Way Too Early QB City Rankings: Sioux Falls Area
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SIOUX FALLS– The best QBs in the Dakotas over the last several years have come out of the Sioux Falls Area without question. With a solid Class of 2023 QBs graduated like Wayne State commit Bennett Dannenbring Bennett Dannenbring 6'2"…
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Continue ReadingSIOUX FALLS– The best QBs in the Dakotas over the last several years have come out of the Sioux Falls Area without question. With a solid Class of 2023 QBs graduated like Wayne State commit Bennett Dannenbring Bennett Dannenbring 6'2" | 195 lbs | QB SF O'Gorman | 2023 State , Sioux Falls basketball commit Taylen Ashley Taylen Ashley 6'0" | 175 lbs | QB Sioux Falls Jefferson | 2023 State , amongst others, who will take the future reigns of the best QBs in the Sioux Falls Area? We dive into the six prospects that will likely fit that narrative in our Way Too Early QB City Rankings in and around Sioux Falls.
6: Tommy Hoffman Tommy Hoffman 6'2" | 170 lbs | QB Sioux Falls Washington | 2025 State SD , QB, Sioux Falls Washington (2025) Twitter
Tommy checks in at the #6 spot in our Way Too Early QB City Rankings for Sioux Falls. He showed off plenty of quick releases on his sophomore tape on mostly shorter routes, so it is difficult to gauge how his throws look on intermediate and deeper routes. His mechanical balance on his throws shows off some raw skillsets for a QB that was in his first year of starting at the 11AAA level as just a sophomore. The deeper I got into his tape, the more poise he showed off, which sheds nicely upwards as we get into the 2023 season. He is mainly a pocket passer who can occasionally use his legs to get you those short-yardage first downs without much flash. Lots of skillsets to be seen from Tommy as we look into 2023.
5: Brenner Konrad, QB, Tea Area (2026) Twitter
Although Brenner played JV as a freshman, he comes into the #5 spot on my Way Too Early QB City Rankings list for Sioux Falls. There is a ton of versatility with this young man, not just with his smooth touch ball he shows off on tape, but with his legs as well as he can escape swiftly out of high traffic areas in a pinch. Brenner had to deal with a handful of tough snaps in 2022, but the calming composure he showed after that on tape sparked some high upside in my eye test of this young QB prospect. He also already has some next-level size at 6’2 195 pounds that have proven durability when the pressure is nearing. I also like the poise Brenner has with his vision as he takes the smart route to the rushing lanes to get upfield without getting rattled with a big hit.
4: Jackson Brouwer Jackson Brouwer 6'2" | 190 lbs | QB Sioux Falls Roosevelt | 2024 State SD , QB, Sioux Falls Roosevelt (2024) Twitter
It was hard for me to put Jackson any higher than the #4 spot for the Sioux Falls Way Too Early QB City Rankings. He has not yet published his junior tape, but from what I watched this season and at our last winter Prep Redzone Dakotas Showcase, there certainly is a ton of talent on his plate. He excels most with his intermediate routes with his ball placement and throwing velocity. He also has that awareness in his plethora to change his throw speeds to give his wide receivers the best avenue of success in the open field, which is something that excels over the QBs in our 5 and 6 spots, as they are still developing in that category. He also has developed stronger poise as a now two-year starter for the Roughriders from Sioux Falls Roosevelt. Looking forward to seeing how Jackson has grown more from 2022 at summer prospects camps in the Dakotas this summer.
3: Jack Thue Jack Thue 6'2" | 185 lbs | QB Brandon Valley | 2024 State SD , QB, Brandon Valley (2024) Twitter
When given a clean pocket, Jack likely has the cleanest throwing mechanics, especially on his intermediate routes, amongst QBs on this list with varsity experience. Even when he has to evade the pocket, Jack shows a really fluid touch ball from the run and can air it out deep as well with his quick blossoming release on all levels of the field. The two developing skill sets that put Jack in the #3 spot and not #2 was the poise in the pocket, as I thought our #2 QB showed off more composure when the pocket closed up quickly and had more elusive feet to get out of a jam. I also like Jack’s visionary instincts, as he can change his pace very quickly with his progressions. I’m looking forward to watching Jack at summer prospect camps in the Dakotas, as I think he will crush his ceiling way up as a stock riser the next time our 2024 rankings come out.
2: Sam Knuth Sam Knuth 6'4" | 200 lbs | QB Harrisburg | 2025 State SD , QB, Harrisburg (2025) Twitter
The QB2 and QB3 spots were the absolute hardest to determine on this list, but from my eyes, the slight edge for the QB2 spot in Sioux Falls goes to Harrisburg QB Sam Knuth Sam Knuth 6'4" | 200 lbs | QB Harrisburg | 2025 State SD . What might be a bold choice for those reading, I recently did a clear-cut in-person evaluation of Sam and Jack; however, Sam struck a higher chord from that in-person evaluation in my eyes. Sam’s QB ceiling is loaded up and looks like an FBS ceiling, very similar to his older brother, who you all know by now. Sam’s drop in his touch ball on tape with the added solid ball placement will have the defensive backs licking their chops with the depth his arm mechanics throw with. Sam also really keyed into his precision skillset at the recent tryout I watched, and with watching that plus along with watching his tape, he shows the well-balanced ball control and poise to set up his WRs the best to extend to the play in the open field and has that football IQ to gauge the best angle for his WR to make the catch. Although Sam hasn’t taken a varsity snap yet, you better believe he will enter his junior season with plenty of rhythm to get the Tigers back to Vermillion for the 2023 season.
1: Tate Schafer Tate Schafer 6'1" | 180 lbs | QB Sioux Falls Lincoln | 2024 State SD , QB, Sioux Falls Lincoln (2024) Twitter
Regardless of the pressure in the pocket thrown on this young man last year, Tate found a way to stretch it out with his throwing ability on all three field levels for the Patriots. He’s grown a ton with his natural touch ball from 2021 to 2022 and as well as with his ball placement showing off some swift precision, especially within his intermediate routes. His agility and growth with his poise when he leaves the pocket have also gone up a notch from year after year. And yes, another skill set has been developing for Tate, which is his quick-growing release. Tate, to me, has the highest football IQ on this list, as his recognition of tension coming into the backfield and keeping his poise smooth thru his progressions is why I rated him as QB1 in my Way Too Early QB rankings for the Sioux Falls Area. Tate is a natural athlete who should have a handful of Division I looks this summer as a high academic prospect too, with a 3.56 GPA.