Prep Redzone Dakotas Combine: Top Defensive Backs, Part I

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>SIOUX FALLS-- </strong>With reaching an all-time high for attendance at our Prep Redzone Dakotas Combine for defensive backs, this DB group will be broken up in two parts to find out who the top performers in the secondary were. From the new names that got their first look this weekend, to 2026 DBs living up to their ranking, and another DB that will fill out an offer sheet in my eyes in the coming months, here is Part I of our top defensive backs from our Prep Redzone Dakotas Combine.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Nic Steinert","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2495","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Moorhead","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Nicolaus made the haul from Moorhead to Sioux Falls for our Prep Redzone Dakotas Combine and although he likely has a growth spurt coming, I like how this young 2027 prospect tested and performed later in our combine. The most impressive testing numbers documented his change of direction, posting a 7.32 in the L-drill and two consistent short shuttle numbers that topped out at 4.65. From the couple of reps I watched Nicolaus, you could tell the upside trends high for this kid as he is one I would like to re-evaluate next Spring to see where he ends up, as there were 1v1 reps where you could see that twitch match up well with what we saw in the early testing.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"Gage Hatch","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_1_player_details_weight":"155","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"2495","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"Detroit Lakes","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_1_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Great skillsets were being shown by NW Minnesota prospects in the DB group on Saturday at Augustana and that included one of two from Detriot Lakes which was Gage Hatch in the 2025 class. Gage was one of our early pop outs from the eye test, prior to the start of testing as his sudden and finished speed struck a chord with my live eval. I would have loved to see what Gage's splits were in his 4.88 40 yard dash and I felt their was more juice in the back of those testing reps. Gage showed off efficency in his later reps by showing off a good mix of change of direction and burst as a defensive back that struck a chord with me during Indy. Gage needs a big summer and senior year upcoming to lock in to play at the next level.u003cbru003eu003cbru003eu003ca href=u0022https://twitter.com/Gage_Hatch23u0022u003eTwitteru003c/au003e","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["929957"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"The live eval is huge for coaches/scouts this time of year, as I knew I had to zoom in and watch our DB2 in 2026 in Bismarck Century's [player_tooltip player_id='929957' first='Xander' last='Hanson']. Xander came in almost right on the money with his measurables which was great to see and to not much surprise was one of the first looks I got on my notepad from the defensive back position. Xander was one that took every rep he was given with solid attention to detail and was rewarded at the end as one of our five top performers amongst the DB group. The 1v1 rep I watched that stuck, showed off that Xander had the wide receiver in his pocket, as he did not give an inch and clinged to the WR like a magnet and showed off progressive ball-tracking skills along with it. In testing, the promising numbers Xander put up will certainly get him some camp invites this summer as his top numbers was a 7.31 L-drill, 4.78 40-yard dash (which was the range I hoped to see him in) the explosion popping out with a 9'0 broad jump. Certainly Xander will be a DB prospect you see on Saturdays as a top 20 prospect overall in North Dakota.u003cbru003eu003cbru003eu003ca href=u0022https://twitter.com/HansonXanderghu0022u003eTwitteru003c/au003e","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["1239664"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Nolan started his day with running one of the best 40-yard dashes out of the entire 100+ players in attendance, as the 2026 defensive back from Brandon Valley ran a 4.69. He was another DB prospect that his measurables came in closely to what he signed up at which is always great to see out of underclassmen. Nolan also showed off early what was some excellent twitch with a 4.34 short shuttle which was tied for first for best at our combine. Nolan excelled across all his testing on the second reps he was given which was impressive. Named a top 5 top performer amongst the defensive back group on Saturday. Nolan really impressed me with his 1v1 reps as the magnetic ball instincts this young man possesses along with making his presence known despite not the biggest DB in the world with his physicality showed him off as a prospect with a high football IQ and plenty of more time to development in a Brandon Valley program that knows a thing or two about developing their underclassmen. Received a camp invite yesterday too from for his performance with the FCS National Champions in the SDSU Jackrabbits which was great to see and I am sure that won't be the last one made this summer.u003cbru003eu003cbru003eu003ca href=u0022https://twitter.com/PudwillNol91122u0022u003eTwitteru003c/au003e","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["1248065"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Andy was one of very few prospects from Saturday that was all over my notepad, and with the attendance we had in attendance, that sure is impressive. The second 2025 defensive back from Detroit Lakes on our defensive back standouts. After recording an 11.21 100-meter dash the night before, Andy showed off that verified speed quickly with a 4.69 40-yard dash which was one of the top numbers this DB group saw on Saturday at Augustana. He did not just show off the speed, it was clear by Indy drills that Andy showed off the ball skills with his hands to play in the secondary at the next-level. He is another one that was nominated to our DB top performers. His reactive instincts showed out during a few 1v1 reps as he showed off smooth balance with his change of direction. Andy will be one to know at camps this summer and I wouldn't be surprised to see him get a few offers in the next month or two.u003cbru003eu003cbru003eu003ca href=u0022https://twitter.com/andrew_bartnesu0022u003eTwitteru003c/au003e","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","fullHeight":true,"anchor":"acf-block-66457d0fa3663"} /-->