North Dakota 2025 Rankings: Small Town Sleepers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>NORTH DAKOTA</strong>-- We take a look at the state of North Dakota and some of their top Small Town Sleepers. If you haven't been with us yet for this content series, we look for prospects from small town America which is under 5000 people however, in the Roughrider State the bulk of these prospects hail from small towns that in total with co-ops usually have less than 2000 people. North Dakota has been a consistent hot-bed for this <strong><em>small town sleepers</em></strong> series from the FCS level on down to the NAIA schools. Let's take a look at the newest batch of small town sleepers!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='825394' first='Tee' last='Sylling'], QB/DE, Maple Valley </em></strong><a href="https://twitter.com/SyllingTee">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1016954,"width":386,"height":253,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/09/Tee-Sylling-crop-1536x1009-1695776028.jpeg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1016954" style="width:386px;height:253px" width="386" height="253" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Buffalo, ND,</strong> Pop: 195, <strong>Tower City, ND</strong>, Pop: 268, <strong>Oriska, ND</strong>, Pop: 114, <strong>Fingal, ND</strong>, Pop:92</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tee is a Small Town Sleeper prospect that although comes from the small town of Tower City, North Dakota he has been a popular name for us this 2023 with our Big Dogs of the Week. At 6'3 185 pounds, Tee has grown significantly with his versatility on both sides of the both since the start of the season especially at defensive end where he has shown off excellent develop with the use of his hands and growing speed of getting off his blocks quicker and quicker each week it seems. Tee has also developed this season at quarterback as he has grown not only with his poise inside and outside of the pocket but has shown significant growth since our Prep Redzone Dakotas Showcase with the significant touch on his throws on intermediate routes. His football IQ has also excelled especially in the Maple Valley rushing attack, as Tee uses his smooth yet long strides to get to the edges with ease. Although he might be from the sleepy community of Tower City which is under 300 people, he is one of my favorite small town sleepers on this list as far as his upside goes as a prospect that has a football future playing on Saturdays.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='951995' first='Logan' last='Thompson'], ATH, Lewis and Clark </em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Berthold, ND,</strong> Pop: 490</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hailing from just 30 minutes west of Minot, Lewis and Clark 2025 athlete [player_tooltip player_id='951995' first='Logan' last='Thompson'] is small town prospect to watch for in the coming years in the 2025 class. This kid plays with a fluid burst around the edges of the field especially in the open field, and has the vision to use his change of direction to his advantage with the instinct he plays with. Logan is a prospect on tape that if you blink at the wrong time, he is already into the second level of the field as an effective north-south runner out of the backfield that plays bigger than 5'10 160 pounds. I also like the strong Logan possesses with his lower body, as he has solid bases of durability to get yards after contact. Logan is a 2025 prospect I will be looking careful for more tape from this fall. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/KMOT_TV/status/1702893003583402053","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/KMOT_TV/status/1702893003583402053 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='951994' first='Avery' last='Gatton'], WR, Larimore </em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Larimore, ND, </strong>Pop: 1260</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Just 35 minutes west of Grand Forks you run into the community of Larimore which features [player_tooltip player_id='951994' first='Avery' last='Gatton'] as our next small town sleeper. Avery is another prospect in waiting for 2023 tape to come out, however I am intrigued with the athleticism this young man shows off on tape. The first pop out on tape for Avery is his vertical which shows off a prospect that plays on both sides of the ball that has the length to go up and get it which is consistently seen on tape on both sides of the ball. I like how well he adjusts his body direction to the ball on throws slightly off line, as a wide receiver with upside that we will need to see the growth into his 2023 tape.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='725847' first='Tayden' last='Azure'], DL, Duniseth</strong> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Duniseth, ND</strong>, Pop: 632</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Just 15 minutes south of the Canadian border, lies Duniseth, North Dakota and the home of 6'5 245 pound defensive end [player_tooltip player_id='725847' first='Tayden' last='Azure']. We know how much small town North Dakota is a hotbed for talent in trenches if you have watched the Bison or Fighting Hawks success with it over the last several years and the upside of this young man again, just makes me want more tape to gauge that there is more coming. For his size, Tayden shows a good first step off the edge as he also shows good balance with his feet when attacking the backfield. This kid shows off as a bully with his hands despite the light tape that is out there, however there should be some interest generating from local D2 and NAIA schools at this time with this young man.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='725845' first='Bradyn' last='Collier'], ATH, New Rockford-Sheyenne</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>New Rockford, ND,</strong> Pop: 1361, <strong>Sheyenne, ND</strong>, Pop: 186</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Just 30 minutes or so south of Devils Lake you will run into Sheyenne and then New Rockford, North Dakota which is home to 2025 small town sleeper [player_tooltip player_id='725845' first='Bradyn' last='Collier']. I like Bradyn's efficiency as a east-west running back that runs low to the ground and has development getting more yards after contact which hopefully his 2023 tape will show off more of. He has shown that he has the quick twitch to break from the inside to the edges with a fluid center of gravity that shows off his instinct on tape. Bradyn can also grow his upside with the patience of his runs, as he certainly has a good quick burst, but could improve his vision getting consistently more behind his blockers to break for bigger gains. This list of 2025 North Dakota small town sleepers, has plenty of upside yet to be seen as we break into the midway point of the 2023 season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1016919' first='Brett' last='Tastad'], OL, North Prairie</strong> <a href="https://twitter.com/brett_tastad">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1016950,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/09/Brett-Tastad-crop-320x211-1695775965.jpg?w=320" alt="" class="wp-image-1016950" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Rolette, ND</strong>, Pop: 484,<strong> Rolla, ND</strong>, Pop: 1223 <strong>Rock Lake, ND</strong>, Pop: 94 <strong>Wolford, ND</strong>, Pop: 43</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Our Dakotas subscribers should know this last name by now, as the little brother of NDSU commit [player_tooltip player_id='434788' first='Nate' last='Tastad'] has a little brother in [player_tooltip player_id='1016919' first='Brett' last='Tastad'], that much like Nate looks like a Division I prospect. Brett shows off intriguing speed out of his pull blocks at 6'4 245 pounds and has a really sound pad-level consistently on his blocks. He also shows the persistency to get to the second level with his drive blocks and has that finish on his blocks next-level coaches want to see made on a consistent basis. Athletically, I also love watching Brett's bend at the line as he shows off the athletic basis that I know those FCS schools in North Dakota want to develop even further with. In my eyes, Brett is one of the top three offensive linemen North Dakota has to offer in this class and still has plenty of frame to develop which is also intriguing with his upside.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->