North Dakota 2024 Players to Watch (11A)

Today I dip into Class 11A, the second biggest class in North Dakota. The talent across this class is extremely rich with the smaller schools in the bigger cities. The good thing about this Class was I was able to find a lot of Linemen in it, and defensive players as well. There was a lot of good film and I hope this list gets even bigger next season. Check out the Class of 2024 Players to Watch in Class 11A.   [player_tooltip player_id='289682' first='Lawson' last='Lotysz'] (OL)- Grand Forks Red River, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/14884472/635733e7c1249906843f46ae">Highlights</a>   Lotysz's tape was a lot of fun to watch because of his technique. His quick snap and quick feet made him one of the most effective blockers I've seen on tape. A low pad level and a good deal of strength helped him bury any defender blitzing through his gap. He showed a good lineman IQ as well. Knowing the play and what gap was needed to expand for the play to work. If there was no one lined up head up in him, he climbed levels and buried the next closest threat. His down blocks and combo blocks made the defenders life difficult because it usually ended the play with them on the ground.   [player_tooltip player_id='289677' first='Bo' last='Nelson'] (DL)- Jamestown, <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2Jtzwb">Highlights</a>   Nelson is a good edge rusher on both run and pass plays. I like his awareness and speed to disrupt plays in the backfield. Screens, read options, or draw plays don't work on him. He reads pressure extremely well and makes the play in the backfield nearly every time. His speed helps him wreck the read options, making the QB give the ball every time, then Nelson recovers and tackles the RB for loss. I also like the way he seals the edge and keeps the play inside his contain. The technique he shows off the snap is impressive, quick but controlled, doesn't fly upfield and stays close to the line of scrimmage to make plays.   [player_tooltip player_id='174171' first='Jerry' last='Gibson'] (WR/DB)- Fargo South, <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2JkWT1">Highlights</a>   Gibson is a speedster that makes life very difficult for the opponents on both sides of the ball. Offensively, his quick burst off the snap gets him open to make uncontested catches. After the catch, if no one is there to slow him down, he will turn the short gain into a much bigger one. On the defensive side, his speed makes him one of the best defenders on the wide side of the field I've seen. The way he positions himself to make plays on deep passes, but still stay close enough to make plays on the short passes as well. He plays the ball in the air really well, high pointing the jump balls. If he can't play the ball, he times a hit on the WR perfectly.   [player_tooltip player_id='174169' first='Connor' last='Suhr'] (LB)- Jamestown, <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2JhtiR">Highlights</a>   Suhr is a fundamentally sound LB. I like watching him get his reads quickly and reacting to the play. His speed carries him to his pass drop and covering the guys in his zone perfectly. The speed also translates well when it comes to running with receivers on vertical routes. Doubling the speed over to run down plays from the backside, as well as chasing down big plays. His instincts lead him to be in good position to make plays in the run game. He flies around to the ball and makes good form tackles when he gets there. Also is good target for the offense in the pass game with good route running and hands.   Carter Zeller (TE)- Fargo North, <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2KPZAF">Highlights</a>   Zeller is a very good athlete at TE. I say athlete because I see a lot of basketball skills translating over at the position. His frame makes him stand out, but his explosion off the snap with no wasted steps make him a good route runner. When the ball is in the air, it is his to go get, and he usually comes down with it. He does a good job finding the soft spot in the defense on routes, and has great focus on the football when he is in traffic. His footwork when blocking is impressive. Whether it's on the line of scrimmage or out in the open field, he is in great position to make blocks at all times.   [player_tooltip player_id='289681' first='Jack' last='Simmers'] (WR)- Grand Forks Central, <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2Jhjhk">Highlights</a>   Simmers is a business type of ballcarrier when he has the ball. He finds open space and attacks it the whole way. Nothing flashy when he carries the ball, just straight ahead running after maybe one quick move to the open field. His speed is very sneaky and smooth. Not looking like he's moving very fast, until he leaves the defense in the dust, a very smooth running form. When he splits out wide, he is another good playmaker out there as well. The speed carries over well on routes, and his jumping ability with hands makes him a very reliable target. He also brings a good level of physicality when running the football as well, not going down easy.   [player_tooltip player_id='237983' first='Travon' last='Littlefield'] (OL/DL)- Dickinson,<a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2JZF2d"> Highlights</a>   Littlefield has a lot of raw talent to build on for this coming season. His size makes him a scary figure out there. I can see he has a great deal of strength behind him as well. Offensively speaking, he moves the defenders rather easily from his OT position and really opens that gap. He climbs levels well and plants defenders at both levels. On the defensive side of the ball, he does a tremendous job plugging the outside gap by stalemating his blocker. Causing no movement at the line of scrimmage, the backs can't find any room to run. His lateral speed help him keep contain as well. The physicality he shows make it easy for him to shed blocks and make tackles.   Drew Hofstad (WR)- Devils Lake, <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2Jifus">Highlights</a>   Hofstad is a big play, vertical threat. It is a lot of fun watching him run his post routes. I like the way he is at full speed and hits his landmark and makes a good cut without losing speed, and creating a lot of space. If a defender stays close to him to him after his break, his vertical helps hm elevate over top of the defender and secure the catch in traffic. He shows a lot of concentration in traffic and is the throw is slightly offline. There is not a lot of one-on-one battles he won't win. If he makes a catch in space, he gets up to speed quickly and turns the play into big yardage, usually points.   Levi Musser (WR/DB)- Watford City, <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2K1BWw">Highlights</a>   Musser is the guy you want on your team when you need big play. If they needed a first down or just wanted to gain momentum, the ball was going his way. Best part about that was, he was making the play no matter what. He also has great concentration in traffic and reels passes in. Another one with a good vertical and timing to high-point the football. His speed is also very smooth with his form and he will leave the defense in the dust in a hurry. He does a good job running the ball as well, but also can be a good blocker on the perimeter to spring his teammates free.

Today I dip into Class 11A, the second biggest class in North Dakota. The talent across this class is extremely rich with the smaller schools in the bigger cities. The good thing about this Class was I was able to find a lot of Linemen in it, and defensive players as well. There was a lot of good film and I hope this list gets even bigger next season. Check out the Class of 2024 Players to Watch in Class 11A.