Prep Redzone Dakotas Showcase: Top Wide Receivers

ABERDEEN-- We take a final look at always the biggest group at every Prep Redzone Dakotas Showcase, the wide receivers. There's always enough wide receivers, but these 18 to me stood out the most in Aberdeen. A few 2028s, a few 2027s, and plenty of 2026s for college coaches to add to their early boards.   [player_tooltip player_id='1575939' first='Martin' last='Ornelas'], WR, Harrisburg 2028 <a href="https://x.com/MartinJOrnelaa">Twitter</a>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/12/IMG_2067-rotated-crop-481x316-1734064241.jpg?w=480" alt="" class="wp-image-1579258" style="width:343px;height:auto" /></figure>   Martin might be just a young buck and was one of the youngest wide receivers we had in the group, but he did flash the upside for what's to come over the next several years out of a powerhouse Harrisburg program that knows how to develop talent. The 5'9 162 pounder, showed off a bigger catch radius than you would expect of a wide receiver at that size and age. With some development of his change of direction and speed he will be one to watch in a few years for the Tigers.   [player_tooltip player_id='1544483' first='Broc' last='Bauer'], WR, Timber Lake 2028 <a href="https://x.com/BauerBroc">Twitter</a>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/12/IMG_1990-rotated-crop-481x316-1734062857.jpg?w=480" alt="" class="wp-image-1579236" style="width:326px;height:auto" /></figure>   If I had to dish out a 2028 WR MVP from our group of wide receivers, Timber Lake wide receiver [player_tooltip player_id='1544483' first='Broc' last='Bauer'] would get my vote. The change of direction, I recently watched on tape from Broc popped out quickly in his route running from the few reps I got to watch out of him in Aberdeen. I think I have said it before, he's not the biggest wide receiver, but the seperation he gets for his size and the excellent hands he has in tight windows is why I was impressed with his outing as just a freshmen with a lot of upside and growth yet to be seen. Where else Broc stood out was his vertical, as he logged a 32.6 inch vertical, which was second amongst all wide receivers which is surely impressed for his size right now.   [player_tooltip player_id='1396064' first='James' last='Behan'], WR, Aberdeen Roncalli 2025   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/12/IMG_1906-rotated-crop-481x316-1734062913.jpg?w=480" alt="" class="wp-image-1579238" style="width:326px;height:auto" /></figure>   James was a new 2025 to radar that showed off some good athletic skillsets in the reps I watched. He possessed constant speed in the later reps and in his 40 yard dash (4.91, twice) and also balanced it with good change of direction especially in the pro agility 4.64 and 7.53 in the L-Drill. The 5'11 185 pounder from right up the road in Aberdeen, also possessed the fluidity with his route-running that I watched in reps as a prospect that I feel has a good shot to play at the NAIA level.   [player_tooltip player_id='1219685' first='Ivan' last='Hopfauf'], WR, Mandan 2027 <a href="https://x.com/HopfaufIvan">Twitter</a>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/12/IMG_1936-rotated-crop-481x316-1734061902.jpg?w=480" alt="" class="wp-image-1579219" style="width:334px;height:auto" /></figure>   Ivan was another wide receiver that flashed the growth from our last live eval we got of him at one of Prep Redzone Dakotas Showcase. The young man, has gotten more polished as a route-runner and one that watching on Sunday felt like he was playing way bigger than his measurables might show on his routes. We always talk about game-speed vs. testing speed and Ivan is another good example of that, as he showed a great depth of game speed with his routes and more noted change of direction too. The reps I watched from Ivan showed off some smooth hands and on another he toasted the defensive back with his finish and great seperation. The 5'7 145 pounder from Mandan, is one I like to keep growing as far as his skillsets in the coming couple years.   [player_tooltip player_id='848989' first='Cole' last='Litzen'], WR, Sturgis Brown 2026 <a href="https://x.com/LitzenCole">Twitter</a>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/12/IMG_2073-rotated-crop-481x316-1734062454.jpg?w=480" alt="" class="wp-image-1579226" style="width:325px;height:auto" /></figure>   Cole was a wide receiver that got on my radar mid-way thru our Prep Redzone Dakotas Showcase for his play during Indy drills. The 6'1 187 pounder from Sturgis, showed off great rotational hands on a couple throws that were off line, but he was able to use his great hands to haul them in multiple reps I watched. Cole also showed off an eye-catching first step at the start of his routes and that translation showed off in his 40 yard dash too, as he showed consistency recording a 4.81 twice and notably was in the top tier of wide receivers for hand size at 9 inches. Another impressive skillset I grasped regarding Cole was his route-flexibility as if his first look wasn't there he would continue using his athleticism until he could find a seam. With the measurables and what I saw on Sunday with skillsets and testing, Cole looks like another Sturgis Scooper that has a good shot to play at the next level as growing that change of direction I could see developing quickly based on the movement I saw.   Mason Bothun, WR, Dawson-Boyd, MN 2027   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/12/IMG_2063-rotated-crop-481x316-1734062391.jpg?w=480" alt="" class="wp-image-1579224" style="width:340px;height:auto" /></figure>   One of the most intriguing wide receiver efforts from the 2027 class, came from Dawson-Boyd's Mason Bothun, who was new to my radar prior to our showcase, but near the end of camp had my full attention. He competed amongst our top performers for wide receivers and showed off some crafty route-running for his age and won the rep against our DB MVP with his sound change of direction, sound fluidity, and long arms that measured out to 6'3 in his 6'1 180 pound frame. Mason also was one of the top testers in the 2027 class of wide receivers in the L-Drill, so seeing that agile route-running after the fact, makes me wish I could have watched more reps of this young man. No Twitter yet for Mason, but he was surely one of my under the radar surprises from our Prep Redzone Dakotas Showcase.   [player_tooltip player_id='1397431' first='Jack' last='Day'], WR, Rapid City Stevens 2026 <a href="https://x.com/jack4day4">Twitter</a>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/12/IMG_1892-rotated-crop-481x316-1734062285.jpg?w=480" alt="" class="wp-image-1579221" style="width:328px;height:auto" /></figure>   Jack was surely in the top tier amongst the best wide receivers in attendance in Aberdeen as it's easy to see why he was one of only a couple athletes from Rapid City that was named to the 11AAA All-State Team. His speed he showed off in the 40-yard dash had the clear attention of the college coaches posting a 4.72 in his testing rep. He also was one one of only two wide receivers and campers in general that tested near the 7.0 mark in the L-Drill. Jack also had a great amount of balance on his route tree from the later reps I got to watch at our Prep Redzone Dakotas Showcase showing off the also sound finish that I like to see in live reps at camps. He might be undersized, but man if he can put some tape together from his junior season I think he is going to catch more eyes at the next level.   [player_tooltip player_id='1226858' first='Jake' last='Hayes'], WR, Linton/Hazelton-Moffit-Braddock 2026 <a href="https://x.com/jakemhayes7">Twitter</a>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/12/IMG_1962-rotated-crop-481x316-1734061830.jpg?w=480" alt="" class="wp-image-1579217" style="width:322px;height:auto" /></figure>   Jake is a 2026 wide receiver I have a high grade on in our rankings and one that although it's sounds repetitive with wide receivers, plays with a smoother game-speed than testing numbers will show you. The fluidity that Jake showed with his change of direction on sound surely stood out in the live eval as one that showed off his excellent hands I have seen on tape as a route-runner that just processes well with his football IQ. He showed off the instincts too, if his first look wasn't there he had the ability to improvise on his routes. Getting that live-eval surely paints a next-level picture for Jake.   [player_tooltip player_id='825415' first='Noah' last='Schoenfelder'], WR, Centerville 2026 <a href="https://x.com/NoahSch22">Twitter</a>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/12/IMG_1982-rotated-crop-481x316-1734061758.jpg?w=480" alt="" class="wp-image-1579215" style="width:329px;height:auto" /></figure>   Noah was a 2026 wide receiver that was at last year's Prep Redzone Dakotas Showcase and was one this time that I thought made a bigger splash with his reps from last year, showing his growth. One of the first skillsets that popped out with Noah was his athleticism he showed off on his routes, as I thought there was more balanced change of direction this time around from the reps I watched. Noah was also more efficient with his developing hands this time in Aberdeen as he showed off bigger catch radius, bigger vertical, and good instincts. He is one that if he can put a junior tape together, he has a shot to play at the next-level based on that great athletic growth we saw on Sunday from a year ago.   [player_tooltip player_id='1560143' first='Isaac' last='Bachmeier'], WR, Bismarck Century 2026 <a href="https://x.com/IBachmeier12268">Twitter</a>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/12/IMG_1916-rotated-crop-481x316-1734064066.jpg?w=480" alt="" class="wp-image-1579256" style="width:328px;height:auto" /></figure>   Isaac was a 2026 wide receiver that surely popped out in his 1v1 reps in my eyes. His twitchy first step on his routes set the tone for ample seperation on deep routes as this young man I felt got even more speed once he reached the second level. Isaac was one of the better wide receivers in my eyes in high traffic areas in 1v1s as I surely was intrigued with his poise on one particular rep where he hat to fight for the ball, but made the reception look like clock-work. He also showed off instinctive athletic movement with his change of direction on routes as it didn't matter on Sunday in Aberdeen which direction he needed to turn, he showed the balanced hip flexiblity to constantly do it routinely. Isaac to me with his catch radius too he showed off at our Prep Redzone Dakotas Showcase, surely looked like a next-level prospect in these eyes.   [player_tooltip player_id='944403' first='Ian' last='Skari'], WR, West Fargo 2026 <a href="https://x.com/ian_skari">Twitter</a>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/12/IMG_2131-rotated-crop-481x316-1734061399.jpg?w=480" alt="" class="wp-image-1579208" style="width:320px;height:auto" /></figure>   Ian was a favorite undersized wide receiver of mine when we had our last winter Prep Redzone Dakotas Showcase in Jamestown and after a season that found him on the 11AAA All-State team, he rose to the occasion again in the reps I got to watch. His change of direction on his routes, has to be some of the best in 11AAA coming back in the 2026 class, as it was on display in Aberdeen and from my eyes, has grown even more twitch since last winter. Ian also was one of our top testers overall in the 40 yard dash on Sunday that recorded a 4.59, tied for second overall out of our showcase that had 140+ athletes in attendance. The suddeness on his intermediate routes has also developed and I felt he has grown better hands since last winter. Ian is surely a 2026 on the rise in my in the Dakotas and reminds me a lot of John Gores from Fargo Shanley from a years back that now plays at NDSU.   [player_tooltip player_id='1184866' first='Kolter' last='Simon'], WR, Bismarck Century 2025 <a href="https://x.com/KolterSimo6321">Twitter</a>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/12/IMG_1914-rotated-crop-481x316-1734061470.jpg?w=480" alt="" class="wp-image-1579210" style="width:332px;height:auto" /></figure>   It's absolutely wild to me that it took until our Prep Redzone Dakotas Showcase for Kolter to get not one, but his first two offers as I have been beating the drum for this young man for months now and he lived up the hype in the live eval. At a legit 6'3 190 pounds, Kolter tested as easily the best wide receiver with a 4.59 40 yard dash and the lowest L-Drill time at the showcase with a 6.93 and was the only one to get under 7.0 in Aberdeen. Kolter also showed off excellent route-running ability as a WR prospect that I felt you get every ounce of his athleticism showing off on every route I watched. His change of direction at that size on his routes was extremely instinctive in the live eval like I had been saying all along on tape. He looked like a man amongst boys versus the defensive backs as I will say I kind of surprised he didn't take home our WR MVP. However, getting two good offfers out our showcase always gets me hyped up for a young man, especially when he was way too under the radar up until our showcase in Aberdeen on Sunday.   [player_tooltip player_id='1575889' first='Carter' last='Lust'], WR, Aberdeen Central 2027 <a href="http://Twitter.com/lust_carter">Twitter</a>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/12/IMG_2175-rotated-crop-481x316-1734060810.jpg?w=480" alt="" class="wp-image-1579197" style="width:332px;height:auto" /></figure>   It's always intriguing finding prospects at our PRZ Showcases that are very limited on tape, but surely ace the live eval which is surely the case with Aberdeen Central 2027 wide receiver [player_tooltip player_id='1575889' first='Carter' last='Lust']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/carter-lust/"></a> who took home our WR MVP. He surely wasn't the biggest wide receiver in Aberdeen, but it didn't take long to see how twitchy Carter was as a route-runner in the reps I got to watch and what else was impressive in the separation he got off that agile change of direction. Carter ran the fastest 40-yard dash in the building at 4.55, 4.28 in the pro agility, and 7.28 in his L-Drill He also possessed an athletic catch radius that I felt showed to be way bigger than his measurables would show you and I'll be intrigued to see where his vertical number comes out at in the coming day or two as he showed off some wirey height when I watched the bulk of his reps. Talk about a young man that went from very under the radar to our top dog on Sunday in Aberdeen. I'll hope to see more out of Carter hopefully on tape from this fall.   More WRs that Caught My Eyes:   Six more prospects that processed well with their upside in the limited reps I got to watch on Sunday in Aberdeen   [player_tooltip player_id='825412' first='John' last='Eagle'], WR, Mobridge-Pollock 2026   [player_tooltip player_id='1575960' first='Tanner' last='Boonstra'], WR, Dakota Valley 2028 <a href="https://x.com/T_Boonstra2">Twitter</a>   [player_tooltip player_id='848945' first='Karson' last='Borge'], WR, Aberdeen Central 2026 <a href="https://x.com/BorgeKarson">Twitter</a>   [player_tooltip player_id='1535642' first='Owen' last='Effling'], WR, Tri-Valley 2026 <a href="https://x.com/owen_effling">Twitter</a>   [player_tooltip player_id='1575930' first='Joshua' last='Bender'], WR, Rapid City Stevens 2027 <a href="https://x.com/Joshua_BenderSD">Twitter</a>

ABERDEEN-- We take a final look at always the biggest group at every Prep Redzone Dakotas Showcase, the wide receivers. There's always enough wide receivers, but these 18 to me stood out the most in Aberdeen. A few 2028s, a few 2027s, and plenty of 2026s for college coaches to add to their early boards.