2025 ND Rankings: 3×3 Stockrisers and Newcomers, Pt. 1

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>NORTH DAKOTA--</strong> We continue the 3x3 series in North Dakota, as we look at three newcomers and three Stockrisers from our most recent update this week of our <a href="https://prepredzone.com/dakotas/rankings/north-dakota-rankings/2025-rankings/">2025 North Dakota rankings update</a>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"24px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:24px"><strong>Newcomers</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1556648' first='Oliver' last='Wirth'], WR/TE, Devils Lake 2025</strong> <a href="https://x.com/OliverWirth13">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The first-team All Stater from Devils Lake is still waiting on his first offer and one I am surprised doesn't have more attention in the NSIC. The 6'5 215 pounder shows off great vision in the open field as well shows off the instinctive balance along the sidelines as a pass-catcher. Another skillset about his pass catching shows that when he has possession of the ball he has an authoritative presence after the catch and that lasts until the end of the rep. I could see Oliver as a late D2 target in the NSIC or RMAC.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1506529' first='Cooper' last='Bang'], WR/DB, Killdeeer 2025</strong> <a href="https://x.com/CooperBang2">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1589968,"width":"332px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/12/Cooper-Bang-crop-615x404-1735502161.webp?w=614" alt="" class="wp-image-1589968" style="width:332px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I don't think I have seen too many wide receivers in either Dakotas that logged over 20 receiving touchdowns in a season like Killdeer's [player_tooltip player_id='1506529' first='Cooper' last='Bang'] did in 2024. He intrigues me with the fluid change of direction as a route-runner and shows off a great football IQ that I wished I caught onto our radar much sooner. No route I watch on tape shows off as the same with Cooper, which shows off how versatile his route tree shows to be and he shows great acceleration on short routes to find the open field quickly into the 2nd and 3rd level. This 6'3 170 pounder is surely due for an opportunity to play on Saturdays as one of the biggest senior bloomers we have in our North Dakota 2025 rankings.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1584185' first='Jaiden' last='Tanner'], DB/ATH, Williston 2025</strong> <a href="https://x.com/JaidenTanner18">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It seems like there is always one prospect that catches our attention right before the rankings update gets released, and in North Dakota that prospect hailed from Williston in 2025 athlete [player_tooltip player_id='1584185' first='Jaiden' last='Tanner'], who landed on the 11AAA All State team in the 2024 season and when I watch the tape, I am surprised he wasn't higher on it. The 6'5 170 pounder pops out the most at cornerback, as his instincts closing to the ball especially at that size is super impressive. He is an athlete that plays with a purpose on both sides of the ball showing off great hands and one of the more dynamic athletes in the open field I have seen in North Dakota in this 2025 class. He finally got his first NAIA offer last week, but man this young man is due for more attention between now and National Signing Day in my eyes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"24px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:24px"><strong>Stockrisers</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1113063' first='Jackson' last='Steffens'], QB/ATH, Tri-State 2025</strong> <a href="https://x.com/JacksonStef2">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The first team All-region selection out of Tri-State found himself as a stockriser into our top 90 athletes we have in North Dakota, as I recall he is up around 20 spots. Jackson took a step up into this winter update with his increased precision with his tight ball fits especially on those intermediate routes. I think there is upside with this young man to grow his footwork in the pocket as I think that accuracy could even get better with more balance in the reps I have watched. Jackson has also improved this year taking some of the air out of his deeper throws and I could gauge he has worked in the weight room and his mechanics to gain more fluidity in his 2nd and 3rd level throws. I think this young man will be a great NAIA or D3 fit on National Signing Day.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='720545' first='Drew' last='Zwak'], LB, Minot Bishop Ryan 2025</strong> <a href="https://x.com/DrewZwak">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Drew is another stockriser I had in my 2025 class and one that intrigued me with his senior tape. You can tell Drew is a motivator on that Lions defensive and till the last possible second. What sticks out first look on his senior tape, is that coaching he does on the field does not distract him from being a linebacker that can get from sideline to sideline. Drew is also more poised in pass coverage for a small high school linebacker than you would expect from the reps I got of that on tape. It's clear as day when you keep watching the 5'11 195 pound linebacker on tape that his reads he gets pre-snap show off a sound football IQ. One D2 offer from the summer, but he is one that could possibly pick up steam over the next month or so before National Signing Day.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='725793' first='Kale' last='Hansen'], QB, Killdeer 2025</strong> <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/16380069/671684255872ebfc9378d06e">Tape</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The city of Killdeer (pop. 939) has a prospect in our newcomers and now onto our stockrisers as 2025 quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='725793' first='Kale' last='Hansen'] moved up some spots into our top 90, which I believe has him up 30+ spots at least. The 5'11 180 pounder, shows off as a quarterback that possesses the balanced touch on all three levels and is another quarterback on this list to grow his mechanics more fluidily at the college level as I think he can speed up mechancis for an even quicker release in the coming years. He threw over 20 of his touchdowns to 2025 newcomer [player_tooltip player_id='1506529' first='Cooper' last='Bang'] and being that both of this QB/WR duo both are uncommitted waiting for that first offer, you could get them both for four more years to keep growing that great chemistry they have.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->