Prep Redzone Dakotas Showcase: WR Standouts, Part I

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>ABERDEEN--</strong> Because our wide receiver pool was so deep, we thought it was best to break it down into a couple Parts. We start out with our Part I standouts, with Part II being unleashed in the coming hour or two! Part I has a plethora of upside of younger prospects still scratching their surface and a 2024 prospect that I would offer right now if I was a small scholarship-level school for how much he has grown since December.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='210630' first='Tanner' last='Stein'], WR, Elkton-Lake Benton (SD) 2025</strong> <a href="https://twitter.com/tannerjstein3">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":839176,"width":350,"height":230,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/05/IDF_2066-crop-4480x2942-1684974739.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-839176" width="350" height="230" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Tanner was a wide receiver prospect last Saturday that I saw has grown with his route-creativity since my last viewing of him at our December Showcase, as he certainly has consistently groomed his instinctive skillset of his game over the last few months.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>He showed off a WR prospect that plays with more depth than his measurables might show you at 5'8 160 pounds, as he has mobile athleticism to adjust on the fly based on the vision he has identifying the angle of where the football is coming in.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>He showed off an impressive 10-yard fly within his 40 yard dash, and one that has plenty of time to develop his finishing speed over the coming years. With how crafty this SE South Dakota sophomore is, I have no doubt with the work ethic I have witnessed over the last year or so that he will continue to get even smoother with his routes and speed as Tanner fits the bill for me as a slot-receiver as far as his next-level fit.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='356839' first='Kalen' last='Lucas'], WR, Bismarck Legacy (ND) 2025</strong> <a href="https://twitter.com/KalenLucas2">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":839177,"width":364,"height":239,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/05/IDF_2019-crop-4480x2942-1684974792.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-839177" width="364" height="239" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Kalen has a lot size to develop over the coming year or two in the weight room, however you cannot deny how twitchy this young man looks to be with his route-running which we saw full-circle last Saturday at the Prep Redzone Dakotas Showcase.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>The length he has with his catch radius shows off radius you would not expect at 5'8, and I finally got to see that in-person last Saturday in Aberdeen as Kalen has a plethora of agile movement with his ball-tracing ability to adjust quickly to the ball flight.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>He also showed off a superb amount of balance last Saturday in Aberdeen as Kalen plays with fearless traits and has great consistency with his hands on all levels of the football field.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='825416' first='Owen' last='Warne'], WR, Sioux Falls Washington (SD) 2025</strong> <a href="https://twitter.com/warneowen1">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":839178,"width":379,"height":249,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/05/IDF_2073-crop-4480x2942-1684974825.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-839178" width="379" height="249" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>I got to watch Owen back to back weekends in Aberdeen and Sioux Falls last weekend and man, was I impressed how much his pass-catching ability has developed over 7v7 season.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>He's also improved significantly with his change of direction from what I saw at the UNI Dome in early April to now as Owen did not just showed that with his route running the last two weekends, he showed off an impressive 4.59 short shuttle and a 7.43 L-Drill which was one of the top times within the massive wide receiver group we had last weekend. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Although his tape and weight room strength has some work that needs to be done with light reps from his sophomore season, I love the stock-rising growth Owen has shown off in the 2025 class in a short span of time and one that should see his stock rise by next 2025 rankings update.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='825391' first='Gus' last='Engelhard'], WR, Minot Bishop Ryan (ND) 2026</strong> <a href="https://twitter.com/EngelhardGus">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":839183,"width":366,"height":240,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/05/IDF_2032-crop-4480x2942-1684974866.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-839183" width="366" height="240" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Gus was one of the most impressive North Dakota new names I watched last Saturday as he was tied for one of the fastest 10-yard flies within the wide receiver group, which is really impressive for being only a 2026 prospect.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>I liked the fluidity I saw last Saturday from Gus with his change of direction when watching him on short and intermediate routes, as he made instinctive turns that has the potential with more reps brewing in his arsenal going forward to get effective separation off his cuts.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>He also showed showed off how much straight-line burst he has when given a go-route as if he can improve his velocity with working with his strength or position coach with his explosion level, this young man will show a significant football ceiling of what's to come with even more depth with his game coming with three more seasons to go at Minot Bishop Ryan.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='825417' first='Payton' last='Anderson'], WR, Baltic (SD) 2024</strong> <a href="https://twitter.com/Payt0n_Anders0n">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":839185,"width":361,"height":237,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/05/IDF_2091-crop-4480x2942-1684974914.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-839185" width="361" height="237" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Much like another wide receiver prospect on our list, Payton was another one I got to watch back to back weekends and is one that has also seen some solid progressions take shape with our multiple live evaluations we have gotten since December.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Payton has gotten more smooth in the reps I have caught back to back weekends with his improvising skills with his route running, as if the first look doesn't look available he keeps utilizing his great work-ethic to find even the smallest opening of separation. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>To those that are not pro on 7v7, Payton is a great example of how beneficial 7v7 is in a new 7v7 state like South Dakota. Getting those extra reps has really benefited Payton since I first watched him for the first time in December, as over time he has made several splash plays and grown his wheelhouse with getting smoother separation by improved route-running which is the biggest benefit 7v7 grasps for wide receivers anywhere in the Midwest. With the progression Payton has made, he is another 2024 stockriser that will be making a move up our recruiting board.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->