Dakota Bowl XXXIII: Top Defensive Backs

Next up from Dakota Bowl XXXIII, we start off on defense, with the best players I saw in the secondary all day Friday in Fargo! If you like plenty of new names like me to add to your radar, this is a good list for you college coaches!   Looking to advance your exposure in the Dakotas this winter? Sign up for our Prep Redzone Dakotas Showcase in Aberdeen, SD with the promo code WahlWinterPRZ   Link to Sign Up: https://events.prepredzone.com/e/2117/register/stock-up-showcase-dakotas    Thomas was a name that I didn't honestly have on my radar until Friday morning, but was one that was a big impact player on both sides of the ball for the Rockets. He was one the smaller defensive backs I saw, but man did this kid play with preseence in pass coverage. The 5'8 150 pound excelled in my eyes as a consistent ball tracker and one that logged the lone interception for the DB group for the Rockets defense. This won't be the only category you will find Thomas on our Dakota Bowll XXXIII radar, as this young man was a problem at a few different positions.     If I had to list my favorite player for the Rockets on the defensive side of the ball, my vote would have surely went for Grant Engebretson who was another impact player on both sides of the ball for the Rockets in their back to back state championship run. It was from a physicality persepctive is where Grant caught my attention as this young man was always in for the wreckage in pass coverage and recorded muliple PBUs which really showed a cornerback prospect that played way above his size with all the physicality he brought to the table. It was the same deal when he would go make a tackle, as Grant was one of the more physiclal tacklers I saw on the day. He is one that you might not find on Twitter, but it would be worth contact his head coach to see if he wants to play at the next-level, as the talent for Saturdays is there.     Listed on our North Dakota 2026 watchlist, [player_tooltip player_id='1226997' first='Avery' last='Kramer'] was a defensive back that I graded that made some plays to get added to our 2026 rankings when they come out for the last time. He got his name called constantly over the loudspeaker at the FargoDome and when I got the live eval, you could tell that this kid is one that plays with a high motor and was rangy in my eyes for his size. Avery was also the top tackler in the Loboes defensive back group on Friday morning.     In my eyes, certainly one of the most impressive underclassmen defensive backs I watched on Friday afternon was a new name to our radar in the 2028 class in Langdon Area's Eastyn Schaefer. I thought Eastyn showed off well-versed awareness in pass coverage for his age and made plays that I feel some senior defensive backs might struggle to make. He also was well-versed as a ball tracker on Friday afternoon as his 6'2 175 pound frame paid dividends by utilizing his length to his advantage to erupt passing lanes. I would say honestly, he was one of the better DBs I watched overall on Friday in general which is a high mark for this sophomore who is also now a state champion. One that will certainly get on our rankings coming out soon!   <a href="https://x.com/EastynSchaefer">TWITTER</a>     Another defensive back that should be a call up from our 2027 watch list in the Dakotas will be Maddux Stremnick, also a new state champion from Langdon Area. He was a defensive back that I would consider to be "pesky" in his live eval on Friday afternoon and I felt he was one that had his hands around the ball on nearly every play in pass coverage. He was probable the best ball tracker we saw in this game in my eyes, as the 6'0 160 pounder played with more length than you might have expected watching that game. Maddux was one of the reasons why the Braves struggled with thier pass offense in the second half as the Cardinals are your state champions in 11A for the 2025 season.     I have Zavion graded as a wide receiver, but with the length this young man offers it wasn't surprising to me on Friday night that he was one of their better defensive back grades I got. the now 6'3 190 pounder, not only got the lone interception on defense for the Patriots, but was also one of thier top tacklers on Friday night. Zavion has long strides which makes him rangy when he gets downhill to the ball, showed off the athletic ability enough defensively to show off the position flexibility to either be a wide receiver or free safety on Saturdays. 4.09 GPA and somehow just has two offers.     Out of the ranked prospects on our list, there is not one that is more deserving of a significant bump than DB/RB [player_tooltip player_id='674792' first='Kolten' last='Tesch']. I got to watch Kolten at camps this summer and on Friday night in Fargo and the consistency I see with his skillsets always match up. This young man is a smash-mouth defensive back that will punch you in the nose. In pass coverage, I love Kolten as a corner at the next-level as I remember him causing WRs fits at camp. I am very surprised that Kolten only has one offer at the moment from D3 powerhouse UW-Whitewater. He should add more this winter for sure!   <a href="https://x.com/KoltenTesch">TWITTER</a>

Next up from Dakota Bowl XXXIII, we start off on defense, with the best players I saw in the secondary all day Friday in Fargo! If you like plenty of new names like me to add to your radar, this is a good list for you college coaches!