Dakotas 2024 Players to Watch (Defense)

Back at it again with the Class of 2024. Switching over to the defensive side now. Going through this list I just realized how many of our rankings are good defensive players. With that being said, I slid down the kist a ways to get the lower ranked kids some views as well. The goal of this article is exactly that, get kids noticed and on some schools radar. These kids' Senior Seasons are upon them and now is a great time to hit the recruiting trail.   [player_tooltip player_id='473978' first='Spencer' last='Skjonsberg'] (DB)- Pierre TF Riggs, <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2K0BVX">Highlights</a>   Skjonsberg received a few snaps at CB in his Junior Season. He stepped up and made plays when asked upon. I was able to see him at our Aberdeen showcase and he stood out before I could find out his name. He plays the position very well when it comes to awareness and playing his role. His height at DB already makes him stand out on paper, however the fact that he knows how to use it makes him stand out on the field. I like how he is able to turn and run with his receiver on vertical routes and stick right in his hip pocket. He plays the ball really well too, but can also make key tackles on the perimeter.   [player_tooltip player_id='533139' first='Spencer' last='Easland'] (DB)- Pierre TF Riggs, <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2K00w1">Highlights</a>   Easland also received a good chunk of snaps at CB this past season. His tape was a lot of fun to watch, especially for a DB coach. The kid just plays the position so well. His backpedal gets him in great position to play the receiver and the ball. When the ball was in the air heading in his direction, the receiver was not catching it. His timing on the passes was nearly perfect every time to jump routes and pick the pass off, or knock it down. Easland was another one that showed out at the Aberdeen showcase in competitions. He really showed that he is a football player and will go and make plays on defense.   [player_tooltip player_id='550186' first='Dalton' last='Reiff'] (DL)- Chester Area, <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2K00w1">Highlights</a>   Reiff introduced himself to me at SDSU Prospect camp last summer. Him being from Chester Area was intriguing to me, so I was curious to see him play. Originally, I didn't know how he'd fair at a big camp coming from a 9-man team, but he padded up very well. 11-man or 9-man doesn't matter, this kid can play football and compete with anyone. In competitions he won a lot of his match-ups and impressed me and a few coaches next to me. I like his quick burst off the snap and keeping his pad level in good position to win the leverage battle. Lastly, he can shake his blocker and quickly breakdown and take down a ballcarrier.   [player_tooltip player_id='174205' first='Mason' last='Wilson'] (LB)- Sioux Falls Washington, <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2Jw8TV">Highlights</a>   I liked Wilson's tape. He really demonstrated that he knows how to make himself standout on a football field. I like his speed moving sideline to sideline and that he can chase down a ballcarrier anywhere on the field. His technique getting his read steps off the snap gets him in good position to make a quick move to find the flow of the play. He attacks the flow and finds the open gap to go find the ballcarrier. I really like his motor and that he doesn't quit on a play. Even if he misses the read initially, he recovers quick and gets back in the play. Lastly, I like the way he wraps up and delivers a hit to finish a play.   [player_tooltip player_id='294168' first='Johnny' last='Skyberg'] (DB)- Sioux Falls Christian, <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2Jktd7">Highlights</a>   I don't do comparisons very much, but Skyberg reminds me a lot of Bob Sanders. The way he pads up, to his play on the field. He doesn't look like he moves very fast, until he has the ball and no one can catch him, or when he runs down a receiver from across the field. The ballcarriers better have a tight grip on that football when he's around. I like how his main priority when making a tackle is to go after that football. He has good technique on his tackles, but he has great technique ripping that football out. He either makes a tackle or creates a turnover. I also like how he disrupts passes, timing the ball perfectly and drilling the receiver.   [player_tooltip player_id='447261' first='Cam' last='Ahlers'] (DL)- Fargo Shanley, <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2JXYDe">Highlights</a>   Ahlers has the quickest step off the snap I have seen. He lines up either on the line or back at LB but he is one of the quicker ones off the snap. Once the ball is snapped, he is a heat-seeking missile and he finds the football quickly. When he gets a head of steam, bodies are hitting the ground, whether they have the football or not. One of the more physical defenders I have watched on tape. At LB, when he blitzes, he times snaps well and makes himself harder to pick up and disrupts the play in the backfield. On the line, if the blocker gets a hand on him, he sheds it quick and still gets in the backfield.   [player_tooltip player_id='174176' first='Austin' last='Johnson'] (LB)- Watertown, <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2JgCQy">Highlights</a>   Johnson is a LB that does his job, does it well and nothing more. He is not flashy, doesn't draw attention with his celebrations after making a play, just goes out, makes a play and gets back to the huddle. I can see he knows the game and his position inside and out. The way he fills his gap each play, gets his read and flies around to get into the play. He makes sure handed tackles. Gets to the ball, wraps up the ballcarrier tight and brings him down. He doesn't go for the big hit and risk missing. I like his lateral movement and pad level when squaring up an agile ballcarrier to stay in good position to corral him and make tackles.   [player_tooltip player_id='105523' first='Lucas' last='Kampshoff'] (LB)- Yankton, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/16562765/Lucas-Kampshoff/highlights">Highlights</a>   Kampshoff is a perfect perimeter defender on the D-Line. His speed and length make him very difficult to block, but also avoid. Rushing off the edge, the O-line has a hard time getting into a position to keep him from disrupting plays to his side. He is also smart enough to know when to throttle down and not run himself out of a play, always aware of play-action and reverses. I like how he comes into the play at full speed, but slows down to find the ball and make a good tackle in space. Even if the play is away from him, his speed helps him get there and make the play from behind.   [player_tooltip player_id='294151' first='Wyatt' last='Piehl'] (DB)- Mandan, <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2JkZKf">Highlights</a>   Piehl plays his position very well. In that type defense, which looks like a 4-2-5 most of the time, his role may never be the same two plays in a row. He seems like he knows the position and the scheme for each team they play. Looking like a LB, moving like a DB the kid is a hard defender to get past. I like his tackling when he gets to the ball, especially because he rips at it when he gets there. His pass drops put him in real good position to defend many receivers in the area, but also still come up and make tackles in the run game. He also has the speed to run with receivers on passing downs.   [player_tooltip player_id='294149' first='Cole' last='Kegbeh'] (DL)- Fargo South, <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2KRYwe">Highlights</a>   Kegbeh has a lot of raw talent that makes him a good football player. I can see his strength every time he takes on a block. He also knows the position well as he seals the edge each and every play. His frame is very lengthy which makes it difficult for O-Linemen to keep their blocks on him if he gets his hands on them first. He bats down passes over his head easily too. I can see some decent speed rushing off the edge, but also sealing it on the perimeter run plays as well. I like his quick lateral movement, but also that he keeps a good pad level throughout the whole play.

Back at it again with the Class of 2024. Switching over to the defensive side now. Going through this list I just realized how many of our rankings are good defensive players. With that being said, I slid down the kist a ways to get the lower ranked kids some views as well. The goal of this article is exactly that, get kids noticed and on some schools radar. These kids' Senior Seasons are upon them and now is a great time to hit the recruiting trail.