2021 South Dakota Team Preview: WWSSC Blackhawks
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WOONSOCKET, SD– After a 7-3 season that ended earlier than expected in the 11B playoffs, the Woonsocket/Wessington/Springs/Sanborn Central Blackhawks cruise in the 2021 season with a chip on their shoulder especially when it comes to how much of their 2020 roster…
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Continue ReadingWOONSOCKET, SD– After a 7-3 season that ended earlier than expected in the 11B playoffs, the Woonsocket/Wessington/Springs/Sanborn Central Blackhawks cruise in the 2021 season with a chip on their shoulder especially when it comes to how much of their 2020 roster returns on both sides of the ball.
Here is the breakdown of the return of their starting offense and defense:
Starters returning on Offense: 9
Staters returning on Defense: 10
With over 86% of their offensive and defensive starters returning to the Blackhawks, it allows them to have a better probability of being one of the top football programs in 11B. We now dive into the prospects that make this Blackhawks team tick in the 2021 season including an evaluation of several under-the-radar prospects especially from the Class of 2022.
2022 PROSPECTS
Quinten Christensen Quinten Christensen 6'5" | 250 lbs | DL Wessington Springs | 2022 State | OL/DL | Twitter
Christensen is going to be the most known prospect you’ll know on the Blackhawks. Most recently committed to South Dakota State, Christiensen provides the packed-in punch on both sides of the line and shows a highly physical presence as a defensive end that has violent hands to shed well into the backfield. I have watched this young man on tape multiple times now, and I still to this day can’t get over how lean, quick, and powerful this young man plays despite being one of the biggest guys you will see on the field. Christensen also has a huge motor and it’s no wonder the Jackrabbits saw that as such an asset as they will place Quinten on the offensive line starting in the 2022 season. Christensen also takes great care of himself academically with a 4.0 GPA and I’ll repeat this, has grade A character as our #11 prospect in the Class of 2022.
Mason Schelske | TE/DE | Twitter
College coaches you are certainly going to want to read the evaluation on this young man. Schelske stands at 6’5 nearly 220 pounds and has a large catch radius with a strong reach as well. Schelske can also get his hands down with his blocking ability and could even use a little more development with the height level he plays at despite getting solid leverage already. Defensively, Schelske offers a solid inside presence on the defensive line but has the skillset to maneuver on the outside edges. He doesn’t have as much physicality as Christensen, but I feel could develop more into his senior season. I wouldn’t rule DE out for the next level but I think this young man could be the most slept on TE in the class, as he just got his film from his junior season up three months ago. No offers yet, but this young man has to get on some Divison II radars for sure.
Phillip Hines Phillip Hines OL Wessington Springs | 2022 State | OL/NT | Twitter
Hines shows most of his tape to be on the defensive side of the ball, but man this kid is dynamic when he’s the lead man out in front for the Blackhawks rushing attack. On defense, I really like how Hines uses his hands as he shows a longer stretch than some I have seen but continues to get quality leverage on the defender. Once Hines gets off his blocks, it’s almost like he becomes angrier as his physicality sets in even more on the ball carrier. I would place Hines right behind Christensen as far as the most physical on the Blackhawks on both sides of the line. A very self-sufficient off-the-radar prospect that could become a solid small school prospect.
Clay Olinger Clay Olinger WR WWSSC | 2022 State | RB/CB | Twitter
You can read very early in Olinger’s tape just how solid his pad level is on the ball carrier by the way he lines up to make a play. He has really solid reflexes and has the solid footwork to make quick adjustments on the fly. Olinger is an elusive prospect that not only is an attacker on the run, but he’s also going to be the main man guarding the top wide receiver on the opposing roster. I watched him at tailback, and Olinger shows that he can be a multi-cut back that has a solid vision at hitting the right gap at the right time especially on the toss. Olinger is another prospect that is on the program’s radar and has seen interest as high as the Division II thru the NAIA level. This young man is due a big jump in our Class of 2022 rankings.
Tryce Slykhuis Tryce Slykhuis DB Wosley-Wessington Springs | 2022 State | QB/WR/DB | Twitter
Despite the Blackhawks playing in a run-heavy conference, Skyhuis logged a school-record six interceptions in his junior season. You can see Slyhuis’s athleticism a mile away when you watch his tape, as he shows off that athletic ability when making a play on the ball as well as when he has numbers to get to the open field. Slyhuis isn’t the biggest kid on the field but offensively is just as sound athletically and has an elusiveness to him on the run that can pick up quality yards after contact.
Carter Grohs | FB/LB | Hudl Profile
Noah Wormstadt | OL/LB | Hudl Profile
2023 PROSPECTS
Camden Jost | RB/LB | Hudl Profile
Jost was an Honorable Mention in the SESD Conference in the 2020 season. No tape available yet, but I will be excited to watch the tape in the 2021 season! The Blackhawks voted Jost as the “Hammer” in the 2020 season as he was the hardest hitter overall in the 2020 season. Jost is a very versatile prospect defensively.
Toby Kneen | OL/DL | Hudl Profile
Kneen does not have tape available yet, but according to Coach Flatten, “this young man adds brute strength,” to both sides of the ball for the Blackhawks.
Brady Larson | FB/LB/DB | Hudl Profile
Larson has solid speed and looks well put together for his 6’0 180 pound frame at linebacker. He also uses that speed and size offensively at fullback. No tape yet.
Blake Larson Blake Larson QB WWSSC | 2024 SD | QB/DB | Hudl Profile
2024 PROSPECTS
Carter Gaikowski Carter Gaikowski OL WWSSC | 2024 SD | OL|DL | Hudl Profile
Cody Slykhuis Cody Slykhuis ATH WWSSC | 2024 SD | WR/DB | Hudl Profile
The younger brother of Tryce Slyhuis.
2025 PROSPECTS
Tyson Eddy | FB/LB
Caleb Kneen | OL/DL
The younger brother of Toby Kneen.
2021 BLACKHAWKS SCHEDULE
8/20- Bye
8/27- Home vs. Sioux Valley
9/3- Away @ Miller/Highmore/Harrold
9/10- Home vs. Jim River (Scotland/Menno)
9/17- Away at Wagner
9/24- Home vs. TDAACDC (Tripp-Delmont/Armour/Andes Central/Dakota Christian)
10/1- Home vs. Winner
10/9- Away at Rapid City Christian
10/15- Away at Mount Vernon-Plankinton
Go Blackhawks!