Meet the Minnesota Panthers: 2028-2029 Prospects to Know
MINNEAPOLIS, MN– Prospect Camp season might be over, but we keep our foot on the gas with our content, switching over to the youngsters with Prep Redzone Next. We checked in at Shingle Creek Park in North Minneapolis to watch…
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Continue ReadingMINNEAPOLIS, MN– Prospect Camp season might be over, but we keep our foot on the gas with our content, switching over to the youngsters with Prep Redzone Next. We checked in at Shingle Creek Park in North Minneapolis to watch some of the Twin Cities best young football prospects in 2028 and 2029 classes ball out on a fantastic Tuesday night. As a side note, the Panthers are also nationally ranked amongst the top 25 best teams in the nation via D1 Nation’s National Top 25 rankings and are the only team from Minnesota on that list. As an FYI, that not all the top prospects were in attendance at yesterday’s practice at Shingle Creek Park, but there was a handful we accumulated notes on that have plenty of potential to show off over the next several years in the Twin Cities.
FYI, to disregard the heights on the evaluations.
Dashanti Wiley
Dashanti Wiley
Dashanti was the first prospect that popped onto my radar in the early part of practice, and I was shocked to find out later that he was one of the only 2029 prospects on the roster, as he played with some instinctive ability coming off the edge. It started with his sizeable first step, as he churned into the backfield constantly throughout practice. What else did I like about Dashanti? He showed a good pad level on his reps and kept his hands level. He labels himself as a linebacker, but I saw on Tuesday that this kid has a bright future as an edge rusher from the defensive end spot with his length and great size for his age. I also like the accountability for his teammates he showed last night in the last bit of practice in Minneapolis.
Alpha Meaway
Alpha Meaway
Alpha lined up as a defensive back and getting to watch him in the later portion of practice, you can see that upside that is there with this youngster. Watching his feet work with his back-pedal was intriguing to watch in the late going, and he showed versatility at his position by covering a sizeable zone with his mobile steps. He also shows good length in his arms at a young age, and you can tell shows great coachability, which will certainly impact his future with the game of football.
Jakhi Castile
Jakhi Castile
Jakhi was one of the smallest kids at the Minnesota Panthers practice, but the agility this young man showed at an early age was something to watch! What else I liked about Jakhi is how he showed off that agility. He didn’t just bust to the outside like you commonly see in young running backs; he was able to maneuver thru some tight inside angles with that significant change of direction. He also showed another skill set as a pass-catcher with solid hands. With some growth I am certainly coming his way, Jakhi will be another Minnesota Panthers prospect I will be tracking over the next several years.
Tre Moore III
Tre Moore III
I might add that Tre was QB1 for the Minnesota Panthers and was an elusive one. Tre showed great athleticism even in the early reps by he showed good flexibility in his hips and an ample change of direction. I didn’t get enough reps to evaluate his passing ability yet, but checking out a Minnesota Panthers game this fall will get me a stronger evaluation of Tre. Stay tuned.
Larry Smith Jr.
Larry Smith Jr.
Coach’s Take on Larry Smith Jr:
“Larry’s best skill sets are his strength, power, and explosiveness all over the field from both the linebacker and strong safety spots. He can be considered our “team enforcer” and the team’s heartbeat wherever he lines up on the football field. Larry also starts at running back in the power set and plays some wide receiver when we operate out of the spread.”
Rodney Pierce-Tyler
Rodney Pierce-Tyler
Coach’s Take on Rodney Pierce-Tyler Jr:
“Rodney is the X-Factor, which is the award he has won year after year. He is the Panther’s swiss-army knife that can play any position on the field to the offensive and defensive side of the ball. Starts as our wide receiver and tight end. Best blocking skill player we have on our roster. We can put him on the offensive line, and he will continue to dominate. Defensively, Rodney will play any spot, as well, and will also guard the other team’s biggest receiver and show off his speed to stick to them like glue. He is strong, long, athletic, and has great speed.”
DeJahn Wiley Jr.
DeJahn Wiley Jr.
Coach’s Take on DeJahn Wiley Jr:
“DeJahn is a strong kid, that has a high football IQ and is a solid player. He is also very coachable. Leader of the offensive line and defensive lines. He has the versatility to play anywhere on both lines. This year he will start at the Center position and will call the shots so the rest of the offensive line can see what he sees.”
Tayshawn Fletcher
Tayshawn Fletcher
Coach’s Take on Tayshawn Fletcher:
“We call him Mr. Wild Card on our roster and is another prospect that can play most spots on both the offensive and defensive lines. If you need a kid to give you a strong start, Tayshawn is your guy. Tayshawn plays the game of football with a lot of heart and has a motor that doesn’t quit running. He also is strong, agile, and has mobile footwork.”
Michael Smith
Michael Smith
Coach’s Take on Michael Smith:
“Big Mike has come a long way and has been with us since the 5th grade. He’s a big strong kid with heavy hands. He comes out and works hard when he’s on the football field. He is starting a new position and will be our nose guard so he can go straight up the middle and disrupt the offense.”