Nate's South Dakota Big Dogs of the Week: Week 1-2 Off. Skill

Quarterback   [player_tooltip player_id='1263883' first='Brody' last='Schafer'], Sioux Falls Lincoln 2027 <a href="https://x.com/Brody4Schafer">Twitter</a>   Seven touchdowns on 7/10 passing for our QB1 in the 2027 class in South Dakota in just one half of work. That is not a typo: as every pass Brody completed ended up in the Patriots end zone against Rapid City Stevens in their 62-14 blowout win. We've probably used almost every adjective there is to describe his skillsets already, however I could certainly tell than Brody was more amped up with his poise in the pocket I felt more than I saw a year ago. In fact, I feel he is going to grow the the best poise not just in the state, but the entire Dakotas regardless of class right now. His connection with uncommitted 2026 wide receiver [player_tooltip player_id='673146' first='Mikey' last='Roche'] looked like a game of catch in the backyard based on the chemistry those two have had since apparently grade school.   [player_tooltip player_id='1597644' first='Henry' last='Veenhof'], Madison 2028 <a href="https://x.com/Henry_Veenhof">Twitter</a>   A new QB1 has arrived for the Madison Bulldogs and it's a last name you are going to know, as [player_tooltip player_id='1597644' first='Henry' last='Veenhof'] took over the reigns in their Week 1 win over Belle Fourche. The younger brother of SDSU commit [player_tooltip player_id='848975' first='Shane' last='Veenhof'], was 12/22 passing, 246 passing yards, and three passing touchdowns in their 35-0 win. The 6'4 190 pounder completed nearly half of those passes to his older brother Shane in Week 1 (five receptions). There isn't much football tape yet on Henry, but we've seen glimpses of what he can do at camps. As a freshmen last year, he won the 11A 110-meter hurdles with those measurables above I mentioned which as you can imagine the athleticism and football IQ Henry has from an upside perspective is more than intriguing.   [player_tooltip player_id='1568226' first='Jackson' last='Wadsworth'], Hamlin 2026 <a href="https://x.com/Jackson_wads23">Twitter</a>   Jackson a Northern State hoops commit, logged 185 total yards on the ground and in the air in their six-point win over the Hanson Beavers. The 6'3 195 pound gunslinger is one of the best 2026 quarterbacks in this class and is rated as our QB2 as you can gauge with the quick release and precise downfield presence with his arm talent that Jackson certainly could cut it on the gridiron at the next-level as one I was surprised he didn't have more opportunities before he shut down his recruitment in July. Can Jackson led the charge (no pun intended) and lead the Chargers for back to back 9AA state championships?   [player_tooltip player_id='1422335' first='Gannon' last='Knebel'], Wagner 2026 <a href="https://x.com/gannonknebel">Twitter</a>   You want to talk about program chainging wins? Wagner uncommitted 2026 athlete [player_tooltip player_id='1422335' first='Gannon' last='Knebel'] had one last Friday night as the Red Raiders defeated #1 ranked Winner 34-20. Gannon had himself a day, logging 5 total touchdowns on 11/17 passing for 349 yards in their upset win over the Warriors. If you are a college coach, you will want to watch this young man's tape from last week. The vison, the mtor, the football IQ on both sides of the ball are impressive and I am surprised more D2 schools around the state haven't gotten a leg up on recruiting this young man as the two-way athlete looks like a ideal fit as a linebacker at the next-level. The now #2 ranked team in the South Dakota Power 5 poll in 11B, is certainly going to get their respect up from voters after last week   [player_tooltip player_id='1568256' first='Wesley' last='Wittler'], Sully Buttes 2026 <a href="https://x.com/WesleyWittler">Twitter</a>   Our selection for Preseason 9B Player of the Year surely has looked the part in the first two weeks of the season for the Sully Buttes Chargers. In their 62-7 win against Burke, Wesley logged five total touchdwons. Although the game tape hasn't been uploaded yet, we know that Wesley sound touch throws, balance, and precison are skillsets that he thrives with as the senior is trying to top his 47 touchdowns he logged last year in his senior season and is another under the radar name that more local college programs need to know especially at the NAIA level.   Running Back   [player_tooltip player_id='1532671' first='Levi' last='Veskrna'], Brandon Valey 2026 <a href="https://x.com/levi_veskrna">Twitter</a>   The recent Sioux Falls running back commit had a big Week 1 win against Sioux Falls Washington 28-7, as Levi went for 25 carries, 163 rushing yards, and two touchdowns in the Lynx victory. The most intiguing play I watched from Levi was him coming out of the wildcat and utilzing his straight line burst up the A-gap for one of his rushing touchdowns on the day and one that really showed how fast Levi is in the open field. With an impressive camp season, Levi is a 2026 running back that should see movement upwards in our 2026 rankings.   [player_tooltip player_id='1422534' first='Porter' last='Gregg'], Herreid-Selby 2028 <a href="https://x.com/Portergregg4">Twitter</a>   Our current RB1 in the South Dakota 2028 class got off to a strong start in Week 2 logging 13 carries, 117 rushing yards, and two touchdowns for the Wolverines offense in their 42-0 shutout of Northwestern Area. Porter shows off a quick north-south twitch and sound vision certainly once he approaches the second level. There also has been a growing amount of fluidity in watching him as a sophomore which shows that this young man has been working on his speed and agility in the weight room over the summer. Surely hope we can get a 3-week highlight tape from Porter after this week to see further progression as the top RB in this 2028 class.   Wide Receiver   [player_tooltip player_id='673146' first='Mikey' last='Roche'], Sioux Falls Lincoln 2026 <a href="https://x.com/MikeyRoche_2">Twitter</a>   The second Sioux Falls Lincoln Patriot on our South Dakota Big Dogs of the Week this week logged some mega stats against Rapid City Stevens as [player_tooltip player_id='673146' first='Mikey' last='Roche'] was one of our top wide receivers in South Dakota last Friday night. 4 receptions, 140 yards, four touchdowns (every reception was a touchdown) which is a jaw-dropping stat line regardless of the opponent they went up against. Mikey is in my eyes has some of the highest football IQs as a route-runner in the Dakotas and is still uncommitted at the moment and will be a steal for whoever lands him at the next-level as a speedster that runs a 10.73 on the 100-yard dash but still constantly flashes the excellent change of direction and ideal hands.   Hogan Hybertson, Centerville 2028   A new name to our South Dakota Big Dogs of the Week is Hogan Hybertson of Centerville who is another 2028 that caught our attention across the state. Against #3 ranked Alcester-Hudson, Hogan had 5 receptions for 147 receiving yards and a touchdown which comes out to nearly 30 yards per catch which certainly are stat stuffing numbers. The sophmore for the Tornadoes in the tape eval shows off a springy route runner that has sound upside brewing in the coming years with more twitch at the top of his route and his change of direction. As a slot wide receiver, I was impressed how well this young man could get his yards after contact for his age and size as well.

Quarterback