SD In the Hunt 2023- Brandon Valley

Rounding off the 11-man 'In the Hunt' teams with the largest Class in the State. Brandon Valley had won the 11AAA Crown in 2021, our first year of Prep Redzone Dakotas. They followed up the next season by making a return to the title game in 2022, and just coming up short. What really caught my eye on making them the 'In the Hunt' team of the 2023 season, is the amount of returners they have and the amount of underclassmen they have joining the rotation. A Senior dominated lineup with a lot of Juniors and Sophomores filling in some blanks should make them a well-rounded team in 2023. Check out the 2023 Brandon Valley Lynx!   2024:   [player_tooltip player_id='77493' first='Navarro' last='Schunke'] (OL), <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2H5CFS">Highlights</a>   Schunke stood out as a Freshman, starting at OT. As he progressed through the years, everything that made him stand out before, got distinctively better. Starting off with his size, he blended right in with a very impressive offensive line in his first year. Now he does an excellent job being the rock for the Line now. His feet, hands, and strength put him above the standard when in comes to linemen. Having a big wrestling background like he does, is very crucial to his play in the trenches.   [player_tooltip player_id='289606' first='Jack' last='Thue'] (QB), <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/14858659/636c5bdc5caa7105080cf35f">Highlights</a>   Thue has had a great chunk of snaps over the course of the past two seasons. Showing a lot of raw talent and athleticism on tape, he has much to build with going into his Senior Season. Mobility, poise and shoulder level makes him a very dangerous threat under center. Adding some good arm strength and accuracy at all levels of throws around the field. Lastly, I like the way he will still set up and throw a good ball on the run.   [player_tooltip player_id='675278' first='Caden' last='Dowd'] (DL), <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/14841017/63601d6002b1b40ed432a78b">Highlights</a>   Dowd is poised to have a great Senior Season with his play on tape. Shining on Special Teams to start out, he earned his way out onto the field. Showing his physicality on Kick Return, getting in position, finding the nearest threat and flattening him. Once he got out on the field on defense, he made the most of those opportunities as well. His technique in the trenches on the defensive side really plugged his gap and kept him in great position to make plays. Lastly, his form on his tackling was near perfect.   [player_tooltip player_id='675275' first='Greyson' last='Bortnem'] (LB), <a href="http://www.hudl.com/video/3/14121698/63691b6c02b1c906f090d2d8">Highlights</a>   Bortnem is another Lynx player who has tape I enjoy watching. From the OLB position, he does an excellent job making life on the perimeter very difficult for the offense. The angles he takes get him to the ball quickly and takes away any cutback lanes. Whether in run support, or in pass coverage, once he got to the football, he was making a big tackle. On his tackles, he timed it up perfectly and delivered a big hit with perfect form.   [player_tooltip player_id='289609' first='Micah' last='Nelson'] (FB), <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2JzyVt">Highlights</a>   Nelson is the type of athlete to make fullbacks great again. His technique is fundamentally sound and he does the little things perfect. Showing a lot of versatility in his game, lining up at FB, TE, or in the slot, he plays each position well. Taking a lot of pride in his blocking, doing an excellent job getting in position, dropping to a good pad level and making a clean block in the gap or in open space. Lastly, he is a very dangerous target out of the backfield to burn the defense.   [player_tooltip player_id='447235' first='Easton' last='Poppe'] (OL), <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/15494249/637c4c180660d30e94852166">Highlights</a>   Poppe is the type of lineman that offenses love to run behind. On his down blocks, he takes good angles washing down the defensive line into the next level. Keeping a good pad level and footwork when climbing levels, burying any defender in his path. His footwork along with his hand placement kept his blocks clean and effective to keep the offense moving. On pass blocking, he keeps good position and hand placement to keep his QB clean.   [player_tooltip player_id='397692' first='Jack' last='Tews'] (OL), <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/14861999/631fe94df56a7c054caa14f4">Highlights</a>   Tews looks to break out in his Senior Season. From the Center position, he gets off a good snap and latches on to a block quickly. Keeping pretty good footwork after the snap along with a good pad level and he keeps the defensive line out of the backfield on each play. Also keeping a clean technique and his feet moving once he's latched on to a defender.   Kaleb Briest (DB), <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/15494246/63d15e60da5c1d14c409d873">Highlights</a>   Briest is one of the best press cover corners I've seen on tape. A quick reaction to the receiver off the snap. Adding a good jam at the line of scrimmage and continuing to move his feet with him in pursuit. When the ball is in the air, he has excellent awareness and timing to swat the ball away and even pick it off. The last big factor in his game is versatility. Playing anywhere in the secondary and playing it to perfection, pass coverage or tackling.   [player_tooltip player_id='174196' first='Delvoun' last='Spears-Witte'] (RB), <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/17753727/Delvoun-SpearsWitte/highlights">Highlights</a>   Spears-Witte is a grind-it-out back that will earn every last yard between the tackles. Don't let that statement fool you, he is a very shifty back that can break loose and bust a big gain at any moment. Adding good lateral movement and instincts to find the gap and burst through for a quality gain every play. Showing a good balance in his game between being flashy and physical. Making good, quick cuts into open space, but also running through defenders to get as many yards as possible.   [player_tooltip player_id='447234' first='Thomas' last='Risty'] (DL), <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2K3rPs">Highlights</a>   Risty is the type of defensive lineman that coaches would love to see go to work in the trenches. Possessing a lot of quickness and speed to making the offensive line's life very difficult. Shooting gaps or sticking his blocker, his technique is near perfect. Versatility is a big asset for him as well, 3-front or 4-front, he plays every position on the line to perfection. His speed make him a nightmare for the offense, if you run away from him, he can still run you down. Lastly, he is a very physical tackler.   2025:   [player_tooltip player_id='797821' first='Ryland' last='Carroll'] (DB), <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/16389858/638e6183ff0c6b0554d7769d">Highlights</a>   Carroll looked like a seasoned vet in his Sophomore Season. Having great vision and awareness that usually takes some time to develop. Adding his speed and ball sense and he just flat out makes plays. Taking pride in defending his zone on the field and making it extremely difficult for the offense in that zone. His angles to make tackles is flawless, keeping contain and having good form on his tackles. Lastly, his reaction time with his speed to run with his receiver, then turnaround and fill on run support.   [player_tooltip player_id='351518' first='Gunnar' last='Swift'] (LB), <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/16487055/635f4a3f0427f90c1c7c2939">Highlights</a>   Swift is an excellent run support LB. Speed and quickness make him a difficult guy to block for the offense. Once he gets through the blocks, he does an excellent job getting in prime tackling position, wrapping up and finishing the tackle. Scraping across the formation and taking the best angle to the gap and delivering a good hit with good form. His speed also doubles over well in pass coverage to cover the flats and still come up and make tackles.   Drake Jellema (DB), <a href="http://www.hudl.com/video/3/16385228/638d74b3d225ce017c23df9a">Highlights</a>   Jellema played big in his Sophomore Season with a lot of potential for his Junior Season. Despite being considered under-sized, he played much bigger. Being a very physical tackler in run support and short passes, but also having the speed to roam the deep parts of the field. Using his shoulder pad in every tackle, but also wrapping up and keeping the ballcarrier from gaining any more yards. Lastly, he showed good timing when it came to timing his hit on receivers when the pass was in the air.   2026:   [player_tooltip player_id='394729' first='Hudson' last='Parliament'] (DL), <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/18036755/6384e8099a92830c74e7cf8b">Highlights</a>   Parliament received a few snaps as a Freshman, but really made a breakthrough during showcase season. Displaying a lot of athleticism on both tape and in drills that will carry over into his Sophomore campaign. Having a quick first step off the snap to get to his gap, and quick hands to shed blocks quick. Keeping good pad level after the block and making a good tackle and not giving up any extra yardage.   [player_tooltip player_id='402517' first='Dveyoun' last='Bonwell-Witte'] (WR), <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/17748363/636d3045e985280534027fdb">Highlights</a>   Bonwell-Witte is poised to make some noise in his Junior Season. Splitting out wide and running crisp routes will get him a few targets in the passing game. With a good deal of speed, he really maximizes his separation from the defender to make the catch easier on himself on the QB. Showing a lot of concentration while in tight coverage and the pass is in the area. On short routes, he will gain every yard to keep the offense on the field.

Rounding off the 11-man 'In the Hunt' teams with the largest Class in the State. Brandon Valley had won the 11AAA Crown in 2021, our first year of Prep Redzone Dakotas. They followed up the next season by making a return to the title game in 2022, and just coming up short. What really caught my eye on making them the 'In the Hunt' team of the 2023 season, is the amount of returners they have and the amount of underclassmen they have joining the rotation. A Senior dominated lineup with a lot of Juniors and Sophomores filling in some blanks should make them a well-rounded team in 2023. Check out the 2023 Brandon Valley Lynx!