Nate's Big Dogs of the Game: SMB Wolfpack

HOPKINS-- We focus on the SMB Wolfpack in our Prep Redzone Minnesota Game of the Week for Week 4. Although they just got edged out by the Minneapolis North Polars, there is certainly a ton of talent on this roster, especially from what I watched on the defensive side of the ball. In my eyes, the Wolfpack has not one but TWO Division I level defensive ends, and I really like how this defense graded out when watching their tape from Friday night's home game against Minneapolis North. Take a look at the five Big Dogs of the Game from the Wolfpack!   [player_tooltip player_id='242385' first='Landon' last='Dillon'], RB, SMB (2024)   <ul><li>In my first live evaluation of Landon, I loved watching this young man's bull-down running ability. He showed excellent durability in getting yards after contact putting his 6'1 225-pound frame to the test.</li><li>I love watching Landon's work ethic show off on every rep he gets, as he has a blue-collar ability to fight his tail off for every yard he can get inside, and sometimes it takes an army to get this young man to the turf.</li><li>He also shows much more agile footwork than you would expect in his frame, as he has plenty of room to develop this skillset even stronger in the next year and a half he is in the Wolfpack program.</li><li>He has a crafty cutting ability in small windows, as I look for this young man to be a stockriser on our 2024 rankings by season's end.</li></ul>   [player_tooltip player_id='19032' first='Joey' last='Stolpestad'], LB , SMB (2023)   <ul><li>Joey was a tackling machine on Friday night, being one of two Wolfpack that went for double-digit tackles (11) against the Polars.</li><li>He shows off a hefty motor with his start-up, and there is a lot of like about his vision when attacking that inside run as he has very fluid hips that can change directions quickly while in route of a tackle.</li><li>That vision also appears strong in pass coverage, as he has a knack for reading the eyes of the QB and makes his play on the ball before the QB is even aware of his whereabouts on the second level.</li><li>Joey certainly has those sideline-to-sideline instincts you want from the linebacker spot, as he carries great longevity for the duration of the play over his first few weeks of tape. No offers yet, but that midseason tape should certainly draw some attention to next-level college football suitors.</li></ul>   [player_tooltip player_id='242405' first='Grady' last='Rannow'], DB, SMB (2024)   <ul><li>Physicality is always a key trait I look for when evaluating a DB prospect live for the first time, and from what I saw from SMB DB [player_tooltip player_id='242405' first='Grady' last='Rannow'] on Friday night, he showed off a ton of that consistently against Minneapolis North.</li><li>Grady also showed off a good trigger when coming out of stance up into the next level of the field, and I see some development of making that snap reactive instinct even faster.</li><li>He shows off fluid footwork in his backpedal, and I am sure in heavier passing situations on intermediate routes, that footwork churns out smooth with his ball-tracking ability that we have seen on tape.</li><li>This 6'1 190 pounder shows a competitive mix on his midseason tape with his ability to climb into the next level to assist in the run game with an always stout punch on the ball carrier. I love his quick bump and run move on an interception he had earlier in the year, would love to see more of it! </li></ul>   [player_tooltip player_id='441518' first='Dane' last='Borene'], DL./TE, SMB (2024)   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/09/Dane-Borene-rotated-crop-480x316-1664251565.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-458640" width="332" height="218"/></figure>   <ul><li>The soft hands Dane has in his shedding ability are fun to watch as he has a quick get-off to set the tone for getting into the backfield.</li><li>Watching Dane shoot inside the open gaps and show off his versatile motor with his strength in the trenches is a sign that you might not want to leave this young man unblocked while entering the backfield.</li><li>His awareness was also key on Friday night, as he logged four sacks in his game against Minneapolis North and showed off a lot of mobility in his 6'5 235 pound frame to find the ball carrier with ease as his ability to maneuver with his agility in small windows paved the way to a HUGE game in Week 4.</li><li>Dane sure as heck looks like a Division I prospect in my eyes, and I cannot wait for this young man to grow on his recruiting trail for the rest of the season and prospect camps this summer to show all the tools he brings to the table at the next level. High academic prospect with great character as well.</li></ul>   [player_tooltip player_id='242417' first='Trent' last='Page'], DL/TE, SMB (2024)   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/09/Trent-PAge-rotated-crop-480x316-1664251603.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-458642" width="331" height="217"/></figure>   <ul><li>Trent was an MVP at our showcase last winter in Minnetonka, and based on my first looks from Friday night, he has turned it up quite a few more notches since last winter.</li><li>The added finesse that Trent plays with is just eye-catching to watch, as his change of direction has seen much growth from my last live evaluation of him as he's not just quicker off his first step, he's become more agile by using his frame and twitch to a higher regard.</li><li>His gauge of awareness has also grown as that long frame Trent possesses allows him to react to the ball carrier that might be out of reach for the shorter lengthed defensive end out there.</li><li>My gut tells me Trent will be one of a few prospects I have evaluated that I likely will run out of adjectives to describe his game, character, etc., by his senior season. However, when that has been the case in my five years with PRZ, there's usually a sign that that particular prospect grades out as a Division I prospect, which checks out with Trent on and off the field for sure!</li></ul>

HOPKINS-- We focus on the SMB Wolfpack in our Prep Redzone Minnesota Game of the Week for Week 4. Although they just got edged out by the Minneapolis North Polars, there is certainly a ton of talent on this roster, especially from what I watched on the defensive side of the ball. In my eyes, the Wolfpack has not one but TWO Division I level defensive ends, and I really like how this defense graded out when watching their tape from Friday night's home game against Minneapolis North. Take a look at the five Big Dogs of the Game from the Wolfpack!