South Dakota: 2025 Winter Newcomers Into the Top 10

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>SOUTH DAKOTA--</strong> Moving onto the Mount Rushmore State, we take a look at the 2025 South Dakota Newcomers that were added to the 2025 rankings in our update last week. Much has changed since we last released these rankings before the 2023 fall season and these young men are the definition of that, as each in my eyes has a Division I ceiling. Let's meet the short list that was added to our rankings.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1152911"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":1191845,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Entering the Top 10 at #10 overall hails from the offensive linemen hotbed that is Brandon Valley in 6'5 285 pound [player_tooltip player_id='1152911' first='Lucas' last='Feldkamp']. It is hard to not see the blue collar work ethic Lucas possesses early on tape, as he shows off outstanding leverage and body control that shows to be quite balanced to advance into the second level. He also shows the finish that will drive block his defender into the next area code and till that whistle blows. He also shows off a solid understanding of angle-blocking, and I believe there is more upside that can be developed with that skillset. An early NSIC offer this early in the cycle is a great sign, as I expect Lucas stock to rise significantly over the next 4-6 months in yet another loaded class of South Dakota offensive linemen. u003ca href=u0022https://twitter.com/LucasRFeldkampu0022u003eTwitteru003c/au003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["1152909"],"_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":"One of my favorite winter tape finds prior to this 2025 South Dakota rankings update is [player_tooltip player_id='1152909' first='Elias' last='Gillen'] out of Rapid City Stevens, as this kid is certainly a hidden gem as he lands at #8 overall. At 6'6 305 pounds. Elias constantly gets to the second level and his strength just rapidly shows at the point of attack as his control and physical hands fully grasp his defender to the core. He also has an athletic bend for his massive size. When you get Elias as a leading pull-blocker, he runs like a downhill bulldozer with his ability to combo block. All the feedback I have heard about Elias, points out as another Division I target on the offensive line coming out of Rapid City. u003ca href=u0022https://twitter.com/elias_gillenu0022u003eTwitteru003c/au003e","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["1152910"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_player_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Climbing into our Top 10 at #6 overall, is [player_tooltip player_id='1152910' first='Austin' last='Miller'] out of Sioux Falls Jefferson. The nearly 6'7 215 pound defensive end was impressive at our Prep Redzone Iowa/Nebraska Showcase as his quick twitch off the snap impressed our scouts in attendance. Austin's length in his arms surely causes destruction as his long reach allows him to use his instincts to shed off blocks quickly and he has highly impressive athletic movement when moving laterally thru the inside box as he shows to be more rangy than you would expect a DE prospect of his size to be. He also shows off an superb football IQ that you can tell pre-snap knows has  great vision of where the ball is going. Austin is another Division I target in my eyes coming from a program in Sioux Falls Jefferson that has already churned out tons of next-level talent and just sound athletes thru their strength and conditioning program. u003ca href=u0022https://twitter.com/Miller_Austin01u0022u003eTwitteru003c/au003e","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":3,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65da5a5827dd3"} /-->