Midwest Showcase: Standouts, Part I
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SIOUX FALLS– If you think we lay off the gas during 7v7 season, we certainly do not at Prep Redzone Dakotas. This time though, we took our talents to Sioux Falls Jefferson High School for the second annual Midwest Showcase…
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Continue ReadingSIOUX FALLS– If you think we lay off the gas during 7v7 season, we certainly do not at Prep Redzone Dakotas. This time though, we took our talents to Sioux Falls Jefferson High School for the second annual Midwest Showcase hosted by Bauer’s Elite and the Sioux Falls Sharks. In our second year in attendance, I thought the talent pool got deeper in 15U specifically and what I love most about 7v7 is the new names you get to know which does apply to this Part I of our standouts list. Mostly dominated with underclassmen early, we take a look at some of 15Us top defensive backs, my early favorite for QB1 in SD’s 2028 class, and more.
Grayer Vanhull, DB, Sioux Falls Sharks/Harrisburg 2026 Twitter
Gray was the first name that popped out in my game one viewing, as he showed off very instinctive vision and just clang to the ball on a very consistent basis. Grayer also showed off well-versed physicality with his ball tracking skills as he showed off a tiny window on the reps I watched against a tough Carroll Chargers offense that showed off some sound all day at the Midwest Showcase. Yet another DB to know out of Harrisburg, as this program is becoming an SD hotbed in the secondary.
Javi Vazquez, QB, Midwest Miners/Sioux Falls Washington 2028 Twitter
Javi was a 2028 quarterback I had learned a few weeks before the Midwest Showcase and was glad I got that live evaluation of him in Sioux Falls as he lived up to the hype I was hoping to see. I called it out at the Midwest Showcase, but right now Javi is my favorite quarterback in the incoming South Dakota 2028 class. In the first games I watched of Javi, he showed for his age how efficient he was on all three levels of the field and was a quarterback that certainly understood the proper ball speeds it took for his ball fits. Javi also passed the first look eye-test as I am sure there is not too many 6’1 180 pound 2028 quarterbacks with too the early composure he possessed and showed off in Sioux Falls. Javi is one quarterback I will be watching at this weekend’s Prep Redzone Dakotas Combine.
Kamden Schimmel Kamden Schimmel 6'0" | 170 lbs | DB Harrisburg | 2026 State SD , DB, Sioux Falls Sharks/Harrisburg 2026 Twitter
Harrisburg is loaded with defensive backs, that is clear especially in this 2026 class. Kamden showed off great length with his 6’0 170 pound body getting from sideline to sideline and showed off a safety that in my eyes played with a chip on his shoulder for the duration of the day. Kamden plays with a presence that you want out of your secondary as he has grown vocally over the years since I first live evaluated him as a freshmen quarterback. No question Kamden has a next-level future as a defensive back as safety looks like the best look in my eyes.
Brody Schafer Brody Schafer 5'11" | 160 lbs | QB Sioux Falls Lincoln | 2027 SD , QB, Sioux Falls Sharks/Sioux Falls Lincoln 2027 Twitter
Popping out twice is two weeks in 7v7 is a tough feat, but it’s even tougher as a freshmen but Sioux Falls Lincoln quarterback Brody Schafer Brody Schafer 5'11" | 160 lbs | QB Sioux Falls Lincoln | 2027 SD was able to it again at the Midwest Showcase in Sioux Falls. Brody I thought developed quickly from my Back 2 Ballin evaluation with his release, as it seemed like he was getting deeper with his reads than what I saw in Iowa. That depth too had improved with his release, as he was able to show off his composure in that South Dakota wind to show off some solid reps at the Midwest Showcase. No doubt Brody will be a top quarterback in that 2027 class in South Dakota.
Adam Malik, WR, Carroll Chargers, IA 2027 Twitter
Another target that was a recent Back 2 Ballin standout was Carroll 2027 wide receiver Adam Malik. I don’t know how many more adjectives to describe Adam’s game than what I already have recently provided, other than the quick development this kid has made in a frew short weeks. Sudden burst, great open field vision, and A+ character for his age are all the skills we have learned but I have certainly seen the growing football IQ too that Adam has grown as a WR prospect out of Iowa I cannot wait to get some tape on in his sophomore year as already I like the Saturday potential he has.
Jonah Juhl Jonah Juhl 6'0" | 155 lbs | WR Brandon Valley | 2027 SD , WR, Sioux Falls Sharks/Brandon Valley 2027 Twitter
My favorite newer name to this Part I list of standouts from the Midwest Showcase was Brandon Valley 2027 wide receiver Jonah Juhl Jonah Juhl 6'0" | 155 lbs | WR Brandon Valley | 2027 SD . Jonah wasn’t the biggest kid in the 15U divsion, but man did this young man impresse me with the length of his strides for his size and age too. Talk about a kid that is peaking with his length, Jonah also showed off a quite long catch radius on a handful of reps I was able to catch of him from the Midwest Showcase. Another 2027 you should see a sound ranking of in the South Dakota wide receiver group in the coming weeks.