Regional Deep Dive: Southwest WI 2026s

Use code JohnsonCombine2025 for $10 off your registration to the PRZ WI Combine on May 18th!   We only have a few more regions of the state to dive into as we look to uncover more of the top 2026 talent throughout the state of Wisconsin. We just wrapped up central Wisconsin, and now it is time to set our sites on southwest WI. The southwest of WI has produced some special teams and within them some special athletes. The Class of 2026 looks to continue to grab attention with their play this fall. Let's breakdown who coaches should be dialed in on. Before we start, let's identify our lines for the region. We are going from Prairie du Chien, east to Dodgeville, down south through Mineral Point, continuing south to Blackhawk/Warren. Everything west and south of those lines is open to our deep dive. There are a lot of kids to talk about, so let's dive in head first!    One of the kids battling to be the best offensive lineman in southwest Wisconsin is Jack Simmons of Prairie du Chien. The 265 lbs left guard looks well on his way towards being a college IOL based on the junior tape. Jack is an explosive athlete, quick out of his stance, has range to get across the formation and the way he instantly produces power is like that of a college lineman. The instant he makes contact you see his power overwhelm the opponent and create that positive surge for Jack. He does a great job of running his feet through his man with a wide base and leverage. That is when he doesn't put the kid on their back with his initial punch. The junior is a need to know prospect from the southwest region. Check out the highlights.      A new athlete to my radar from this deep dive is Shawn Jahnke-Fiedler of Fennimore. Fennimore is a Division 6 school and with that you usually see a lot of two way athletes. Shawn is a very talented one that schools need to make sure they are aware of. The '26 plays WR/RB/S/CB and will also play return man. Watching through the tape I'm really impressed by the athleticism Shawn shows over and over. He is a smooth athlete with a top end speed to either roam the secondary, create a big return, or get behind the defense at WR. His vision and feel for the play as it develops around him stands out too as he always seems to have a plan of attack or is quick to react on defense. Shawn is a playmaker that is well worth having on your radar and getting into camps this summer for a closer look.      The Platteville offense is in a great spot with returning RB1 and 1,200+ yard rusher [player_tooltip player_id='1220723' first='Tyler' last='Sasse'] returning in 2025. Tyler fits the Platteville offense so well too. They love to go with 3+ WRs/TEs and as soon as the defense starts to spread out Sasse is able to carve them up. Tyler dominates with his vision, acceleration, and instincts as he quickly navigates through the front seven. He is able to utilize seams of daylight and has the balance and sudden lateral burst to be able to create space from defenders. Tyler also offers some receiving threat out of the backfield too. I'm excited to see him put up a big senior season in 2025.      Seymour is returning a lot of key contributors, but none might be more important than QB1 [player_tooltip player_id='1609798' first='Cayden' last='Staffeldt']. Cayden is a dual threat QB who put up 1,700+ AP Yards along with 21 total TDs. The junior QB flashes a solid arm that is able to drive the ball on short to intermediate routes. Even when he has to get outside the pocket and throw on the run. Plus he demonstrates over and over some really consistent touch when he attacks deep downfield, dropping it into spots safe from DBs but easy for his target to reel in. Cayden is also an explosive weapon on the ground. He has speed to creating game-changing plays, flashes the ability to run through arm tackles, and the ability to make the highlight reel play out of nothing. Check out the hidden gem at QB.      Another 2026 OL battling for best lineman of the region is the big man out of Fennimore. Corbin checks in at an impressive 6'5" 285 lbs. You will find Corbin all over the offensive line throughout his highlights, showing off excellent versatility. The big man is raw when it comes to the technical side of the position, but I love his mentality, physicality, and aggressive play. Corbin is looking to overwhelm his opponents and usually is very successful. He quickly gets into the chest of his man, positions himself during that initial engagement, and then shows off his power to drive his man off the line and control exactly where he takes them. There is a lot of clay to mold here and turn into an eventual starter at the next level. Definitely check him out.      [player_tooltip player_id='1554697' first='Ethan' last='Griffin'] is a fun one to watch. Put him at RB or at slot WR and let him create mismatches and containment problems. You have to love the elusive and explosive agility he plays with once he has the ball in his hands. He is so effective at slicing through the front seven, making defenders miss, jump cutting into open grass and then showing off the long speed. That smooth body control and change of direction traits are key to his ability to create space with his route running too. Ethan is a chess piece that you can utilize all over the offensive formation to create problems. Definitely check out his talent shown in his highlights below.      The leader in tackles returning to the Seymour defense is LB [player_tooltip player_id='1610342' first='Jordan' last='Thompson']. The 2026 looks the part of a next level LB with his 6' 225 lbs frame. The tape is impressive to watch. Jordan is at his best using his power between the tackles. The strength is plentiful as he tosses OL aside and bulldozes over RBs on the way to the QB when asked to blitz. He also does really well shutting down the inside run game. Jordan is a disruptive force between the tackles. You also see the flashes of high football IQ like when he sniffs out screens developing. Jordan is on the rise and a kid I'm very interested in keeping an eye on.

Use code JohnsonCombine2025 for $10 off your registration to the PRZ WI Combine on May 18th!