-DL Co-MVP

Develop, develop, develop that’s what they do at Pierre T.F. Riggs every year and that was evident for 2027 defensive linemen Max Schmitz, that during his second Prep Redzone Dakotas Showcase, won a DL MVP in what was a solid group we had in Sioux Falls. He surely has gotten more explosive with his get off since his last showcase this winter as this kid surely I felt was one of the most coachable defensive linemen in this entire group as you can tell he really is starting to relish the fine details. During Indy, he showed off the great and growing football IQ we’ve seen and man, there was not a bigger motor in the trenches on either side of the ball than Max from my eyes. His hand placement and get off has gotten more of a natural feel and surely there will be more scholarship attention coming this way after our showcase as we get into summer camps.

Max has already started to solidify himself as a stockriser this spring based on the reps I have been able to watch from recent camps, so it’s surely without a question he should be one of the top-tier defensive linemen in attendance coming out of 11AA powerhouse Pierre T.F. Riggs. He’s gotten significantly quicker getting off blocks with his hands and surely is showing one that has a growing football IQ based on how much he’s improved his hand technique from the last couple of showcases. He picked up his first offer recent from Jamestown, and I surely would expect even more NSIC schools to get involved with Max looking ahead at this summer.

Moving up from the watchlist to inside our top 70 overall in the South Dakota 2027 class is Maximus Schmitz Maximus Schmitz 6'3" | 228 lbs | DL/OL Pierre T.F. Riggs | 2027 State SD of Pierre T.F. Riggs. Our DL7 in the class, has really good hand technique getting off blocks and the tape shows a swift change of direction that accelerates right into the ball carrier. The 6’2 225 pounder, was recently at our winter Prep Redzone Dakotas Showcase and finished in my top-tier amongst the defensive line group from my own eval as well. Maximus also can generate power quickly as it doesn’t take long to tell that this young man plays with a powering motor, great fluid movement to drive the offensive trenches off their feet. I will say this now, I feel Maximus could be a prospect that will have me kicking myself that I did not have him higher from the jump once we get into summer camps.

Another 2027 that has a solid day at our Prep Redzone Dakotas Showcase was Maximum Schmitz of Pierre T.F. Riggs. Maximus showed that he can generate a ton of force with his hands early and often to drive off the offensive linemen out of their stance and off balance, in which time and time again he utilize his inside move off that to penetrate into the backfield. He also has a quick first step for a 6’2 nearly 225 pounder that was seen persistently in reps on Sunday. Maximus is one that I feel the more I watched, the better he got with the momentum he had against the offensive trenches as I felt his motor had that wear-down effect on the offensive line. Surely a 2027 that was in my top-tier on Sunday in the defensive line group.