Preseason Preview: Plainview-Elgin-Millville

PEM went 3-6 last season and may not have had the desired success, but they return a strong class of 2025 prospects who are more than ready to make their mark in their section. I talked with an athlete on the team about who he thinks will be standout players next season, as well as what their identity as a team will be. He described them as an aggressive and fast-paced team that is primed for a breakout year in 2024. Meet some of the top talent from PEM!   QB/DB [player_tooltip player_id='551303' first='Alex' last='Hinrichs'] 6'3" 185 lbs 2025   It's not often you see a DB of Hinrichs caliber come from a small-outstate Minnesota town. But time and time again he continues to impress on his tape. His closing speed and ball skills are stellar, which often leads to several great pass breakups. PEM doesn't sling the rock a ton, but the outcome is usually positive when Hinrichs gets the ball in his hands. He has a great sense of balance for a QB and will burn you on backside bootlegs if you are not careful. His recruiting has seen a much-deserved uptick recently and we'll be monitoring his progress carefully throughout his senior season.   OL/DL Drew Rahman 6' 220 lbs 2025   Rahman is an OT/DE who enters his senior season looking to make a big impact on both sides of the ball. Offensively he's a little undersized at tackle but his mobility is phenomenal. He's forced to pull quite consistently with PEM's Wing-T scheme but when he does pull he's able to reach a defender quickly with often explosive results. However, I do think his defensive film is more intriguing. He lines up in a 4/4i a ton and Rahman can utilize a quick first step to beat linemen across their faces, but he's also shown the ability to manhandle bigger tackles if he gets his arms on them. He should be a formidable force on both sides of the ball next season.   RB Nolan Welke 5'11" 165 lbs 2025   Primarily known as a baseball prospect, Welke is one of two runningbacks in this article who look to step up into elevated roles in 2024. He's been described by teammates as an incredibly aggressive runner who isn't afraid to hit anyone but is also incredibly patient when it counts. Welke should be an interesting prospect to watch this upcoming fall.   RB Aaron Martinez 5'8" 160 lbs 2025   While Martinez doesn't have any tape available yet, he was spoken of very highly by his teammate. He was described as a shifty and elusive ball carrier whose dynamic in the open field. Martinez could be a sleeper prospect to know before the season starts this fall.   LB [player_tooltip player_id='234908' first='Logan' last='Dittrich'] 5'11" 160 lbs 2025   Dittrich is another prospect who is primarily known for his abilities on the baseball diamond, but he's also a solid MLB prospect in his own right. While he doesn't have any film from his junior season, he did put together some solid sophomore tape. Dittrich is a patient and gap-responsible linebacker. Even as a sophomore he shed oncoming linemen quickly and showed off impressive filling and scraping abilities. He could easily be a breakout defender next season.   LB Adrian Graner 5'10" 160 lbs 2026   An accomplished Greco-Roman wrestler and a 1x state entrant for PEM, Graner is a dangerous second-level athlete who can make his presence felt across the field. He's not the biggest kid on the field, but he doesn't back down when staring down massive offensive linemen, or wrapping up bigger RBs. It should come as no surprise to anyone that Graner tackles well. Grit, determination, and hustle define his play style and I could see him putting together a solid senior season.   TE/LB Alex Bedsted 6'2" 180 lbs 2025   A hard-hitting threat on both sides of the ball, Bedsted is the kind of kid I would have been scared to play in high school. PEM doesn't pass a lot, but when they do you better hope it doesn't go Bedsted's way because he'll run you over. Defensively, he's even better. He's more than capable of defending the run anywhere. If it's outside towards him Bedsted will wrong-arm the lead blocker before forcing the ball carrier up through the trenches. If it's inside, you better expect to see Bedsted right in the fray making a tackle. A great outstate find for coaches.   OL/DL [player_tooltip player_id='1256232' first='Carson' last='Hynes'] 6'7" 275 lbs 2026   A mammoth from the middle of nowhere, you'd be hard-pressed to find someone Hynes size in most outstate schools. He's a raw prospect still, but that doesn't diminish the incredible potential he holds. When he gets under you and gets his feet moving, Hynes is a one-man wrecking crew. If he can work on his footwork and knee bend this offseason, the sky is the limit for a prospect his size.

PEM went 3-6 last season and may not have had the desired success, but they return a strong class of 2025 prospects who are more than ready to make their mark in their section. I talked with an athlete on the team about who he thinks will be standout players next season, as well as what their identity as a team will be. He described them as an aggressive and fast-paced team that is primed for a breakout year in 2024. Meet some of the top talent from PEM!