South Dakota State Semifinals Preview: 9AA Playmakers to Watch

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Looking to advance your football recruiting exposure in the Dakotas this winter?&nbsp;</strong>Sign up for our Prep Redzone Dakotas Showcase in Aberdeen with the promo code&nbsp;<strong>WahlWinterPRZ</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Link to Sign Up:</strong>&nbsp;https://events.prepredzone.com/e/2117/register/stock-up-showcase-dakotas</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"24px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:24px"><strong>#3 Parkston (9-1) at #2 Elkton-Lake Benton (9-1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Trojan Playmakers to Watch</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1625447' first='Mason' last='Jervik'], RB/DB 2027</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The bellcow at running back for the Trojans is 2027 running back [player_tooltip player_id='1625447' first='Mason' last='Jervik']. Mason boosts solid tight area vision when running inside and has the burst into the second level to get out of high traffic areas. Impressively fluid from start to finish which certainly gets seen in the outside box along the edges. He'll be the center of attention to watch in this offense tonight in Elkton. Should be easily a top 60 at the minimum by next 2027 rankings update.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1320037' first='Gage' last='Jodozi'], LB, 2027</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the most impressive midseason tapes I have seen in this 2027 SD class in 9-man football comes from Parkston 2027 linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1320037' first='Gage' last='Jodozi']. The now 6'1 220 pounder, oozes with physicality in the tacle box as a consistent knockback tackler that has grown out his frame since our last rankings update came out in this class. He looks like a sure-fire scholarship prospect that will be a big riser up our 2027 SD board.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='929915' first='Traeson' last='Weatherford'], LB, 2026</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Our LB8 in the 2026 class, is yet another linebacker to watch for tonight for Parkston in 2026 prospect [player_tooltip player_id='929915' first='Traeson' last='Weatherford']. Traeson has gotten more efficent in his senior season getting off blocks down to the ball carrier with more agility than a season ago. No reported offers as of yet for Traeson, but surely is a linebacker that has a powerful motor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Gage Reichert, ATH/LB 2026</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another athlete to watch in the backfield for Parkston tonight is Gage Reichert also a 2026 prospect. He is more of the grinder type running back that has good high-traffic inside vision </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Elks Playmakers to Watch</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='929918' first='Colt' last='Beck'], QB 2026</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Elks dual-threat quarterback is a speedster at the quarterback position you will want to keep your eyes on tonight, as when he escapes the pocket he can be a big problem with his legs and speed. Not only is he an elusive runner but for his size, he has great mechanics with his quick release and well-versed ball placement downfield on intermediatea and deep routes. Looking for athleticism next year? [player_tooltip player_id='929918' first='Colt' last='Beck'] would be a good additon at the next-level that has great position flexibility.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Myles Poindexter, TE/LB 2026</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Myles is a name I remember from the NDSU camp over the summer and alhtough he doesn't have tape, I recall this young man showing off under the radar athleticism and sound length as a pass-catcher who plays tight end for Elkton-Lake Benton.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1592520' first='Eliot' last='Erickson'], RB/DB 2026</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Eliot had a monster regular season with over 1300 rushing yards on 22 touchdowns, as he is the workhorse in the backfield to watch tonight for the Elks rushing attack. He is another Elks athlete that is undersized, but man has impressive durability for his size. Sometimes even with muliple tacklers in the area, Eliot continues to use his motor to throttle ahead for extra yards. Just a tough, gritty running back that might be hard to stop tonight.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1734277' first='Savion' last='Stephens'], WR/DB 2026</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Savion was another name I gathered from the NDSU camp from this summer from the Elks, as one that is shows off how effective he is thru contact and after the catch on tape. The 6'0 185 pounder, is one of my favorite intermediate and deep threats in this Elkton-Lake Benton receiving core to watch for tonight.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"24px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:24px"><strong>#4 Hamlin (9-1) at #1 Freeman-Marion Academy (10-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Charger Playmakers to Watch</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1568226' first='Jackson' last='Wadsworth'], QB 2026</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Committed to Northern State for basketball, Jackson is also in our top-tier at the quarterback position in our 2026 South Dakota rankings. He hasn't posted his tape yet for his senior football season, but Jackson is deadly accurate and completed 74% of his passes as a junior and has great poise and efficent arm talent on all three levels that also had college football interest before he committed.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Watson Grantham, WR/DB 2026</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Watson is a 2026 athlete that looked the part when I rolled his game tape as a wide receiver to watch tonight for the Hamlin Chargers. His persistency with his routes are scattered all over the field, as one that can get loose in zone coverage and cause problems after the catch or be effective around the first down sticks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1293089' first='Boden' last='Stevenson'], WR/LB 2027</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The biggest playmaker the Chargers have in this receiving core shows off very quickly on tape from 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='1293089' first='Boden' last='Stevenson']. The 6'4 190 pounder, not only has great size but man does his length and pull-away speed cause a lot of problems for the secondary in the open field. He just posted his tape just today, and surely is one that will be on our 2027 SD rankings upcoming.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Phoenix Playmakers to Watch</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1422371' first='Riley' last='Tschetter'], QB/LB 2026</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Riley is a dual threat quarterback I have heard a lot about the last two seasons despite not having much film out there. His elusiveness appears to be a problem for defenses to figure out as he's extremely mobile with his legs getting out of the pocket with all his athleticism he has at his disposal. He shows off great precison when he advances the ball on deep routes as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>David Walter, WR/DB, 2028</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Called a "very good wide receiver" by his high school coach, David brings the size in the Phoenix receiving core as just a sophomore. Another 6'4 target that we will have to track tonight more in depth.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Another Name to Watch</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Luke Peters, RB/LB, 2026</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->