Small school studs

In my search to put a focus on the best players from the small towns in Minnesota, I bring you four more small-school gems. They excelled last season and are worth checking out this fall. When picking the guys who I write about, I am prioritizing athletes we have not given much - or any - time. I am also going to stop labeling these stories with 'Part I' or whatever. I will just say shining the light on Minnesota's small schools will just be what I am going to be doing for the next week or two. This next group includes two guys who reside in the trenches. It also includes one who roams the offensive backfield and another who roams the defensive backfield. Check out the previous studs <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/07/small-school-studs-part-i/">here</a> and <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/08/small-school-studs-part-ii/">here</a>.    Rounds has excellent size for a soon-to-be junior. On both sides of the ball, he comes off the ball well and has solid hips. He can get his body turned immediately off the snap to set the edge as a tight end and do the same as a defensive end. He uses his hands well, and is hard to get hook blocked. Naturally strong, Rounds can move defenders backward with just a firm forearm shot to the chest. His strength gives him the flexibility to move inside and more than hold his own. He doesn't have the speed to stretch the field, the Panthers' two-way player can get into routes and is a threat in the passing game.     Gates is a versatile defensive back for the Wolverines. He plays tough at both outside corner and deep safety. He anticipates well and, in turn, breaks on the ball quickly. That allows him to make plays on the ball and gets him to the ball carrier while coming downhill. Gates does a nice job tackling – especially in the open field. He is not just a 'dive at their ankles' tackler. He is a physical tackler who is not afraid of contact. When playing deep safety, he has the speed to get from sideline to sideline. He has good length for a defensive back, which makes the ground he can cover much better.     Meldahl plays well in a phone booth. He can make multiple cuts in a small area, making him challenging to tackle one-on-one. The Trojans' runner accelerates nicely out of those cuts, getting to top speed before defenders can react. Once he gets into the open field, he has good speed to separate. He is most electrifying when making defenders grasp for air. To be good in the open field, runners must have good vision. Meldahl sees the field and finds gaps in the defense regularly. It would be right to classify him as a scat back, but he has some break-tackle power if defenders don't square him up.     Cassens is a problem for opponents in the middle of both the offensive and defensive lines. As a center, he can physically overpower most opponents in his class. What separates him – however – is that the Rebels' big man does not rely on his superior size and strength. His hips are low coming off the ball. His pad level is often lower than that of the smaller defensive linemen he is blocking. The combination of strength and leverage allows him to drive opponents three or four yards off the line of scrimmage. As a nose tackle, his quickness and agility stand out for a big athlete. Like on offense, he can often overpower opponents, but his athletic ability on the inside sets him apart.

In my search to put a focus on the best players from the small towns in Minnesota, I bring you four more small-school gems. They excelled last season and are worth checking out this fall. When picking the guys who I write about, I am prioritizing athletes we have not given much - or any - time. I am also going to stop labeling these stories with 'Part I' or whatever. I will just say shining the light on Minnesota's small schools will just be what I am going to be doing for the next week or two. This next group includes two guys who reside in the trenches. It also includes one who roams the offensive backfield and another who roams the defensive backfield. Check out the previous studs here and here.