South Dakota 2026 Rankings Preview

SOUTH DAKOTA-- We ran thru our <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2023/08/north-dakota-2026-rankings-preview/">North Dakota Preview</a> of the 2026 Class, and now we will do the same with South Dakota. I have to say for those college coaches/programs reading this, you are going to love this 2026 class out of the Mount Rushmore State. Since we launched in September 2020, I don't believe I have made this many early calls for prospects that are underclassmen that are destined to play on Saturdays in my eyes as I can already tell the depth of this class is going to continue to year after year. This is the longest preview article I have ever written in one of my states, so that should tell you everything you need to know how deep this class is going to be in the coming years!   Our PRZ Prospect Evaluation Process:   Our #1 priority and goal with Prep Redzone is to put prospects on the map for college coaches and college programs at all levels to advance their exposure. We rate prospects on next-level potential not stats, not on the team's rankings in the state, it's all about the prospects potential and how his skillsets fit at the next level. All prospects will need to have tape available or have been referred to us by our anonymous sources throughout the state. Some prospects will peak early in their high school career and that's why our rankings change 3-4 times per year at Prep Redzone Dakotas, because we also love to factor in several live evaluations year-around as we have seen prospects within a 3 month span add 30 pounds of muscle and a couple inches of height, while others stay the same. That is our process with every rankings update for those of you that are new to us!   What Changed Since the Last 2026 Update?   To those of you that are new to Prep Redzone Dakotas, we shifted a few months back to state by state model within our site as far as rankings go however, the content model stayed the same. We felt that this was the best way to individually rank prospects from each state versus stacking prospects from South Dakota vs. North Dakota. The original list we created months ago, was just a 2026 watchlist whose prospects were not ranked as of yet, but our watchlist shows off which prospects caught our early eyes from their tape they showed off as freshmen. We feel that it was best to wait for more prospects to get more tape out to give an even better analysis of who the best of the best prospects are now in South Dakota now that they have at least one year of high school football under their belt.   Meet the Top Five:   #5: [player_tooltip player_id='848974' first='Brenner' last='Konrad'], QB, Tea Area <a href="https://twitter.com/brennerkonrad1">Twitter</a>   #4: [player_tooltip player_id='402519' first='Karsten' last='Sissoko'], WR, Brandon Valley <a href="https://twitter.com/KarstenSissoko">Twitter</a>   #3: [player_tooltip player_id='402518' first='Jase' last='Thiesse'], RB, Sioux Falls O'Gorman <a href="https://twitter.com/JaseThiesse">Twitter</a>   #2: [player_tooltip player_id='402517' first='Dveyoun' last='Bonwell-Witte'], WR, Brandon Valley <a href="https://twitter.com/dveyoun">Twitter</a>   #1: [player_tooltip player_id='394729' first='Hudson' last='Parliament'], DL, Brandon Valley <a href="https://twitter.com/Hud_Parliament">Twitter</a>   South Dakota Standout HS Programs in our 2026 Class:   Brandon Valley (9)   The Lynx by far has the most dominant 2026 class in the state of South Dakota. What is even more fantastic about this class is one-third of their nine prospects landed within our top four which I would certainly say has to be a record since we launched the PRZ Dakotas site in 2020 as the Lynx continue to be one of the best programs in the state to develop talent from underclassmen on up. The three "BV Beasts" that appear in our top four are #1 overall prospect DL/OL [player_tooltip player_id='394729' first='Hudson' last='Parliament'], WR [player_tooltip player_id='402517' first='Dveyoun' last='Bonwell-Witte'] (#2) and WR [player_tooltip player_id='402519' first='Karsten' last='Sissoko'] at #4. More Lynx Included: [player_tooltip player_id='848948' first='Quinton' last='Hall'] (DB, #25 overall), [player_tooltip player_id='394804' first='Cohen' last='Hartz'] (LB, #46 overall) [player_tooltip player_id='929803' first='Isaac' last='Mitzel'] (OL, #78 overall) and three watch list prospects are [player_tooltip player_id='551462' first='Bryce' last='Bangasser'], [player_tooltip player_id='897575' first='Will' last='Bunker'], and [player_tooltip player_id='848854' first='Briggs' last='Knutson'].   Three Lynx to Watch for in 2023:   [player_tooltip player_id='394729' first='Hudson' last='Parliament'] by far had the biggest summer in the Dakotas as we have never seen a Dakotas prospect in our era get Division I offers this early. As a two-time PRZ Dakotas Showcase 1st Teamer, Hudson's mix of highly physical hands with plenty of elusiveness within them showed off fluidity at the Division I prospect camps I was at this summer. This is the last kid in the state you want to give a free lane into the backfield as Hudson also showed off since I first scouted him live last winter, eye catching testing numbers and ideal Division I measureables. This young man might have just a few of the FCS schools in the Dakotas on board with verbal offers, but I highly anticipate the flood gates to open quickly with the Power Five schools here very soon.   [player_tooltip player_id='402517' first='Dveyoun' last='Bonwell-Witte'] is a WR prospect that I feel I have been evaluating for years now already, as Dveyoun was one of two prospects within our top five that was on my colleague Al Pop's Prep Redzone NEXT watchlist for national prospects. Dveyoun easily has the most athletic hands in the WR position in all of the Dakotas and a wide catch radius within his 6'2 180 pound frame. He has developed quite a bit this summer with his route running as well from the camps I was at, becoming more and more agile with his cuts and has developed a strong football IQ camp after camp. I have never felt more confident with a group of underclassmen since our site launch that our top two prospects (hailing from the same school too) will have a Division I future in college football as Dveyoun is well on his way over the coming years.   [player_tooltip player_id='402519' first='Karsten' last='Sissoko'] is another Brandon Valley WR that I thought certainly showed plenty of growth from where I watched this summer especially during the 7v7 season. Not only has Karsten grown significantly with his frame since I watched him as an 8th grader last summer, but the physicality of his play on both sides of the ball showed off plenty of instinct that still has plenty of development yet to grow from an upside perspective. The athleticism he shows off along with having a lengthy vertical at 6'1 170 pounds shows off yet another "BV Beast" you will see playing high scholarship football on Saturdays.   Sioux Falls Washington (7)   The Sioux Falls Washington Warriors checked in as the #2 team in the state of South Dakota with our 2026 class rankings. The Warriors in this 2026 class are led by top 15 overall athlete [player_tooltip player_id='563992' first='Tayvin' last='Laddusaw'] who checks in at 13. Just inside the top 30 is quarterback Hunter Sayasayanahh and rounding out the three Warriors in our top 35 is OL Reuben Lewis. More Warriors included: [player_tooltip player_id='929808' first='Angalia' last='Niyomwungere'] (RB, #47 overall), [player_tooltip player_id='848935' first='Gerardo' last='Grajeda'] (LB, #52 overall) [player_tooltip player_id='929810' first='Eric' last='Orellana'] (OL, #73 overall) and [player_tooltip player_id='563996' first='Jhace' last='Woods'] (ATH, watchlist)   Three Warriors to Watch in 2023:   [player_tooltip player_id='563992' first='Tayvin' last='Laddusaw'] has some significant instincts he showed off to me this summer in the few live evaluations I have gotten. He also has some crafty athleticism that translates well to both sides of the ball and also from watching him in testing from a winter tryout, this kid certainly passes the eye test and is one I cannot wait to watch his sophomore tape brings for the Warriors on both sides of the ball.   Hunter Sayasayanahh has some excellent arm strength for this age that I saw in live evaluations this winter, spring and into summer as he has a bullet with his right arm. He also certainly grew in my eyes this summer with his precision on deeper routes and has plenty of upside left to grow with his touch on sort and intermediate routes in the years. I also love the drive Hunter has to develop his game, as I saw this young man at several 7v7 and camps this summer in the Dakotas as a kid in my eyes that has a great work ethic with solid attention to detail.   [player_tooltip player_id='929808' first='Angalia' last='Niyomwungere'] is a running back prospect for the Warriors who I already get the vibe that this 2026 prospect might be a stockriser by our next 2026 rankings update. He has plenty of explosion with his burst in the open field and runs with plenty of fluidity between the tackles that I would like to see in a camp setting to see where his broad jump ends up with that fluidity I see on tape. There is no doubt that the Warriors have yet another speedster in their running back core coming up the ranks in their incoming sophomore class in [player_tooltip player_id='929808' first='Angalia' last='Niyomwungere'].   Sioux Falls Jefferson (6)   Last year's 11AAA state champion Sioux Falls Jefferson Cavaliers continue to unload with their upcoming 2026 class in our rankings with three prospects within our top 25. It starts with another prospect that intrigued me even as an 8th grader in defensive tackle [player_tooltip player_id='402520' first='Noah' last='Duran'], who checks in at 10 and is DL2 in South Dakota. Just outside of our top 10 is running back [player_tooltip player_id='848928' first='Daevion' last='Simonsen'] and closing out our top 25 is Cael Nofziger. More Cavaliers Included: [player_tooltip player_id='848942' first='Eddie' last='Mulbah'] (ATH, #39 overall) [player_tooltip player_id='848937' first='Riley' last='Gough'] (DB, #43 overall) [player_tooltip player_id='848944' first='Sameer' last='Hamed'] (ATH, #70 overall).   Three Cavaliers to Watch in 2023:   [player_tooltip player_id='402520' first='Noah' last='Duran'] as I stated, caught my eyes covering an event for Prep Redzone NEXT and is a DT prospect that in my eyes showed even more development in his freshmen season for the Cavaliers. He shows off great depth with his bend at the line and is a workhorse in the trenches that has a catchy release when he gets off his blocks in short space. Noah also intrigues me with his range when he climbs into the backfield as I really like his mobility he shows off at 6'0 250 pounds and one that I even though last summer has a college football future.   Cael Nofziger he might not be the biggest kid on the field yet, but I love watching this young man's field vision when you roll his tape. At 5'9 160 pounds he has plenty of elusive skillsets with his trigger off the snap and plays with a heck of a lot of physicality that go way above his measurables when he makes contact with the ball carrier. The instincts this young man plays with in pass coverage show off a loaded football IQ and in my eyes looks like another weapon in the secondary in the future from a Cavaliers program that I have noted over the last few years has had one of the best secondaries in South Dakota, even with their short that very impressive history in 11AAA.   [player_tooltip player_id='848928' first='Daevion' last='Simonsen'] showed off on tape for his 5'9 170 pound frame how durable he is getting yards after contact and that shows off consistently during his freshmen season. He also shows off a well-balanced burst in his strides from start to finish and in my eyes his strides he shows off play significantly bigger than his frame shows off with his measurables. Daevion is a RB prospect that if you blink once watching his tape, you will find him getting out of high traffic areas in a quick pinch as one of our top South Dakota running backs in the 2026 class.   Rapid City Stevens (4)   The Raiders landed four 2026 prospects within our rankings, and all four of them fly within the top 55 on our prospect list. They are led by DB1 and Prep Redzone Dakotas Showcase standout [player_tooltip player_id='825411' first='Henry' last='Telechan'] who comes in first at #14 overall. Defensive linemen [player_tooltip player_id='848934' first='Jack' last='Gunter'] flies in at #41 overall and the Raiders have another 2026 ranked DB in [player_tooltip player_id='848940' first='Kaleb' last='Kangootui'] inside our just outside our top 50 in South Dakota. The last but not least Rapid City Stevens Raider is QB [player_tooltip player_id='848933' first='Michael' last='Sheffield'] who is another prospect at #55 overall.   Two Raiders to Watch in 2023:   [player_tooltip player_id='825411' first='Henry' last='Telechan'] was a All-Camp Team defensive back from Aberdeen this spring at our Prep Redzone Dakotas Showcase and one that shows off plenty of promising length and athletic upside that has plenty of growth left in developing his game on tape. He shows off some fluidity when he releases his hips to get to the ball carrier and I see more a more bursty trigger coming Henry's way in 2023. I am intrigued by the length he has in pass coverage, as he extends his reach smoothly in 1v1 reps I caught on tape. Henry also has a well-versed football IQ that seems to consistently be at the right place at the right time as a 6'2 170 defensive back to watch from Rapid City Stevens in this 2026 class.   [player_tooltip player_id='848933' first='Michael' last='Sheffield'] appears to be the best south-pawed quarterback we have in the state in this 2026 class. He shows off great precision with his deep routes persistently hitting his wide receivers on a line to catch and go. Even though I don't put tons of stock into stats, Michael averaged over three touchdown passes per game in 2022 totaling 19 touchdowns in his freshmen campaign. Michael also shows off a fluid touch ball on all three levels of the field as it looks like the Raiders have their gunslinger for the upcoming future and is one I certainly hope can hit a growth spurt upcoming to raise his stock on our recruiting board.   Rapid City Central (4)   Although the Cobblers have had a rough go in 11AAA for the last handful of years, their 2026 class to me shows off upcoming growth to be seen especially with a new coaching staff coming in with the 2023 season. They tied their Rapid City rivals in Stevens with four prospects on our 2026 rankings. The Cobblers landed two prospects inside our top 40 prospects in South Dakota in wide receiver [player_tooltip player_id='848939' first='Brayden' last='Jackson'] (#32) and one of the only fullback I recall on our 2026 rankings in Weiland Bobo. The Cobbler also have [player_tooltip player_id='848947' first='Easton' last='Graff'] (ATH) and [player_tooltip player_id='848941' first='Riley' last='Casey'] (QB) onto our rankings.   Two Cobblers to Watch in 2023:   [player_tooltip player_id='848939' first='Brayden' last='Jackson'] might be light with the amount of tape he has, but what he did on that tape made him crack our top 35 prospects in the Mount Rushmore State. I couldn't track down Brayden's measurables as of yet, but from what you see on tape this kid looks and plays with plenty of length at his disposal. I also like watching how physical he plays as a run-blocker off the ball as he shows off plenty of punish within his hands. Brayden also showed off on clip #2 on tape a wide receiver that has solid depth with his agility and a quite noticeable vertical when he gets into the air to "Moss" over the top of the secondary. Even the second time I saw run-blocking from Brayden on tape you can see reach this young man shows off which certainly shows off to me that Brayden I will call a likely early stockriser when we revisit these 2026 rankings after the season.   Deuel (4)   The Deuel Cardinals might be the smallest school on our list of South Dakota schools in the top five, but they sure do have a solid looking group of athletes coming thru with their 2026 class. three-quarters of their four prospects landed on our rankings from 50-65 and it starts off with 6'4 230 pound defensive linemen [player_tooltip player_id='929917' first='Ethan' last='Prins'] (#50 overall). The next prospect on my list comes into our 2026 rankings at #58 and per my source is having a solid summer of camp which is athlete [player_tooltip player_id='929809' first='Oliver' last='Fieber']. More Cardinals Includes: [player_tooltip player_id='670032' first='Owen' last='Haas'] (ATH, #62 overall) and [player_tooltip player_id='929811' first='Carson' last='Marko'] (ATH)   Two Cardinals to Watch in 2023:   [player_tooltip player_id='929917' first='Ethan' last='Prins'] is by far Deuel's most interesting prospect from my source, a verified 6'4 230 pounds and plays on both sides of the ball on the Cardinals defensive and offensive lines. Ethan shows off plenty of feist with his twitch off the snap and has deer-like feet getting into havoc in the backfield. Even with very light tape, I can tell that Ethan has plenty of instinct within his plethora of skillsets as he also shows some soft hands off his blocks. He certainly looks like a prospect that will be playing on Saturdays in my eyes and already is on my radar as a likely stockriser by season's end.   [player_tooltip player_id='929809' first='Oliver' last='Fieber'] is another prospect to watch with a common theme you might have heard a bunch already: he outplays his measureables by a mile. This young man has plenty of speed to give around the edges, and as a two-way athlete on both sides of the ball I can see that he plays with sizable range that his best fit defensively points me at the safety position. Oliver also shows off solid instincts around the ball defensively and as a recent interest in looking at track numbers, you can't not look at a 10.64 100 meter dash as just an incoming sophomore.   Aberdeen Central (4)   Last but not least with four prospects on our 2026 rankings is the Aberdeen Central Eagles of 11AA with an impressive two prospects inside our top 25. Starting off the list for the Eagles at #19, is athlete [player_tooltip player_id='771526' first='Joey' last='Dallmann'] who impressed me this Spring at our Prep Redzone Dakotas Showcase. Next up at #22 overall is running back [player_tooltip player_id='848930' first='Kalen' last='Larson']. More Eagles Mentioned: [player_tooltip player_id='848943' first='Conner' last='Chapin'] (ATH) and [player_tooltip player_id='848945' first='Karson' last='Borge'] (WR) to round out the Eagles within our 90+ prospects on our 2026 rankings.   Two Eagles to Watch in 2023:   [player_tooltip player_id='771526' first='Joey' last='Dallmann'] is one of the most versatile prospects I have found positionally when I have watched his tape and tracked his progress over the summer since seeing my first live look of him in Aberdeen at this Spring's PRZ Dakotas Showcase. Joey's balance and drive throughout his tape is what pops out as he plays with a smooth chip on his shoulder especially with getting downhill blocks to land smoothly. Not only are his blocks as a fullback interesting, Joey shows off a booming kicking leg on special teams and was nearly 90% on extra points last season as just a freshmen so their is plenty of growth left to be seen with that left footed kicking of his as a swiss-army to watch for the next few years out of Aberdeen Central.   [player_tooltip player_id='848930' first='Kalen' last='Larson'] is a running back prospect that I love watching his burst breakout in full throttle once he gets into the second level of the field. He also shows off upside with the agility he has with his cutting ability as he shows solid play recognition before he gets into the high-traffic areas as he has room to grow with his balance with his footwork. Kalen also shows off some smooth breaking points as an east-west running back that shows an even more accelerated burst in the open field. Kalen is certainly a running back to know in our 2026 South Dakota rankings as I cannot wait to see more tape come this 2023 season.th   What's Next with the 2026 South Dakota Rankings Released?   Content will flow between both Dakotas daily over the next week or two from each of these groups of article series:   Small Town Sleepers: Which South Dakota prospects from cities under 5000 people have the best football skillsets in South Dakota? Within the Mount Rushmore State, you will find a ton in the coming weeks with this series.   Position Breakdowns: We will breakdown why we ranked each prospect in their rankings spot they are in and what they could potentially do to move up during future updates.   Stockrisers: Even though technically this is a new batch of rankings, we will still analyze who are some risers from live-evals this winter and spring.   New Additions: Who are the new faces to the 2025 South Dakota Rankings?

SOUTH DAKOTA-- We ran thru our North Dakota Preview of the 2026 Class, and now we will do the same with South Dakota. I have to say for those college coaches/programs reading this, you are going to love this 2026 class out of the Mount Rushmore State. Since we launched in September 2020, I don't believe I have made this many early calls for prospects that are underclassmen that are destined to play on Saturdays in my eyes as I can already tell the depth of this class is going to continue to year after year. This is the longest preview article I have ever written in one of my states, so that should tell you everything you need to know how deep this class is going to be in the coming years!