Prep Redzone Dakotas Showcase: The DBs That Stole the Show

After naming our MVPs from every position at our Prep Redzone Dakotas Showcase, we move to each position group to pop open our notebook and see what our notes had to say at each position group, starting with the defensive backs that stole the show in Aberdeen. We get Sioux Falls dominance, a 2028 DB that keeps impressing, and the first time we have had a 2029 top performer come thru our PRZ Dakotas Showcase for defensive back.    Shay was a defensive back that I had on my DBs list at our last showcase and over the summer at the SDSU prospect camp and based on what I saw on Sunday, he's kept progressing. In testing, he ran a 4.88 (2nd amongst DBs) in the 40-yard dash, 4.53 in the pro shuttle, and 7.43 in the L-drill which are all much improved from his last Prep Redzone Dakotas Showcase appearance in Aberdeen. A skillset that I saw that was much improved from last time was his ball-tracking ability as that can't be much of a surprise, as he was near the top in stats for interceptions as a junior in the state. Overall, I thought Shay also attacked his reps with more pure instincts as his upside has grown into skill that is still being untapped. Certainly has a strong shot to play at the next-level out of this 2028 class.     We've had a few freshmen in our top performers at other positions, but [player_tooltip player_id='1745608' first='Mason' last='Leno'] of Sioux Falls Jefferson is the first one that I recall the defensive back position in our over four years of doing showcases in the Dakotas. He's very instinctive for his age and that showed off on Sunday, as Mason really impressed me with his attention to detail thru coaching as it was well-noted when watching his footwork as I felt he was unphased by more sizable competition. He also was one that knew how to establish position with his ball-tracking ability as certainly one that now has tape, could be in our top-tier amongst defensive backs in our 2029 SD class that the live eval certainly did the justice.     This is now the third of the Prins brothers that have been to our Prep Redzone Dakotas Showcase and the story remains the same, athleticism surely runs well in the family. Jude was one of my preliminary top performers I was hoping to see and he lived up to that report pre-showcase. The 5'10 170 pounder, plays way above those measurables will show you and was the top tester just about across the board in the DB group, running a 4.68 40-yard dash, 4.59 in the pro shuttle, 9'0 in the broad jump and was tied for second amongst hand size (9.75) which is not common to see amongst defensive backs at our showcases. He showed off his rangy, fluid movement I was looking to see and I love the upside that has to prove in the coming years as a defensive back but yet, has so much position flexiblity on either side of the ball. He certainly is another 2028 that will get a big bump up our 2028 rankings.     Even though the defensive back group was a small group, I was very quick to identify the best defensive back in the building at our Prep Redzone Dakotas Showcase, as it was [player_tooltip player_id='1080174' first='Ethan' last='Olson'] of Sioux Falls Lincoln that took home the gold on Sunday afternoon. He recorded a 4.44 pro shuttle was intriguing in the L-drill that I watched, but what I saw during the individual drills proved quickly that his change of direction was much more agile in a game-like setting which is what I love about our showcases. I orginally had Ethan graded as a QB, and then a LB, but him showing off his skillsets in the defensive back group paint a great picture at the next-level in that spot as he showed off great footwork, a quick ball-tracking ability, and great suddenness getting out of his brakes to attack the ball anywhere. No doubt that Ethan will be one that moves up our 2028 board in South Dakota

After naming our MVPs from every position at our Prep Redzone Dakotas Showcase, we move to each position group to pop open our notebook and see what our notes had to say at each position group, starting with the defensive backs that stole the show in Aberdeen. We get Sioux Falls dominance, a 2028 DB that keeps impressing, and the first time we have had a 2029 top performer come thru our PRZ Dakotas Showcase for defensive back.