Scouting Reports: Notable Iowa 2027s with Upside

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Get 30% off your first billing cycle with code:&nbsp;howe30&nbsp;in the coupon code area</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We enter the second week of March a step closer to the 2025 season. Prep Redzone has continued preparations for it by rifling through student-athletes' highlight videos and churning out evaluations.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If you don't yet have highlights on your Hudl page, interested college coaches will be looking for them on there and elsewhere. Ask for help if you need it in compiling a video with any clips you have.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's another batch of fresh reports:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2148016"],"_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-69b0304937662"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Sallis offered intrigue when I happened upon him during some off-season research. The multi-sport athlete from Don Bosco flashes potential in baseball, a sport he appears to like a lot, ranking second on the team in homers and third in RBIs as a sophomore last season. <a href="https://x.com/Nelley13/status/2020306855302693047?s=20" id="https://x.com/Nelley13/status/2020306855302693047?s=20">His win clinched</a> the Dons' sixth consectuive Class 1A state dual wrestling title this winter. In between those two achievements was a memorable junior campaign on the gridiron. Sallis registered 37.5 tackles, 20 of which were solo stops. He piled up 16.0 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks, and forced a pair of fumbles for a team that fell to eventual eight-player state champion Bishop Garrigan in the quarterfinals. I wanted to write about Sallis after seeing wrestling and baseball clips because of the obvious athleticism and projectable frame. I could not find any football footage. I'm interested. More importantly, college football coaches are interested.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1197453"],"_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-69b033d4d7128"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">McNeal has been on the Prep Redzone Iowa radar for quite some time. He was advanced as a freshman and has just kept climbing through development in a program that's among the state's best at doing so. We hadn't written a McNeal evaluation in the last eight months, so an update was in order. The terror in the trenches helped us out by putting together a <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/19489541/6967eb7be26c3652c254c182" id="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/19489541/6967eb7be26c3652c254c182">junior highlight video from 2025</a>. On it, we witness an explosive presence in the middle of the defensive front. It's an impressive combination of burst, agility and power. McNeal overwhelms opponents with overall strength, especially notable in his arms and hands. He controls the fight and disengages smoothly. McNeal moves well laterally and in a straight line. Production has been there. He racked up 38.0 tackles as a D-Tackle with 25 solo stops and 14.5 stops for loss. He also had a sack and a half. McNeal should be receiving more attention on the recruiting trail. His skill set also would work at offensive guard. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2148081"],"_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-69b037ee67f23"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Batawui was overshadowed on a talented 2025 Newton roster at times, but the junior right offensive guard was an important part of a state semifinalist. He reported not allowing a sack during the campaign, when the Cardinals rushed for 2987 yards (7.5) and 43 touchdowns. They added 1,835 yards and 21 scores through the air. I saw Batawui in person twice during the year and looked forward to getting a closer look with his <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/19464897/69548db8e973529892f96bff" id="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/19464897/69548db8e973529892f96bff">11th-grade highlight video</a>. He's quick off of the snap and moves well. Batawui sets up well in pass protection and shows smooth footwork. He already overpowers opponents with a sound base and strong upper body in clearing the way for the running game. Reaching blocks in space aren't an issue. Batawui has a frame that can comfortably add mass and strength without the loss of his athleticism and agility.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2090924"],"_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-69b03a50394fd"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">An Oberhoffer evaluation is long overdue. Prep Redzone Iowa missed writing about him during a recent rankings update. It's time the right the wrong and check out his <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/16712151/6966a5bae26c3652c25482fe" id="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/16712151/6966a5bae26c3652c25482fe">junior highlight video</a> of 2025, when he and ADM reached the state quarterfinals before losing to eventual Class 4A champion Xavier. Oberhoffer was a star player for the Tigers, collecting 33.5 tackles, 27 of which were solo stops. He wreaked havoc with 14.5 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks and two fumble recoveries. Oberhoffer contributed a two-point conversion on offense. He's a rangy athlete coming off of the edge, often succeeding with explosiveness and speed. Long arms keep blockers at bay. The skill set can work well at tight end, too. Either way, it's a projectable frame and considerable upside. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1705178"],"_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-69b06047b5bb0"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Prep Redzone Iowa last wrote about Long eight months ago, when he was coming off a productive 2024 as an Earlham sophomore. It was time to check in with the Cardinal lineman's development during his junior campaign this past fall. On defense, he recorded 30.5 tackles, 25 of which were solo stops. Long came up with 9.0 tackles for loss and 4.0 sacks. When viewing his <a href="https://x.com/KeeganKLong/status/1986100083289465151?s=20" id="https://x.com/KeeganKLong/status/1986100083289465151?s=20">11th-grade highlight video</a>, we can see how he operates in pursuit of the football. Long does a great job holding the line as a defensive tackle. He's powerful and doesn't give up ground while doing so, and separating from blocks is not a problem with his strength and active hands. Long finished as a state runner-up in wrestling this winter. He understands the value leverage and keeping the pads down. Long moves well laterally and in a straight line. His skill set could also play on the offensive line at the next level. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->