Top 10 2023s in Southern WI

We are back for Part To of our series highlighting the talent in northern and southern WI! We started off by diving deep into the film of the Top 10 juniors who’s school is north of Hwy 10. Now we are going to go south of Hwy 10 and find the Top 10 juniors from that half of the state. Just like before, we are going to dive deep into the film and provide a scouting report on their strengths an where they  an improve their game before net season rolls around. Let’s get it started! <h3><span style="font-size: 18pt;">10. [player_tooltip player_id="245812" first="Jackson" last="Stortz"], OL- Hartford Union</span></h3> The 6’4" 245 lbs OG is an intriguing prospect to project. He needs to continue to fill out that long, lean frame so he has the strength to succeed at the D1 level of college football. What he has already shown on tape has me excited for his future. Despite being only 245 lbs, Stortz demonstrates exceptional strength. He doesn’t just negate his opponent’s power. he completely overpowers them in the run game as he drives them off the line and into the lap of level two. His balance and body control is his top trait. Snap after snap, Jackson stays square while changing direction, getting to level two, or pulling on a trap. His range and hand use are the two finals areas of strength that I want to highlight. Stortz has lightning quick, yet heavy hands that deliver a punch that has the potential to put guys on the ground with one solid connection. Lastly, his range is what makes him who he is as a player. He is elite at pulling down the line and can even lead teh way downfield. He explodes on contact, and stays on his feet. I’ll be watching his growth closely over the next season. Big things ahead for the Hartford beast. <h3><span style="font-size: 18pt;">9. [player_tooltip player_id="31425" first="Sam" last="Coufal"], DL- Kettle Moraine</span></h3> The 6’2" 250 lbs DE/OLB is the top DL that southern WI has to offer in the Class of 2023. He has experience, and production, playing from a two and three point stance. His success as a pass rusher relies on his quickness and overall athletic attributes. His initial quickness, bend, and closing speed to the QB/RB are highlighted in his season long highlights. The first step explosion is what gets it all started. Sam is able to penetrate with exceptional 1st movement reaction, and a stride length that quickly eats up cushion and gets him past the OL. Coufal is as disruptive as they come. He spends a lot of his time playing in the offensive backfield wrecking havoc. He is a nightmare to block one on one thanks to his quickness and lateral agility. The best part is that he isn’t just a specimen with a lot of potential. He has the production to back it up. He posted 71 tackles, 8 sacks, 19 TFLs, and 3 FFs. When looking for areas to improve it is less about fixing a weakness and more of an emphasis on what he has. He doesn’t possess the length needed to win with leverage and strength at the next level, so he will need to continue to mold that special quickness, agility, and range. At the next level, I think he starts off as a third down pass rusher, but could eventually become a three down option as his career goes on. <h3><span style="font-size: 18pt;">8. [player_tooltip player_id="104372" first="Keany" last="Parks"], RB- Kenosha Bradford</span></h3> RB1 in WI comes to us from Kenosha Bradford HS in southern WI. The 6’1" 175 lbs junior has the frame that should have the next level very excited. As he continues to fill out his game is going to become more and more impressive. Once he fills out that frame I expect Keany to be a three down RB at the next level. He is the most versatile RB in WI. He has the long speed to erase pursuit angles, and he accelerates almost instantly from his stance or coming out of a cut. His instincts are special, and are what make him as dangerous as he is right now. Parks can turn a dead play into a huge gain thanks to his rare ability to make multiple defenders miss in he tiniest of areas. There are plays in his highlights where he is the only one who knows where the daylight is because to us watching it doesn’t seem like there is any. Yet, he somehow makes something out of nothing. It isn’t just his elusiveness either. Keany has the contact balance to play between the tackles where he needs to be able to bounce off tackles thanks to quick feet and low center of gravity. The cherry on top is that Keany is a legitimate receiver out of the backfield, and when he gets it out in space is tough to contain. Where I will be looking to see him improve is seeing how he continues to fill out before his final season, and I also want to see him run behind his pads more when he gets into scenarios where he needs to rely on his power. If he can do that then he will be setting himself up for a lot of future success. <h3><span style="font-size: 18pt;">7. [player_tooltip player_id="31404" first="Jaiden" last="Pickett"], DB- Riverside University</span></h3> Maybe I am doing the 6’3" 190 lbs athlete a disservice by labeling him a DB because he is so versatile, but he fits what I look for in a safety so well that that is where I want to focus. Jaiden has built a cut up physique that allow shim to make all the plays necessary. The first trait that stands out is one of the top traits needed. That is instincts for the position. Even while playing on the line of scrimmage, Jaiden has repeatedly shown that he is able to see plays developing before they happen allowing him to get in position to make a stop or create a turnover. Speaking of being at the line, that gives me confidence that Pickett has the three level talent to be a dominant safety. He won consistently at thebline of scrimmage as a junior. He also has shown that he can play in the slot/OLB position where he covers man to man and the curl to flat area in zone. Jaiden also looks to have the range to be able to play on the back half of the defense. His highlights have many plays where he pulls away from everyone else showing that he plays at a different speed.  He also has the ball skills to create turnovers, not just break up passes. Lastly, Jaiden is a reliable tackler who can be trusted to make the stop as the last line of defense. The main area to work on is his experience at safety. Jaiden is such a mismatch that he is used wherever the best mismatch is that week it seems like. I’ll be looking to see him become more and more comfortable this fall when playing away from the line of scrimmage. <h3><span style="font-size: 18pt;">6. [player_tooltip player_id="104371" first="Nate" last="Kollath"], QB-Sussex Hamilton</span></h3> The 6’3" 210 lbs junior QB is a quickly rising recruit in my book. He is QB2 overall, and the top dual threat option at the position. There is so much to like about his game. He has a live arm that makes firing the ball 25+ yards downfield on a rope look smooth and easy. He can use his athleticism to buy time, and he is able to deliver accurate passes while on the run. He doesn’t panic while under duress, and he doesn’t need to be able to step into his throws to attack down the field. On the ground, Nate runs without hesitation, and has the speed and vision to be able to be used on designed run plays. His big frame allows him to play physical while carrying the ball. Looking at his technique, Nate is on the raw side. There are times where his feet aren’t synced up with the top half, but like I mentioned he doesn’t need that to make plays at this level. When he cleans that up it will take his arm to the next level. I believe it will take his accuracy to the next level also when he does that. Overall, I’m a huge fan of the potential here in Kollath. If he can tighten up his footwork/technique we could see a massive jump in his abilities. There is a lot for the next level to work with. <h3><span style="font-size: 18pt;">5. [player_tooltip player_id="206639" first="Blake" last="Fletcher"], LB- Racine Horlick</span></h3> The 6’3" 220 lbs ILB checks in as our #1 off ball LB in the Class of 2023. Blake has an elite frame for his age. During his junior season, Fletcher suffered a broken leg in the third game of the season so their isn’t a ton of film, and it will be key for him to show that he is fully back from that. He did play during the winter basketball season, so hopes are high. On the field, Blake is a stud. As a blitzer, he times the snap very well and possesses the initial burst and acceleration to fly through gaps before the OL can get hands on him. He is an extremely sound tackler who makes sure the play is over when he gets ahold of the ball carrier or QB. Blake’s play recognition and ability to read the flow of the play and the blocks in front of him are as good as it gets here in the Class of 2023. He mirrors RBs on run plays and meets them in the gap for no gain. Lastly, he has the range to be a sideline to sideline playmaker. Besides making sure he is healthy, the one area I want to see more is his coverage skills. He is a stud against teh run and on the blitz, but to really increase his value to the next level we need to see that ability to play behind his original alignment. <h3><span style="font-size: 18pt;">4. [player_tooltip player_id="31389" first="Chase" last="Spellman"], QB- Kettle Moraine</span></h3> The 6’3" 230 lbs QB is our #1 QB in the state of WI, and it doesn’t matter the graduating class. He has an elite frame, and just enough athleticism to avoid pressure in the pocket, buy time in the backfield, and pick up some yards when forced to scramble. My biggest concern is health. I’ll be following his fall season closely as he comes back from surgery on a torn labrum in his throwing shoulder. The tough signal caller played all year with the injury and was still able to make weekly clutch plays that led his team to wins, and a deep playoff run. That is my favorite trait of his, and maybe his most important one. Spellman finds ways to win, and he steps up when the lights are brightest. Add in the fact that he does that while playing in the toughest conference in WI. Chase is a gamer. He also has the physical traits you need at the D1 level. A quick release, sharp mechanics from feet to release, the ability to throw with touch and velocity. Lastly, he can pinpoint where he wants the ball to all levels of the field. I believe KM has a chance at another deep playoff run in big part to having the #1 dude at the helm. <h3><span style="font-size: 18pt;">3. [player_tooltip player_id="206422" first="Nollenn" last="Tabaska"], TE- Brookfield East</span></h3> TE1 check in at 6’7" 230 lbs, and he has a lot to get the next level excited about. Nollenn is able to line up in the traditional inline role or out wide. It isn’t just his alignment that makes him valuable. He also can be relied on to make an impact in the run and pass game. In the pass game, Nollenn is as big of a mismatch as you will find among WRs and TEs. He is far too big to press, and if you give him a cushion he has the speed to run slants, digs, or drags while keeping that cushion. His big mitts easily snag the ball out of the air without letting the ball into his body. One area that will need work is his release. It isn’t his fault because he hasn’t faced much o any press at the line, so he just needs more experience in that area. Also, his balance and acceleration out of his breaks could take his route running to an elite level. As a run blocker, Nollenn is more of a finesse blocker than a power blocker. He gets himself in position so that he is between the defender and ball carrier. He also has shown that he can get to the second level with a free release or while working a double team. If he can add more power into his blocking it will make it so he can stay on the field for every down at the next level. <h3><span style="font-size: 18pt;">2. [player_tooltip player_id="250561" first="Brent" last="Hoppe"], LB- Turner</span></h3> The #1 defender in southern WI, #1 edge defender, and #1 overall defender is held by the 6’4" 220 lbs junior out of Beloit Turner. For starters, Hoppe backs up his excellent traits with elite production. He posted 42 TFLs, 14 sacks, and 4 FFs during his junior campaign. Brent was the most disruptive force during this past fall. He lived in the offensive backfield, and blew up plays on a nearly snap to snap basis. His blend of power and explosiveness is something you only see from the top level talent. His first step explosiveness eats up cushion allowing him to quickly gets his hands inside and gain the leverage advantage if he becomes engaged. Other times, Brent easily flies through the trenches, and then flashes an elite level of closing burst as he flies to the QB or RB in the backfield. His edge speed allows him to slide out and fly off teh edge out of a two point stance. He has the range to pursue form the backside and catch RBs in the backfield. To take his game to the next level I want to see Brent develop pass rush moves that help him disengage blocks because at the next level he won’t be able to rely on his first step or bull rush every snap. Pumped for more exciting film and big time production this fall form the Turner beast. <h3><span style="font-size: 18pt;">1. [player_tooltip player_id="104565" first="Nate" last="White"], ATH- Rufus King</span></h3> The #1 player in southern WI is our #1 player overall. The 6’ 175 lbs Rufus King athlete can be utilized in many different ways, and be successful because of an elite athletic profile. The three sport athlete runs a 4.5 40, and it translates into play speed on the field. Nate is moving at a different pace than everyone around him each week. His most dominant trait is his short area agility. Nobody in the state can stop-start, cut on a dime, and accelerate at the level that White can. His innate feel and instincts for the RB position is special. The longer the play goes on the chances of Nate breaking off a big play grows exponentially. If the defense doesn’t contain him from the start they won’t be able to corral him once he gets in the open field. He sees the field better than anyone I have seen play in person. As far as things to work on, Nate played QB this season so he doesn’t have a ton of experience as a pass catcher. If we can see that that would be great to check off that box, but with or without that he is still an elite prospect.