South Dakota 2026 Spring Rankings Preview

SOUTH DAKOTA--After a long hiatus in the Mount Rushmore State dating back to last fall, we have update our South Dakota 2026 rankings <a href="https://prepredzone.com/dakotas/rankings/south-dakota-rankings/2026-rankings/">here</a> . Rankings take a lot of time and effort, so we certainly appreciate those that have stuck with us thru the Fall, Winter, and into Spring. This 2026 South Dakota class grew substancially since last time, expanding from 90 prospects up to 105 prospects with another 25 or so on our watchlist for future evaluation. The biggest thing I will tell my Dakotas prospects is after the season, run thru your tape consistently and be sure create a highlight tape and put your best stuff on top for college coaches to see your talent early. I felt with this 2026 SD update, I had plenty of sound football prospects that did not do their due diligence and get their tape up before or after basketball or wrestling season, which saw a significant shift within our rankings moving those prospects into our watch list as in my eyes as a scout, it doesn't show the competitive drive that you want an opportunity at the next-level and that is what we are all about giving prospects across the Dakotas, the exposure to college programs thru rankings and content with the college network we have from Division I to JUCO, and all divisions in between.   With every rankings update, I think it is best to unleash a preview of the class. Go over the trends of the class with who positions are trending upwards, how much change there was in the rankings (this SD class was not as top-heavy as ND) and who are some of our favorites from the newcomers to the rankings and the stockrisers. With all that said, let us preview the South Dakota 2026 Spring Rankings Update!   Our PRZ Prospect Evaluation Process:   This is always what I start with, as it is essential to what you see on our site, and what our why is of producing so much content on Dakotas football prospects 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 evaluate prospects on next-level potential not stats, not on the team's success in the state, it's all about prospect upside, and how their skillsets fit in and apply at the next level when it comes down to measurables, athleticism and everything else that college programs measure as far as skillsets within their evaluations. All prospects will need to have tape available or have been referred to us by our anonymous sources throughout the North Dakota or South Dakota. We have always found that some prospects will peak early in their high school careers which is why our rankings change 3-4 times per year at Prep Redzone Dakotas, because we also always factor in several live evaluations year-around thru college prospect camps in the spring and summer, games during the fall season, and new to South Dakota, 7v7 season. We have seen several 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.   Meet Our New Top 5:   #5: [player_tooltip player_id='848976' first='Cody' last='Petersen'], OL, Tea Area <a href="https://twitter.com/CodyPetersen76">Twitter</a>   #4: [player_tooltip player_id='1212282' first='Edward' last='Whiting'], TE, Sioux Falls Jefferson <a href="https://twitter.com/EdwardWhiting9">Twitter</a>   #3: [player_tooltip player_id='849018' first='Grant' last='Wilkinson'], OL, De Smet <a href="https://twitter.com/GrantWilk07">Twitter</a>   #2: [player_tooltip player_id='402517' first='Dveyoun' last='Bonwell-Witte'], WR, Sioux Falls Washington <a href="https://twitter.com/Dveyoun11">Twitter</a>   #1: [player_tooltip player_id='394729' first='Hudson' last='Parliament'], DL, Brandon Valley <a href="https://twitter.com/Hud_Parliament">Twitter</a>   Nate's Key Points from the 2026 South Dakota Rankings Update   The Value in the Trenches   If there is anything these two classes in the Dakotas teaches us, is prospects in the trenches remain the highest value to college coaches and ourselves as both Dakotas are very deep on both sides of the line. That starts with our #1 overall Dakotas prospect in [player_tooltip player_id='394729' first='Hudson' last='Parliament'], who is the earliest Division I offered athlete during our era of Prep Redzone Dakotas since 2020. The one that came out of left field in the trenches in the top five? That is [player_tooltip player_id='849018' first='Grant' last='Wilkinson'] (6'8 305, no typo) of De Smet, who I have covered the family tree of Wilkinson family athletes over the years, and Grant looks to be the most dominant in my eyes on the gridiron and I am sure like his brothers, are studs on the hardwood too.   Positional Changes Were Mighty in South Dakota   South Dakota wasn't as deep when it came down to true positional changes within our rankings, but the ones that stock rose up our 2026 rankings were powerful. First one that came to mind? [player_tooltip player_id='848853' first='Bradley' last='Esser'] of Harrisburg. The 6'3 195 pound has found his home at safety, as the classes new DB1 and #7 overall SD prospect Bradley not only has outstanding range and stamina that popped out early, but the tight area between him and the wide receiver blossomed on his sophomore tape. [player_tooltip player_id='825396' first='Alec' last='Austin'] of Centerville is another one that more and more on tape shows off his pure development at quarterback as a prospect that was one of heck of an athlete all over the field when I discovered his talents two summers ago at the Augustana camp. Other notables that benefitted for a position change to their next-level upside are:   [player_tooltip player_id='1235852' first='Younger' last='Amiotte'], DB, Wall <a href="https://twitter.com/younger_amiotte">Twitter</a>   DB3 in the SD 26 class. Yes, another Amiotte from Wall is high on our map from the West River powerhouse that is the Wall Eagles.   [player_tooltip player_id='563997' first='Kamden' last='Schimmel'], DB, Harrisburg <a href="https://twitter.com/iceWater223">Twitter</a>   Noticing a trend here? Defensive backs in this class are at an all-time high in South Dakota when it comes to value, as [player_tooltip player_id='563997' first='Kamden' last='Schimmel'] is another one that I had graded at quarterback, but watching his downhill physicality he showed on tape as well as his body type, he flashes more next-level as a defensive back to me.   [player_tooltip player_id='848931' first='Cael' last='Nofziger'], DB, Sioux Falls Jefferson <a href="https://twitter.com/cael_nofziger1">Twitter</a>   Last year I recall Cael being ranked at linebacker but at defensive back, he flashes some well-versed instincts and plays WAY bigger than you will see in the measurables department.   [player_tooltip player_id='929809' first='Oliver' last='Fieber'], WR, Deuel <a href="https://twitter.com/ofieber8">Twitter</a>   I will name my source for this one, as he is a former scout of ours. Jake Evans has told me that Deuel Cardinals speed demon [player_tooltip player_id='929809' first='Oliver' last='Fieber'] will send more relentless speed to Deuel's receiving core next year as a WR that hits in the 10.6 range on the track in the 100-meter dash.   Who Pops Out Early as a Stockriser and a Newcomer?   This one will be just a list, but there are several to name in both categories and throughout the coming weeks, we will shout out just about all of them.   Stockrisers:   [player_tooltip player_id='929916' first='Isaak' last='Hunter'], WR, Miller-Highmore-Harrold <a href="https://twitter.com/isaakhunter_">Twitter</a>   Not only has a great bloodline being the brother of Karst Hunter, but Isaak flashes so much big play ability on tape consistently, he just shows off a sound clutch gene especially around the red zone.   [player_tooltip player_id='825411' first='Henry' last='Telechan'], DB, Rapid City Stevens <a href="https://twitter.com/HenryTelechan">Twitter</a>   Henry ranks pretty highly amongst defensive backs that have shined at our Prep Redzone Dakotas Combines even as just a 2026 prospect, so those DBs that want a ton of reps on May 11th at Augustana, you better take note. Henry checks a lot of boxes with his just overall size at 6'2 180, which is rare DB size in the Dakotas. South Dakota 2026 DB2 I thought showed improved versatility on tape in run and pass coverage which put him at #10 overall in our rankings.   [player_tooltip player_id='848993' first='Tate' last='Gerdes'], ATH, Lennox <a href="https://twitter.com/tategerdes11">Twitter</a>   Tate is a positional mismatch with what he throws out on tape at 6'3 205 pounds to my evaluation. How in does anyone in their right mind defend him with the ball in his hands is the question with Tate, as he is very long strided and had more burst at his disposal than I would have expected making him an open field nightmare.   More Notable Stockriers:   [player_tooltip player_id='929815' first='Danny' last='Immormino'], DB, Custer   [player_tooltip player_id='929919' first='Westyn' last='Thorpe'], ATH, Leola-Fredrick <a href="https://twitter.com/WestynT48866">Twitter</a>   Newcomers:   We will cover newcomers like clockwork this week so I will list off some of our favorites, but we will same their context for this week and next!   [player_tooltip player_id='1236460' first='Bergan' last='Tetzlaff'], LB, Brookings   A sophomore linebacker at 6'4 205 that moves fluidly that is capable of getting sideline to sideline? That is all I will say for now. Stay tuned.   [player_tooltip player_id='1236490' first='Ben' last='Veldkamp'], OL, Dell Rapids <a href="https://twitter.com/veldkampben18">Twitter</a>   No question the back to back state champion Quarriers show off a stacked offensive line, but before my evaluation this week, I like [player_tooltip player_id='1236490' first='Ben' last='Veldkamp']'s upside for the next-level.   [player_tooltip player_id='1212283' first='Cayden' last='Patterson'], DL, Kadoka Area   A small town sleeper to know sooner rather than later, but you might have to hit the road to find this young man as it has been hard over the years to find Kadoka Area athletes on my radar. As a 6'2 205 pound defensive end with great upside, [player_tooltip player_id='1212283' first='Cayden' last='Patterson'] is worth a road trip in my eyes in this 2026 class.   More Notable Newcomers:   [player_tooltip player_id='1212286' first='Connor' last='Kramer'], LB, Hot Springs <a href="https://twitter.com/kramer12279">Twitter</a>   [player_tooltip player_id='1212285' first='Layne' last='Bixby'], OL, Rapid City Central <a href="https://twitter.com/Layne_bix">Twitter</a>   ontent will flow between both Dakotas daily over the next week or two from each of these groups of article series:   What's On Tap with Content?   Newcomers (Multi-Part Series)   -Who was added to our prospect database of 2025 prospects and what do they bring to the table as far as their skillsets?   Stockrisers (Multi-Part Series)   -Which prospects that were already ranked in the 2026 class rose their stock from last fall into this offseason and why did their rank see improvement?   Positional Breakdowns (Multiple Positions)   -We will stack up some of our position groups and evaluate why x prospect was ranked over x prospect due to what their tape shows, live evaluation shows, etc. This will happen all Spring long!   Small Town Sleepers   One of my favorite article series every ranking update. Which prospects from sleepy small town America made waves on our rankings whether newcomers or stockrisers? We always love to talk the population too showing off these prospects from small town North Dakota.

SOUTH DAKOTA--After a long hiatus in the Mount Rushmore State dating back to last fall, we have update our South Dakota 2026 rankings here . Rankings take a lot of time and effort, so we certainly appreciate those that have stuck with us thru the Fall, Winter, and into Spring. This 2026 South Dakota class grew substancially since last time, expanding from 90 prospects up to 105 prospects with another 25 or so on our watchlist for future evaluation. The biggest thing I will tell my Dakotas prospects is after the season, run thru your tape consistently and be sure create a highlight tape and put your best stuff on top for college coaches to see your talent early. I felt with this 2026 SD update, I had plenty of sound football prospects that did not do their due diligence and get their tape up before or after basketball or wrestling season, which saw a significant shift within our rankings moving those prospects into our watch list as in my eyes as a scout, it doesn't show the competitive drive that you want an opportunity at the next-level and that is what we are all about giving prospects across the Dakotas, the exposure to college programs thru rankings and content with the college network we have from Division I to JUCO, and all divisions in between.