Meet the South Dakota 2026 Highest Debuts

SOUTH DAKOTA-- We start off our Monday with more 2026 newcomers that were added to our <a href="https://prepredzone.com/dakotas/rankings/south-dakota-rankings/2026-rankings/">South Dakota rankings</a> last week and were also our highest debuts with those rankings. We look at the six that should surely be on 2026 boards now, if not already.    Jace is a 2026 target that you can tell quickly plays with a chip on his shoulder. Jace impressed us with his lateral movement he shows off on tape, as an offensive linemen that you can gauge too the fluidity that is there as well. The 6'3 260 pounder also showed off solid versatility on tape especially with his hands, as with his football IQ you could see that Jace understands when to use the drive block vs. quick punch. More times than not on tape, you could see Jace drawing his defender off balance with that movement we noted as one that has a great chance to play on Saturdays as a OL prospect that was in our top four highest debuts on this latest 2026 update. <a href="https://x.com/JaceHutchinson">Twitter</a>     If you want to standout quickly on tape, you will want to watch Levi's as a great example, as his run-blocking ability dropped his defenders like dominoes on his first look on tape. Levi shows off great vision in small areas and what also appears is his durability after contact, showing off a work-horse mentality thru contact. Levi surely creates splash play after splash play with his junior tape, and with the bulk of that Lynx offensive linemen back for more in 2025, you can bet that this young man will continue to rise up our 2026 board.     Yet another 2026 target from this stacked class at Rapid City St. Thomas More is OL/DL [player_tooltip player_id='1575894' first='Cole' last='Nielsen']. You could tell quickly by watching his tape, that Cole shows off the football IQ on how to gain penetration quickly off his blocks even coming in late at the point of attack. He has some upside with his footwork to develop to get more a more linear at the point of attack. Cole also is one that is balanced and can get into the second level with his sound leverage. He could be another one that intrigue the college coaches at camps this summer.     Cale was a defensive back at our Prep Redzone Dakotas Showcase that impressed the college coaches that were in attendance, and I could see why. He showed off some of the best footwork within our defensive back group and his over-powering athleticism you can tell on tape gives pass-catchers fits when he is in the area. The 6'3 180 pounder from Yankton, also possesses the range you want at the next-level from your free safety as Cale's length and lateral movement show off great mobility on tape. Cale is one that I could see diving into our top five for defensive backs in the next handful of months.     Our Tight End MVP from our Prep Redzone Dakotas Showcase and a newcomer to our 2026 rankings, is [player_tooltip player_id='1575235' first='Max' last='Speed'] of you guessed it, Rapid City St. Thomas More. Max's game speed shows off as more of a hybrid, as his quick release off the start of his route and has that big-play ability with his great athleticism and catch radius for his 6'3 215 pound size. The Black Hills All-Conference TE, is a 2026 prospect that looks bigger than his measurables with the live-eval, and surely is a tight end that can play at the next-level. I am sure college coaches should be flocking to the Cavaliers soon, if not already for this 2026 class.     One of the most intriguing 2026 finds in this South Dakota class is wide receiver [player_tooltip player_id='1591442' first='Lincoln' last='Dilges'] of Pierre T.F. Riggs. With his size, he has intriguing release off the snap that shows his speed and fluidity at the top of his route. Without a doubt, you can see the great hands that Lincoln possesses even around the edges of the field with his great balance he shows off for his size. I could also tell quickly where Lincoln's football IQ comes in as watching where he makes his cuts, shows that awareness he has as a route-runner. Lincoln is another one today that could be a mover by next update.

SOUTH DAKOTA-- We start off our Monday with more 2026 newcomers that were added to our South Dakota rankings last week and were also our highest debuts with those rankings. We look at the six that should surely be on 2026 boards now, if not already.