Nate’s Standouts from the PRZ Minnesota Showcase: OL/DL
In this article:
ROSEMOUNT, MN– We kick off our shoes in Minnesota as we start off with the top performers on both sides of the line. Please take a look at the 13 prospects I thought looked the best in my eyes on Sunday…
Access all of Prep Redzone
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingROSEMOUNT, MN– We kick off our shoes in Minnesota as we start off with the top performers on both sides of the line. Please take a look at the 13 prospects I thought looked the best in my eyes on Sunday at the Prep Redzone Minnesota Showcase in Rosemount!
Defensive Line Standouts
David Gauderman David Gauderman 6'2" | 225 lbs | ATH Wittenberg-Birnamwood | 2023 State WI , DL, Wittenberg-Birnamwood (WI) (2023)
Twitter: @Dg2Drippy
Gauderman was a big-time favorite at our Prep Redzone Minnesota Showcase amongst the scouts, coaches, and more. His ability to move in the early drills showed off how flexible he was for his 235-pound frame, which we have seen before at Prep Redzone on multiple occasions of having David at our showcases!
Gauderman is a prospect I have evaluated plenty of times now (for great reasons) so I had to find some of the less-known clips of his film. The big-ticket strength when you watch Gauderman is his versatility. He is a DL prospect that you line up in any formation on the defensive front and he will pay dividends for you. If you need his speed off the edge, he’s got it, if you need him to stuff the run, he can do it. He also plays one of the offense’s most forgotten positions, fullback where he puts that same versatility to work-catching passes out the backfield and can get you that five-six-yard drive play you are looking for. He’s also not the typical fullback you see at the high school level that is around 200 pounds or less, has he has good speed in his 235-pound body and very strong legs.
Jack Liwienski Jack Liwienski 6'3" | 265 lbs | DL Minnetonka | 2023 State MN , DL, Minnetonka (2023)
Twitter: @JLiwienski
Liwienski came into our showcase in Rosemount as one of the best put-together kids in the defensive line group at 6’3 265 pounds, but super athletic. I loved the way Liwienski moved in 1on1s showing that Minnetonka has a possible Beau Allen in the making for the Skippers.
Rolling the tape on Jack, you see a prospect with a super aggressive jump off the ball and one that maintains his physicality for the duration of the play. He has really active footwork and probably one of the best digs in his feet I have watched Minnesota’s Class of 2023. Liwienski has so much potential; it’s scary (in the best way) how much better this young man will get with two more years under his belt. First team all-district as just a sophomore. I would hate to be a quarterback going up against the Skippers in the coming years with Liwienski present.
Martin Owusu Martin Owusu 6'4" | 270 lbs | DL Prior Lake | 2023 State MN , DL, Prior Lake (2023)
Twitter: @martin87hagen
Owusu was another defensive lineman that was having a field day in 1on1 drills using his physical presence and skills from wrestling season to good use on Sunday in Rosemount.
On tape, Owusu has many great tools he uses as far as skill sets, but one of my favorites is his shedding ability. Owusu can be dominant with both hands from shedding off blockers as he doesn’t seem to favor one side or the other, which is key. Another strength of this young man’s game is his length. At 6’4, Owusu has long arms, which attributes well to his ability to extend off blocks and get those arms high to bat down a potential pass. From a development standpoint, Owusu can work to get cleaner tackles that will show off his physicality more with his 6’3 245 pound frame.
Gannon Rosenfeld Gannon Rosenfeld 6'3" | 220 lbs | DL Mankato West | 2022 State MN , DL, Mankato West (2022)
Twitter: @GannonRonsenfeld
When I witnessed Rosenfeld’s attacking ability in 1on1 drills on Sunday, I knew I had to keep him on my radar for write-ups this week!
Rosenfeld gets off the line very quickly and uses that burst to bully his way between two blockers to get into the backfield. With Rosenfeld, it’s all about his power. That power he has is like a truck that comes up behind you when you’re driving too slow in the left lane and just wants to run you off the road; that’s Rosenfeld’s game on film. He has a great juke in his footwork to be a strong prospect at the college level. In my eyes, Rosenfeld’s lean and powerful burst speaks well as an edge rusher at the college level. This young man is due for more college football interest than he’s been getting thus far in my book.
Tavien Warren, DL, Bloomington Jefferson (2022)
Twitter: @WarrenTavien
Warren might be the most off-the-radar defensive linemen from this list but showed off some good speed in 1on1 drills.
Warren has very limited film from what I could find, but the clips I did find show a prospect that with a quick shedding ability, good football instincts, and the power of his legs to draw some leverage at defensive end for the Jaguars. Good size at 6’2 230 pounds. Once Warren develops more film in his senior season, that will give us an accurate telling of his skill level and if he can take it to the next level as he could be an excellent small school prospect.
William Harris, DL, Kenosha Tremper (WI) (2022)
Harris is another prospect that blossomed in drills on Sunday in Rosemount.
Harris is a very under-the-radar prospect that made the drive from Kenosha. From the looks of his film at Kenosha Tremper, he looks to line up as more of an outside linebacker. He has a good stance and has a good turning ability in his hips. He could develop a stronger attacking burst from the clips I was able to grab but will need more film to prove he’s got the tools to play at the next level. His frame could be a solid linebacker prospect as a possible small school prospect.
Chase Carter Chase Carter 6'6" | 220 lbs | DL SMB | 2022 State MN , DL, Blake School (2022)
Twitter: @Chaseyhoops
Carter came into the Minnesota Showcase as one of a few power five prospects that made it Rosemount, and he most certainly did not disappoint. He is one of the quickest shedders I have watched out of defensive linemen in the Midwest and came in leaner to Rosemount than when I watched him at an SMB practice last summer. If I had to give an award for defensive MVP from Sunday, it would surely go to Chase.
Carter’s junior tape is a fun watch, to say the least. He takes candy from a baby with some of his get-offs when he sheds off blocks. He also shows an exceptional physicality level. He has a firm bend at the waist and has elusive speed that you will want to make sure you have blocked as his burst is terrific. The only question at the next level is, where the heck do you line this kid up?! You have plenty of options, but the question is where. If I had to make that decision, I would make him a combo prospect, a little off-the-edge rusher, or an outside linebacker, depending on the sets you’re going up against. Carter will end up in the Power 5 somewhere, and whoever gets him will get not only a terrific football player but a terrific kid as well with excellent character.
Offensive Line Standouts
James Morrison James Morrison 6'6" | 315 lbs | OL Cretin-Derham Hall | 2022 State MN , OL, Cretin-Derham Hall (2022)
Twitter: @j_morr99
Morrison was one of the more sizeable OL prospects at our Prep Redzone Minnesota Showcase. What I came away impressed with Morrison is for his measurables and just how well he moves his feet in 1on1 drills.
Morrison is the definition of a mauler as he can finish really well on his blocks and then has that extra pounce of assurance to make sure the defender goes nowhere after the play. Even if Morrison is going at a 75-80% punch, he’s going to have the power to knock someone on their rear end because he outsizes most defensive lines by 75-100 pounds. I don’t think there is a safer QB in the state of Minnesota than CDH’s Luke Floysand Luke Floysand 6'2" | 210 lbs | QB Cretin Derham Hall | 2022 State MN , as Morrison will make sure no one gets to his quarterback. Another plus to Morrison’s game is his ability to land multiple punches on a play when he needs to. Morrison is mostly getting Division II interest at the moment with a few FCS programs in the mix.
Patrick Lavin Patrick Lavin 6'2" | 285 lbs | OL St. Anthony Village | 2022 State MN , OL, St. Anthony Village (2022)
Twitter: @PatrickLavin54
I have seen the improvement in Patrick Lavin Patrick Lavin 6'2" | 285 lbs | OL St. Anthony Village | 2022 State MN showcase after the showcase, and he set a really high bar in 1on1s on Sunday, being one of the best centers we watched in Rosemount. Where he has gotten better is in pass protection as he stayed at a solid pad level and has grabbed an even more impressive punch since wrestling season.
Lavin’s ability to get multiple punches in his arsenal as the anchor of the Huskies offensive line speaks volumes to his game. He can also bend at an even lower point to get more early leverage on the defender. Where he gets it done is with his hand fighting, as that alone keeps him engaged and keeps the defender off his momentum. Lavin had a busy weekend of success, logging OL MVP at the Midwest Elite Showcase and Sunday was a top performer for the hog mollies I watched on Sunday at the Prep Redzone Showcase.
Chase Goetsch, OL, DC Everest (WI) (2023)
Twitter: @ChaseGoetsch
Goetsch was one of two Evergreens that made my list. His ability to get a solid pad level on the bulk of his reps in 1on1s and his decent foot speed made him a prospect to watch out of DC Everest.
Goetsch, unfortunately, doesn’t have any film to study and is a prospect at the moment; you’ll need to get your eyes on live in our to watch him perform on the offensive line. Chase is super under the radar but has some time to get on teams radars going into his junior season.
Cole Stevens, OL, DC Everest (WI) (2023)
Twitter: @ColeSte55891356
Stevens was the second Evergreen to make my top performers list from Sunday. He showed a great drive in his feet in 1on1 drills and put up some good numbers in the broad jump.
Stevens film is just under a minute long, but it’s one of the most impressive short films I have watched in the Midwest. You find out very early that drive in his feet I mentioned above, he uses to the full advantage of his fast footwork as a road grader pushing the pile forward for a possible first down, as you’ll see in a few clips. There is not a doubt in my mind with that short amount of film I saw that this man has a college football future in the coming years out of DC Everest.
Gage McManemy Gage McManemy 6'4" | 250 lbs | OL Lake Crystal-Welcome-Memorial | 2023 State MN , OL, Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial (2023)
Twitter: @GageMcManemy1
McManemy was one of two LCWM prospects we will talk about from Sunday at the Prep Redzone Minnesota Showcase this week. McManemy had a solid engagement level with his hands on Sunday.
McManemy shows on film that he is a tough blocker with great measurables (6’5, 255). There is one particular play you see others on the offensive line not full engaged except McManemy, who has a quality punch but needs more football film to show it off. McManemy is certainly the guy Camden Ludeman Camden Ludeman 5'11" | 200 lbs | ATH Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial | 2022 State MN is going to run thru for the Knights as he’s an impressive small school prospect out of southern Minnesota.
Peyton Lange Peyton Lange 6'9" | 340 lbs | OL Minnehaha Academy/SMB | 2023 State MN , OL, Blake School (2023)
Twitter: @PeytonLange2
Lange was one I was excited the most to watch 1on1s on as I had only seen him in person in some light practice drills over the summer. For having such tremendous size as just a sophomore, Lange showed a solid bend at the wait and performed quite well during 1on1s.
Lange’s push off the line has to already be on plenty of Power 5 radars as he drives his feet for the long haul. I really like how Peyton works for his hands as he can hand fight with pretty great speed for his size. I really feel Lange’s height is a huge advantage for him at the next level. Because his hands are set anywhere from 4 to inches higher than the average-sized linemen, Lange can use his downhill push to get his opponent’s on their rear end. The sky is the limit for this young man as he is a sure-fire Division I prospect that has two more years yet to develop faster foot speed.