10 Small Town Week 3 Standouts

With Week 4 closing in on us, I wanted to give one last shout-out to some small-town standouts who balled out but didn't necessarily get their deserved attention. Meet 10 of some of Week 3's top performers!    Heydt had a stellar Week 3, recording two total touchdowns, one on offense hailing from a 20-yard reception off of a screen, and the other on defense coming from a 20-yard interception. Heydt also saw some success carrying the rock where he can utilize his impressive speed in the open space once he breaks through to the second level. Schools need to start getting at this underrated junior prospect.     Wangen has been nothing if not dominant throughout his senior season, and his Week 3 performances only exemplified that. He recorded three total touchdowns, two receptions from a little more than 20 yards out, and one rushing TD from just outside the 10. His impact wasn't just limited to offense, however, because Wangen also showed out on special teams. He recorded a 2-point conversion run and went 2/2 on PATs.     Thein has been one of the biggest breakout athletes from this 2024 season, and I'm all here for it. He recorded 4 total touchdowns, two rushing, one from within the 5, and one from 34 yards out. Thein also notched a receiving TD, but perhaps most impressively had a 98-yard kickoff return TD. His vision as a ball carrier is one of the best in the state, and he pairs that well with insanely quick cuts in his repertoire.     Although he's primarily known as a top-notch DB, Thielen had an uber-productive Week 3 carrying the rock for the Chargers. In just the first half, he tallied FOUR rushing TDs, and on only 9 carries, he rushed for 156 yards averaging a crazy 17.3 yards-per-carry. Theilen is an athlete and any time you can get him the ball in open space, he's going to find success. He's an underrated outstate prospect who can do any number of things at the next level.     Edwards is a violent defensive tackle that makes QBs pay the second they stay in the pocket a little too long. Boasting a potent bull rush and a high motor, he can hawk down ball carriers attempting to beat him to the edge. Edwards has a keen sense of leverage and that is evident in both his offensive and defensive line film where he has a nasty push-pull move.     I'm a big fan of high-level offensive line tape, and Hanson checks that box to a "T". He kicks off his Week 3 highlight reel with a phenomenal pull that ends in a violent collision where he teakettles a defensive end. Hanson gets to the second level early and often where he mauls linebackers. He's a high-level run-blocker who can create giant running lanes for his ball carriers, and he has an NSIC upside that should be explored by college coaches.     Nelson threw for a pair of touchdowns in a tough loss to Pine Island, but his athleticism jumped out to me on his tape and I think he has the makings to be a talented prospect. He's shown that he can hit tough passes off his back foot with a defender in his face. Nelson is exceptionally mobile as well, and when he carries the rock on designed runs he can reliably make defenders miss and break arm tackles. While he's often known as a basketball prospect, I see solid building blocks for a collegiate QB.     Hinrichs is an extremely athletic DB who made one of the most impressive interceptions I've ever seen last week. But as wild as that pick was, he was perhaps equally as impressive as a ball carrier on designed QB runs. When you can get him the ball outside of the hashes, Hinrichs is going to find a way to make plays. He's a drastically underrecruited athlete right now.     An imposing two-way TE/MLB, Kajewski put forth some incredible plays on both sides of the line of scrimmage during Week 3. He fights incredibly hard through blockers in front of him and scrapes from alley to alley very well. When given a green light, Kajewski can close the distance between himself and the ball carrier rather quickly. He's a solid under-the-radar LB prospect that more coaches need to get at.     Another two-way standout (WR/DB) who finds his way onto this list, Otto put together nearly two and a half minutes of tape from his great Week 3 game. Even against really good coverage, Otto manages to maintain excellent concentration and go up and get the ball. Defensively he does something that very few corners do, and that's making a meaningful impact in stopping the run game. He brings the fight to receivers who try and block him and rarely gives up contain. Otto needs more hype after this great performance.

With Week 4 closing in on us, I wanted to give one last shout-out to some small-town standouts who balled out but didn't necessarily get their deserved attention. Meet 10 of some of Week 3's top performers!