2029 LB/DB Newcomers That Flash from South Dakota

Now that the dust has settled as far as our rankings release, we start going full-go into the content pieces with our rankings this week heading into Week 1 of the season for some. We took at look at the newcomers that make our 2029 rankings in the linebacker and defensive back group out of the Mount Rushmore State.   Linebackers    If there was more tape out there, the starting stock could have higher for Vermillion 2029 linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='2326241' first='Cale' last='Cleveland']. Talk about a kid that clings to the football quickly on the outside of the inside box. I also feel Cale's athelticism could get even more rangy to the edges of the sideline which is an upside to look at furrther as he gets more tape with the Tanagers. I don't have measurables on Cale, but the size at linebacker looks solid for his age and surely stands out from a length perspective.     Joe is one that I already have logged as a probably top 5 or better linebacker by next update as this young man is already an effective tackler in the inside box. Not only is Joe efficent in the run game, he also has well-versed pursuit angles that show off a lot of persistency that was a late bloomer went I put this 2029 class out of South Dakota out that probably will be quite a bit higher by next update. He also thrives as a fullback that is a thumper type blocker that has plenty of wiggle room for growth in these coming years.     Another 2029 linebacker in this top 5 group that I surely have an a probable stockriser by next update is Hitchcock-Tulare's [player_tooltip player_id='2326684' first='Hudson' last='Hansen']. The 6'0 185 pounder clings to the football with the motor you want to see from a youngster at linebacker as he's more instinctive sniffing out the backfield than you would expect for his age. He's a linebacker that already shows he can get sideline to sideline and surely has some upside with getting more fluid in his movement as he gets to the edges of the field. Hudson is our LB5 amongst South Dakota 2029s that intrigued me for his future.       Benjamin is a 2029 linebacker out of Great Plains Lutheran that brings consistent penetration the backfield no matter which linebacker position he lines up. The 5'11 175 pounder might not have the prototypical linebacker size yet, but his knockback tacklling ability will surely tell you that seems to almost always thread quickly and patiently downhill especially getting his hands onf blocks with efficent timing. Benjamin enters our 2029 SD rankings as our LB4 and like I said is a newcomer to the rankings from last update.     Hayden is a linebacker that still has some time to build up more frame in the coming years, but his boxes check above his measurables in my eyes with how he utilizes his hands as you wouldn't guress those measurables apply to Hayden. Hayden also his more progessive than you would think getting thru contact as his ability to move laterally and get to the ball carrier outside the box is one his more intriguing looks he has on tape.    Defensive Backs    Moving over to the defensive back grroup, we welcome newcomer [player_tooltip player_id='2326250' first='Micah' last='James'] from Beresford to our 2029 rankings. His ability to apply quick long strides to assist the linebackers down into the tackle box is the first look that popped out to me for Micah as he collapses quickly and instinctively downhill. He also caught the attention of us for his tackling ability, as for his size Micah has a solid trigger when he makes contact on the ball carrier. He's one that is still a "wait and see" DB prospect as far as what he can be in 1v1 pass coverage downfield, but surely the athletic tools apply starting off as a top 60 prospect and our DB6 in the 2029 South Dakota class.     The first look you get from Solomon on his freshmen tape shows off the kind of unexpected range this kid has at at the safety position as he shows off the twitch to pop down to the ball quickly. Solomon's also one that checks the box with his instincts, as when its his turn to assist the CBs on deep routes his timing and tracking abiliy clings well to the football for his age and size. He also shows tape as a WR, and on our looks over on the offensive side of the ball he shows off a springy route-runner that has more length to give out on his routes with his ability to strretch for the football.     It seems the Lynx have one of the deepest classes thus far when it comes to the defensive backs in this 2029 South Dakota class as another that appeared on our board was [player_tooltip player_id='2266318' first='Ethan' last='Solum']. It is pretty evident off Ethan's first look that this young man has a great skillset of being able to read the QBs eyes quickly on where he is going with the football, which checked the box right away on tape. There's also reps at the running back position, but the upside in my eyes for Ethan lies as a defensive back however, we surely will hopefully get more tape out to see full throttle on what our DB7 in the 2029 class can do further.     Xavier appears as one of the better athletes out of this 2029 South Dakota defensive back groups thus far as yet another weapon to know out of Brandon Valley. His ball-tracking ability even with light reps shows off the tight window ball-tracking ability he has at his disposal. Xavier is one that is one that gets reps on all three levels of the field for a reason as I am excited to see more tape out o this young man upcoming as he enters our rankings as our DB5 in the 2029 class from the jump.     One fo the most impressive new additions to the 2029 defensive back group in my eyes comes from Sioux Falls Lincoln's [player_tooltip player_id='1906636' first='Evan' last='Lindsey']. He is one of the best ball-trackers we have seen thus far in this 2029 class, as his tight knit ability in 1v1 pass coverage seems to show him always in the right place and the right time from the early looks of his tape. His consistent ability to apply this on all three levels of the routes you see, also makes his tape tape most intriguing. Could he take over the reigns as DB1 in this 2029 class? With the season starting next week, that answer gets answered sooner rather than later.

Now that the dust has settled as far as our rankings release, we start going full-go into the content pieces with our rankings this week heading into Week 1 of the season for some. We took at look at the newcomers that make our 2029 rankings in the linebacker and defensive back group out of the Mount Rushmore State.