Prep Redzone Dakotas Showcase: DL Standouts
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JAMESTOWN, ND– Last but not at all least, we take a look at the defensive line standouts from the Prep Redzone Dakotas Showcase. In my honest opinion, this was one of the deepest groups from a talent perspective amongst all…
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Continue ReadingJAMESTOWN, ND– Last but not at all least, we take a look at the defensive line standouts from the Prep Redzone Dakotas Showcase. In my honest opinion, this was one of the deepest groups from a talent perspective amongst all position at our showcase at the University of Jamestown. The amount of underclassmen talent too, as we met and had some of the Dakotas top underclassmen in the DL group. Who cracked our list? Find out below.
Some under the radar prospects just “pop” when they get their hands on their defender and make you turn your head, which was the case with Flasher defensive linemen CL Weinberger CL Weinberger 6’1″ | 215 lbs | ATH Flasher | 2025 State ND . Where CL showed off that “pop” rep I mentioned was in 1v1s, where he showed off his quick-based vision and quick first step to show off a sound pursuit angle to the ball carrier in the backfield with his good footwork he showed off too that played with a plethora of balance at 6’1 205 pounds. CL also showed off an athletic bend from what my eyes could see and could quickly shed off his blockers at our Prep Redzone Dakotas Showcase with ease. he certainly looked like a prospect that would be a great NAIA or Division II fit amongst the Dakotas schools with some further growth of his frame.
Highlights
If there was one high school program that won the team MVP at our Prep Redzone Dakotas Showcase especially in the defensive line group, it would have been the Central Cass Squirrels and of course we had plenty of eyes on our #1 overall prospect in North Dakota’s 2026 class in Evan Wiersma Evan Wiersma 6’2″ | 285 lbs | DL Central Cass | 2026 State ND . I have watched Evan’s tape a bunch, and what I saw in a live setting, he certainly showed off the workhorse demeanor I was hoping to see on every rep I got to watch in Jamestown. When I watched Evan in Indy drills, I was highly impressed at nearly 6’2 290 pound how fluid and balanced his footwork was in the trenches. He also brought that fluidity with his shedding ability and brought blue-collar like hands with his pad-level which was consistent for the bulk of the showcase. He has some development brewing as far as his speed and agility with his first step, but he certainly showed off why he is one of North Dakota’s top prospects in the 2026 class with a bright next-level future in my eyes.
Squirrels might be considered pesky creatures to some in the Dakotas, but in my eyes the pesky hands of Central Cass 2025 defensive end Trevon Quam Trevon Quam 6’2″ | 215 lbs | LB Central Cass | 2026 State ND were alive and well at our Prep Redzone Dakotas Showcase in Jamestown. Not only was Trevon sound with his feisty hands, but I loved watching his agility with his footwork take shape, as I believe Trevon opened up his positional flexibility for the next-level by his showing in Jamestown as an potential outside linebacker as well. He also had an impressive time in the L-Drill at 7.38 to add to that upside. This kid also showed fluid vision from the reps I watched, and I liked the moves he showed off in 1v1s showing off the moves he has at his disposal. Trevon is certainly a 2025 to know out of Central Cass, as I would consider their 2024, 2025 and 2026 prospects as a hotbed program for the next-level.
Layton was another 2026 defensive linemen I had circled prior to our Prep Redzone Dakotas Showcase, as one of the top defensive linemen in the 2026 class in North Dakota. What did Layton show off in Jamestown? His pad-level certainly popped out in my eyes and he showed more agility coming off his first step and initial contact than I had expected with his developing footwork. This young man also has a grinder of a motor that you want in the trenches of your defensive line, and on tape Layton shows off a defensive tackle that can go make a tackle around the edges of the field with a plethora of physicality on every tackle. Layton showed off a 2026 prospect that I see having a great upcoming junior year and a sizable ceiling with his upside.
Highlights
There was not a more polished 2027 prospect in the building than Bismarck Century defensive linemen Ian Schweigert Ian Schweigert 6’2″ | 265 lbs | DL Century | 2027 ND last Sunday in Jamestown at our Prep Redzone Dakota Showcase. If I had to give out an Underclassmen MVP from Sunday, it certainly would go to Ian. Even from the early reps, I was impressed with Ian’s bend for his age and especially with his loaded football IQ that is only going to keep growing over time. He also showed off a plethora of athletic moves at the point of attack that he constantly showed off in 1v1s which were eye-opening to plenty of college coaches in attendance I spoke with being just a freshmen for the Patriots. He also was very impressive with his leverage from my viewing, as a 1st-Team All Camp team from my first look at him. He by far will be one of the top 2027 prospects in the Dakotas in my eyes.
Highlights
Jack first caught my eyes at our Prep Redzone Dakotas Showcase when I saw him at the broad jump, in which his explosion jumped out to a 8’7 which at 6’4 200 pounds, was eye-popping as one of the top broad jumps in the defensive line group. Jack also impressed me from the early drills by passing my eye test with with his dexterity, which he showed off plenty of smooth balance with his athletic movement which had me locked in when we got into Indy and 1v1s. In 1v1s, Jack showed off all the length he had at his disposal, as a long-strider off the edge that played with an excellent finish on every rep I caught in Jamestown. The agility Jack has getting around his defender is only going to continue to develop and growing more moves with the use of his hands certainly shows off what looks like one of South Dakota’s next up defensive linemen in the 2026 class that has tons of upside. You will certainly see this young man on Saturdays, which despite the light tape so far looks like he has a high ceiling.
The elusively quick hand speed Karter showed off in the reps I watched out him were damaging at our Prep Redzone Dakotas Showcase as the 6’3 260 pound defensive linemen from small town Groton, South Dakota took home our DL MVP in Jamestown. Not only were Karter’s hands quick, he showed off a fluid pad-level with his hand positioning from the reps I watched and won a handful of reps with his excellent position angles which allowed him to get downhill quickly. The athleticism that Karter showed off along with his next-level ideal measurables certainly puts him as a South Dakota 2026 prospect to know that has a very high ceiling. This kid is the definition of a hidden gem out of North Central South Dakota in my eyes.