2023 Dakotas Ranking Update: The Stockrisers, Part Two
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We dive into the last batch of stockrisers in the Class of 2023 in the Dakotas. These six prospects, to me, were the most intriguing moves up the rankings from the last time update. Enjoy! Bennett Dannenbring Bennett Dannenbring 6'2"…
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Continue ReadingWe dive into the last batch of stockrisers in the Class of 2023 in the Dakotas. These six prospects, to me, were the most intriguing moves up the rankings from the last time update. Enjoy!
Bennett Dannenbring Bennett Dannenbring 6'2" | 195 lbs | QB SF O'Gorman | 2023 State | Quarterback | Sioux Falls O’Gorman (SD) | Twitter
Ranking (before/after):,28, now at 14.
The Why:
Dannenbring opened up a ton of eyes at the SDSU prospect camp, including my own. His athletic ability across the board is what struck me most, as he was excellent no matter what station or drill he was at in Brookings. You see a ton of versatility with his mix of throws and his mobility outside of the pocket when you watch Bennett’s tape. Even when he throws off his back foot, he still shows good balance only loses a small amount of touch on the football. He also is one of the best big-armed ball throwers in the 2023 class. The only catch for why Dannenbring isn’t higher is he’s just becoming a varsity starter so although I love what I saw in person and on his JV tape, I need to see his stock risen this fall in a new Sioux Falls O’Gorman uniform which I feel he’s up for a big first year with the Knights.
Andrew Bunkers Andrew Bunkers OL Brandon Valley | 2023 State | Offensive Line | Brandon Valley (SD) | Twitter
Ranking (before/after):,32, now at 18.
The Why:
You want mobility on the ole offensive line, you say? Look no further than Andrew Bunkers Andrew Bunkers OL Brandon Valley | 2023 State of Brandon Valley. He’s not the biggest offensive lineman I have ever seen on paper, but this kid’s pull block ability is ran at a very high level. Bunkers is also a prospect that well outplays his size on the line as to when you watch the tape; you lose track of the size it actually says on paper. Bunkers can elevate into that second level, and his tremendous foot speed is what drives the more prominent defender to the turf. He showed last year with the Lynx heavy rushing attack that he’s a high-level run blocker, but I want to see what Bunkers does with higher-level passer in Lucas Slack Lucas Slack 6'1" | 190 lbs | QB Brandon Valley | 2023 State and how he can check the boxes on more pass block situations. I see Bunkers as a certain protected linebacker at the college level.
Jarrett Theisen Jarrett Theisen 6'5" | 295 lbs | OL Watertown | 2023 State | Offensive Line | Watertown (SD) | Twitter
Ranking (before/after): 68, now at 50.
The Why:
The first new glimpses I got of Theisen’s film showed a hog molly prospect that is a straight-up mauler, and one that if you try to put hands on him, he will knock you down with so much force in his hands. Standing at 6’4 285 pounds, Theisen shows solid footwork, and if you are a defensive lineman that tries to go low on him, that might be a bad idea as the film shows a kid that puts a solid amount on the ground those eager enough to try from the angle. Even with his stretchy hands out straight, he’s like a bully on his game tape that just jabs excellent contact on a smaller defender. Theisen has very light interest and, to our eyes, only has it from a local FCS program. If you are a Northern Sun program reaching this, I will fly out of my seat knowing this prospect with a fringe D2/D1 ceiling is still very much off the radar. Another kid I will use these three words on “buy stock now” even though he’s just an incoming junior.
Cole Hebl Cole Hebl LB Hillsboro/Central Valley | 2023 State | Linebacker | Hillsboro-Central Valley (ND) | Twitter
Ranking (before/after): 50, now at 43.
If we had a fullback ranking in the Class of 2023, there is a good chance Cole Hebl Cole Hebl LB Hillsboro/Central Valley | 2023 State of Hillsboro-Central Valley would be at the top of our list in the Dakotas. He is also such a solid burst for a second option in the backfield and is a hunter for contact when he plays the lead blocker in front. His motor in pursuit would not be something if I were a linebacker closing in I would want to meet when he has momentum. News flash, we wrote about Hebl about four months ago, stating he needed to put on some weight to perform at the next level; he added almost 15 pounds since then, which shows that this young man takes his training seriously and wants that college opportunity in the near future. Hebl I have a gut feeling in the future, one of the North Dakota FCS programs will take a chance on, and insiders won’t know the name, but we at Prep Redzone Dakotas certainly will.
MORE RISERS
Jaxton Eck Jaxton Eck 6'0" | 215 lbs | LB Brookings | 2023 State | Linebacker | Brookings (SD) | Twitter
Eck moved up two spots to #8 in our Class of 2023 rankings. Two spots may not sound like a ton, but when you are a top 10 prospect like Eck is at linebacker for the Bobcats, the farther you move up the rankings, the weight of each spot you move up becomes significantly harder to achieve. Plus, I said at the SDSU camp, watching this kid in person made me love his game on the football field a whole lot more with the live reps I caught.
Rugby Ryken Rugby Ryken QB Yankton | 2023 State | Quarterback | Yankton (SD) | Twitter
Ryken was another slight mover moving from the #26 spot to #26. Ryken got a small bump due to his solid touch and throwing ability on the run.