2025 Rankings Update: Small Town South Dakota Sleepers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>SOUTH DAKOTA-- </strong>After two days of scouting, out of state travel, and wrapping up both Dakotas preview of the 2025 class, we dive into one of my favorite article series we bring out with each new article series, the Small Town Sleepers. To us, small towns in America usually have 5000 people or less in their communities and in both Dakotas, you can find these small towns everywhere throughout each state. The most rewarding prospect to me is finding that Hidden Gem from small towns across the Midwest that you need a magnifine glass to find on the map! Let's rock into the first batch of South Dakota Small Town Sleepers in our newly release 2025 class rankings.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='800369' first='Holden' last='Havlik'], QB, WWSSC</strong> <a href="https://twitter.com/holden_havlik">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>The three communities that make up WWSSC have a population of well under 2000 people when you add them up, which makes [player_tooltip player_id='800369' first='Holden' last='Havlik'] such an intriguing quarterback prospect in our #5 overall spot for South Dakota.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Holden showed off a quarterback prospect that is mechanically gifted with his arm talent, showing a smooth release from all three levels of the field. He also has excellent poise in the pocket built within his 6'3 205 pound frame which are certainly some ideal measurables destined for Saturdays. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>He also shows well-balanced touch on those three levels and great precision on deeper routes with his ball fitting ability. His big arm also shows great value throwing from the run with the mobility he has showing the arm strength when he needs to throw to the opposite side of the field. Holden looks like a FCS level quarterback in my eyes.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='666104' first='Rylan' last='Larson'], DL, Canton </strong><a href="https://twitter.com/RylanLarson">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":808523,"width":310,"height":204,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/04/IMG_7964-rotated-crop-480x316-1682913176.jpg?w=479" alt="" class="wp-image-808523" width="310" height="204" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>I had the opportunity to evaluate Rylan in a live setting this weekend on both ends of the ball as the Canton, SD (population just over 3000) showed off some good bases of versatility from my weekend in review, but certainly proved why he projects easier as a defensive end.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>The first thing that popped out with Rylan on tape is his athleticism seen in his stance. He shows off reactive instincts with great agility within his hands. That versatility I mentioned earlier, allows Rylan to become a heavy motored pass-rusher, good vision stopping the run and position flexibility he shows on tape.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>The #10 overall prospect in the 2025 South Dakota rankings, has already added some meat on his bones this offseason powering up to 225 from 210 from my first evaluation of this 2025 classs. You will learn more about this kid in the coming weeks too, as I break him down in my live-evaluations from the The Line Iowa Showcase.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='210627' first='Rylee' last='Veal'], RB, Harding County-Bison</strong> <a href="https://twitter.com/Ryleeveal_6">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":808526,"width":328,"height":216,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/08/Rylee-Veal-rotated-crop-480x316-1682913267.jpg?w=479" alt="" class="wp-image-808526" width="328" height="216" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>To give the best small town perspective from where Rylee comes from, Harding County and the city of Bison, SD equal just over 1600 people between both of them which is why the RB1 in this 2025 class is so intriguing especially with the measureables he has before you even throw the tape on at 6'1 195.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Rylee is also in my opinion the most blue-collar running back in this 2025 class, as he has excellent durability to continue his run thru heavy contact and also has the short speed burst with great power in his lower body.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Rylee also has the skillsets that show off as a pass-catcher as one of his clips on tape showed off a great hands in high traffic coverage areas and he showed the balance to adjust his angle to the ball along the edges of the field. He also has the length you want at the next-level stretched out from top to bottom and has growing agility that will only continue to grow over the next two seasons for the Ranchers program, as he is Saturday bound in my eyes.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='800506' first='Moshe' last='Richmond'], WR, Wosley-Wessington</strong> <a href="https://twitter.com/MosheRichmond4">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Wosley, SD and Wessington, SD equal out to just under 900 people populated within the two towns, and 2025 WR [player_tooltip player_id='800506' first='Moshe' last='Richmond'] is a hidden gem I found late in our 2025 evaluation process that has upside within his 6'3 185 pound frame along with great football instincts.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Moshe is a college coaches dream from a length perspective as his wingspan looks massive on tape and that really raises his catch radius and makes him seem even bigger than 6'3. He also has position flexibility for the next-level as Moshe also sheds off a high amount of range as a free safety.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Moshe also shows off a very quick release from the top of his route and has the big-play ability to consistently get over the top of the corner has he has mobile hands that can efficiently change their direction and there is growth to make his process even faster in the coming years. Moshe is a WR prospect I expect to be a stockriser by next 2025 update as I can't wait for college coaches to find out where in small town South Dakota Moshe hails from. He is also a three sport athlete.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='210636' first='Connor' last='Harrison'], OL, Lead-Deadwood</strong> <a href="https://twitter.com/Connor_H2025">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":541016,"width":328,"height":215,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/12/94-Connor-Harrison-crop-3361x2207-1670550782.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-541016" width="328" height="215" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Roughly 4100 people live in the tourist area of Lead-Deadwood, in western South Dakota as the Golddiggers are on my bucket list of a stadium I want to see a game in person in the coming years. Every time I have watched Lead-Deadwood offensive linemen [player_tooltip player_id='210636' first='Connor' last='Harrison'], I can gauge how much this kid is a workhorse in the weight room as his measurables have consistently gotten bigger since I first made our 2025 watch list several months ago now playing at 6'4 265 pounds.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Connor is a wrecking ball of physicality on both sides of the Golddiggers lines as he shows off well-balanced balanced hands that have aggressive shed off ability defensively and he also brings that finisher skillset that is my favorite skillset to watch for on tape with offensive linemen.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Connor also has a pummeling downhill first step that shows off excellent pad-level on a consistent basis. He is one that I feel has one of the biggest ceilings on our list tonight, as watching the development so far of Connor over time keeps rising up our board.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='798265' first='Cole' last='Ruesink'], ATH, Dell Rapids</strong> <a href="https://twitter.com/cole_ruesink">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>The 2022 state champions from Dell Rapids, South Dakota have just under 4000 people that call Dell Rapids home, as the far-north Sioux Falls suburb has a lot of football talent to choose from including 2025 athlete [player_tooltip player_id='798265' first='Cole' last='Ruesink'].</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>To our long-time Dakotas subscribers, this should be a last name you will recognize as Cole is the little brother of Dakota Wesleyan football player Landon Ruesink, who I had a 2 grade (D2 fit) on if I recall correctly with just how much of a swiss-army knife he has, and Cole is certainly similar in that regard. Cole has a very sizable twitch with his footwork in the backfield at tailback and has good vision and patience before making his cuts.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>At 5'11 155 pounds, Cole has good durability for a prospect of that size and plays a bit bigger than those measurables on tape. Defensively, Cole offers a huge amount of range in his coverage window and has excellent fluidity in his burst to chase down that ball carrier way downfield. Looks like another Ruesink in the family that should be playing at the next level in the coming years.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='533138' first='Sawyer' last='Wipf'], LB, Freeman </strong><a href="https://twitter.com/SawyerWipf_33">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":808527,"width":320,"height":210,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/12/66-Sawyer-Wipf-crop-3378x2218-1682913406.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-808527" width="320" height="210" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>When I first rolled the tape on linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='533138' first='Sawyer' last='Wipf'] from Freeman, South Dakota (pop. 1329) I was intrigued when his hands released off his blocker, he showed great instincts and increased game-speed to get to the ball quickly.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>With Sawyer you have some flexibility positionally, as consistently on tape he rolls either as a stand up linebacker or a EDGE rusher with his hand in the grass. He has what you want from a physicality standpoint with his hitting ability and I see him in the coming year or two improving his aggression level and hand speed level with those same hands.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Best fit positionally for the next-level for Sawyer points me at linebacker. He doesn't have many reps of showing what he can at linebacker in pass-coverage, however Sawyer shows off as a 5'11 185 pound linebacker than can carry his motor with good speed from sideline to sideline.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='800438' first='Tristyn' last='Sumner'], DL, Florence-Henry</strong> <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2KDEG7">Tape</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>The towns of Florence, South Dakota and Henry, South Dakota combine for under 700 people between both communities. However, this Falcons program has been a recent hotbed for OL/DL talent such as Sioux Falls college prospect Chase Kelly from two seasons ago and now we tune into the new addition of [player_tooltip player_id='800438' first='Tristyn' last='Sumner'].</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Tristyn you can tell has a huge football-IQ with his instincts as consistently on tape I found Tristyn using his vision and run-stuffing the ball carrier with reactive physicality within the first yard or less. I can also see his blue-collar work ethic on every rep I caught on tape which has to appeal to the college coaches reading.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>The 6'0 260 pounder projects as a defensive tackle at the next-level. I like his hands on tape, however college coaches will need to groom this kid as a pass-rusher as I couldn't identify many of those reps on tape from tonight's evaluation. Sumner certainly does have a college football future that kicks me as a 2-3 grade (D2, D3, NAIA) prospect.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list -->