Nate’s Big Dogs of the Week: Rogers/Elk River-Defense

<strong>ELK RIVER-- </strong>Guess what’s back this season?! We enter year two of my "Big Dogs of the Week" segment, where we will handout who played at their best on Friday night, and of course, when any other night of the week, we are covering games. My goal this year with my big dogs of the week was to cover more ground, so my list will be a step up as far as length this year because I want to give as many kids the exposure they deserve regardless of what the scoreline says. These are my defensive big dogs of the week from the Rogers and Elk River game. <strong>Mitch Jerzinski, LB, Rogers, (2022)</strong> Jerzinkski was a clutch force at linebacker for the Royals last night. The kid has such a nice frame and was aggressive in handing the Elks T offense last night, which in my opinion, you have to have excellent vision to stop. Check his force below from the game last night. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2ENi8g">Tape vs. Elk River</a> <strong>Cruise Clay, LB, Elk River (2022)</strong> Clay is certainly an under the radar football prospect because all you’ll see in his film is his lacrosse highlights. Just a junior, Clay got his number called a lot over the loudspeaker last night and should be even more of a factor once the Elks batch of senior linebackers graduates. No Football Tape. <strong>Alex Emmrich, LB, Rogers (2021)</strong> Emmrich certainly lived up to the hype I saw on film last night. Not as much in the second half, but in the first and second quarters, Emmrich was in on every play Elk River threw at that Rogers defense. Emmrich had a significant number of crucial tackles to lead the Royals to victory last night. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/video/3/9730890/5d94a672a0234a0e348a70be">Jr. Tape</a> <strong>Trinity Blood, LB, Elk River (2021)</strong> Blood, who is also the Elks punter, was another kid that turned a decent game last night—made some key tackles that most programs don’t get out of their punter too! Blood was a complete unknown to us before last night’s game. <strong>Jack Sumstad, LB, Elk River (2022)</strong> Sumstad was another contributor to the Elks deep linebacking core from last night. Even more of an unknown that Blood, but Sumstad has some potential to lead that linebacking core as a senior with Cruise Clay. No Tape <strong>Ben Dahl, LB, Rogers, (2021), The Biggest Dog of the Week!</strong> Dahl gets my nod for the most valuable player overall last night in Elk River. Dahl was a driving force not just offensively but defensively too. Not the biggest kid on the field, but the most significant workhorse the Rogers Royals had to offer last night. The way he sheds off blocks and lays the wood shock me that this kid hasn’t gotten some looks at the next level as his interest is minimal. It might be time to take a look at Dahl for some college football opportunities, as I think he could play at Division III level at least. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2DcBST">Jr. Tape-Defense</a> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="23683" first="Ryan" last="Wilson"], LB, Elk River (2021)</strong> I have watched Wilson on film a bunch, but have never seen him live until yesterday. There was not a bigger ballhawk in that game I watched yesterday. His ability to just shed off tacklers and get to the football was very impressive. What do I want to know how this kid maybe this undervalued at the next level? He has the frame (6’0, 220), great vision, physical on his hits, and somehow only have one NAIA and one out of state division III offers. Wilson is also a terrific student and would be an excellent linebacker in the MIAC and has the grades to back it up! <a href="http://www.hudl.com/video/3/8022359/5d87be095eec550e9cf1c751">Junior Tape</a>