Nate's Big Dogs of the Week: SD Week 8 Standouts

SOUTH DAKOTA-- We take a nose dive into Week 8 in South Dakota with Big Dogs of the Week that will spread throughout the week after a week off. With running backs with eye-popping numbers in the 2027, 2026, and 2026 classes, 2025 WRS with a high football IQ waiting on offer one and a 2025 West River quarterback I just can't figure out why he is no under recruited we unpack a handful of key names from Week 8.   [player_tooltip player_id='800373' first='Simon' last='Kieffer'], QB, Rapid City Christian 2025 <a href="https://x.com/SimonKieffer_2">Twitter</a>   Stat Line: 14/20 passing, 310 total yards (219 pass, 91 rush) seven total touchdowns (6 pass, 1 rush)   Talk about some monster numbers last week out of Rapid City, but yet we have found over the years that this is becoming typical for Rapid City Christian 2025 quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='800373' first='Simon' last='Kieffer']. The tape from Simon has continued to impress me with his precise throws on deep routes and making some very tight ball fits along the way, with a high level of consistency. Yet it's surprising there hasn't been as much traction on Simon's recruiting trail as I would have expected by late October as this kid might be oddly in the sleeper category at this point in the season. We have seen the development athletically over the coming years and would love to see Simon get more looks from scholarship level programs.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/06/Simon-Kieffer-crop-339x223-1711675897.jpg?w=338" alt="" class="wp-image-1227244" style="width:282px;height:auto" /></figure>   Miles Eide, WR, Centerville 2025 <a href="https://x.com/MilesEide">Twitter</a>   Stat Line: 7 receptions, 198 receiving yards, three touchdowns   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/06/IMG_1159-rotated-crop-481x316-1729562692.jpg?w=480" alt="" class="wp-image-1537821" style="width:288px;height:auto" /></figure>   Miles is a wide receiver that impressed me with his football IQ over the summer at the Dakota State prospect camp in Madison. He is one that if I recall from my live eval that could be a sound prospect at the next level with a good senior season, which he is having for the Centerville Tornadoes. The athleticism Miles brings on his deeper routes show off the poise and prowling instincts I want in a next-level wide receiver. I believe this young man could catch plenty of passes in either the GPAC or Northstar in the coming years. A 4.0 GPA and a four-sport athlete also state the case for the next-level.   [player_tooltip player_id='1275173' first='Mack' last='Saxon'], RB, Mobridge-Pollock 2027 <a href="https://x.com/MackandRodWave">Twitter</a>   Stat Line: 24 rushes, 210 rushing yards   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/05/5-Mack-Saxon-e1716316415267-crop-4027x2644-1716346288-crop-640x421-1729563263.jpg?w=639" alt="" class="wp-image-1537836" style="width:306px;height:auto" /></figure>   A running back I have been fired up about since his freshmen season, Mack to no surprise took another step ahead this season and especially last week. The 5'10 210 pounder from MOPO has grown this season with a great mix of speed and durability as his quick speed release out of the depth of the inside box certainly shows off a quicker pace thus far this season in my eyes. He also has gotten more chances as a pass-catcher out the backfield where again, Mack shows the ability to get yards after contact and just has a balanced knack with his footwork to constantly finish his runs. He keeps hitting strides like this, I have no doubt he will be a scholarship-level tailback in the coming years as he has a great shot.   [player_tooltip player_id='1532671' first='Levi' last='Veskrna'], RB, Brandon Valley 2026 <a href="https://x.com/levi_veskrna">Twitter</a>   Stat Line: 29 rushes, 172 rushing yards, three touchdowns   It was just over a year ago I got this young man on my radar for a splash game as a sophomore with nearly 250 rushing yards as he quickly got into my radar again this week with a great stat line against old #1 Harrisburg. In the tape I got from last week's game from Levi, the powerful fluidity and burst of Levi's release in tight windows but showing balance between the tackles is what flashed quickly for Levi last Friday night. The durability Levi has into the second level is another skillset that popped out last week, as this 5'11 185 pounder just runs with a ton of steam every time he gets the ball in the backfield. Levi is certainly one that will be added to our next 2026 rankings update this winter.   Garth Maas, RB, Tripp-Delmont/Armour/Andes Central/Dakota Christian 2025   Stat Line: Five rushing touchdowns   If you want a running back that is a workhorse for every yard I see on tape, its never too late to look at TDAACDC 2025 running back Garth Maas, who logged a monster week 8 last week. The tape is limited from 2024, but finish on the second level that this young man has in his lower body shows off a hard-nose athlete with the ball in his hands. I would love to find this young man on Twitter as his downhill running ability could be a good one as a small school prospect in South Dakota like Dakota Wesleyan or Dakota State being fits in my eyes.

SOUTH DAKOTA-- We take a nose dive into Week 8 in South Dakota with Big Dogs of the Week that will spread throughout the week after a week off. With running backs with eye-popping numbers in the 2027, 2026, and 2026 classes, 2025 WRS with a high football IQ waiting on offer one and a 2025 West River quarterback I just can't figure out why he is no under recruited we unpack a handful of key names from Week 8.