Big Dogs of the Week in the Dakotas: Week 4, Part I

<strong>DAKOTAS-- </strong>Week 4 is now in the books across North Dakota and South Dakota! Do you know what time it is? It is of course time to start Part I of our Big Dogs of the Week for Week 4. After plenty of research throughout the weekend and early this week, we have listed our first 8 Big Dogs of the Week. Find out who they are and as always, send us over any nominees to our inbox to Nate@prepredzone.com or you can hit us up on Twitter (@PrepRedzoneDAK)! <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>NORTH DAKOTA:</strong></span> <strong>Aidan Devine | Running Back | Fargo Shanley | 2022</strong> <strong>Stat Line: </strong>286 total yards (234 rushing, 52 receiving) two touchdowns. One of the biggest weapons in North Dakota all year has been Aiden Devine and he showed it again this week as ND’s leading rusher. Devine’s running ability can be described as rumbler type, as even when there is contact involved he runs thru it like a man amongst boys. He also has solid hands and on short-yardage plays has great vision to gain consistent yardage after the catch. If you are planning to go low on Devine, good luck as he has a well-put-together lower body at 215 pounds to keep chugging thru ankle tackles. Devine is averaging nearly 280 yards per game (200 rush, 78 receiving) and has to be getting more college football attention as this season goes on. <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/2/33897/613d7a6796777308c0a9a0a3">Game Tape (watch #1)</a> <strong>Adam Kallenbach | Defensive Back/Wide Receiver | Jamestown | 2022</strong> Kallenbach showed off a sizeable coverage area as a safety for the Blue Jays in Week 4. His readability whether he was playing deep or in short-yardage situations was at a high level against a really solid Bismarck St. Mary’s team. Kallenbach was just as fun to watch as a slot receiver as well, as he showed a solid flip in his hips with the ball in his possession. He also showed a solid high topping ability to go along with it. Kallenbach certainly is proving why he was named to our North Dakota All-State Team as a first-teamer with his most recent game tape. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2Fp0XB">Game Tape vs. Bismarck St. Marys</a> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="101150" first="Oliver" last="Lucht"] | Athlete | Fargo Davies | 2023</strong> Lucht was another North Dakota prospect that showed out on both sides of the football against Bismarck Legacy. Lucht showed that he’s a go-getter that wants the football by tossing that hand up that we as scouts all like to see in our WR prospects. Lucht showed good straight-line speed and versatility, picking up an inside lane as a wildcat quarterback that found the end zone between the holes provided by the Eagles offensive line. He showed to be a tough matchup that could turn short-yardage into significant yardage with the turn in his hips. Lucht also showed out defensively, as he showed a solid attacking ability for the football and has a sizeable coverage area at linebacker due to his wheels. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2FnCm7">Game Tape vs. Bismarck Legacy</a> <strong>Brady Dahl | Quarterback | Bismarck Century | 2022</strong> Dahl hit the high mark for the Patriots in their 41-13 victory over West Fargo, logging the highest total of passing yards Bismarck Century had seen all season. He showed solid mobility on just about every throw I watched from his game tape and great arm strength from outside of the pocket. He also impressed me with his touch on the football regardless of where he was going with the ball. A QB prospect that can make a solid variety of throws and one to keep a strong eye on for the Patriots as he’s become a late bloomer. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2FnCMh">Game Tape vs. West Fargo</a> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>SOUTH DAKOTA:</strong></span> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="56545" first="Taylen" last="Ashley"] | Quarterback | Sioux Falls Jefferson | 2023</strong> <strong>Stat Line: </strong>448 total yards, seven touchdowns When I heard about Ashley’s big game over the weekend, I could not wait to jump into the film early this week to see his massive showing against Rapid City Stevens. He showed excellent athleticism around the sidelines on his runs as well as his ability to slide his feet between defenders like they were standing still. He makes a lot quicker reads than I had watched last season and shows to have more control of the offense than over last season. He also seemed to improve his speed out the gates as the 4.8 40 yard dash I watched last summer, seems faster on tape than even 3 months ago. The one development I found over the summer was with his throwing mechanics, which look to be more refined when I watch this game tape. Ashley showed a quick release against the Raiders and thrived well with his receiving making higher traffic throws in areas where only his wideout could get it along with showing solid touch on the football. Even after four games in a Cavaliers jersey, Ashley already has sound trust in his wide receivers. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2Fnkwf">Game Tape vs. RC Stevens</a> <strong>Elijah Taniah | Running Back | Sioux Falls Washington | 2024</strong> <strong>Stat Line: </strong>126 rushing yards, two touchdowns. Yes, there is another Taniah coming up the ranks at Sioux Falls Washington. Elijah Taniah the little brother of top 60 PRZ Dakota prospect [player_tooltip player_id="151226" first="Blessing" last="Taniah"] showed there is even more talent to this dynamic brotherly duo as he was key in Washington’s 24-0 win over Sioux Falls O’Gorman. When you watch the tape you see a young man that is a speed demon and makes quick cuts in between the defenders to get loose for more. There is not a lot of film available yet on Elijah, but I will be chomping at the bit to watch this young man’s tape he’s put together at the end of the season. <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/14659980/Elijah-Taniah">Hudl Profile</a> <strong>Hank Kraft | Running Back | Timber Lake | 2022</strong> <strong>Stat Line: </strong>241 rushing yards, one touchdown, one pick-six. Kraft has been one of the biggest names I have seen just about every week being talked about in 9-man football across the South Dakota internet and did the same in Week 4. He took care of business with two touchdowns (one on each side of the football) on Friday night in Timber Lake’s 30-12 win on the road against Lemmon-McIntosh. With the thrill of not being able to find film on this young man, I may just need to add a Timber Lake Panthers game to my bucket list via the SD Scores app or in-person by the end of the season, because this kid’s athleticism is off the charts. <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/10649947/Hank-Kraft/about">Hudl Profile</a> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="89287" first="Jaxton" last="Eck"] | Linebacker | Brookings | 2023</strong> Holy cow was Eck’s game tape against Watertown super explosive. The swift movement of his body to get in between the Arrows offensive line was electric to watch as the first clip came thru his game tape. He unleashed some crushing hits whenever he collapsed in or attacked the ball carrier. There was just something about the speed of his hip turns when he went to react to where the ball was going that just was so eye-opening this week and was some of the best defensive film I watched overall this week in the Dakotas. Even when he was going against a significantly sizeable offensive line in Watertown, he read the ball well and then reached around to make a play on the ball. He was just a gobbler this week in the Bobcats 16-0 win on the road against Watertown and is well-deserving of a Big of the Dog of the Week award. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2FnD0x">Game Tape vs. Watertown</a> &nbsp;