Small School, Big Talent
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Use code Johnson30 for 30% off a new subscription The Class of 2025 is starting a streak of very talented Classes here in Wisconsin. You can find talented, college level prospects all over the state, and that includes the small…
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The Class of 2025 is starting a streak of very talented Classes here in Wisconsin. You can find talented, college level prospects all over the state, and that includes the small schools. While those kids are harder to find, we have many that are well worth digging into the state. To help that process, we are going to highlight several small school prospects that will be college athletes. To set our boundaries, we are looking at athletes in schools that are Division 5 or smaller. Let’s turn on the tape and dive in!
Trey is quickly becoming one of my most intriguing prospects. You can see his listed size of 6’5″ 175 lbs. That was before the season. Now he is up to an impressive 220 lbs. He also has made his biggest impact at DE/OLB and TE in 2023. So big changes are coming for his profile on PRZ WI, including his ranking. On offense the big target is a smooth, long striding athlete who is a reliable target over the middle and in traffic. On defense, Trey excels at holding the edge and preventing any carry from getting outside. On the edge Trey is comfortable in space and can corral RBs/QBs. Check out some of his tape below.
The 6’2″ 220 lbs LB for St. Mary’s Springs has come into his own this past season. Right off the bat, the power packed into each tackle is next level ready. No question, kids feel him the next day after a Friday night vs him. Noah brings that stout, old school inside LB physicality but also has the necessary range to chase down plays from sideline to sideline. Moul is quick to trigger downhill against the inside run and does a great job of keeping himself clean between the tackles. Noah is on the rise after a season back at LB.
Highlights
Zele is a fun one to watch. He is a big athlete at 6’4″ 205 lbs and has the strong play style you would hope for. He can run through tackles, doesn’t get pumped off his routes, and can fight through contact to make the catch. Zeke’s athleticism has also developed well since a year ago. We now see more and more examples of him winning with speed out in space. Zeke is a well rounded offensive weapon that is used at WR/TE/and they give him carries in the run game. Strand also deserves a look at safety. He brings a lot of versatility to the table.
Ryan has had a great year of growth and development. Now standing 6’3″ 285 lbs, he looks like a college prospect opening up huge running lanes for Iola-Scandinavia. The big man excels in pulling and leading. He has the range to go across the formation and the agility to land his blocks square on LBs. The junior does a great job of playing with a wide base, staying balanced over his toes, and is accurate with his hand placement on his opponents. The arrow is pointing up for this small school standout.
Konnar Johnston Konnar Johnston 6'3" | 240 lbs | OL Mondovi | 2025 State WI
Konnar Johnston Konnar Johnston 6'3" | 240 lbs | OL Mondovi | 2025 State WI
I love the way Konnar plays on the interior of the trenches. He has a frame ready for more and more mass, but he is already mauling opponents. He has that nasty mentality where he is looking to bury every athlete he faces. Most of the time he wins the battle too. He plays with solid leverage and leg drive. Add in good hand placement and you get an IOL who has shown he can reset the line of scrimmage into level two. Konnar also can get up to level two to hit LBs and will not hesitate to bury them too. To go with the physicality you also get an athlete who can pull and lead without slowing down the development of the play. I’m very excited for this coming year for him. Don’t sleep on the Mondovi IOL.
We wrap up with an intriguing two sport star. Matt is a dominant 25+ ppg scorer on the hardwood, and a very effective field general on the gridiron. He looks the part at 6’4″ 180 lbs, and he also plays the part of a college level QB. Matt is an efficient technician when it comes to throwing. There is no wasted movement in his drop or transitioning into his throwing motion. The junior scans the defense and will work from man to man in his progressions. He has sufficient arm strength for the next level and clearly has the accuracy to every level of the field to be able to carve up defenses. Buckman also brings an athletic threat to the position, but doesn’t bail on the pass early. Give the film a watch. He is a name to know in a talented QB class.