South Dakota 2025 Rankings Preview

SOUTH DAKOTA-- The 2025 South Dakota rankings update has now been released <a href="https://prepredzone.com/dakotas/rankings/south-dakota-rankings/2025-rankings/">here</a>! In this preview we show off our new top five, who are some quickly rising newcomers to our rankings, and I pick out 10 prospects that I expect to rise from their current ranking by next update which will be out Mid-November early December and much more!   Our PRZ Prospect Evaluation Process:   Our #1 priority and goal with Prep Redzone Dakotas 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 when it comes down to measurables, athleticism and everything else that college programs measure as far as skillsets. 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 thru prospect campas games during the fall season, 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! The main goal? Expose as many prospects state-wide to make sure they get next-level opportunities thru our network of college programs from Division I FBS, FCS, Division II, NAIA, Division and the JUCO ranks.   New Top Five:   #5: [player_tooltip player_id='210623' first='Elijah' last='Boutchee'], DL, Pierre TF Riggs <a href="https://twitter.com/ElijahBoutchee">Twitter</a>   #4: [player_tooltip player_id='798250' first='Luke' last='Krempges'], DL, Sioux Falls Lincoln <a href="https://twitter.com/Luke_Krempges">Twitter</a>   #3: [player_tooltip player_id='997447' first='Cain' last='Wallner'], ATH, Canton <a href="https://twitter.com/WallnerCain">Twitter</a>   #2: [player_tooltip player_id='321168' first='Lincoln' last='Semchenko'], OL, Sioux Falls Christian <a href="https://twitter.com/LincolnSemchen2">Twitter</a>   #1: [player_tooltip player_id='205260' first='Sam' last='Knuth'], QB, Harrisburg <a href="https://twitter.com/KnuthSam">Twitter</a>   Key Points from the 2025 South Dakota Rankings Update   The Trenches Dominate our Top 10 the South Dakota 2025 Class   While North Dakota is dominated by quarterback play, South Dakota continues their trend of being a hotbed for next-level talent on the offensive and defensive lines. Led by Sioux Falls Christian offensive linemen at #2 overall (#1 OL) and with the addition of 6'5 230 pound defensive end [player_tooltip player_id='798250' first='Luke' last='Krempges'] who is a new addition at #4 overall (#1 DL) and Pierre TF Riggs defensive end [player_tooltip player_id='210623' first='Elijah' last='Boutchee'] rounding out just the top five. The other newcomer within the top ten is 6'4 280 pound DL/OL [player_tooltip player_id='997454' first='Micah' last='Hach'] (#7 overall, #3 DL), who has plenty of promising upside with his junior tape and an intriguing wrestling background. The two other known names that stuck in the top 10 are Madison's [player_tooltip player_id='472843' first='Israel' last='Ouverson'] and Tea Area's [player_tooltip player_id='797956' first='Jacob' last='Jongejeugd']. Every prospect in my eyes within this top 10 that I listed, has a Division I ceiling.   Speeding Newcomers   Who are five prospects that are 2025 newcomers to the rankings but are growing their stock the fastest? Meet the 2025 South Dakota prospects from Pierre TF Riggs, Rapid City Central, Watertown, Canton, and Sioux Falls Lincoln that rose the fastest from newcomers into well-known names in the state.   [player_tooltip player_id='1003956' first='Carson' last='Stoeser'], DB, Pierre TF Riggs <a href="https://twitter.com/Carson4726">Twitter</a>   Everyone is well-aware that the Governors are a powerhouse in 11AA no question about it, however in back to years they have become a hotbed for defensive backs with plenty of length (6'0+) including 2025 prospect [player_tooltip player_id='1003956' first='Carson' last='Stoeser']. Carson is quick with his reactive instinct with his ball-tracking ability and shows off precise ball angles to get his hands in front of the wide receiver. Carson also plays with a solid motor and will be the kid that will run down a ball carrier trying to escape around the edges. At 6'1 160 pounds playing alongside the secondary with Mankato commit [player_tooltip player_id='473978' first='Spencer' last='Skjonsberg'] and Wayne State commit [player_tooltip player_id='533139' first='Spencer' last='Easland'], there is a reason why the Governors defense is only averaging 6 points per game defensively thru the first four weeks. Carson is DB1 in our new 2025 South Dakota rankings.   [player_tooltip player_id='1003933' first='Benjamin' last='Paepke'], OL, Rapid City Central <a href="https://twitter.com/paepkebenjamin">Twitter</a>   The younger brother of South Dakota State freshman William Paepke, the force of the hands of 6'5 280 pound right tackle [player_tooltip player_id='1003933' first='Benjamin' last='Paepke'] has caught our interest quickly within the first four weeks of the season. Benjamin shows quick hand speed and excellent pad-level on his blocks and is a constant finisher for the Cobblers on the right side of their offensive line with good driving feet into the second level. Benjamin is an OT prospect that I also thought the longer I watched his tape, got more fluid with his footwork and first step as he checks in as #26 overall and OL6 in our new 2025 South Dakota rankings.   [player_tooltip player_id='997454' first='Micah' last='Hach'], DL/OL, Watertown <a href="https://twitter.com/HachMicah58694">Twitter</a>   The Watertown Arrows have a fiesty 6'4 280 pound nose tackle in [player_tooltip player_id='997454' first='Micah' last='Hach'] that climbed from a newcomer into our top 10 overall with this new 2025 South Dakota rankings update. There is plenty of fluidity with Micah's hands when he sheds off the defenders as this young man has some instinctive vision with how well he attacks the A-gap on an inside run. Not only is he feisty with his hands, he shows off steady strength with his wrestling background to drive downhill into the backfield and make the ball carrier quite uncomfortable in the backfield. The development with his first step will come, but the possessing hands this kid has looks like a FCS prospect that will intrigue any of the Dakotas schools along I-29.   [player_tooltip player_id='997447' first='Cain' last='Wallner'], ATH, Canton <a href="https://twitter.com/WallnerCain">Twitter</a>   Our Prep Redzone Dakoats subscribers probably recall [player_tooltip player_id='997447' first='Cain' last='Wallner'] of Canton from our Big Dogs of the Week in recent week as this young man is one of the biggest swiss army knifes the Dakotas have to offer. I have never seen any 6'3 215 pound athletes that have the vision in the return game like Cain has, as he has taken multiple kickoff returns for touchdowns within the first four weeks. When I evaluated the pass-catching ability of Cain within the first four weeks of the season, every rep I have seen from him shows off intriguing attention to detail in high-traffic areas as a prospect that plays with plenty of loaded football IQ in his DNA. Cain checks in at #3 overall in South Dakota and the #1 athlete in South Dakota and I would say in the entire Dakotas as well if I were to stack up both states.   [player_tooltip player_id='798250' first='Luke' last='Krempges'], DL, Sioux Falls Lincoln <a href="https://twitter.com/Luke_Krempges">Twitter</a>   At 6'5 230 pounds Luke has shown thru the first four weeks just how athletic he is getting off the line with his first step and how much athleticism this young man has with his bend at the line for his size at defensive end for the Patriots. The constant physicality Luke shows off when he makes contact certainly has some buzz to it, as a prospect that is developing quickly with his instincts inside. He also shows off the long reach that I love for the defensive end position as he can control the inside with plenty of length and has some agile moves that he uses constantly on tape. Luke comes into our rankings as the #4 overall prospect and the #1 defensive linemen in South Dakota's new 2025 rankings.   Who Could Raise Their Stock by the Next 2025 South Dakota Rankings Update?   These are the early names that I believe will likely be stockrisers when we look at the 2025 rankings in the coming months based on the tape they have put out thus far this season.   [player_tooltip player_id='321166' first='Riley' last='Svanda'], RB, Tea Area <a href="https://twitter.com/RileySvanda">Twitter</a>   [player_tooltip player_id='782753' first='Justin' last='Kabera'], DB, Harrisburg <a href="https://twitter.com/justinkabera1">Twitter</a>   [player_tooltip player_id='798261' first='Victor' last='Hernandez'], OL, Sioux Falls Jefferson<a href="https://twitter.com/_Victorhernandz"> Twitter</a>   [player_tooltip player_id='1003934' first='Drake' last='Jellema'], DB, Brandon Valley <a href="https://twitter.com/drakejellema">Twitter</a>   [player_tooltip player_id='1003973' first='Carson' last='Ness'], WR, Yankton<a href="https://twitter.com/CarsonNess7"> Twitter</a>   [player_tooltip player_id='351558' first='Tater' last='Johnson'], RB, Rapid City Stevens <a href="https://twitter.com/TaterJohnson23">Twitter</a>   [player_tooltip player_id='1003989' first='Spencer' last='Wientjes'], LB, Watertown <a href="https://twitter.com/SpencerWientje2">Twitter</a>   [player_tooltip player_id='798257' first='Damaris' last='Fields'], DB, Sioux Falls Jefferson <a href="https://twitter.com/_Damaris_Fields">Twitter</a>   [player_tooltip player_id='1003937' first='Domonic' last='Ghost Bear'], WR, Pine Ridge <a href="https://twitter.com/domonicGB">Twitter</a>   [player_tooltip player_id='321185' first='Reuben' last='Diehyee'], DL, Sioux Falls Lincoln <a href="https://twitter.com/diehyeereuben1">Twitter</a>   What's Next with the 2025 North 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: Who rose their stock from our last update and why?   New Additions: Who are the new faces to the 2025 South Dakota Rankings?

SOUTH DAKOTA-- The 2025 South Dakota rankings update has now been released here! In this preview we show off our new top five, who are some quickly rising newcomers to our rankings, and I pick out 10 prospects that I expect to rise from their current ranking by next update which will be out Mid-November early December and much more!