Nate's Upper Peninsula Community Film Room: Session I

MICHIGAN-- I recently added the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to my list of states/areas of a state I scout with Prep Redzone. In my first community film room for the Upper Peninsula, I tell you about a stacked list of defensive ends, a 2025 QB with rising instincts and much more!   Kaeden Sistrunk, DE/FB, Engadine (2024)   <ul> <li>Kaeden shows off an impressive release with his burst off the snap and has that instinctive ability met with physicality when he gets a hold of the ball carrier.</li> </ul>   <ul> <li>Kaeden is not a fullback you want coming at you with his size, as although he's a raw downhill blocker the size mismatch he has with his size still shows off physicality that will punch you in the mouth at the right pad level. His next-level fit certainly paints out at DE or OLB in my eyes.</li> </ul>   Gabe Luck, DE, Newberry (2024)   <ul> <li>A first look at Gabe's tape you have to like the bend this young man has starting on the line as it shows off some pure athleticism for what is come rep after rep on tape. He has a huge accelerator off the snap and leaving him unblocked provides a disservice to those in your backfield as this kid is loaded with physicality.</li> </ul>   <ul> <li>I also like the swim moves that Gabe has in his plethora, as he can punch out of his sheds with great feist in his hands, however, I even see more growth with where that swim move can take him before the 2023 season, as there certainly is some upside to be seen there. Gabe in my eyes looks like a DE prospect at the next-level.</li> </ul>   Ben Johnson, RB, Escanaba (2024) <a href="https://twitter.com/JohnsonBen34">Twitter</a>   <ul> <li>Ben has a super impressive burst from the first look at his tape and you can tell he has that well-built stamina speed to finish his runs in the end zone. He also shows off his plethora of agility with his change of direction, by using his early instincts to set his run up as an east-west runner that has outstanding footwork.</li> </ul>   <ul> <li>He also has some versatility in his game and could be utilized in the slot at the next-level, as Ben has a ton of twitch in his cutting ability for separation success especially when you need on short/intermediate routes. If I was a recruiting coordinator, I would certainly give this young man a shot at the next-level as I believe he would be a great fit in Houghton or Marquette at either of our Division II programs.</li> </ul>   Noah Johnson, DE, Kingsford (2024) <a href="https://twitter.com/NJOHNSON262002">Twitter</a>   <ul> <li>Noah has probably the most eye-popping tapes I have seen thus far in the Upper Peninsula, and it starts with the massively jacked motor this young man has in his skillsets. These eyes have seldom seen a EDGE rusher press the gas to run down a ball carrier upfield like I saw from Kingsford's Noah Johnson tonight and the fact he does it at 6'3 230 pounds is even more eye-appealing.</li> </ul>   <ul> <li>He has extremely soft hands when shedding off his blockers as I couldn't find a bigger adjective to use to describe them from what I saw time after time on tape. He also has a blossoming super athletic stance when he gets his hand in the ground and from these eyes, looks like a scholarship level prospect digging in. Noah also shows off aggressive hands when he doesn't have a free pass for the ball carrier and can get downhill with his significant leverage. I certainly am willing to bet this young man is the best edge rush in the Upper Peninsula in my eyes. Division I ceiling.</li> </ul>   Jan Van den Ende, LB, Marquette (2024) <a href="https://twitter.com/vandenende7">Twitter</a>   <ul> <li>On my first look from Jan, holy cow I came away intrigued by this young man's instincts on tape. He shows off a extremely long-striding ability and with that I was shocked to learn that he stretched out only at 6'2 as I would imagine he has at least a 6'4+ wingspan.</li> </ul>   <ul> <li>Jan is able to get off the edge with a gas-pedal with a fluid base of speed off the snap and a well-connected pad level when he meets the ball carrier. Even when Jan meets contact off the edge, he carries really loose hands that have that tap & go athleticism to proceed his physicality into the ball carrier. I would love for this young man to get some next-level attention this summer and into his 2023 season as his game is super intriguing.</li> </ul>   Jaxon Jurmu, QB, Marquette (2025) <a href="https://twitter.com/JurmuJaxon">Twitter</a>   <ul> <li>Jaxon's first clip of tape shows off some incredible QB instincts from the jump. Not only did he make the completion for a touchdown off a badly botched snap, but it was the direction this young man took on the play directing his WR before he barely recovered the snap where he needed to go on his best route option, that play alone, shows me the upside this kid has in his arsenal. Jaxon has that coach on the field mentality in my eyes and I have seen in on numerous clips.</li> </ul>   <ul> <li>Jaxon also shows off a lot of fire-power in his arm strength as he has the ability to stretch out his mobility, but yet with pressure coming, doesn't lose anything with his arm strength or ball placement even when the times get tough. He also shows some really developed touch with his deep ball and is certainly a QB prospect I will be tracking in the Yooper over his next two seasons, as his instincts certainly don't play like an underclassmen.</li> </ul>

MICHIGAN-- I recently added the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to my list of states/areas of a state I scout with Prep Redzone. In my first community film room for the Upper Peninsula, I tell you about a stacked list of defensive ends, a 2025 QB with rising instincts and much more!