Prep Redzone Dakotas Showcase: RB Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>ABERDEEN, SD--</strong> After a holiday weekend, we take one last look from our Prep Redzone Dakota Showcase in Aberdeen two Saturdays ago at the group of running back standouts from what was a rainy day in The Deen. This was in my eyes one of the more talented groups on the day on the offensive side of the ball from top to bottom so in that case, we certainly saved one of the best position groups for last! We say goodbye to Aberdeen until mid-summer, and unleash our <strong>Running Back Standouts </strong>from the Prep Redzone Dakotas Showcase.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='447240' first='Austin' last='Erickson'], RB, Aberdeen Central (SD) 2024</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":846905,"width":289,"height":190,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/05/IDF_1954-crop-4480x2942-1685493570.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-846905" width="289" height="190" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Austin has been a prospect that has impressed me recently with how robust he plays from start to finish, and showed persistence in a live-setting at our Prep Redzone Dakota Showcase. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>He showed off some great testing numbers as one of our only fullbacks in the group at 4.71 with his short shuttle and 7.69 in the L-Drill, which equals to me why Austin gets such efficent leverage with his blocking ability on tape as he is able to drive block quickly with his quick release.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>I thought Austin showed off more instinctive techniques from what I saw from the 2022 season to what I saw two Saturdays ago especially with his vision and agility he showed off. Austin should be a huge piece of the Eagles offense in 2023 and has position flexibility that translates well to linebacker at the next level due to his outstanding physicality and pad-levels.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='675621' first='Leonel' last='Chavez'], RB, Tri-State (ND) 2025</strong> <a href="https://twitter.com/LeonelWR11">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":846906,"width":302,"height":198,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/05/IDF_1924-crop-4480x2942-1685493615.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-846906" width="302" height="198" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Leonel was one of the most durable 2025 running backs at our Prep Redzone Dakotas Showcase and his measurables do not even do the justice for how tough this kid's lower body is and looked like from the eye test before the showcase got started in Aberdeen.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Leonel showed off a couple Saturdays ago that his best skillset at the running back position is his growing football IQ as this kid just has a knack of where to go with the ball enters his hands and he can develop with adding more speed and agility this offseason to improve those football instincts.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>You can tell he has an accelerated game-time speed as his downhill burst shows effective explosion which is why I don't think his short shuttle (4.81) can vastly improve because this young man is much faster on the field than he will get credit for in a camp setting.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='675428' first='Ryan' last='Pingel'], RB, Alexander (ND) 2024 </strong><a href="https://twitter.com/pingel_ryan">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":846907,"width":316,"height":207,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/05/IDF_2129-crop-4480x2942-1685493668.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-846907" width="316" height="207" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Ryan showed off some good notches of fluidity with his feet two Saturdays ago in Aberdeen, as he has some great first-level burst that has solid potential to develop his finishing speed as his 10-yard flies were in the in the top-third of the pack. I love a prospect that shows not just consistency in their numbers but with their measurables like Ryan.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>He shows off some positional flexibility looking at the next-level. Can develop on his agility within the inside box along with growing his lower body strength to gain yards past the first level. Ryan is most effective on the outside pitch when he has momentum brewing with his early speed and downhill burst.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>In my eyes, his football IQ reads smoother at the middle linebacker position as he has great longevity and pad-level with good vision as well with his skillsets. He certainly will be Alexander's workhorse on both sides of the ball going into his senior season.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='670030' first='Waylon' last='Bolle'], RB, Corsica-Stickney (SD) 2026</strong> <a href="https://twitter.com/BolleWaylon">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":846908,"width":322,"height":211,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/05/IDF_1987-crop-4480x2942-1685493712.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-846908" width="322" height="211" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>One of the biggest splashes from the RB group in the 2026 class, was Corsica Stickney's [player_tooltip player_id='670030' first='Waylon' last='Bolle'] who put up some eye-popping numbers of how much range and explosion this kid will have in his football future with a nearly 9'0 broad jump and good bursts of improvement in testing from rep #1 to rep #2.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Waylon has a significantly high ceiling with how far his agile footwork can take him over the next several years with his already well-based 5'11 165 pound frame, as he showed off at our Prep Redzone Dakotas Showcase he doesn't need all the room in the world to turn a nothing play into a substantial gain. How many South Dakota freshman had 1200 rushing yards and 22 touchdowns last season? I am going to guess only Waylon.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>I also love his downhill length he shows off with his strides as he can turn up field quickly in the open field with a frame that I am sure will grow quite a bit for three more seasons of high school football. It might be early to call, but Waylon should be one of the top freshmen running backs when the 2026 rankings come out in the coming weeks.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='356833' first='Boston' last='Bischke'], RB, Bismarck Legacy (ND) 2025</strong> <a href="https://twitter.com/BostonBischke">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":846909,"width":330,"height":217,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/05/IDF_2021-crop-4480x2942-1685493756.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-846909" width="330" height="217" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Even before I got to watch Boston line up for his reps in Indy drills, I had a gut feeling that I would be intrigued by this young man based on the tape I have watched prior to our 2025 rankings release, and he certainly lived up to the eye test. He showed off some elusive footwork that showed off great balance between the bags.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>I thought out of the whole group of running backs, that Boston had the best next-level frame right now as an incoming junior at 5'10 185 pound with durability within his lower body that can fill out bigger than that with some offseason strength brewing.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Boston was a 1st-Team All-Camp Team for us at running back and showing off that same physicality at linebacker on tape as well. Quite a promising football future for this young man out of Bismarck Legacy.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='399787' first='Parker' last='Denne'], RB, Mitchell (SD) 2025</strong> <a href="https://twitter.com/parkerdenne21">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":846911,"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/3/2023/05/IDF_1975-crop-4480x2942-1685493800.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-846911" width="328" height="215" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Parker showed off that eager change of direction from the duration of reps I caught two Saturdays ago in Aberdeen at our Prep Redzone Dakota Showcase. He showed off that twitch mostly with his L-Drill where he tested in the top third of the pack of running backs and I think if we had better weather, you would have seen the severity of his footwork pop out even more.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>You could tell by his reps that Parker is certainly one of those prospects that work his absolute tail off for every yard he can squeeze within the inside box or the edges, with the edges being his strongest and shows some development running up against heavier inside contact. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Our #2 ranked running back in South Dakota's 2025 class, has plenty of upside to grow as what in my eyes looks like a scholarship level prospect you will see on Saturdays somewhere in the Dakotas.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='825403' first='Cashton' last='Caudell'], RB, Huron (SD) 2024</strong> <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2L0HhA">Tape</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":847107,"width":344,"height":226,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/05/IDF_1993-crop-4480x2942-1685502261.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-847107" width="344" height="226" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>The biggest under the radar running back prospect from the Prep Redzone Dakotas Showcase? Meet Huron, South Dakota running back [player_tooltip player_id='825403' first='Cashton' last='Caudell'] who was a new name I got to watch a couple Saturdays ago, and one that made a great impression for my All-Camp Team from the Aberdeen Showcase with his all-around balanced skillsets he put together.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Cashton caught me impressed with a RB prospect with how much finish this young man had left in his tank once he got into the second level as you saw the bounce with his agility show off within the first level and the burst into the second level which shows consistence when you evaluate his testing numbers from Saturday.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Cashton is a prospect you will certainly see on our next update of the 2024 rankings for South Dakota as a running back and in my eyes is one of the best RB/LB combos we saw from the RB group but his natural fit with his long 6'0 185 pound frame sways me to the running back position as there is still a bunch more untapped potential in his his agility and growing his balance in my eyes. Somebody found me Cashton on Twitter!</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='808112' first='Cadyn' last='Russell'], RB, Harrisburg (SD) 2025</strong> <a href="https://twitter.com/russell_cadyn">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":847108,"width":341,"height":224,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/05/IDF_1935-crop-4480x2942-1685503041.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-847108" width="341" height="224" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>I got the chance to watch how speedy Cadyn was in December and it seems like this kid keeps getting faster, as he logged a very impressive 4.65 40 yard dash.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>A big skillset that has improved for Cadyn since December is the balance this kid plays with. He's certainly improved his hands since December, looking much more smooth two Saturdays ago than watching him 5 months ago as he has done a nice job showing off his versatility he has for the running back position.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>No tape yet for Cadyn, but this young man has rose his stock in my eyes from the several occasions of live reps I have gotten in winter and spring, as I even watched him last weekend show off even more versatility than I was aware of with his solid pass coverage he showed off for South Dakota Elite at linebacker-showed great vision with his early ball-tracking and releasing to cover a bigger island.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='250440' first='Drake' last='Zimmerman'], RB, Ashland-Greenwood (NE) 2024</strong> <a href="https://twitter.com/drakezimmerman_">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":847119,"width":335,"height":220,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/05/IMG_8054-crop-480x316-1685505028.jpg?w=479" alt="" class="wp-image-847119" width="335" height="220" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>The last prospect of our live evaluations from the Prep Redzone Dakotas Showcase shows that we save the best for last in Running Back MVP [player_tooltip player_id='250440' first='Drake' last='Zimmerman'] of Ashland-Greenwood HS in Nebraska. Drake by far was one of the most intriguing walk up prospects I have watched at any of our PRZ Midwest Showcases.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>He showed up with a dazzling 4.53 40 yard-dash in sub-par conditions and when I got to watch Drake on multiple occasions in the Indy drills and 1v1s the instinct that this kid ran with was outstanding from start to finish of the showcase at 6'0 205 pounds to add to it.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Although it was a non-padded showcase, the durability this kid has with his body is built to just ricochet tacklers off of him as it will take an army to bring him to the grass. I also really liked Drake's vision two Saturdays ago, as his eyes were way ahead of the defender and he knew exactly how to factor in his agility to get separation regardless of what drill he he was. It is going to be a hot summer for Drake's recruiting, you better believe it and buy stock now in this young man! </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list -->