South Dakota 2026 Rankings: The Newcomers, Part I

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>SOUTH DAKOTA</strong>-- We dive in heavier into our release of the <a href="https://prepredzone.com/dakotas/rankings/south-dakota-rankings/2026-rankings/">2026 South Dakota Rankings</a> by starting with the Part I of the newcomers that were added to our recruiting board. Because our list persists of mostly new prospects because this is basically a brand new class, we will break these up into a handful of parts so we can scout a handful of the newcomers to show how deep this South Dakota class of 2026 really is.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["673146"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"u003culu003eu003cliu003eThe high-level of elusiveness Mikey shows off on tape is why I had him penciled as ATH1 in our 2026 South Dakota rankings.u003c/liu003eu003cliu003eThis young man has excellent change of direction skillsets with the ball in his hands and I would assure he's likely the top athlete in this 2026 class in all of the Dakotas from my eyes on both states.u003c/liu003eu003cliu003eEven with not being the biggest kid out there, Mikey has much more durability than he might not get as much credit for as he should as his ability to get downhill in high-traffic areas is certainly intriguing from what his sophomore tape rolled out.u003c/liu003eu003cliu003eu003ca href=u0022https://twitter.com/MikeyRoche_2u0022 data-mce-href=u0022https://twitter.com/MikeyRoche_2u0022u003eTwitteru003c/au003eu003c/liu003eu003c/ulu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["848853"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"u003culu003eu003cliu003eBradley showed off some intriguing reps this summer during the 7v7 season, as a 6'2 wide receiver, that I believe is just scratching the surface of his potential, ranked #16 overall in our 2026 South Dakota rankings.u003c/liu003eu003cliu003eBradley shows off a promising football future to me with his catch radius, as he shows a much longer width with his length that I have seen on tape and in recent 7v7 season that shows off a much longer wide receiver.u003c/liu003eu003cliu003eHe also has grown this summer with his route-running as well as his consistency with his growing hands from the multiple tournaments I have watched him at. u003ca href=u0022https://twitter.com/esser_bradley11u0022 data-mce-href=u0022https://twitter.com/esser_bradley11u0022u003eTwitteru003c/au003eu003c/liu003eu003c/ulu003e","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["848979"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"u003culu003eu003cliu003eZac popped out to me as a running back prospect that has well-balanced agility especially within high traffic areas of the inside box from the first look at his freshmen tape.u003c/liu003eu003cliu003eHe also shows off smooth open-field vision that has a longer length with his strides than you would expect with his 5'8 150 pound size as Zac as the ability to stretch the field well with his burst around the edges of the field.u003c/liu003eu003cliu003eI also like what I see out of Zac with his football IQ, as he shows off a three-way prospect that has swiss army knife skillsets to be an asset on the field wherever he is lined up as he reads the field smoothly in his reps on tape as a running back prospect that lands right inside our top 35 in South Dakota in the 2026 class.u003c/liu003eu003c/ulu003e","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["929538"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"u003culu003eu003cliu003eKingston is a OL prospect out of Tea Area that popped out with his reps on offensive line, as a prospect that appeals well as an angle-blocker from my eyes with the strength that he has in his 6'2 200 pound body that still has plenty of growth left with it in the coming years.u003c/liu003eu003cliu003eHe also shows off plenty of upside as a consistent run-blocker and one that shows off a good base when he is pull blocking from the other side of the line.u003c/liu003eu003cliu003eKingston also is developing nicely with finishing his blocks as I love the activity of Kingston's footwork as he comes off as an offensive line prospect that will grow into finishing his blocks thru the whistle as he adds more size to his frame. u003ca href=u0022https://twitter.com/KingstonNybergu0022 data-mce-href=u0022https://twitter.com/KingstonNybergu0022u003eTwitteru003c/au003eu003c/liu003eu003c/ulu003e","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["848982"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"u003culu003eu003cliu003eSully is another prospect that excels with his athletic mobility in the open field and is developing more agility over time with what he shows us on tape.u003c/liu003eu003cliu003eHe also impresses me with his solid vision on the edges of the inside box as Sully sees the field with wide vision around the edges as a 2026 prospect that shows off as an east to west runner.u003c/liu003eu003cliu003eI also like the instinct that Sully plays with as a pass-catcher as you could tell the deeper you get into his tape that he certainly could be a stockriser on our 2026 rankings by the next update.u003c/liu003eu003c/ulu003e","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["848948"],"_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_player_featured_image":848640,"_player_evaluations_5_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"u003culu003eu003cliu003eQuinton shows off some of the most well-tuned footwork amongst our South Dakota defensive backs in my eyes as from what I saw this summer, plays extremely bigger than what his measurables show off.u003c/liu003eu003cliu003eAnother skillset I liked from Quinton's tape was how consistent he shows off to be with his hands, as he's not going to be the cornerback to try for the u0022home runu0022 interception by taking a risk of the wide receiver getting by him, he shows off fluid balance with his point of attack.u003c/liu003eu003cliu003eQuinton also shows how quick his trigger is when crashing into the backfield as he certainly plays in the secondary at Brandon Valley that showed off great bases of instinct from what I saw out of him this summer as well. u003ca href=u0022https://twitter.com/Quinton_Hall23u0022 data-mce-href=u0022https://twitter.com/Quinton_Hall23u0022u003eTwitteru003c/au003eu003c/liu003eu003c/ulu003e","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_player":["670035"],"_player_evaluations_6_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"u003culu003eu003cliu003eRyan showed off an outside linebacker that has plenty of range that he can cover all over the field and is one that is starting to develop a quicker trigger with his play recognition.u003c/liu003eu003cliu003eThe way Ryan carries his body with his strides wherever he is lined up, show off a linebacker prospect that might have a growth spurt coming his way, as he strides well when he gets downhill.u003c/liu003eu003cliu003eRyan has the growth with the upcoming season to become more instinctive within the inside box, and turn those 4-5 yard gains into short gains or a loss of yards as there is plenty of progression yet to be seen with this young man's upside. u003ca href=u0022https://twitter.com/RyanNeugebauer9u0022 data-mce-href=u0022https://twitter.com/RyanNeugebauer9u0022u003eTwitteru003c/au003eu003c/liu003eu003c/ulu003e","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_7_player":["848978"],"_player_evaluations_7_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_7_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_7_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"u003culu003eu003cliu003eJake was the only true Tight End in this 2026 class thus far that has persistent tape coming out of Sioux Falls Christian, and one that shows off good length with how long his hands are with his reach.u003c/liu003eu003cliu003eHe also shows off a quick release off the snap for the tight end position as he is developing more balance with his hands around the football.u003c/liu003eu003cliu003eI also like his patience within his routes as he shows off a TE prospect that wants to catch and go to proceed upfield as our TE1 in the South Dakota 2026 class.u003c/liu003eu003c/ulu003e","_player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_8_player":"","_player_evaluations_8_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_8_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_8_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_8_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_8_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"u003cpu003eu003cbr data-mce-bogus=u00221u0022u003eu003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":9,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64dad26589462"} /-->