2023 Rankings Update: The Newcomers, Part III

<strong>DAKOTAS-- </strong>Last but not least for the Class of 2023 after a short hiatus, we hammer 12 more prospects that really stood out on tape or live and in person last Fall when we took a weekend scouting trip out the East River. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="277667" first="Jake" last="Swanson"] | DL/OL | Hillsboro-Central Valley (ND)</strong> Jake sticks out as one of the most mobile nose guards I have watched in the Dakotas. He does a fantastic job at finding the small seams in the inside zone and attacking those seams to use his speed and quick hands to get to the ball carrier. Jake stands like a natural athlete with his strong bend on the line. He has a sound shedding ability that might not look super flashy on tape, but it certainly gets the job done stopping the run early as one of the first to contact the ball carrier. With that athleticism I mentioned, I believe Jake can continue to work on his speed off the snap and working on growing more aggressive hands to get off the offensive linemen quicker. Jake checks into our rankings at #71. So far as gathered a fair share of D2 and NAIA interest as we move into spring and the early start of camp season. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2GWPPu">Jr Tape</a> <b>[player_tooltip player_id="276828" first="Cody" last="Peterson"] | Offensive Line | Lennox (SD)</b> Watching Cody’s physicality at left tackle is no joke. He has a super aggressive striking ability with his punch and has that finishing move I love to watch offensive line do, assuring that their defender goes nowhere after they hit the turf. I think a stronger bend at the hips could give this young man as even more aggressive contact level and lower his pad level. Cody can get into the second level of the field with his driving ability with a full head of steam that runs downhill. There is no question this kid’s ability to throw linemen to the turf comes from a wrestling background from what my eyes can see, as he makes it look too consistent when you grind his tape. That physicality this young man brings was great enough to find his first home on our rankings inside the top 70 in the Dakotas. Cody has a solid following of coaches, but no seen interest as of yet, making this kid a under the radar prospect. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2GfcKJ">Jr Tape</a> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="273639" first="Gabe" last="Tschetter"] | Linebacker | Sioux Falls O’Gorman (SD)</strong> Gabe’s tape struck a chord with me due to his early presence and sound contact level. His versatile mix of dominance in run and pass coverage, is what makes him such a solid asset linebacker at the next level. He does a fantastic job of creeping into the inside lane and being the initial contact the ball carrier has to run thru which they will struggle to get thru his consistency in his tackles. In pass coverage Gabe is solid performer on short and intermediate routes and has good finesse to stay the course with his ball tracking ability. I think Gabe will project as a safety at the next level, so improving his good speed to the ball and getting even more contact level on the ball carrier, will pave this young man’s way to having some college football opportunities as we enter the 2022 season. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2GYEDn">Jr Tape</a> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="273693" first="Karson" last="Carda"] | Running Back | Aberdeen Central (SD)</strong> Karson is not the fastest running back on tape you will ever see, but I like his vision with the ball in his hands a whole lot. He brings more of a power-runner mentality when you watch his film and can eat off a herd of contact in his 6’0 210 pound body. I find his running ability very smooth on film, as he shows some solid finesse moves to shoot thru contact on both the inside and outside lanes. It takes a fair share of tacklers to break up this young man’s momentum when he has the ball as there is a lot to love about his shedding ability the deeper you get into Karson’s film. As long as Karson can continue to work on his speed, agility, and stamina I certainly think this kid could be fun to watch up the road in the Northern Sun conference. Karson checks in at #57 and the #9 running back in the Dakotas. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2GUy80">Jr Tape</a> <strong>Jayden Speraw | Quarterback | Minot (ND)</strong> I saw Jayden’s touch ball at our Prep Redzone Dakotas showcase and it impressed even more then when looking at Jayden’s junior tape. His live arm doesn’t stop either when he leaves the pocket, as he keeps that exceptional touch and arm strength on his deep routes. When Jayden stays in the pocket, his throwing ability gets even stronger when he can buy time to step up in the pocket and rocket fire on all three levels. Jayden also has clutch precision and can give his wide out a strong window to catch the ball into with space. I think developing more zip on the football with continuing to hammer away on that touch ball placement will give this kids some opportunities after prospect camps this summer. Jayden checks in at #58 and the #11 QB in the Class of 2023 in the Dakotas. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2GK2Xb">Jr Tape</a> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="223094" first="Damon" last="Wilkinson"] | DL/OL | De Smet (SD)</strong> Damon is one of the most intriguing prospects on this list from my eyes. After watching him in person last fall, I think he more of a football prospect than he might get credit for. At 6’9 250 pounds, he some of the best athleticism amongst the giants we have scouted throughout the Dakotas. When he lines up at defensive line, he really shows off his length especially when placing his hands on usually much smaller defenders. That length he has really comes into play with his shedding ability as he’s able to be super physical to get off blocks and maintain a strong point of contact as well. He shows a good bend at the waist, with even some room for improvement in his senior season. He shows off good range for his size to be mobile outside of that inbox box. I think with increased physicality getting to the ball and working that pad-level even better, I think Damon has more tools than most D1-D2 schools are looking for in a project player of his size, but certainly if he doesn’t choose basketball those would be some excellent options for him at the next level. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2GUnTy">Jr Defensive Tape</a> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="237942" first="Braeden" last="Wulf"] | Quarterback | Lennox (SD)</strong> Braeden brings a versatile skillset I enjoy watching from the quarterback position. He shows off a excellent amount of precision and good mobility to escape the pocket and make a throw on the run with great touch. I think he can develop even strong vision in 2022, as he is a one-read and go quarterback that might need to open up more doors for opportunity next season, with losing top WR target and Northwestern (IA) commit [player_tooltip player_id="56499" first="Steven" last="Christion"]. He does show off a quick release and more solidity on that touch ball on shorter routes. Braeden also has great speed with his feet to bounce to the outside and make a run on all three levels. More zip on the football will help out this young man in his development as we enter into the 2022 season for Braeden. Certainly has a next-level skillset in my eyes. <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/13248941/61808926d2251304c86dabf4">Jr Tape</a> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="223095" first="Tyson" last="Brandt"] | Athlete | Brookings (SD)</strong> Tyson is tough read to follow offensively if you are the opposing defense. He lines up in motion, and uses a great burst between the tackles with added strong footwork to stay agile on the inside. Tyson also shows off more durability and strength in his lower body, as this 185 pound athlete shows a ton of strength in his hips. Tyson has a strong pop off the snap and is such a excellent passing threat on those intermediate routes. If there is a prospect on this list that I believe could really be a stockriser in his senior season, it’s this kid as his versatility is such a matchup nightmare to figure out where #24 is lined up on every play. I think he has the footwork to be a solid slot-receiver at the next-level, but I am excited to see Tyson’s stock rise at local prospect camps this summer across the Dakotas, as I think a splash is coming. <strong><span style="font-size: 18pt;">More Newcomers to Watch in 2022:</span></strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="273644" first="Sam" last="Siegfried"] | Tight End | Sioux Falls Jefferson (SD)</strong> <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/13329118/6159221215f5a70bd8e6faaf" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="234186" first="Aidan" last="Brower"] | Offensive Line | Sioux Valley (SD)</strong> <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/11628222/618ed46f578ddb0a1480e0ea" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong>Aidan Mason | Running Back | Rapid City Central (SD)</strong> <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/14487155/615255334deb1d0998f707b0" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="277666" first="Xavier" last="Vossler"] | Quarterback | Oakes (ND)</strong> <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/12571037/61797b25a019f4042c1fbcee" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>