Prep Redzone Dakotas Showcase Gamechangers: The Gunslingers

This content series is sponsored by GameChanger- The Official Scorekeeping, Stats, Team Management & Technology Partner of Prep Redzone.

Why not start out with the position that makes the game of football change the most? We are talking about the Gunslingers that dominated at the Prep Redzone Dakotas Showcase this weekend in Aberdeen, South Dakota. These seven gunslingers showed off plenty of skillsets that made them blossom in one of the most important positions in the game of football. From the poise they showed in the pocket, to the character they show inside and outside of the playing field, these seven QB standouts from the Dakotas Showcase made some noise and I will say it- you will see all of them playing on Saturdays in the near future which shows off the depth this position group brought to our Prep Redzone Dakotas Showcase.

Jack Thue Jack Thue 6'2" | 185 lbs | QB Brandon Valley | 2024 State SD , Quarterback, Brandon Valley (SD) 2024

Jack showed off a common skillset I have seen over the last few years scouting quarterbacks for the Brandon Valley Lynx, as the demeanor he brought to the Prep Redzone Dakotas Showcase was just smooth to watch and evaluate as I was very was intrigued with his ball placement especially on his intermediate routes as that precision came out with a strong throttle of arm strength as Jack hit his receivers with fluid precision on the handful of reps I got to watch. He also showed some developing touch as the future QB1 of the Lynx and can do a lot with the football with his rhythm with his smart IQ steps with his footwork. We evaluated him as a second teamer to our All-Camp Team however he could certainly be a 1st team QB1 by our Spring Showcase while getting more reps throwing the ball this offseason playing with Bauer's Elite 7v7 this spring.

troy kneeland troy kneeland 6'1" | 175 lbs | QB Waverly-South Shore | 2023 , Quarterback, Waverly-South Shore (SD) 2023

Watching Troy's mobility with his eyes struck a chord with me at our Prep Redzone Dakotas showcase this weekend. He does a great job of not overselling where he's going with the football, as he keeps his options open with a light focus of zoning in on just one receiver. He carries favorable mobility when he has to throw outside of the pocket and when he leaves it, he uses his strong football IQ to get the yards he needs without overextending his welcome on the insides of the field. A development for Troy to work on this offseason would be improving his footwork when throwing from the run, as he could set up his ball with more zip and touch by working on his balance. Troy should be be a nice local NAIA pickup at quarterback at the next-level and was a third team All-Camp Team quarterback this weekend.

Jett Lundeen Jett Lundeen 6'0" | QB Minot Bishop Ryan | 2025 State ND , Quarterback, Minot Bishop Ryan (ND) 2025

Jett was a first team All-Camp Team quarterback and battled hard for that MVP spot and I would consider him our runner-up for QB MVP. What do I love about Jett? He's got two more seasons under his belt to keep developing as he set a high-ceiling at our Prep Redzone Dakotas showcase in our 2024 class. Jett threw the ball on Sunday in Aberdeen with a ton of grit as to me, he looks like a QB that can make the throws on all three levels of the field. The touch ball this young man threw on Sunday dropped steadily into the WRs hands was a site to watch live as his ability to change his throw speed at his age is certainly something to watch grow even stronger in his future over the next two seasons. His mechanics are super smooth and he has a quick trigger on his tape to get out of high traffic areas and still use that arm of his to make a polished throw on the run. Look for Jett to be one of the top QBs in our 2025 class when the rankings come out over the next several weeks.

Ian Beyers Ian Beyers 5'11" | QB Ipswich | 2023 State , Quarterback, Ipswich (SD) 2023

Ian was a name I was intrigued to see on our sign up list for our Prep Redzone Dakotas Showcase, as his Head Coach at Ipswich has sent his name in for our in season weekly Big Dogs of the Week several times during the 2022 season. Watching Ian's accelerated pace on his reps was intriguing to watch on Sunday in Aberdeen as his seemed faster out the gates than most of the QBs at our Dakotas showcase. What I loved is that pace did not affect his mechanics from what I watched, as Ian showed a quick release and a tight spiral thru watching the few reps I caught from him. He also showed off some good twitch in the shuttle drill with his change of direction. I certainly think Ian could be a diamond in the rough-small school prospect to several programs across the Dakotas as he won't have to accelerate his tempo as much with a stouter offensive line at the college level. Would love to see more tape out of Ian from the 2022 season with the BIG numbers he put up for the Ipswich Tigers this fall.

Tray Hettick Tray Hettick 6'2" | 190 lbs | QB Herreid/Selby Area | 2023 State , Quarterback, Herreid-Selby (SD) 2023

My fellow PRZ scout and I believe there is a sizeable ceiling for Tray at the college level. We saw it in his footwork on Sunday afternoon, as the angles of his feet show a lot of purity in his athleticsm when he fires that ball out of his arm and his durability from his stance show pivots to where he can take his game. Tray showed that superb throwing velocity I have seen for a couple years now, and saw in the 9B state championshp game this fall. He has outstanding activity in his footwork that you won't see on a 40 yard dash time to get out of trouble in some tight areas with his 6'2 195 pound frame. Another QB on this list that is a three-level passer that can make a lot of noise with his throwing accuracy on the move and inside the pocket with a quick release. I also LOVE Tray's character on and off the field as he certainly is one with that grade A+ character college programs will fall in love with in the locker room and in the community. He's one of those quarterbacks that can thread the neddle with his ball placement and precisely throw that ball where only his Wolverines reciever can get it with his high football IQ. In my eyes, Tray is way too under the radar, and is a QB I would love to watch in the NSIC over the next handful of years as I believe that is where is his ceiling hits at with all the skillsets he has in his game. It is wild to me he just has one NAIA offer to his resume, as I hope to see more programs get involved post showcase for his talents at the next level. Tray by far was the best QB in the building on Sunday, and was named our QB MVP in Aberdeen.

Paxton Ystaas Paxton Ystaas 6'0" | 175 lbs | QB Des Lacs-Burlington | 2024 State ND , Quarterback, Des Lacs-Burlington (ND) 2024

I got the chance to watch Paxton at the Minot State prospect camp this summer and it was intriguing to see his athleticsm in the early going of the Prep Redzone Dakotas Showcase really pop off since seeing him in action this summer. Watching him in 1v1s, Paxton showed a growing launch angle with his throwing ability as I believe his arm depth has as well gotten deeper as he's added some strength to his upper body since that Minot camp this summer. Going into his junior tape, Paxton does a sound job still keeping his precision from throwing on the run as I believe again, that strength has improved as he's gotten a full year under his belt as the QB1 for the Des Lacs-Burlington Lakers. I certainly have Paxton listed a probable stockriser in next week's 2024 class rankings update for the Dakotas. I can't wait to see what an offseason in the weight room can do for this young man!

Trey Maaland Trey Maaland QB Deuel | 2024 State SD , Quarterback, Deuel (SD) 2024

Trey put up some excellent testing numbers especially in the shuttle (4.4) and in the L-Drill (7.19) on Sunday afternoon in Aberdeen. Trey showed off a smoother release from the reps I caught from him at our Prep Redzone Dakotas Showcase and it's easy to see why he's one of the best 2024 athletes in NE South Dakota with his consistent mix of skillsets from watching his tape last season recently. I liked watching his instincts go to work in Aberdeen, as I feel you he will show in his senior season that he will have access to more tools in his passing game than in years past and groom his passing game more in the pocket or on the run. I am a big fan of this young man's precision around the edges with his intermediate routes and I can't wait to watch him extend more throws over the middle of the field in his senior season for the Deuel Cardinals offense.