Former WI Preps Impacting the Pioneer League

We absolutely love getting the chance to cover prep football across the great state of Wisconsin. We love getting to help student athletes get the attention they deserve from the next level and watching those same athletes commit to and play for college programs. I personally love looking at college rosters and seeing them littered with our former WI standouts. Particularly in the Pioneer League where we have seen so many kids commit and are now making a big time impact. So let's check in on some of those game changers as most prepare to kickoff their season tonight! Enjoy!   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Valparaiso Football</h2>   Sam Hafner, Defensive Line- De Pere HS   Sam has put together an amazing career at Valparaiso after a special HS career. The former De Pere standout is a 2024 Preseason All PFL selection and First Team Phil Steele All PFL selection. Sam was the team's Defensive Player of the Year in 2023 with his 63 tackles, 10 TFLs, and 5 sacks. Those 63 tackles were good for second most in the country for his position. Hafner is going to be one of the top defenders in the Pioneer League this fall.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Dayton Football</h2>   Nate Hess, DL- Arrowhead HS   The former Class of 2021 standout enters Week 1 for Dayton as one of their starters on the DL. Our former DL8 and #37 overall player saw time in 8 games last year while starting 4 of them. It is clear that Nate spent 2023 practicing as hard as he plays, earning Defensive Scout Team Player of the Year for Dayton. He has clearly had a great spring and fall training camp as he now finds himself in a starting spot at DT. Good luck this season, Nate!   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">St. Thomas Football</h2>   Evan Tyler, DL- Hudson   The former Class of 2022 prep athlete is slated in as a starter for the Tommies' Week 1 game. Our former DL11 and #56 overall player quickly found the field for St. Thomas. As a freshman he saw action in 4 games, then made a big jump in 2023 where he played in 11 games where he made 20 tackles, 1 TFL, and half a sack with two QB hurries. The junior DL has been on a steady rise since his high school days. Very excited to see what he does in 2024!   Caden Nelson, LB- Waunakee   It has been quite the ride for Caden. In his HS days, the Waunakee product was in our final rankings as the QB2. He now finds himself as a starting LB for St. Thomas entering his senior season. The Class of 2021 standout has added 40 lbs to his frame while also seeing his playing time steadily rise over the past three years at St. Thomas. It will hopefully culminate in a big senior season for the Waunakee native.   Langston Robinson, OL- Milwaukee Marquette   One of the top athletes in the Class of 2021, Langston was OL5 and the #21 overall prospect as he graduated from Wisconsin prep athletics. He quickly found a big role for the Tommies playing in all 11 games in 2022 and starting all 11 games in 2023. That includes playing nearly every snap in 2023 at center where he led an OL group that cleared the way for 5 200+ yard rushing performances. Langston was a Third Team All PFL selection last season too, so expectations can be high for the former WI standout. It is awesome to see the career that Langston has built!   Tak Tateoka, QB- Waukesha South   Tak is off to a hot start while being apart of the St. Thomas program! The former QB3 in the Class of 2023 is showing the talent that got him that ranking very early in his college career. As a true freshman, Tak saw action in 7 games with 5 of them being starts. In those games the true freshman there for 598 yards, 5 TDs, and roughly a 60% completion percentage. That early showing earned him a spot on the FCS Freshman of the Year Watch List, and it also has help him earn the Week 1 starter job as a true sophomore. Big things are ahead for QB1 of the Tommies. I can't wait to continue to watch Tak's impressive career unfold.       <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Drake University</h2>   I was unable to find a final two deep for Drake's Week 1 game, but it is clear that there are several impact players who used to be WI prep standouts. DB CJ Grisar of Waukesha West made 34 tackles with 1 TFL as a junior DB for Drake in 9 games and should be flying around the field again this fall. LS Brett Helsing has manned the long snapping duties for Drake in all 12 games last season earning him 2nd Team All PFL honors. Kicker Shane Dunning out of Muskego HS earned PFL Special Teams Player of the Year in 2023 as he hit 16 field goals and went 22/23 on extra points. One of those 16 field goals was an insane career long of 61 yards! DL Collin Schremp out of Middleton appeared in 11 games in 2023 where he made 23 tackles, 5.5 TFLs in his first season of action. Look for the junior DL to build on that. K/P Ryan Schroeder out of Cedarburg spent 2023 holding down the kickoff duties for Drake and should find himself in a similar role in 2023 while backing up Shane Dunning.

We absolutely love getting the chance to cover prep football across the great state of Wisconsin. We love getting to help student athletes get the attention they deserve from the next level and watching those same athletes commit to and play for college programs. I personally love looking at college rosters and seeing them littered with our former WI standouts. Particularly in the Pioneer League where we have seen so many kids commit and are now making a big time impact. So let's check in on some of those game changers as most prepare to kickoff their season tonight! Enjoy!