Around the Dakotas: Nate’s Friday Night Standouts, Pt. 1

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DAKOTAS--</strong> Football season is fully back in the Dakotas and we are stoked to be back on the weekly grind of live game action! We start off our late Friday night by dishing out our Part I standouts in our Around the Dakotas series that we will do our absolute best to continue every Friday night during the regular season. Meet the couple 2026 standouts and all four of the 2024 standouts from North Dakota and South Dakota. Part II we will roll out tomorrow and remember, we focus on the skillsets, not the stat line that each young men show off.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1184865' first='Kaden' last='Olson'], QB, West Fargo Sheyenne 2025</strong> <a href="https://x.com/OlsonKaden10">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1228640,"width":"285px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/02/Kaden-Olson-crop-339x223-1709095653-crop-271x178-1711816645.jpg?w=270" alt="" class="wp-image-1228640" style="width:285px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kaden is a 2025 quarterback prospect that skillsets wise dropped a new skillset I hadn't seen much on his 2023 tape, but I was glad to see it come out further tonight. The 6'3 185 pounder showed more elusiveness getting out of jams with the inside of the pocket and turned those nothing gains into consistent field position. No doubt that this young man can certainly extend plays with his legs but the small window vision that Kaden has should hopefully open the door for next-level opportunities this fall. One of a few prospects on our radar in our Friday standouts that is still waiting on his first offer.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='848928' first='Daevion' last='Simonsen'], RB, Sioux Falls Jefferson, SD 2026</strong> <a href="https://x.com/daevions1monsen">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1412667,"width":"299px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/04/IMG_0543-rotated-crop-481x316-1725079985.jpg?w=480" alt="" class="wp-image-1412667" style="width:299px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I certainly saw Daevion's development blossom on the field at camps over the summer, but man did this young man show up in a big way tonight against Watertown. His constant downhill burst showed off excellent elusiveness inside and outside of the tackles. He also showed off his keyed in vision in his development since summer as Daevion was seeing the field extremely well in their rout against Watertown at Howard Wood Field. Fired up to see what he can do over the next several weeks even more.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='674786' first='Jax' last='Mattern'], QB, Fargo Shanley, ND 2026</strong> <a href="https://x.com/JaxMattern">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1347560,"width":"313px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/12/6-Jax-Mattern-crop-4378x2875-1711599934-crop-640x421-1721870680.jpg?w=639" alt="" class="wp-image-1347560" style="width:313px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jax is a quarterback that has been on my radar since he was a freshmen, and the amount of growth with his measurables and skillsets was certainly dialed up tonight against Fargo South. Even since camps this summer the fiery arm strength with a persistent quick release showed off on all three levels of the field against the Bruins. The 6'1 195 pounder already looks like an early stockriser even after Week 1 as I certainly expect high development from Jax especially with seeing his improved poise inside the pocket.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1003989' first='Spencer' last='Wientjes'], RB/ATH, Watertown, SD 2025</strong> <a href="https://x.com/SpencerWientje2">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Although the reps I watched out of Spencer tonight were mostly on offense, he provided one of the few flashes for the Watertown Arrows showing off his pure athleticism. Spencer at tailback is built like a bull with the ball in his hands in the backfield and what was most impressive was how much his change of direction popped out in live game reps, which certainly shows off the position flexibility for Spencer at the next-level. I will say even though I frown upon putting athletes on both my offensive and defensive Preseason All-State Teams in 11AA, Spencer is one I regret not having offensively.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='351519' first='Hunter' last='Walters'], RB/ATH, Spearfish, SD 2025</strong> <a href="https://x.com/h_walters2025">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1224255,"width":"309px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/03/Hunter-Walters-crop-339x223-1711506499.jpg?w=338" alt="" class="wp-image-1224255" style="width:309px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hunter was a running back that I wish I could have watched more tonight, but he showed off what I had hoped to see in a big upset at home versus the Tea Area Titans. It might sound repetitive, but I would be remissed to continue to beat the drum for Hunter to get on more Division II radars as the pure instincts he showed off in the redzone during a time where he and the Spartans had to be clutch, he rose to the occassion. His effective vision within very tight windows inside is what struck a chord with me as his poise certainly showed why this young man was a recent stockriser in our 2025 South Dakota rankings. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1113071' first='Caleb' last='Haas'], ATH, West Fargo Sheyenne, ND 2025</strong> <a href="https://x.com/CalebHaas06">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1121583,"width":"297px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/12/48-Caleb-Haas-crop-4378x2875-1703036167.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1121583" style="width:297px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Caleb is a prospect that has struck me with his football IQ and that was the case in the reps I watched out of him in the win tonight against 2023 state champion Minot. He struck a chord with me this summer at prospect camps with his hands working in small windows and that was the case I saw that lead with that same consistency tonight. Caleb is an athlete that relishes in nailing down the small details and whether you watch him live like tonight or turn on his junior tape that shows off. He certainly will be a swiss army knife to know all over the Mustangs offense which will be the new #1 team in 11AAA next week. It blows my mind that this kid doesn't have an offer yet.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->