South Dakota 2025 Rankings Update: Newcomers, Part II

SOUTH DAKOTA-- We roll into Part II of our 2025 Newcomers in South Dakota. With this 2025 list, you will find a handful of prospects that have high ceilings based on the tape they had available and what they show off there as far as skillsets go is quite encouraging as they have plenty of time to develop. From Rapid City to Yankton, back up north to Britton-Hecla and others, we uncover the newcomers to the South Dakota 2025 rankings.   [player_tooltip player_id='800507' first='Colin' last='Hughes'], LB, Wosley-Wessington (2025) <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/16199468/63e27ba8c119c70a147a20ee">Tape</a>   Colin shows off rangy ball tracking instincts to be productive from sideline to sideline to within the Warbirds linebacking core as Colin checks in as the #7 ranked linebacker in South Dakota's 2025 class. He shows off that knock-back ability when he makes contact with the ball carrier with steady use of his 6'1 190 pound frame. Light skillsets in pass coverage, however the pass coverage on tape I have gotten to watch does show off those quick read instincts which show consistency no matter how you grade out his tape. He has size that will continue to grow strength with two more years left of HS football, and as long as he can get a highlight tape together showing off all those good instincts, he has a great shot of playing on Saturdays.   [player_tooltip player_id='800477' first='Zach' last='Ries'], LB Waverly-South Shore (2025) <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/16307335/631a1da1a681c0051cd6703c">Tape</a>   You don't see too many true 6'3 linebackers from the state of South Dakota from smaller schools, but when you can visualize their potential with that size like Waverly-South Shore's [player_tooltip player_id='800477' first='Zach' last='Ries'] even if the tape is light, you look highly at the potential if you are a college coach. Zach impressed me with his outside reach to the ball carrier, as he showed off a linebacker that could extend his long frame to get that ball carrier that less lengthy linebackers might not be able to reach for. When it's time to press the gas into the backfield, Zach certainly has a actively quick downhill first step that especially if he has a free path, he will making the clinching tackle in the backfield. Zach is still very light on the tape, so this top 50 prospect in the state of South Dakota does however have a high ceiling of potential.   [player_tooltip player_id='797968' first='Matthew' last='Sheldon'], LB, Yankton (2025) <a href="https://twitter.com/Msheldon29">Twitter</a>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/05/Matthew-Sheldon-crop-351x230-1683859974.jpg?w=350" alt="" class="wp-image-822604" width="313" height="205" /></figure>   As a 6'1 215 pound linebacker, when I put Matthew on our 2025 rankings I was already intrigued with his measurables and he showed off some versatile athleticism on tape that placed him in our #8 overall spot for linebackers in South Dakota. Matthew shows off good vision in the heart of the inside box and could develop more pop upcoming with his physicality. I do love on tape how fluidity Matthew gets from the second level to the first level although not the quickest twitch, the instinct is certainly there to develop with the tape he showed off against Aberdeen Central. Another prospect within our 2025 list with a great sized next-level ceiling that needs more reps on tape to show off skillsets in a deeper light.   [player_tooltip player_id='486020' first='Isaiah' last='Jackson'], ATH, Britton-Hecla (2025) <a href="https://twitter.com/IsaiahJ2025">Twitter</a>   With the first look of Isaiah's tape prior to putting him on our 2025 rankings in South Dakota, this kid flashed off his agility with his reactive twitch to the ball carrier especially in short space. He has the quick instincts that with developing his balance over the next couple of years, shows off a high ceiling of what is to come based on his tape he shows off right now. He has the rangy field awareness that as an athlete, I could see him in the nickel position when evaluating his next-level fit, as his 5'9 165 pound frame fits better behind the defensive line. I would love to see Isaiah at a prospect camp this summer to see how he shows off in pass coverage and how big his net shows off with his range outside of the inside box. Isaiah has a solid base for positional flexibility at the next level.   [player_tooltip player_id='351549' first='Cooper' last='Myers'], DL, Rapid City Stevens (2025) <a href="https://twitter.com/CooperM9570">Twitter</a>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/05/Cooper-Myers-crop-351x230-1683859912.jpg?w=350" alt="" class="wp-image-822602" width="338" height="221" /></figure>   When I first dove into Cooper tape you can see the awareness this kid has right away as Cooper opens up as a newcomer inside our top 60 overall for South Dakota prospects in the 2025 class. I love the stance this kid shows off from the early tape, as he looks poised enough from his stance to be ready to wreak some havoc. Cooper shows off good speed with his shedding ability to get in quickly to the ball carrier. He shows off a good contact base of physicality consistently on tape, as I will be looking to be tracking Cooper at our Prep Redzone Dakotas Showcase in Aberdeen this weekend. This kid plays a lot bigger than his measurables too.

SOUTH DAKOTA-- We roll into Part II of our 2025 Newcomers in South Dakota. With this 2025 list, you will find a handful of prospects that have high ceilings based on the tape they had available and what they show off there as far as skillsets go is quite encouraging as they have plenty of time to develop. From Rapid City to Yankton, back up north to Britton-Hecla and others, we uncover the newcomers to the South Dakota 2025 rankings.