Ryder was an MVP at our Prep Redzone Dakotas Showcase this spring and has continued his growing stock into the season putting together a handful of great stat lines in the Canton offense. His elusiveness has grown a ton into the 2026 season, as his ability to make his cuts and find the open field quickly don’t waste time at showing how explosive he can look downhill with free rushing lanes in front of him. We’ve seen up-close how long his catch radius can be, and I feel he’s elevated his length throughout the season. Ryder is also a weapon in the return game on special teams as one that is very sudden when he releases his burst downfield. He’s one that I feel will move in top 20-25 in South Dakota with what he’s put together in his junior season.

Rocking the blue of Canton, South Dakota, 2028 Ryder Thompson Ryder Thompson 6'3" | 169 lbs | WR/DB Canton | 2028 State SD was a First-off-the-Bus eye catcher with premier size and length for the defensive back position. Additionally, Thompson has rare, near elite athleticism for his size, and especially for the age and 2028 graduation tag, so it was no wonder why the North Dakota State DB staff was working with Thompson so closely up in Fargo. Quick breaks and overall a very rangy defensive back with a ton of upside going into his upperclassman campaign.

–GOAT MVP

If there was a 2028 athlete from South Dakota that I thought rose his stock the absoulute most at our Prep Redzone Dakotas Showcase last Saturday, it was the overall performance of Canton’s Ryder Thompson Ryder Thompson 6'3" | 169 lbs | WR/DB Canton | 2028 State SD . In testing, he rocked the boat with not one, but two areas as #1 overall at our Sioux Falls showcase. He went 4.25 in the pro agility and 9’9 in the broad at a verified 6’3 170 pounds taking our Goat award for one of the best testers in attendance. What I liked most about Ryder during the live eval outside of testing, is the route efficency he had at his disposal He focused on the surefire routes that he knew he could get seperation on as one that I thought he ran one of the most productive route-trees in attendance amongst the wide receiver gorup. He also was one of the more aggressive receivers with his hand work on his routes, but yet having that consistent balance of not pushing the limit just focusing on where he could get his seperation. From everyting I saw from Ryder, my gut tells me he might turn into an early offer out of this 2028 South Dakota that could strike early even this summer at camps.