Grand Forks 2025 Next Level Prospects to Know

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>GRAND FORKS--</strong> Tonight we take a look at some of the prospects that in our eyes, fit the bill as next level prospects in the 2025 class out of Grand Forks. Their is certainly some talented next-level prospects in Grand Forks coming thru, with Grand Forks Central finishing as 11AA runner up this fall, and Grand Forks Red River who in my honest analysis has one of the best 2025 classes of next-level prospects in North Dakota. So lets dig in and meet the Next Level Prospects to Know out of Grand Forks in our 2025 class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Thomas Kraft, RB, Grand Forks Red River (2025)</strong> <a href="https://twitter.com/krafty_t1">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1090461,"width":"224px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/11/Thomas-Kraft.jpg?w=400" alt="" class="wp-image-1090461" style="width:224px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The durability Thomas brings to the table is sure fun to watch, as this young man has a low center of gravity to explode out of high traffic areas and get downhill swiftly. Thomas also shows off intriguing vision that shows fluid athletic movement as a elusive running back that can progress east-west or north-south showing off his versatility along with sound patience waiting for his line to give him the gaps he needs to penetrate downfield. He also shows his efficiency as a pass-catcher, as I like the athletic balance Thomas shows off over the top of the secondary on tape as he plays with plenty of smooth skillsets. Not only will Thomas be a stockriser in this 2025 North Dakota class, he certainly should be within the top 2-3 running backs on our rankings in my eyes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Keagen Houser, ATH, Grand Forks Central (2025)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Keagen is a prospect I didn't have on my radar until the 11AA state championship game, as he showed off a 2025 prospect that is progressing on all three levels of the field. I like his vision he shows off for the Knights in the return game, and offensively I see their being a developmental curve as far as his patience going into the offseason with the ball in his hands. He does have some agility at his disposal to utilize which we saw against Fargo North. There is not enough tape to evaluate Keagen further, but I look forward to tracking this young man over the next several months as a junior to watch for Grand Forks Central.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='720291' first='Pearce' last='Parks'], QB, Grand Forks Red River (2025) </strong><a href="https://twitter.com/PearceParks_">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1090465,"width":"298px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/05/IMG_8015-crop-1170x769-1700194039-crop-640x421-1700194063.jpeg?w=639" alt="" class="wp-image-1090465" style="width:298px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Next up we take a look at one of North Dakota's top quarterbacks in 6'2 205 pound [player_tooltip player_id='720291' first='Pearce' last='Parks'] of Grand Forks Red River. Pearce's decision-making on the fly has taken it up a notch this year, as you see it on his first play on tape, as he sells his quick instincts to run and then at the last second releases a pretty touch ball down field with elite precision. He also shows off excellent athleticism when he leaves the pocket, as Pearce shows off plenty of slippery rushing ability downfield. Pearce has also gotten more persistent with his touch throws on intermediate routes, as he certainly shows off a quick release with well-balanced poise inside the pocket. Much like his big brother Paine (LB at UND) I certainly believe Pearce has a Division I ceiling.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Brayden Dirckx, DB, Grand Forks Central (2025)</strong> <a href="https://twitter.com/DirckxBrayden">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Brayden is a cornerback prospect in the 2025 class for Grand Forks Central that I believe plays bigger than his 5'10 165 pound measurables will show you, as I like his agile change of direction and his physical presence around the ball in which he plays with a well-versed football IQ. He also positions himself well when he reaches the tackle box, as Brayden plays with good amounts of physicality around the edges with his vision and contact levels. He can develop this off season with his agility as I believe Brayden can grow a faster release with his change of direction getting to the ball quicker when playing deeper on his wide receiver. Brayden also checks my eye with his ball-tracking ability as he has proficient vision defending intermediate routes. He certainly can develop into a next-level player in my eyes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Ray Dusek, LB, Grand Forks Red River (2025)</strong> <a href="https://twitter.com/RayDusek34">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1090467,"width":"301px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/11/Ray-Dusek-crop-331x218-1700194127.jpg?w=330" alt="" class="wp-image-1090467" style="width:301px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If you want a next-level linebacker that has great vision within his skillsets, you will want to take a look at Grand Forks Red River middle linebacker Ray Dusek. I love how well Ray penetrates quickly up into his gaps as he has a well-driven motor that just clings so well to the ball in pass coverage or stopping the run, there certainly is some multifaceted athleticism he shows off. Ray also looks like with his reach has more length in his arms to slow down the ball carrier than you would expect with his measurables. He certainly has a next-level ceiling playing on Saturdays in my eyes as this is a linebacker you go slightly outside the size threeshold for.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='669323' first='JB' last='Walters'], OL, Grand Forks Red River (2025)</strong> <a href="https://twitter.com/JBWalters6">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1090469,"width":"344px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/11/IMG_8409-rotated-crop-480x316-1700194224.jpg?w=480" alt="" class="wp-image-1090469" style="width:344px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another Division I level prospect in my eyes for the Roughriders is 6'4 260 pound offensive tackle [player_tooltip player_id='669323' first='JB' last='Walters'] who was one of my consistent camp standouts last summer in the Dakotas as I love this young man's character as well as his skillsets. JB shows off an agile first step with his footwork as he plays with plenty of competitive balance consistently on every rep you watch him on tape. He has very controlling hands at the point of attack and length and fluidly maintains his well-versed pad level and with his strength makes quick work with how balanced his control is with his drive blocking to get his defender to the turf. JB also has developed since watching him at the SDSU prospect camp with his angle-blocking as his positioning has certainly grown getting deeper leverage from what I saw last summer. I would expect the Missouri Valley schools in the Dakotas to be all over this young man by before next summer.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='321167' first='Carter' last='Flom'], WR/DB, Grand Forks Red River (2025)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1090471,"width":"307px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/11/Carter-Flom-crop-331x218-1700194300.jpg?w=330" alt="" class="wp-image-1090471" style="width:307px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Talk about a young man that has made a transformation in the weight room since our last tape evaluation, as Carter has put on some sufficient frame into this 2023 season and it has paid off dividends for him. At 5'11, Carters shows off plenty of vertical and length as a pass-catcher as his first clip he shows off that range with a Odell Beckham like catch and found the first down marker. At cornerback, Carter shows off progressive pursuit angles on the fly and I love the way he adjusts his alignment to better see the ball with his ball-tracking ability. He shows off efficiency with his footwork, and his football IQ diagnoses plays quickly with his reactive instincts and consistently makes the smart football play instead of going for the home run interception. He has some position flexibility at the next-level however, much like his older brother (DB at UND) Carter projects in my eyes in the secondary at the next-level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->