WI Prospect Tour Preview: 6 Athletes That Will Surprise

Looking through the list of participants has me excited for Saturday! There are so many talented kids signed up ready to show what they have to offer to college coaches. Between testing, drill work, and 1 on 1 battles there are plenty of chances for guys to impress and surprise scouts and coaches. Because of that, I went through the list and identified six athletes who are going to be in position to surprise. In today’s article I want to talk about where those six athletes could surprise us. Let’s get it started! <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="232612" first="Dylan" last="Dobratz"], ’23 ATH- Wausau West</strong> I believe Dylan has the best shot at making a big splash and surprising a lot of people. He played out of position this last fall. So, despite being only 6’1" 215 lbs he was able to be an impactful member of the OL. It sounds like he won’t be on the OL this fall, and won’t be working out there on Saturday. This sets the stage for him to shine at his natural position. He has been putting in the work in the weight room this offseason, so I am going to come in ready to get my eyes on the athlete as he finds his home at a new, more fitting position. Keep your eyes out for him. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="315921" first="Jacob" last="Hanson"], ’25 ATH- Green Bay Southwest</strong> Jacob has been grinding this offseason! He has made 460 lbs in the squat rack look impossibly light, and his technique is off the charts; especially for a freshman My prediction is the 5’11" 192 lbs LB/RB is going to have his breakout on Saturday. If his massive improvements in the gym translate to the field then he is going to be a problem. It doesn’t even matter which side of the ball he works out at because either way he is going to impress in this setting as his further developed burst and overall athleticism will stand out. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="191982" first="Sawyer" last="Lichtensteiger"], ’23 DL- West Bend East</strong> Coming in at 6’1" 215 lbs, Sawyer won’t be the most intimidating looking pass rusher, but when we hit 1 on 1s I predict that we are going to be in for a show. Sawyer does such a good job of translating his first step burst into power, and he uses his natural leverage to his advantage to generate a surprising amount of push. He is another kid who has been putting out some impressive workouts this offseason, so we are due for even more power than I am expecting. The OL better be ready to set their anchors or Sawyer is going to make a big name for himself in Franklin. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="268943" first="Matthew" last="Stenbroten"], ’24 ATH- Lake Mills</strong> Matthew is going to make a name for himself on Saturday. He has such a special blend of size, strength, and athleticism. You don’t see many WR/OLB combinations across WI, but that is what we have here. Matthew thrives at both positions too. On offense, he uses his 6’3" 200 lbs frame to overpower defenders at the catch point or go over the top of them. He also has the acceleration and speed to get out of his breaks quickly or take the top off the defense. On defense, Stenbroten is so well rounded. He is strong enough to set the edge, has good awareness in coverage, and he flies off the edge when blitzing. I’m excited to see where he plays on Saturday. Either way he is going to have the place buzzing. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="299857" first="Seth" last="Valeri"], ’25 WR- Hortonville</strong> Seth is going to be one of the youngest players at the showcase, but don’t let that fool you. I think Seth is going to surprise a lot of scouts and coaches by the end of the day. Checking in around 6’ 160 lbs, Valeri already has solid length for the position. Where he is going to surprise people is with his route running, change of direction, and ability to carry his speed through his breaks. He is going to be a name that people remember after Saturday. He will carry that moment into a big fall where he sees his first varsity action. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="300654" first="Sal" last="Balistrieri"], ’23 QB- Homestead</strong> Sal will have a strong chance of being an MVP of the day if he performs at his best. For starters, he is going to surprise people with his testing results. He is a gifted track athlete, and it shows up on the field. Where he will surprise even more is with his arm. Last fall Sal carried the ball a large chunk more than he threw it, but when he did take to the air he completed 50+% of his passes for 11 yards/att. That tells you that when he goes to the air big things usually happen. If he can show off his accuracy and touch to every level of the field on Saturday then he is going to have a lot of people impressed and intrigued.