2027 ND Rankings: Meet the 1s on Defense

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With plenty to talk about with our most recent rankings update, we took a look tonight the athletes rated at "number one" at their position and what they do that seperates them for the rest. With North Dakota, we had two spots stay the same as far as player and the other two spots were up for grabs this winter!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"24px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:24px"><strong>DL1</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1027991"],"_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-697c328e0b71b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Luke has been our consesus #1 overall prospect since this 2027 class launched a couple years ago so we have had a sound grasp on what the 4-star athlete from Kindred has brought to the tables for a few years now. He's the most agile defensive end in the entire Dakotas for a reason and wastes no time at attemping to show it on his junior tape as Luke can get across the to the other side of the play in the backfield and make it look like clockwork. with his soft hands and movement. The speed he is able to generate off those soft hands is extremely damaging when he constantly getes into the backfield. You will see him on tape at three positions (DE, TE, and OL) but without a doudbt defensive end looks like his best fit for the next-level. Dozens of P4 offers for Luke already and I am sure he's not done yet.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://x.com/lukestarcevic8">TWITTER</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"24px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:24px"><strong>EDGE1</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1716749"],"_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-697c328e0b778"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">If you followed our camp content around this summer you should certainly remember Faafetai from the Minot State prospect camp. He was not only one of my favorite newcomers for North Dakota, but I said it then and I stuck to my guns that he would be our #1 edge rusher in this 2027 class out of Dickinson. The 6'4 245 pounder is one that was quick to grow from one camp to the next, as his pass-rush moves got more progressive with their speed, power, and timing the more reps we get to see in Minot and Jamestown. He's one that certainly grades out as a D1 prospect in our eyes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://x.com/TaiTautolo2608">TWITTER </a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"24px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:24px"><strong>LB1</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1625514"],"_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-697c328e0b7c0"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Another new name we have in the top spot this time at linebacker is Bismarck Legacy's [player_tooltip player_id='1625514' first='Griffen' last='Zins']. The growing 6'0 200 pounder, has plenty of downhill instincts to utilze at his disposal as I love how Griffin's soft hands progress highly in high traffic areas to get to the point of attack in what looks like a linebacker that plays with a sound motor that has some range to give around that inside box. the city of Bismarck has been a good one for LB1s and that continues with this update with Griffin Zins taking up the latest nod.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://x.com/zins_12">TWITTER</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"24px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:24px"><strong>DB1</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1285223"],"_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-697c328e0b805"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">DB1 is one of two spots on North Dakota defensive 1s that saw no changes as [player_tooltip player_id='1285223' first='Anthony' last='Alexander'] protected his stpot as DB1 out of Minot High. He's picked up some steam recently too on his recruiting trail, as the Minnesota Gophers were in Minot recently visiting Anthony when they were in the area because why not, when you are in Minot? This young man has a highly gifted football IQ and one that just keeps growing and growing by the year. He brings such a mixed bag of skillsets with everything he does on tape as Anthony is always in the right spot at the right time, once again contributing to his football IQ. The motor cannot be missed from his junior tape, as another notch has certainly been engaged in his junior season as the best DB we have seen in this state in a while. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://x.com/AnthonyAlexand">TWITTER</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->