest

Continuing with my trip around the state, I looked at some underclassmen from the southwest part of Minnesota. With some help from the <a href="https://www.marshallindependent.com/">Marshal Independent</a>, here are some impact players to watch this fall. [player_tooltip player_id="112082" first="Owen" last="Louwagie"] <strong>QB Lakeview</strong> Louwagie has excellent touch on his deep throws – often dropping the ball right into a place only his receiver can make a play. He has a strong enough arm to get good velocity on the ball even when forced to throw off his back foot. The junior is not just a pocket passer; his arm strength allows him to throw accurately on the run. Louwagie has solid speed in the open field when he decides to tuck the ball and run. [player_tooltip player_id="112065" first="Chidi" last="Nwakama"] <strong>RB/OLB Marshall</strong> Nwakama is an excellent one cut-and-go type of running back. Once he hits the hole, he explodes out of his cut and gets upfield. He makes plays in the passing game too. He is a threat in the flat and down the field on deeper routes. He makes himself available to the quarterback and has a knack for finding an open area in the secondary. As an outside linebacker, he has solid range against both the run and the pass. When he is around the ball, he makes plays. <strong>Brady Ross</strong> <strong>QB Westbrook-Walnut Grove</strong> Ross has a big arm and can easily stretch a defense. He makes quick decisions and gets the ball out of his hand on time. Even on deeper throws, Ross usually has the ball out shortly after the junior sets his feet. He is very accurate on short to medium throws – in part – because the ball is out so fast the defense doesn’t have time to react. He throws well under pressure and, while not a typical running quarterback, is accurate when on the move. [player_tooltip player_id="123046" first="Nathan" last="Fenske"] <strong>WR/CB Lakeview</strong> Fenske has good skills with the ball in the air. He adjusts quickly and uses his body to out position defenders. He comes back on the ball effectively. Fenske has a strong set of hands and can secure catches in traffic. He is not only a threat as a receiver; the junior has a good arm and has thrown passes on jet sweeps. He excels on deep sideline routes and deep crosses as a receiver. His offensive instincts serve him well as a corner, too; his ball instincts translate nicely to the defensive side of the ball. <strong>Kole Curry WR Westbrook-Walnut Grove</strong> Although he is not the biggest guy on the field, he is one of the quickest. He is a nightmare in the open field – rarely giving bigger defenders a straight shot on him. He has solid straight-line speed to go along with his quickness. What Curry lacks in length, he makes up for it by making good adjustments to the ball and his ball skills. <strong>Carter Benda RB/LB Murry County Central</strong> Built low to the ground, Benda is a hard running back to get a solid hit on. His quick feet not only make tackling him even more of a challenge, but his feet also help his offensive line. He doesn’t need much space, allowing him to get through small creases in the line. Not just a threat in the running game, Benda has the speed and the hands to get deep in the passing game as well. [player_tooltip player_id="112085" first="Clayton" last="Kosel"] <strong>RB/LB Lakeview</strong> Kosel combines solid footwork and balance, better than average speed, and enough power to do just about anything you would want a running back to do. He has solid instincts and cutback ability. Because of that, Kosel does a great job setting up his blockers. He can be a threat in the passing game – coming out of the backfield on offense and with multiple interceptions as a junior - as a linebacker.