Sophomores That Shined at the UNI-Dome

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Get 50% off your first billing cycle with code:&nbsp;<strong>BlackFriday2025</strong>&nbsp;in the coupon code area</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/11/recruiting-roundup-early-signing-period-approaching/">Recruiting Roundup: Early Signing Period Approaching</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/11/prep-redzone-iowa-2025-mr-football-elite-all-state/">Prep Redzone Iowa 2025 Mr. Football, Elite All-State</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Going back through the mental Rolodex from the state semifinals and finals at the UNI-Dome, I began pondering pieces to write at Prep Redzone Iowa. Being that identifying guys' talents early in their high school careers has become our thing here, I landed on sophomores that caught my attention up there: </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1925478"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6927182b45e0b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">This kid caught everybody's attention during the state championships in the UNI-Dome. The sophomore helped West Lyon win its seventh state title and second in a row with his dynamic, big-play ability. The highlight of the overtime win against Regina in the title game was his 97-yard kick return for a touchdown. He also hauled in a 33-yard reception. Kramer will need to continue developing strength and durability to compensate for a smaller frame, but there's time for that. The foundation of speed, quickness and the ability to make would-be tacklers miss is there. He runs good routes and sees the field well. For the season, he averaged 11.5 yards and scored a pair of TDs on 24 carries, and caught 18 balls for 230 yards with three house calls. He averaged 31.4 yards and scored three times on seven punt returns, and brought two of his four kick returns back for touchdowns. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1900142"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69271b648b5d0"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Van Meter ran into a buzz saw in the state championship game with Kuemper Catholic. It didn't dim the rising star in Williams, however. He flashed ability on both sides of the ball during the state semis and final in the UNI-Dome. He produced 10.0 tackles, an interception and a tackle for loss in the title game. Against previously unbeaten Osage in the semifinal, he rushed for 94 yards and two scores with 10.0 tackles and another TFL. Williams rushed for over 1,000 yards and 16 scores while being a threat as a receiver out of the backfield this year. He had 84.0 tackles (8.0 TFL, 2.5 sacks) and two picks. Williams could end up playing running back on the next level. He shows good vision, cutting ability and burst. Those traits also work well on defense, where he could be develop into a hybrid safety-linebacker with coverage skills and knack for supporting the run. Adding strength this offseason will be a priority.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2061250"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69271e4756ca6"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Knapp showed he was one of the state's better sophomores during the season, then capped it off with a fine performance at the UNI-Dome. The 10th-grader piled up 14.0 tackles and forced a fumble in a semifinal win against defending champion Wahlert Catholic. He followed up that outing with 14.0 more stops in the title game versus Nevada. For the season, he collected 55.5 tackles (33 solo, 2.0 TFL) and an interception. Knapp looks natural at the safety position, adjusting after reading formations pre-snap and flowing well to the football once the play is underway. There's explosiveness in pursuit and an understanding of angles. He is a fundamentally sound tackler, someone with skills to stand out on special teams, too. Like most sophomores, adding strength will be a goal this offseason so he can raise his level of physicality.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2053670"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6927337c8a14a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Osage's 14-6, smash-mouth setback against Van Meter in the Class 2A state semifinals at the UNI-Dome featured impactful defense performances all around the field. Ross was a guy that stuck out to me as a versatile student-athlete with an advanced game for a 10th-grader. Listed on the Green Devils' roster as a running back and defensive end, Ross did his work on defense and special teams versus Van Meter. He flew around to the football, showing explosion and, again, a higher level of physicality than we normally see in prep sophomores. He collected 6.0 tackles and a quarterback hurry, and played a key roll in Osage being able to funnel the opposing offense inside and not allowing it to get to the perimeter. Ross is athletic with lateral quickness that could translate to multiple positions on defense depending on how is frame develops. No matter what, he proved to be worth monitoring moving forward based on his semifinal performance and a season that saw him stack up 40.0 tackles (25 solo, 12.0 TFL) and 4.0 sacks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2067080"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6927394bdd303"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Although St. Ansgar came up a win short of a state title, falling to MMCRU in the Class A title game, the Saints proved to have a roster filled with interesting prospects during their time at The Dome. Trytten would be one of those guys. The sophomore impacted a win against Wapsie Valley in the semifinals when he delivered a solo tackle and intercepted a pass. During the loss in the final, he registered 7.0 tackles, five of which were of the solo variety. The foundation is there for Tryttem to develop in the secondary. He shows good speed and an ability to stick in coverage. Adding strength and mass to his frame would aid him in supporting the run and leveraging receivers. Trytten is one to monitor moving forward after recording 38.0 tackles (30 solo, 1.0 TFL) and a pair of picks. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1953613"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69273b8044630"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">I wrote about Lampe after watching him compete in a game at Clear Creek Amana during the regular season. It was great getting another opportunity for an in-person scout when Newton took on eventual state champion Xavier in the Class 4A state semifinals at the UNI-Dome. Lampe confirmed what I witnessed back in Tiffin. He's an athletic safety with present impact and potential for much more. Against the mighty Saints, Lampe produced 7.0 tackles (4 solo, 2.0 TFL) and a sack. That finished off a sophomore campaign that saw him record 36.5 stops (31 solo, 5.0 TFL), 3.0 sacks and a forced fumble. Lampe brings a sound frame to the table already with a chance for added strength. He's an explosive athlete that gets downhill in a hurry in the run game and can run with receivers in coverage. Lampe is firmly on the radar heading into an offseason that should take him to college camps to show off his abilities. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->