11AAA Players to watch in the Second Round
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Jack Smith Jack Smith 6'0" | 185 lbs | WR Sioux Falls Lincoln | 2024 State SD – WR, Sioux Falls Lincoln Smith has been a key player for the Patriot’s offense since the get-go and this will be no…
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Continue ReadingJack Smith Jack Smith 6'0" | 185 lbs | WR Sioux Falls Lincoln | 2024 State SD – WR, Sioux Falls Lincoln
Smith has been a key player for the Patriot’s offense since the get-go and this will be no different when he will be called upon to be an elite weapon in the passing game. He has the ability to explode in just about anywhere on the line which makes him very versatile and a piece that will be needed for his team. He will be the X-Factor in the passing game without a doubt since he is one of the most explosive wideouts on his team, where he can generate offense on his own accord and allow him to take over a game. Sioux Falls Lincoln will be looking for him to be the offensive piece to get them over their cross-town rival and with the performances that he has had this year, look for Smith to have a big game on the night.
Nelson Wright Nelson Wright 5'9" | 200 lbs | RB Sioux Falls Jefferson | 2023 State – RB, Sioux Falls Jefferson
Wright has been a key piece in the running game that has been one of the most dominant in South Dakota this year, and it has been no surprise that he was a key piece to the offense. Wright has been great at both running out of the backfield for some big runs and also catching some passes out of the backfield to be a dual threat. Jefferson has a dynamic offense that can score at what looks like any time and allows them to always be threatening at any time. For setting them up for the most success, they will need to get the running game up and going fast, with their fast QB and their star RB in Wright. He will need to be at the top of his game if they want to make sure they win this game, and establishing himself early will be key.
Dashawn Rohlik Dashawn Rohlik 6'1" | 250 lbs | DL Sioux Falls Jefferson | 2024 State SD – DE, Sioux Falls Jefferson
The defensive unit that Jefferson has put out has been one of the top and one of the pieces that have made that happen every single game is Rohlik. What Rohlik brings to the table as a player is someone who can rush the QB at a very high level and can bring constant pressure to the QB, always making work to make any pass, not a hard one to make. He really seems to excel at tracking down and making sure mobile QBs do not get out of the pocket and giving them any room to run, making him invaluable to shutting down offenses. With the challenging offense that they will be going against, they will need Rohlik and his pass-rushing ability to win this game, watch out for him to make a big impact.
Nate Ratzlaff Nate Ratzlaff 6'3" | 215 lbs | LB Sioux Falls O'Gorman | 2023 State – MLB, Sioux Falls O’Gorman
Ratzlaff can shift the game for his team in so many different ways, no matter if that is causing a fumble or laying down a big hit, the Knights will be looking to them to be a major defensive presence. Ratzlaff is a versatile MLB who can play some top shutdown coverage that shuts down the passing game early and then can come in to be an elite run-stopper. His ability to play stop both sides of the offensive game makes him a piece that the Knights will need to get into a rhythm early. Watch for him to make some big impact plays, if that is a pick or a deflating fumble, Ratzlaff can truly be a game-changer for his team.
Bennett Dannenbring Bennett Dannenbring 6'2" | 195 lbs | QB SF O'Gorman | 2023 State – QB, Sioux Falls O’Gorman
Dannenbring has been arguably the top QB in Class AAA and he will be called upon to lead his offense when it matters most, and I think he has the right tools to pull off the upsets. Dannenbring is a true escape artist style of a gunslinger who can launch passes down the field to get the offense firing early or take off with his legs at times for a gain. Dannenbring has the ability to shift the field in his favor at any given moment by reading defenses and finding out what the right read to make is. He will need all of this with facing the top team in South Dakota, and while the team in Jefferson that they are facing is the top team, do not sleep on what the Knights and Dannenbring can do when called up to make those big plays and score.
Jack Detert Jack Detert 6'3" | 225 lbs | LB Harrisburg | 2023 State – DE/LB, Harrisburg
Detert will be a player to watch out for in his game as he has been one of the more underrated players who can be an elite defensive player and has not been getting as much coverage as other defensive stars. What I see out of Detert is someone who is selfless on the football field and a great leader off of it, being someone that is great to just have around your team. He works hard on the field and always wants to outwork anyone that he faces, making him deadly to face for that exact reason. He can rush the QB, and is a turnover monster at times, being able to force shift a game into Harrisburg’s favor. Detert will be needed for Harrisburg if they want to win and I see him making a big impact for them.
Tim Bishop Tim Bishop 6'2" | 170 lbs | DB Harrisburg | 2023 State – CB, Harrisburg
Bishop is someone who coaches love to put on the other teams’ best wideout and they tell him to shut them down the entire game, and more often than not, that is exactly what happens. Bishop is someone who plays well in man coverage and gives some serious clamps to any players that he comes up to guard. He is a DB who does not get beat over the top and just does not lose coverage matchups seldom if at all, making him someone that is crucial for his defensive status. Bishop is the top DB in his secondary and for them to make a big impact, they will need him to be the top DB he is and he will be someone to watch in the upcoming playoff games.