Dakotas 2024 All-Offensive Team
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Today we dive into the rankings of the 2024 class for not only the impressive seasons they had as sophomores, but also the promising futures that it could lead to! This group really impressed with the highlight tapes they have put together as sophomores. Every athlete mentioned here was on a successful team this season and did great jobs contributing to the team all throughout the season. Let’s get to know some of the names you will be hearing over the next couple years.
QB- Tate Schafer Tate Schafer 6'1" | 180 lbs | QB Sioux Falls Lincoln | 2024 State SD – Sioux Falls Lincoln
Schafer won the starting job for the Patriots to start the season, and he did not disappoint. Only the second Sophomore QB I’ve ever seen comfortable in an empty/spread offense. His IT factor that he brings to the table is his patience and poise. He sits in the pocket well, scrambles away from pressure, keeps his eyes down field, and throws a good ball. His patients leads to him not forcing the ball into a bad pass. His mobility keeps the plays alive, and his poise helps him make the best throw to his receivers. When scrambling, he doesn’t just bail on a play and run, he keeps looking and waits till the last second to throw a pass, and delivers a strike.
RB- Aiden Barfuss Aiden Barfuss 5'11" | 195 lbs | RB Winner | 2024 State SD – Winner
Barfuss picked up the carries out of the backfield for the Winner Warriors. This kid brought speed and strength out of the backfield. When he took the handoff, he put his head down and ran straight ahead, no juke moves or anything, just run fast and straight. He had good vision to find the open gaps in the defense and accelerated quickly through them. In a power run, misdirection offense, he sold his fakes well so when he did take a handoff, the defense still didn’t take him seriously and he would gash them for a big play. His speed made it hard for the defense to catch him when he got up to full-speed, and his strength made him hard to bring down if they did catch him.
WR- Isaac Jarovski Isaac Jarovski 6'0" | 170 lbs | WR Sioux Falls Lincoln | 2024 State SD – Sioux Falls Lincoln
Jarovski seemed to be a role player type of receiver. The Patriot offense seemed to like going to him when they needed a first down. He ran his routes hard and got himself into the open space and made himself a good target. He had a reliable set of hands, which made him the favorite target on Third Downs. When he caught the ball, he just turned up field and gained as many yards possible, not flashy at all. His speed helped him gain many yards before defenders could get to him, then he lowered his head and earned the last couple yards before going down. He was also a good open-field blocker for the run or screen game as well.
TE- Matthew Anderson Matthew Anderson 6'5" | 190 lbs | ATH Canton | 2024 State SD – Canton
Anderson got some snaps as a freshman, and received a bigger role as a sophomore. He lists himself as a WR, but I think he has the frame to be a TE, especially for as young as he is. He is a taller kid with a good build to be a good blocker in the run game. He uses his basketball skills as well to body-up defenders going up for the ball, and out jumping them as well. He is very sure-handed which could make him the playmaker for the offense. He is quick off the snap and doesn’t take any false steps, always gaining ground on routes. He also has speed, making him a nightmare split out wide at receiver.
OL- Navarro Schunke Navarro Schunke 6'6" | 290 lbs | OL Brandon Valley | 2024 State SD – Brandon Valley
I watched Schunke play varsity as a freshman, and his athleticism caught my eye, along with his size of course. After Coach Matt Christensen told me about his wrestling background, I knew this kid was a legit problem for the rest of the State. Playing at Tackle on the Line, his footwork is amazing, when he keeps position from the defender, giving his QB plenty of time to throw. His hand technique along with his strength made it nearly impossible to get by him. He could also pull and really drill a defender coming through the Line of Scrimmage, and he really buried those kids.