Nate’s Big Dogs of the Game: Rocori Spartans

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>MONTICELLO--</strong> We turn our focus to the <strong>Rocori Spartans</strong> and take a look at seven of their Big Dogs of the Game in their section final win over the Becker Bulldogs. <strong>Note:</strong> To the college coaches out here, this Rocori Spartans is<strong> LOADED </strong>to a T, with plenty of 2023 hidden gems that are more than ready to go to work on Saturdays next year in 2023.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='392565' first='Blake' last='Tylutki'], LB, Rocori (2023)</strong> <a href="https://twitter.com/BlakeTylutki" data-type="URL" data-id="https://twitter.com/BlakeTylutki">Twitter </a>&amp; <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/12498613/6359369064decd0dc0d24ce2" data-type="URL" data-id="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/12498613/6359369064decd0dc0d24ce2">Tape</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":508937,"width":334,"height":219,"sizeSlug":"full","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/07/Blake-rotated-crop-480x316-1668043655.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-508937" width="334" height="219" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Blake had one of the biggest hits I saw from either roster last Friday night as he was left untouched by the Bulldog's offensive line and went into the backfield untouched for a smashing hit. Even when forced with contact, Blake showed off this summer, and on Friday night how tight of an angle he can work with to gauge into his visionary instincts to become an efficient run-stopper for the Spartans. Blake does not yet have an offer, and I certainly think he is due for one soon as the season wraps up.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Grady Minnerath, DL, Rocori (2024)</strong> <a href="https://twitter.com/GradyMinny" data-type="URL" data-id="https://twitter.com/GradyMinny">Twitter</a> &amp; <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/12235628/634a3749c11b430b9cbecb19" data-type="URL" data-id="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/12235628/634a3749c11b430b9cbecb19">Tape</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Grady was another prospect that I evaluated over the summer and the gains he has made with his upside from then to what I saw last Friday night speaks volumes about his game in the trenches for the Spartans. He logged several tackles, especially in the second and third quarters that really shut down the fluent rushing attack that the Bulldogs came in with. He shows off some heavy hands with sound fluidity in his punch to get into those problem areas for the offense and I think developing even more on his speed off the snap in the coming year will take his game even further from a development standpoint.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='313236' first='Gabe' last='Johnson'], WR, Rocori (2023)</strong> <a href="https://twitter.com/Gabe_johnson23" data-type="URL" data-id="https://twitter.com/Gabe_johnson23">Twitter</a> &amp; <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/12747353/61e6fe185b476e0d007c99a5" data-type="URL" data-id="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/12747353/61e6fe185b476e0d007c99a5">Tape</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":508945,"width":347,"height":227,"sizeSlug":"full","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/11/Gabe-Johnson2-crop-480x316-1668043719.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-508945" width="347" height="227" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>From what I can remember from the CMFA Defensive Camp this summer, Gabe was one of the speedsters (the Spartans have plenty of it, however) that heavily caught my eye, and last Friday night he had the same mentality to his game. His versatility for the Spartan's offense was what stuck out as a slot back that can be an eruption in the backfield as well as I loved watching his hands go to work with his route-running ability on the short and intermediate routes. He is not the biggest back you will see out there, but his agility with his footwork makes me believe he could be another sleeper in the 2023 class than another Spartan still looking for his first opportunity at the next level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='295821' first='Jack' last='Spanier'], QB, Rocori (2023)</strong> <a href="https://twitter.com/SpanierJack" data-type="URL" data-id="https://twitter.com/SpanierJack">Twitter</a> &amp; <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/12533768/6186dce24205bd07fc8f2340" data-type="URL" data-id="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/12533768/6186dce24205bd07fc8f2340">Tape</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":508951,"width":359,"height":236,"sizeSlug":"full","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/11/Jack-Spanier-rotated-crop-480x316-1668043772.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-508951" width="359" height="236" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jack showed out to me just how competitive his arm strength and accuracy is last Friday night. He has the fire to it to make his throws with tons of strength on all three levels of the football field and there is a ton to like with his ball, especially on his intermediate routes which were his bread and butter against the Spartans. Although he has a lack of tape available from this 2022 season the Warriors down in Winona made a great choice in offering this young man and I would be remiss to not think that other NSIC programs won't get into the mix here toward the end of the season as Jack's mobility to make throws on the run also position his game well when we look at the Division II level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Andy Pedroza, DB, Rocori (2024)</strong> <a href="https://twitter.com/AndyPedroza12" data-type="URL" data-id="https://twitter.com/AndyPedroza12">Twitter </a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":507761,"width":379,"height":249,"sizeSlug":"full","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/11/Andy-Pedroza-crop-480x316-1667970499.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-507761" width="379" height="249" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Andy was the hometown hero of Cold Spring on Friday night against the Becker Bulldogs as his defensive efforts in clutch moments of the game sealed the deal for another trip for James Herberg's bunch to punch their ticket to the state tournament. He had an interception in the middle of the game in which I got to watch this first-look 2024 DB prospect for the first time, in which he showed instinctive placement with his footwork as a right place, right time type of player for the Spartans secondary. His pass break up in the corner of the end zone when the Bulldogs went for two to tie, will be a moment this young man will remember for the rest of his life. What is even better about this unknown DB prospect from Cold Spring? He is not even listed on the Spartans Hudl roster yet, which makes this evaluation even better, as we at PRZ Minnesota have found another hidden gem from this Rocori Spartans bunch.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='242378' first='Will' last='Steil'], DB, Rocori (2024)</strong> <a href="https://twitter.com/will_steil25" data-type="URL" data-id="https://twitter.com/will_steil25">Twitter</a> &amp; <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2GKTne" data-type="URL" data-id="http://www.hudl.com/v/2GKTne">Tape</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This may start to sound repetitive, but being that I watched a ton of these Rocori players this summer at their hosted CMFA Defensive Camp, Rocori 2024 cornerback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='242378' first='Will' last='Steil']</strong> is another that showed substantial growth with his on-ball instincts last Friday night against Becker. Will showed off that sizeable long reach and quick twitch in adjusting his body to the ball coming his way which caused the Bulldogs to not open up their passing game in his direction nearly as much as they probably wanted to due to Will and <strong>Andy Pedroza</strong> back there in the Spartans secondary. I also liked watching Will's developed change of direction from last summer, as he can turn on a dime to cause some havoc to the next level of the field when needed in the Spartan's rush defense. Will is a top-40 prospect in our class of 2024, so expect this young man to keep growing his game during the playoffs and into the 2023 season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Hunter Nistler, WR, Rocori (2023)</strong> <a href="https://twitter.com/HunterNistler" data-type="URL" data-id="https://twitter.com/HunterNistler">Twitter</a> &amp; <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2EdhM8" data-type="URL" data-id="http://www.hudl.com/v/2EdhM8">Tape</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":508953,"width":376,"height":247,"sizeSlug":"full","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/11/Hunter-Nistler2-rotated-crop-480x316-1668043899.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-508953" width="376" height="247" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hunter wasted zero time making his mark in the section final on Friday night for the Rocori Spartans. Hunter had two first-quarter touchdowns (not a typo) and filled up the state sheet in a multitude of ways. His first touchdown from Spanier showed off some athletic skillsets to get the Spartans their first early run on the Bulldogs. If you haven't found out by now, I love versatility in football prospects as you have to be one in my eyes to play at a high level in a state like Minnesota and Hunter showed that on his second touchdown for sure. He showed a significant football IQ on his 18-yard sprint off the edge of the field and had the Becker defense fooled with the RPO on who had the football which in the end, it was discovered way too late that it was <strong>Hunter Nistler</strong>. Are you looking for one of the fastest UTR 2023 athletes in Central Minnesota, college coaches? If so, watch Hunter in a live-game setting as he certainly will pass your eye test. Hunter is another offer-less Spartan, as I am starting to think despite winning the Prep Bowl in 2019, they still are WAY too slept for college programs that recruit this part of Minnesota.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->