PRZ Dakotas Big Dogs of the Week: South Dakota, Week 0
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SOUTH DAKOTA— Who in South Dakota popped out in Week 0? From the West River to the East River, there were plenty of notable prospects that popped out and I was especially pleased by the underclassmen standouts this week in…
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Continue ReadingSOUTH DAKOTA— Who in South Dakota popped out in Week 0? From the West River to the East River, there were plenty of notable prospects that popped out and I was especially pleased by the underclassmen standouts this week in the Mount Rushmore State. We also will settle the ultimate fan vote for South Dakota Big Dog of the Week by the fan vote!
Stat Line: 20/30 passing, 414 total yards (334 passing, 70 rushing) 6 total touchdowns (4 pass, 2 rush)
Simon started off his junior season by wasting no time attacking the record books by achieving a Rapid City Christian Chargers school record 334 passing yards in Week 0 against Lead-Deadwood in a 44-0 victory. Based on the quick reps I watched from his Week 0, Simon has accelerated his progressions a bunch already since I watched him last year and even last summer. As one of my favorite quarterbacks in Rapid City regardless of class this year, Simon showed off a hot start in his junior campaign as the Chargers get a Week 2 bye before a big Rapid City matchup with Rapid City St. Thomas More in Week 3.
Stat Line: 14/27 passing, 286 total yards (211 passing, 75 rushing) 4 total touchdowns
rnYou probably already heard it from fellow PRZ Dakotas scout Jake Evans, but Deuel Cardinals QB Trey Maaland Trey Maaland QB Deuel | 2024 State SD was another stud quarterback in South Dakota in Week 0. Trey showed off intriguing versatility in Week 0 against Clark-Willow Lake as a prospect over the summer that has grown with solid athleticism. For more skillsets Trey showed off in Week 0, click here for Jake’s article on Trey.
Brenden Nowell
Brenden Nowell
Stat Line: Five total touchdowns (3 passing 2 rush), 193 total yards (151 pass, 43 rush)
Brenden is a prospect I recall from the South Dakota 9B State Championship game last season as a prospect that shows off reactive instincts and one that put those instincts on display in Week 0 in Hitchcock-Tulare’s 50-0 win over Northwestern. This kid shows off a solid level of football IQ on either side of the ball but in Week 0, the offensive side of the ball showed off to be his bread and butter for 2022’s 9B state champions. Brenden is another new name to track to our Prep Redzone Dakotas Big Dogs of the Week as a developing quarterback to watch for the Patriots in the 2024 class and also had 31.5 yards per touch in the Patriots return game as well.
Stat Line: 300+ rushing yards, five touchdowns.
Waylon showed off plenty of patience getting to the 300+ yards mark in Corsica-Stickney’s 60-30 win Week 0 win over Gayville-Volin. Regardless if he was running North-South or East-West, Waylon showed off instinctive vision, and is growing with the length with his steps from what I can see from my last evaluation. This kid can turn on the jets quickly with his short burst, as he did it numerous times on tape in Week 0. Waylon certainly showed why he is one of our top running backs in South Dakota’s 2026 class even in the first week of the 9B season.
Highlights
Stat Line: 10 rushes, 125 rushing yards (12.5 per carry). Erik also led the Patriots in Week 0 for solo tackles with seven tackles.
The 9B South Dakota Player of the Year nominee had an outstanding game #1 of the 2023 season on both sides of the ball where he has been a consistent leader for Hitchcock-Tulare over the last couple of the seasons. Erik’s running ability comes away with plenty of fluidity that is built to last thru contact and uses his vision well as one of his top skillsets in these eyes. I also love the instinct Erik shows off at linebacker as that might likely be his next level fit as he has an constant instinctive first step that has some leverage especially within the inside box at middle linebacker.
Stat Line: 10 rushes, 252 yards (25.2 per carry), six total touchdowns (4 rush, 2 defensive)
rnIf there was one prospect that showed off how much of a swiss-army knife they were in South Dakota Week 0, it was Harding County-Bison RB/LB Rylee Veal Rylee Veal 6’1″ | 195 lbs | RB Harding County-Bison | 2025 State SD who filled up the stat sheet on both sides of the pleasantly in the Ranchers 58-6 victory over New Underwood. At 6’0 190 pounds, Rylee a durable downhill wrecking ball that can tolerate plenty of yards after contact, which even though I don’t have the tape yet, I can almost assure that happened in his Week 0 outing with how long this young man’s strides are as RB1 in the 2025 South Dakota rankings.
Rocky Ammann
Rocky Ammann
The biggest new name to pop out onto the radar in South Dakota was Freeman-Marion-Freeman Academy wide receiver Rocky Ammann from his Week 0 performance. With over 10 receptions for 176 yards and three touchdowns, Rocky shows off on tape a lengthy stretch with his vertical that although he hasn’t posted his tape yet, I would bet it showed out in Week 0 with the performance he put together. Regardless of which side of the ball he’s on, I love the physicality Rocky plays with as I hope to see his name called in future weeks of our Big Dogs of the Week across South Dakota. Twitter
Stat Line: 7 receptions, 143 total yards (115 receiving, 28 rushing) three total touchdowns
Carter is a Prep Redzone Dakotas Showcase alum that had an impressive Week 0 with nearly 150 total yards for Gayville-Volin, and has certainly shown off balanced route-running within intermediate routes from what he showed off on tape. Although he’s not the biggest wide receiver on the face of the earth, he shows off a 2026 prospect that has plenty of upside to engage the defense to know where he is lining up his versatility is already being used early within the 2023 season. I also like Carter’s awareness of knowing where the first down markers are as he uses his short-field agility with good vision. I expect Carter to be a climber in the 2026 rankings with a solid start to his sophomore season. Twitter