Nate's Big Dogs of the Week: DAK Week 1/2 Trench Monsters

We surfed across the Twitter app this afternoon to find some of the best tape across the Dakotas that intrigued us within the first games in Weeks 1/2 depending on the schedule. From 2027s with D1 grades, bolstering 2028s, and a 2026 that should get some D2 attention, we rattle off our Big Dogs of the Week in the Trenches across the Dakotas.     Have a OL/DL that you feel should make the list? Tag or DM us on Twitter @PrepRedzoneDAK or email Nate@PrepRedzone.com for consideration each week. We will be invading the trenches all season long and beyond!   North Dakota    Not frequently do offensive linemen get their stats tracked but we have them from top-tier 2027 offensive linemen [player_tooltip player_id='1292610' first='Peyton' last='Seil'] last Friday against Fargo Shanley. The big fella logged seven pancakes and allowed zero sacks against the Deacons pass rushing efforts. The mix of skillsets that Peyton showed off in Week 1 show off why we have him ranked as a Division 1 grade out of Bismarck Century. His tape starts off with not only the nastiness you want to see early on tape, but also shows off how Peyton has developed as an angle blocker. His second clip shows the fluid hips that Peyton has continued to develop this summer which add sound technique and pad-level as he controls the point of attack into the second level. The consistency you see on tape with his angle blocking shows off a quicker first step as don't be surprised if Peyton rises into the top five overall with our next 2027 rankings update.     In Week 1 against Williston it was evident that the Coyotes did not have an answer for Minot North 2027 defensive end [player_tooltip player_id='1113076' first='Ethan' last='Howey']. Ethan showed how light he was with his hands getting off blocks which is consistently seen in the reps we watched from last Friday. You can tell he has taken a step up with his agility and fluidness off the snap as even since watching this summer at camps, Ethan has also amped up his football IQ from my eyes getting to the point of attack with smoother short area vision. I've said it before and I will say it again, Ethan is going to be the first Division I prospect to come out of Minot North and is an early offer in this 2027 ND class.     Probably my favorite offensive linemen rep in Week 1 came from Grand Forks Red River 2028 offensive linemen [player_tooltip player_id='1104633' first='Jordan' last='Myers'] as it shows why he's our top prospect in the class. Talk about downhill strength and leverage, as Jordan's first clip shows him barrelling the defensive linemen down the line with ease deep into the second level finishing with a big ole pancake. His next clip shows that Jordan has the swift ability to multi-engage as you can surely be intrigued with the balance across the board that Jordan shows off with his footwork. It's evident that Jordan is a next-level fit at guard as the now 6'1 255 pounder shows off power that plays way bigger than those measurables.    South Dakota    A 2027 defensive end that grew on us throughout the summer at college camps, started off with a booming Week 1 against Vermillion, as [player_tooltip player_id='1622004' first='Leif' last='Karlson'] already was a stockriser for our next 2027 update but has continued to push the pile even more. His first rep from Week 1 shows off the fluid power that is at Leif's disposal and there was not an offensive linemen that had a chance to stop it when the 6'3 230 pounder gets downhill quick off the jump. The lightness that Leif shows with his hands show off consistent getting off his blocks and seemed to not slow him down an inch when he'd win the 1v1 battle against the Tanagers. In my eyes, he's a sleeper in the making for Underclassmen Defensive Player of the Year in 11A for the 2024 state champion Orioles.     The first skillset I see the growth right away with Rapid City St. Thomas More 2026 offensive linemen [player_tooltip player_id='1575894' first='Cole' last='Nielsen'] is the improved footwork he showed off within the first two weeks of the season for the Cavaliers. We've known that this young man can win at the point of attack, as that was no different if you look at Cole's tape the first couple of weeks. The first clip you see Cole win with an angle block while he quickly gets the defensive linemen off-balance and down on the grass. The second clip shows off pure domiance in the A-gap knocking down the defensive tackle into the second level with sound pad-level, well-striding footwork, and that balance I referenced that comes with his feet. That also quicker first step blew downhill quickly A few offers have come in at the NAIA level, but I wouldn't be surprised after a well-versed first couple weeks, that NSIC or RMAC interest come Cole's way.

We surfed across the Twitter app this afternoon to find some of the best tape across the Dakotas that intrigued us within the first games in Weeks 1/2 depending on the schedule. From 2027s with D1 grades, bolstering 2028s, and a 2026 that should get some D2 attention, we rattle off our Big Dogs of the Week in the Trenches across the Dakotas.