Dakota Wesleyan Prospect Camp: Nate's Standouts, Part I

MITCHELL, SD-- To close out four camps in one week a couple weeks back, we took our talents to Mitchell, South Dakota for the Dakota Wesleyan prospect camp. Known commonly by the Corn Palace which is the pride and joy of vibrant downtown Mitchell, we made our first run with the Tigers and their prospects in attendance. Covering the Dakotas for as long as I have, I have known for years how well DWU recruits the state of South Dakota and on every National Signing Day have found the definition of small town sleepers sprawling throughout their signed list of prospects. We certainly found our fair share that fit that in Part I of our standouts which includes mostly 2025s, but we found a 2026 and 2027 prospect that I cannot wait to watch them progress thru the rest of their high school seasons upcoming.   Aden Jepsen, OL/DL, Southeast Valley, IA 2025 <a href="https://x.com/jepsenaden">Twitter</a>   A prospect that flashed right away on the eye test was Southeast Valley (IA) 2025 Aden Jepsen. At 6'4 240 pounds, I came away impressed with how balanced Aden was with his footwork from the reps I watched at DWU and was efficient with his pad-level throughout camp as I felt there is still some upside to grow in that department from what my eyes saw. He was one that from start to finish at camp, showed off a more physical punch with his hands and finished stronger once he was able to dominate at the point of attack. Aden I felt had the highest upside amongst the offensive and defensive line in attendance in Mitchell as the change of direction is certainly there to play tackle at the next-level.   [player_tooltip player_id='1098257' first='Brody' last='Frick'], LB/WR, Sioux Falls Roosevelt, SD 2025 <a href="https://x.com/BrodyFrick">Twitter</a>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/07/IMG_1411-rotated-crop-385x253-1722458396.jpg?w=384" alt="" class="wp-image-1355813" style="width:320px;height:auto" /></figure>   Brody I felt was one of the best all-around athletes on both sides of the ball at the DWU prospect camp as there was plenty of explosive skillsets that popped out at me during my live eval in Mitchell. You always want your linebackers to have great COD, which Brody showed posting one of the top numbers at camp with his pro agility, His growing footwork since our Prep Redzone Dakotas Combine in May certainly struck a chord as a prospect that I could tell thrives with attention to the details. Brody was also one of the prospects I watched that was always motivating his teammates during the DWU camp which certainly popped out great leadership capabilities that will show in a next-level locker room. His much improved instincts should give him more NAIA attention the coming months.   [player_tooltip player_id='1320858' first='Carson' last='Johnson'], ATH/LB, Bridgewater-Emery-Ethan, SD 2027 <a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/carson-johnson-2/#player-bio">PRZ Profile</a>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/07/IMG_1407-rotated-crop-385x253-1722458446.jpg?w=384" alt="" class="wp-image-1355816" style="width:320px;height:auto" /></figure>   Carson is a ATH prospect that I saw as a stockriser in the 2027 class at the Dakota Wesleyan prospect camp. The football IQ that Carson played with seemed more like an incoming senior, than just a sophomore to be that he is. He showed off very explosive in the broad jump and too in his 40-yard dash as well. He also flashed with his triple jump, which was amongst the best in the entire camp which is quite impressive for his age. The versatility that Carson showed off positionally was fun to track in Mitchell as I felt wherever this young man lined up he had success on both sides of the ball in which offensively, his hands showed off to be poised. Defensively, I loved his vision at linebacker as Carson's sudden release clung downhill right into the ball carrier with great pursuit angles to the point of attack. Cannot wait to see how Carson develops in the coming years as although it sounds repetitive, Carson showed off the early signs of vibrant character, again for his age. It might be an early call that I usually don't make with prospects this young, but I love the chances of this young man playing scholarship college football.   [player_tooltip player_id='321185' first='Reuben' last='Diehyee'], DL, Sioux Falls Lincoln, SD 2025 <a href="https://x.com/diehyeereuben1">Twitter</a>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/07/IMG_1354-rotated-crop-385x253-1722458497.jpg?w=384" alt="" class="wp-image-1355819" style="width:337px;height:auto" /></figure>   You heard about his camp performance in Jamestown three days before but yet again at Dakota Wesleyan, Sioux Falls Lincoln defensive linemen [player_tooltip player_id='321185' first='Reuben' last='Diehyee'] caught my attention. He tested well in the broad jump and pro agility for his 5'11 230 pound size and I constantly saw the fluidity Reuben brought to the defensive trenches with his footwork and burst off his first step that in Mitchell showed off dominant shedding hands at the point of attack. That inside move that Reuben has even in a very short time grew more instinctive at DWU. Even as a defensive player playing offense in what is called "Tiger 8-Ball" at DWU, Reuben showed with his hands the stretching length and athleticism he has at his disposal. I learned at camps that week that Reuben is a DL prospect that absolutely loves to compete as one that should shoot up recruiting boards in early fall in my eyes.   Alex Carlson, LB, Sioux Falls O'Gorman, SD 2025 <a href="https://x.com/AlexCarlson_7">Twitter</a>   Alex was a linebacker that showed off the springy change of direction I had seen this Spring in 7v7 as he put those similar traits to work at the DWU prospect camp. Loved watching how persistent Alex was during camp with his quick vision and sudden first step as the wiry motor that Alex played with in Mitchell was fun to watch during his reps. I don't believe Alex gets enough credit with how textbook of a tackler he is in open space, as this kid will be a middle linebacker that will fight and squirm to get to the ball carrier. I also liked his awareness he showed off at DWU as Alex plays with a constant downhill presence just like on tape. He will be another prospect that will garner more next-level attention within the first coming weeks of the season as a name to watch for in the GPAC and Frontier Conferences recruiting wise amongst the Dakotas schools.   Hayden Bauer, TE/ATH, Pierce, NE 2026 <a href="https://x.com/HaydenBaue82513">Twitter</a>   A 2026 new name that popped out at the Dakota Wesleyan prospect camp to me was Hayden Bauer of Pierce High School in Nebraska. I could tell from testing that Hayden has good athletic upside to grow, as although he could have had a better start from the top of his 40-yard dash, the suddenness of his 40 and solid finish showed me what this prospect offers as an athlete on the field. Hayden also impressed me later in 1v1s with his catch radius, which I felt was longer than I had anticipated with his 6'2 185 pound frame. He also was one of the better receivers with his hands in the WR/TE group that I saw at DWU. Hayden is a prospect we will have to put in the wait and see category amongst the 2026s to see what his upcoming junior tape will look like.   Kaden Mathieu, WR/DB, Rapid City Central, SD 2025 <a href="https://x.com/Kaden_Mathieu4">Twitter</a>   Kaden was a 2025 wide receiver prospect that intrigued me with his great technique he showed off with his release points at the Dakota Wesleyan prospect camp. He boosted great fluidity too in the reps I got to watch and processed his route running well with good instincts and sold me significantly with his great hands he showed off in Mitchell. The tape shows off on Kaden one that wins with separation with his brakes as he only needs a small window to make a play and certainly is a wide receiver that has the football IQ of where the first down marker is. Kaden is one that can develop more sudden burst in the open field to as there is some upside with getting yards after the catch. No offers yet, but I see that changing this fall.   Parker Petry, DL/OL, Wagner, SD 2025 <a href="https://x.com/parkerpetry1">Twitter</a>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/07/IMG_1406-rotated-crop-385x253-1722458599.jpg?w=384" alt="" class="wp-image-1355823" style="width:349px;height:auto" /></figure>   Even though the young men that dominate in the trenches are not usually the workout warriors in testing, I was mildly impressed with that Wagner 2025 defensive end Parker Petry showed off as far as his technique as I felt too that all throughout his testing, the young man was quite fluid with his feet. This led to watching Parker more consistently in later reps, which yet again showed off a prospect with great translation with his footwork as there was great balance shown from Parker and upside to grow with his change of direction. I also came impressed with the precision Parker showed off with his hands on the inside move, as there was a good deal of football IQ that was shown too in those reps which lies consistent with his junior tape. Parker is one of a few small-school camp standouts from Wagner that has stood out this summer as the 6'1 230 pounder would be a excellent fit at the NAIA level.

MITCHELL, SD-- To close out four camps in one week a couple weeks back, we took our talents to Mitchell, South Dakota for the Dakota Wesleyan prospect camp. Known commonly by the Corn Palace which is the pride and joy of vibrant downtown Mitchell, we made our first run with the Tigers and their prospects in attendance. Covering the Dakotas for as long as I have, I have known for years how well DWU recruits the state of South Dakota and on every National Signing Day have found the definition of small town sleepers sprawling throughout their signed list of prospects. We certainly found our fair share that fit that in Part I of our standouts which includes mostly 2025s, but we found a 2026 and 2027 prospect that I cannot wait to watch them progress thru the rest of their high school seasons upcoming.