2024 Dakotas Rankings Update: Five Small-Town Sleepers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DAKOTAS--</strong> To finish off the content side of our December 2022 Prep Redzone Dakotas 2024 Rankings update, we dive-in to one of my favorite content series as we look at the Dakotas <strong>Small Town Sleepers.</strong> My criteria for our<strong> Small Town Sleepers</strong> is the small town they are from (or multiple towns) needs to be under 5000 people which defines small town America in my opinion and likely everyone elses. Every single one of the five prospects on this list fits that narrative and even better? I feel <strong>ALL</strong> five of them can play at the next level, as I am firmly believe small town America especially in both of the Dakotas since scouting there for PRZ since 2020, has some of the hardest workers with a blue collar work-ethic to match, and these kids are so humble and will be leaders not only in their community and your teams, but get those small towns football fans to pack your college football stadium on Saturdays. Time to dive in!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='447251' first='Caden' last='Hojer'], DL, Oldham-Ramona-Rutland (SD) 2024</strong> <a href="https://mobile.twitter.com/CadenHojer">Twitter </a>&amp; <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2JhJ7x">Tape</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Oldham, SD:</strong> Pop: 133, <strong>Ramona, SD:</strong> Pop: 159, and <strong>Rutland, SD:</strong> Pop: Unincorporated</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Caden shows off a powerful stance with his 6'5 220 pound frame in the trenches and has some fluid instincts with his football IQ to find the football very quickly when bouncing into the backfield.<!-- wp:list --> <ul></ul> <!-- /wp:list --></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Not many prospects lay around Caden's size in 9A, but his power and balance coming off the edge pave together some smooth-looking traits when working from an angle. If he can develop his agility and pop speed off the snap this offseason, there are going to be even more unlucky ball carriers in 9A that won't want to meet this kid in the inside box.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Caden also has some good swift hands to get off blocks and his quick trigger to identify the ball carrier's change of direction paints him a scholarship-level prospect in my eyes. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='316616' first='Tyler' last='Cruchet'], DL, Central Cass (ND) 2024</strong> <a href="https://mobile.twitter.com/tylercruchet35">Twitter</a> &amp; Tape</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":594067,"width":344,"height":225,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/01/Tyler-Cruchet-crop-530x348-1673571214.jpg?w=530" alt="" class="wp-image-594067" width="344" height="225" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Casselton, ND:</strong> Pop: 2479</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Tyler shows off some quite feisty hands as an EDGE rusher for Central Cass, as his motor getting off blocks and showing off sizing physicality to get to the backfield is very intriguing. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>He plays much bigger than his 6'0 215 pound measurables show off as Tyler is a DE prospect that has the athletic stamina to get sideline to sideline to run down a ball carrier which is a skillset not as commonly seen on tape from defensive linemen, as he plays more like a linebacker in some scenarios from what I have seen on tape.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>And don't think for a second that this kid can't send out that physicality on the offensive side of the ball either-as Tyler's pad level and finish as a pulling guard shows a fluid amount of grittiness. Regardless of where he lines up on the field, the aptitude Tyler shows is destined to play at the next level, and I believe he will be one that will flourish at Dakota school's prospect camps. Looks like a D2 ceiling in my eyes.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='447257' first='Rayce' last='Worley'], QB, Langdon Area (ND) 2024</strong> <a href="https://mobile.twitter.com/Rayce57855817">Twitter</a> &amp; <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2JdetE">Tape</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Langdon, ND</strong>: Pop: 1909-just 20 minutes from the Canadian border.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>It has been about three years since we evaluated a quarterback with the next-level promise from the Langdon Area Cardinals in UND quarterback <strong>Simon Romfo</strong>, but watching the tape on 2024 QB [player_tooltip player_id='447257' first='Rayce' last='Worley'] sure as heck shows a herd of upside for playing on Saturdays.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Rayce shows off some excellent deep ball arm strength and seals the deal for me with the precision of his throws to allow his wide receivers to go chase it, throwing in the open field with his prime accuracy.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Where Rayce can develop is on his touch ball when he has to escape the pocket and throw on the run; however, he has all offseason to develop more skill with that heading into prospect camps. You can certainly tell from a chemistry perspective how much trust this kid has with his fellow Cardinals wide receivers, as he's a QB prospect that can thread the needle over the secondary head in higher traffic areas and get it done with his release point. He also has the next-level size college football programs are looking for in the QB position at 6'3, which will interest D2 and FCS schools a ton. I am excited to see this kid stand out at prospect camps this summer.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='294171' first='Isaac' last='Nehlich'], DL, Tri Valley (SD) 2024</strong> <a href="https://mobile.twitter.com/IsaacNehlich">Twitter</a> &amp; <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2Jc1rr">Tape</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Colton, SD:</strong> Pop: 738</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Isaac can be described as a clogger, especially with the consistency on tape, as he does a solid job plugging up the A and B gaps as the first one to initiate contact in the backfield.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>He also gets well-balanced leverage, and I love watching his tape when he attacks the ball well under the pads of the offensive line, which shows off the dexterity in Isaac's 6'0 250 pound frame.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Isaac is another prospect on this list that will likely develop this offseason by getting a swifter trigger off the snap, although the fluidity he has with his motor show off to me that Tri-Valley will have yet another defensive lineman playing at the next level in the near future, this young man has some growing potential we hope to see hit the prospect camp circuit this summer.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='105499' first='Carson' last='Leonhardt'], Fauklton (SD) 2024</strong> <a href="https://twitter.com/CarsonLeonhard5">Twitter</a> &amp; <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2JPkqa">Tape</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Faulkton, SD:</strong> Pop: 826</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Carson was one of the first prospects added to my 2024 radar a couple of years ago, and year after year, I get more fascinated with how efficient this kid is in the trenches with his finishing ability and well-balanced leverage.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>He has a MASSIVE well ran motor on both sides of the ball and is another 5'9 OL/DL prospect on our 2024 rankings in the back-to-back article that speaks to me that it is not always about the measurables, as the overall fight in this kid speaks loud volumes on tape. I also feel you can add to this kid's size</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>The biggest development I see for Carson is his footwork in my eyes, as he has solid speed off the snap to barrel over the defender, but I think there is juice left in the tank to be seen with even more developed foot speed by working his agility this offseason. Looks like another prospect you will see on Saturdays in the future, as the fight on both sides of the ball with the skillsets would put Carson on my roster if I was a college recruiter.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list -->