2023 Dakotas Rankings Update: The Stockrisers, Part I
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DAKOTAS– In what is our last Prep Redzone Dakotas 2023 rankings update ever on the site, we really will hit the gas pedal hard with the content you will see over the next week or so as this class has…
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Continue ReadingDAKOTAS– In what is our last Prep Redzone Dakotas 2023 rankings update ever on the site, we really will hit the gas pedal hard with the content you will see over the next week or so as this class has so many deserving seniors that have the skillsets to play at the next level and our team at Prep Redzone Dakotas want that to happen. Almost every stockriser on this list, minus two, is uncommitted, so this gives those college coaches plenty of ammo as far as evaluations go to get the ball rolling even harder before February’s National Signing Day. This list of Stockrisers dishes out 10 prospects that moved up heavily on our rankings, and ALL of them have the stock and skillsets to play at the next level!
Sawyer Huntimer Sawyer Huntimer 6'1" | 260 lbs | OL SF Jefferson | 2023 State , OL, Sioux Falls Jefferson (SD) 2023
- Sawyer looks to be the biggest stockriser on this list, as he’s improved so much with his balance and pad level from the last time I looked at his tape at the guard spot for the Cavaliers.
- He is not one you want to meet as a pulling guard, as the physicality he shows off getting to the outside (especially his right side) has some massive punch, and Sawyer will keep engagin/g until that whistle blows, which is something I look for a ton when evaluating the OL position. I even believe he has more juice left in the tank to jack up his physicality and finish even more once he gets on campus next year.
- I can assure Sawyer’s rank from our last update is due to some oversight, but regardless, he jumps up over 100 spots to #69 overall. Has picked up a handful of D2 offers in December and could see more by National Signing Day, as he’s certainly a great fit for the D2 level.
Dylan Elrod Dylan Elrod QB Harrisburg | 2023 State , QB, Harrisburg (SD) 2023
- I love Dylan’s smooth, quick release, especially on the run with his intermediate routes, as his mechanics show off some excellent rhythm. He is also just as fluid in the pocket, showing off a QB that can fire-pop right into the bucket of his wide receivers, and his precision consistently lies right on the money.
- Dylan also shows off good instincts with his legs, as when his pocket begins to collapse, he shows great recognition of it and can take with good change of direction, especially in the inside of the field, and make waves up the field with his legs.
- It is quite baffling to me that this young man broke two school records held by a now Big Ten quarterback and still does not have an offer yet. If I were a Division II coach, this kid would be an absolute STEAL to get on campus to play on Saturdays, as he has a huge ceiling to play at that level. Up a whopping 53 spots from our last 2023 update, got to get after this kid before NSD!
Hunter Abraham Hunter Abraham 6'0" | 150 lbs | LB Garretson | 2023 State , LB, Garretson (SD) 2023 Tape & Twitter
- I got to scout Hunter live last year at the Jamestown Jimmies prospect camp, and then as well as now, believe that Hunter has some sneaky instinctive traits in his game at the linebacker spot that is just getting unleashed and could thrive with development at the next level.
- Hunter is a two-way prospect that I believe his best-fit looks like from the linebacker spot however could move into the safety spot at the next level with that sideline-to-sideline radius and solid size he brings to the Blue Dragons’ defense.
- Up 20 spots from our last 2023 update, as Hunter picked up 3 more offers in December; several schools are starting to see the growth this kid could make playing on Saturdays, as there are a lot of untapped upside showing up on tape.
Gavin Stotts Gavin Stotts DL Pierre | 2023 State , LB/OL, Pierre TF Riggs (SD) 2023 Tape & Twitter
- I love watching Gavin’s progressing momentum with his crashing ability right up the A-gap, as his motor and physicality is not one you want to meet in the backfield, as he logged 130+ tackles in his senior season for the Govs.
- This young man has a straight-up bulldog mentality, as he carries so much force with his physicality presence that he can run thru a skilled player that is in his way of the ball carrier with all his strength and certainly plays way bigger than the 5’11 210 pound measurables he has on his plate. Gavin also has a lengthy area he can cover and can be certainly described as a sideline-to-sideline ballhawk of a middle linebacker that should be damaging at the next level.
- Up 60+ spots from our last rankings update (la, and somehow with all that motor and big-time physicality, he has one offer to his resume so far. Gavin is a linebacker I would make a priority before the upcoming National Signing Day. One of several Govs that are somehow under the radar at the next level.
Josh Mussi Josh Mussi 6'4" | K Deuel | 2023 State , TE, Deuel (SD) 2023 Twitter & Tape
- I have to say it is hard to believe this young man with his legit 6’4 210 pound TE frame doesn’t have an offer yet, as Josh has durable hands, and I see a blast of development at the next level with growing up his game time speed he has into something even bigger especially in the open field when he has space available as there are plenty of glimpses of seeing it on various of his game tapes this season.
- In his game tape against Redfield this season, Josh showed off some strong physicality within those hands of his by shoving his defender with good balance into the second level of the field. On the same tape, he showed off how well he can punch from an angle, opening a big gapping hole for his ball carrier to run thru
- I would 100% have Josh on my college football radar if I was recruiting South Dakota, as I believe he’s a hidden gem out of the Deuel Cardinals and needs an opportunity to prove it with his big upside. Jumps up 11 spots in our last 2023 rankings.
Emanuel Spiyee Emanuel Spiyee 6'1" | 170 lbs | DB Fargo South | 2023 State , WR/DB, Fargo South (ND) 2023 Twitter & Tape
- Big fan of the launching vertical this young man has in the air when going for the football as his timing of the jump shows off good balance and awareness within his timing and has some solid hands in the air. Also, adding a 6’1 size to it makes his WR tape a fun one to watch.
- Emanuel has jumping instincts from the defensive back spot, as from my live evaluation of him this season in Fargo, he showed a flowing change of direction to crash into the ball carrier hard, coming off the edge to help out from the cornerback spot. Certainly, a WR you can depend on to adjust to the ball’s trajectory even if it is slightly offline.
- Emanuel moves inside our top 160 prospects in the Dakotas, as he’s picked up his first NAIA offer here recently in which I bet there are more offers to come his way with all those great ball skills he has, especially as a projected WR at the next level.
Landon Iverson Landon Iverson ATH Hot Springs | 2023 State , ATH, Hot Springs (SD) 2023 Tape & Twitter
- He does a great job with his patience at running back and has persistent vision via that inside box, but once he hits the open field, the gas hits the pedal hard with a flying burst.
- Landon shows off a ton of elusive traits getting out of traffic areas with the firm agility with a significant twitch within his change of direction. Regardless of which side of the field he’s on, Landon is a bonified work-horse that you can tell has a great work ethic in his DNA, as I love his instincts at work from the linebacker spot as you can tell he’s a grinder of the tape by visualizing into the backfield where the ball carrier is headed.
- Landon moves up 47 spots to #162 overall as this Dakota Wesleyan football commit IMO will be a steal for the Tigers with his already chiseled 5’5 175 pound frame.
Armani Smith Armani Smith 6'1" | 230 lbs | DL Beulah | 2023 State , DL, Beulah (ND) 2023 Tape
- This is another defensive end I would be offering or building a relationship with before National Signing Day, as I am quite impressed with the strength in Armani’s hands to get off his blocks and become a menace in the backfield. He can also cover a significant range for his 6’1 230 pound frame to pull off, get to the other side of the inside box, and make a physical tackle on the ball carrier.
- Armani also has a well-polished stance that sets him up well from the jump at the start of the play. I love this kid’s consistent field vision that just has built up his football IQ to work his angle to the ball and get there with his sizeable motor.
- Another prospect with no offers yet that we can track here at PRZ Dakotas, Armani moves up 12 spots to #173 overall and fits in well as a small school prospect, especially in the Northstar Conference.
Eli Fogel Eli Fogel ATH Gregory | 2023 State , ATH, Gregory (SD) 2023 Twitter & Tape
- Eli turned in a high impression during the Gregory Gorillas state championship game on both ends of the field, as he showed off a quick release point as an undersized defensive end that can cause some havoc in the backfield with his big physical motor.
- He shows off some dedicated awareness when making his move into the backfield, as his glowing twitch that allows him to show off some significantly quick shedding ability-certainly knows how to work his angles to the ball to his advantage. He also has a mouthful of physicality with his contact with the ball carrier and can be described as a three-level swiss-army knife on all sides of the ball as
- Eli moves up 9 spots from #183 to #174 in our rankings, and I have to say it, this is a kid if I was an NAIA school, I would be offering before signing day, as at this time, he surprisingly has no offers we have tracked. Eli could be a solid edge rusher or linebacker at the next level with some added frame in a college weight room.
Matthew Birkeland Matthew Birkeland ATH Jones County | 2023 State , ATH, Jones County (SD) 2023 Twitter & Tape
- He shows off a ton of fluidity with his burst as he can flip his motor on quickly within the first few years running out of the high-traffic areas with plenty of sneaky long-distance speed to unleash.
- There is a bunch to like about Matthew’s balance and vision when he presses on the outside of the football field, as he showed determined awareness and great bounce off of initial contact from the defender. Also shows a good twitch with his patient change od direction.
- The Dakota State football commit moves up exactly 60 spots in our 2023 rankings, putting himself just outside our top 170 overall in the Dakotas, which is a solid spot for this NAIA commit.