Dakotas 2024 Players To Watch (Offense)
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Now that we’re all wrapped up with the Class of 2023, time to switch gears and give the focus to the Class of 2024. I took a quick swipe over the rankings and saw how loaded this Class is just…
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Continue ReadingNow that we’re all wrapped up with the Class of 2023, time to switch gears and give the focus to the Class of 2024. I took a quick swipe over the rankings and saw how loaded this Class is just in the Top 5. With that being said I scrolled down the list and saw a lot of talent there too. This article will highlights those athletes that I believe will have a breakout season in their Senior seasons. A lot of these athletes I have followed for a couple years. Either at camps or on film but still have improved and will get larger roles on their teams in their final season.
Elijah Taniah Elijah Taniah RB Sioux Falls Washington | 2024 State SD (RB)- Sioux Falls Washington, Highlights
Taniah received a few carries as a Sophomore and then exploded on the scene as a Junior. His tape is a lot of fun to watch just on the way he plays the game. He is very agile and has incredible body control. Add in some great vision and you have a back that is very difficult to contain, even with multiple guys. Once he has the ball, he does a great job finding space, make his one cut, or killer spin move, and then re-accelerate to full speed for the big play. He also can slip out as a reliable target out of the backfield and make plays in open space there. What makes him a well-rounded back is that he’ll dish out contact as well.
Burk Blasius Burk Blasius 6'1" | 180 lbs | QB Wall | 2024 State SD (QB)- Wall, Highlights
Blasius was an excellent field general on a very explosive offense. Watching him in the 9AA Championship game was better than watching him on tape. The command he had on all of his passes, no matter what route he was throwing was a lot of fun to watch. I like his poise under pressure to continue his reads and still find the open guy downfield. His frame just makes him look like a good QB. Once you watch him play, you know he fits the position well. He has good arm strength and timing with his speedy receivers to hit them in stride. His speed and physical running can hurt defenses just as bad.
Jack Thue Jack Thue 6'2" | 185 lbs | QB Brandon Valley | 2024 State SD (QB)- Brandon Valley, Highlights
I have been able to watch Thue in person once, as a Sophomore. He was thrust into the starting role due to an injury. Receiving limited snap as a Junior, he sure made the most of them to out together a good tape. He seemed very comfortable in the pocket, and really showed good presence when he moved around in it. I liked his footwork and how he kept the ball in good position as e scrambled to make a quick, strong throw. His arm strength on his deep passes was impressive along with the touch to drop the ball in the bucket. Again his poise really showed when he kept his eyes downfield and got the ball to open guys on the run.
Cael Meisman Cael Meisman 6'3" | 180 lbs | WR Rapid City Stevens | 2024 State SD (WR)- Rapid City Stevens, Highlights
Meisman did a great job making himself not only a reliable target, but also a big play threat. He did a great job getting himself open in his own way. His speed, acceleration and body control were all big factors on how he was able to get open each play. Add in his frame, hands and vertical, and it was nearly impossible to keep the ball out of his hands. Where he really shined was the play that came after he made the catch. If you were able to catch him after he has the ball, it was extremely difficult to get him corraled. Even if you had him bottled up, he’d lower his head and run through tacklers to earn his last few yards.
Kaden Christmann Kaden Christmann 6'0" | 190 lbs | ATH Fargo Shanley | 2024 State ND (WR)- Fargo Shanley, Highlights
Christmann made a big name for himself returning kicks and punts. He was very quick once he caught the punt, but also patient to let the blocks around him develop. Once he found his open space, he hit the jets and gashed out a big return many times, sometimes leading to a TD. When he got his snaps on offense, he took advantage and made big plays at WR too. Using his speed to get behind the defense, he also really sold his fakes on double moves to really widen space. He took pride in blocking for teammates when he didn’t have the ball as well, giving them the chance to go the distance.
Canyon Burkhard (OL)- Chamberlain, Highlights
Burkhard would be a guy I’d hate to see line up across from me in the trenches. If his 6’5″, 305 lbs. frame isn’t enough to convince you, I’d say the clips of him burying kids should. After watching his tape, I am very impressed with how well he uses his big frame. Even with his height, he still keeps a good pad level to maintain leverage against the D-Lineman. His first step is huge, but quick, getting him in great position to make blocks, and is nearly impossible to beat him off the snap. He keeps his hands in good position to latch onto his block and keeps driving his feet until his guy is in the turf.
Bo Nelson Bo Nelson 6'0" | 215 lbs | OL Jamestown | 2024 State ND (OL)- Jamestown, Highlights (Offense: 2:10)
Nelson showed a lot of versatility on the O-Line, mixing up between Center and Guard. No matter where he played, the narrative stayed the same, he was drilling a kid from the other team. He did a great job getting himself a good base immediately off the snap and driving through his block. With a good base, came good pad level, which equaled more leverage than the defender. His motor kept him driving his defender off the ball until the whistle blew, at that point his guy was out of the play. Lastly, he did a great job anchoring his spot on the line, kept his head on a swivel and picked up any late blitzes.
Austin Erickson Austin Erickson 5'7" | 195 lbs | ATH Aberdeen Central | 2024 State SD (RB)- Aberdeen Central, Highlights
I caught Erickson at the SMSU Prospect Camp and was impressed when he had the ball in his hands. His tape showed that he really took pride in being the lead blocker in the offense. Mixing snaps from fullback to a tight end type athlete, he did an excellent job opening gaps for the ballcarrier. Using his speed and physicality to get into position to make blocks and not draw flags. At camp, he showed his route running ability as well as his hands, which really made him stand out in a talented pool of RB’s. In his final season, I can see him getting a load of carries after being a key player in the offense for two seasons.
Tage Ortman Tage Ortman 5'11" | 160 lbs | QB Canistota-Freeman | 2024 State SD (QB)- Canistota, Highlights
After starting as a Sophomore, Ortman rolled into his Junior season and took charge of the offense. I really liked his footwork while he was reading the defense. Once he got the read he liked, he delivered a sharp dart into a tight window to his receiver. His timing and his accuracy were impressive, seeing his receivers barely ever break stride making catches, which led to bigger plays. Even under pressure, he still finds the best target and puts the ball in the best place where only the receiver can get it. Whether its a designed run or he’s scrambling, he has excellent vision for the open field and the speed to make it a big play.
Jovi Wolf Jovi Wolf WR Chester Area | 2024 State SD (WR)- Chester Area, Highlights
I heard of Wolf when he was a Freshman, then he stepped into a bigger role as a Sophomore, and became the guy as a Junior. Seeing him at the SDSU Prospect camp over the summer he proved that he was the guy! He carried his speed over from the Track to the football ball and then mixed that with his football skills. His routes were ran extremely crisp with a lot of speed. He caught nearly every pass thrown at him that day, because the defenders could not stick with him. His Junior season had him putting up some gaudy numbers, and I would expect that to continue as a Senior.