South Dakota 2024 Under the Radar Prospects (11AAA)
Capping off the 2024 Under the Radar Prospects with Class 11AAA. I put this Class last because I knew the film would be plentiful and also seeing which ones missed the rankings list. Reasons they may get watch listed or…
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Continue ReadingCapping off the 2024 Under the Radar Prospects with Class 11AAA. I put this Class last because I knew the film would be plentiful and also seeing which ones missed the rankings list. Reasons they may get watch listed or missed is lack of film or just timing on when the film came out. Even with that these kids still had a lot of good tape to watch and will all have good Senior Seasons. Check out the 2024 Under the Radar Prospects of Class 11AAA.
Rylan Aman Rylan Aman 6'0" | 175 lbs | LB Sioux Falls Jefferson | 2024 State SD (LB)- Sioux Falls Jefferson, Highlights
Aman is a good run-stopping LB. Most of the time you can’t tell if he’s blitzing, or just getting his read quickly. Either way, he was in the backfield in a hurry and making a play. His quickness made it real easy for him to attack his gap when it opened and find the ball quickly for a tackle for loss. When he does blitz, he is very physical with the offensive linemen trying to pick him up. He keeps good pad level taking on those blocks and keeps it when he sheds them and makes tackles. I like his recovery speed to run plays down from behind. Lastly, I like his awareness when he reads the flow of the play and doesn’t overrun plays.
Connor Fitzgerald (OL)- Harrisburg
Fitzgerald doesn’t have any film, but I remember watching him play in the 11AAA Championship game this last season. He has an excellent frame at Guard. Add in some speed and good footwork and it makes him a Guard to watch. Not only does he have the athleticism to be a good lineman, but he also has the awareness of how to make each play successful. Watching him pull, he got himself in position to make an effective block on a much bigger defender by winning the leverage battle. His hand technique always hit in the right spot and made it easy to make the block to spring the ballcarrier free.
Jack Hove (WR/DB)- O’Gorman, Highlights
Hove is a speedster on the outside of the formation. Double moves look like his best friend with the out-and-ups he runs. He does an excellent job selling the out to get the defender out of position, then uses his speed to burn him deep. It also works well when he has the defense backed off. Running hard off the snap, then stopping on a dime after turning his defender and getting himself open on a short route. His vision is good, seeing him find the open space after he has the ball, both on offense and special teams. Defensively, he shows the awareness to stay deep and come up on the play so he doesn’t get beat deep.
Adam Behrend (OL)- Sioux Falls Lincoln, Highlights
Behrend has got all the intangibles to be a good OT. His size puts him at an advantage, but his feet and lateral quickness put him over the top. Using all those tools to seal the edge on the perimeter runs and open up space for his backs to get outside. The hand technique is a lot of fun to watch. Good, quick hands help him get the position he wants to make the block on his edge rusher. I also like his vision to find a blitzing LB and get in position to pick him up. His awareness to know which defender is the biggest threat and knowing whether to check off or pick them up.
Kaleb Briest (DB)- Brandon Valley, Highlights
Briest is a guy I want on my team when I want to press the receivers. I like how physical he is with the outside receivers and makes it difficult to get off the line of scrimmage. He also keeps his feet moving so he can keep running with his guy. His speed keeps him in the hip pocket of the receiver on vertical routes. Playing the perimeter very well, he keeps his contain on run plays to the outside. His tackling in the open field is a lot of fun to watch. Breaking down getting his shoulder pad on the ballcarrier and wrapping up. Lastly, he shows good hands when swatting at an incoming pass.
Tate Crosswait (LB)- Rapid City Stevens, Highlights
Crosswait is a good LB/DL hybrid that works well in today’s brand of defenses being used. He has the size, speed and tackling to be a good LB. Now add his physicality, agility, and awareness, and he plays well on the D-Line too. Flowing to the ball and making a good, firm tackle in the backfield. Also showing he can use his quickness to defend two parts of the read option (QB & RB). Taking his steps to check the RB then break and getting to the QB on keepers. He does a good job avoiding blocks to get into the backfield. Even if he can’t avoid them, he does a good job setting up his angle to engage and shed to get to the ballcarrier quick.
Jordan Cooper (DL)- Sioux Falls Roosevelt, Highlights
Cooper is a good D-Lineman blitzing out of the 3-point stance. His explosion off the snap is quick and really physical. When he engages his blocker, he does an excellent job using the blocker to plug the gap, then shedding him to make a tackle. His strength really shows when he stalemates his blocker as well. I like watching him stick to the line of scrimmage when pursuing from the backside and taking away cutback lanes. My favorite part of his film was watching him make tackles. He dropped into a good pad level, got good position on the ballcarrier, and put a good hit with his shoulder pad on the ball carrier, driving through.
Spencer Bartling (OL)- Sioux Falls Washington, Highlights
Bartling is a ferocious blocker on the perimeter for the offense. Using his low center-of-gravity to his advantage with good pad level on each play. He adds physicality when engaging his defender off the snap and makes it difficult to get around him. His focus on his defender shows that he has one job on each play, bring his defender to the ground. That he did, on every play with conviction. Using his hands well, he placed them well on the defender and gave him a good shove to the ground. His ‘it’ factor would be his motor, not quitting on his block until the whistle blew.
Ryan Wetch (QB)- Rapid City Central, Highlights
Wetch is an interesting QB to watch play. He doesn’t have your typical footwork or throwing motion that you are used to seeing in a QB. Even though it’s not the same as others, it still works for him and his team. That in my opinion is what made his film do much fun to watch. His passes were still accurate and had the zip on them they needed to squeeze in the tight windows. Having a long, lanky frame is was a big factor in making some good throws. He was also a good decision maker on some RPO looking plays. Lastly, he had enough mobility to scramble and extend plays, or tuck and run for yardage.