2026 SD Small Town Hidden Gems: Waiting on their First Offer

The US Census Bureau defines small towns as an area that has 5,000 residents or fewer in a residential area. With that being said, we bring back out our 2026 Small Town Hidden Gems that are still waiting on their first offer that surely by the tape, look like next-level fits for playing on Saturdays.   [player_tooltip player_id='848993' first='Tate' last='Gerdes'], ATH, Lennox <a href="https://x.com/tategerdes11">Twitter</a>   Lennox, SD Pop. 2,423 (2020 census)   Tate was one of the bigger components to getting the Orioles a 11A state championship in 2024 and when you look at the stat line you have to be surprised the 6'2 190 pounder doesn't have his first offer, cause this kid is everywhere, man. Tate brings a durable presence and versatility to the Lennox's run and pass game as he is a tough task to bring down in the inside box and can get open out of nowhere with his long strides and athleticism as a route-runner to give the Orioles yards they didn't know they might get. When you look at the big picture for Tate at the next-level, I certainly see the best fit as a strong safety. He shows me two skillsets a strong safety needs to have in my eyes 1) get to his spot on time, with instinctive movement and 2) a sizable presence (physicality on ball coverage, vertical, etc.), which having a basketball as one of his sports, that also helps in Tate's favor. Tate is surely one I would expect by the end of June to have his fair share of offers come his way once he shows out what he can do at college camps.   [player_tooltip player_id='1475675' first='Tobin' last='Squires'], TE, Sioux Valley <a href="https://x.com/tobinsquires">Twitter</a>   Volga, SD Pop. 2,113 (2020 census)   Tobin is one that my gut tells me he won't be on this list for long, as I know with having SDSU "in the neighborhood" that he is closer to a D1 offer than anyone might think of prospects on this list, plus you can add too that the former SDSU staff now at the Palouse, was in Volga a couple days ago too visiting with Tobin.The 6'6 240 pounder tight end for the Cossacks, not only brings a size that is rare in the Dakotas at the tight end position but Tobin also has intriguing upside as a run-blocker that has so much strength to give, yet still has the upside to grow from a technique perspective. The long reach and big hands are a huge advantage for Tobin's skillsets as his tape is super intriguing in high-traffic areas, one of the best in the state amongst tight ends. Tobin surely is going to get that Division I offer and it's coming sooner rather than later. It sure would be interesting to see not one, but two Coassacks in this 2026 class playing up the road in Brookings.   [player_tooltip player_id='929916' first='Isaak' last='Hunter'], WR, Miller-Highmore-Harrold <a href="https://x.com/isaakhunter_">Twitter</a>   Miller, Highmore, Harrold, SD Pop.2,132 (combined, 2020 census)   Isaak is hybrid wide receiver/tight end that in my eyes has the body type and upside to grow the most into the tight end position but there surely is flexibility for a reason. The 6'4 185 pounder is a fluid route runner, but what stands out most to me on tape is the rugged high traffic areas that Isaak finds his receptions inside of as I'll say again, the basketball frame helps him gather leverage against smaller corners. What sells me even more on Isaak as a wide receiver, is just how aware he is with his footwork along the sidelines which as a junior, has continously made some highly athletic receptions. I even feel at times, there is some robotic athletic movement that this young man possesses especially with the twitch he has cutting on his route. Isaak might be one of the most interesting ones thus far in this small town hidden gems group, as positionally I will be very curious to see what position he gets offered as this summer as one that on the hardwood, averaged 20 ppg and 10 rebounds as a junior as well.   [player_tooltip player_id='1224699' first='Landon' last='Wieman'], QB, Parker <a href="https://x.com/LandonWieman">Twitter</a>   Parker, SD Pop. 1,194 (2020 census)   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/05/34-Landon-Wieman-e1716317394651-crop-3858x2533-1716345087-crop-640x421-1746021996.jpg?w=639" alt="" class="wp-image-1665501" style="width:297px;height:auto" /></figure>   Landon is a 2026 quarterback I had as a stockriser on last update, as I was impressed with the development on his junior tape from the year before, as a quarterback that fits the mold frame wise, at 6'4 205 pounds. Where I saw the most growth from Landon, starts with his poise in the pocket as he just seems to gather quicker and more fluid progression than I saw a year the year before. He also took into fruition taking some air off his deep ball and throws his deep and intermediate routes with more strength, which if you look at the measurable progression you can gauge that with adding to his frame (195 to 205) could have correlated with this development for Landon. And you can't miss on the precision development that Landon has made as he fits his throws right in the bread basket to allow his receiving to progress easily downfield. A top five QB in the state, Landon should be one you want to know this summer.   [player_tooltip player_id='1235852' first='Younger' last='Amiotte'], DB, Wall <a href="https://x.com/younger_amiotte">Twitter</a>   Wall, SD Pop: 699 (2020 census)   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/05/69-Younger-Amiotte-e1716319219204-crop-3786x2486-1716574872-crop-640x421-1746022043.jpg?w=639" alt="" class="wp-image-1665504" style="width:288px;height:auto" /></figure>   It was just under a year ago that [player_tooltip player_id='1235852' first='Younger' last='Amiotte'] was rated as a top performer at our Prep Redzone Dakotas Combine at Augustana which caused a rise in his stock as now the third Amiotte brother I have scouted from the Wall Eagles. Even though I am sure his junior tape will come out soon, Younger was one of very few defensive backs that I felt really locked in with the attention to detail with college coaches and took their coaching quickly and put it in play which is a rare skillset I don't find at every camp I have ever attended, outside of the MEGA camps where you have 500+ kids to evaluate. Younger is one of the hardest hitters still available amongst defensive backs in this 2026 class in South Dakota and one that I feel could rise up again depending how his summer turns out.

The US Census Bureau defines small towns as an area that has 5,000 residents or fewer in a residential area. With that being said, we bring back out our 2026 Small Town Hidden Gems that are still waiting on their first offer that surely by the tape, look like next-level fits for playing on Saturdays.