2023 Dakotas Rankings: New Additions to the Top 100
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DAKOTAS— The rankings content continues for the Class of 2023, as we tap into our Newcomers list that are new prospects to Prep Redzone Dakotas, however many of them showed off their skills and got on our radar at prospect…
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Continue ReadingDAKOTAS— The rankings content continues for the Class of 2023, as we tap into our Newcomers list that are new prospects to Prep Redzone Dakotas, however many of them showed off their skills and got on our radar at prospect camps this summer which is the best way to do it if you want to play at the next-level. All of these prospects on this list are in my eyes, well-versed enough to play college football next year. Some already have offers, however most appear to me to be under-recruited despite the excellent skillsets they have. Take a look at the prospects that are new to our Top 100.
Jaxon Kellogg Jaxon Kellogg 6'3" | 215 lbs | LB Bismarck Legacy | 2023 State , LB, Bismarck Legacy (2023)
Rank: #36
- Our long drive to the Minot State prospect camp over the summer really showed off the sizeable skillsets Jaxon has at the linebacker position in his 6’3 215 pound body.
- Jaxon’s mobility when he strikes inside his pocket shows sizeable agility as he’s not only proficient with his hands getting around, but his footwork shows tons of promise looking at the next level.
- Jaxon has grown year by year on his shedding ability with the get-off-his-hands show as he shows an athletic pull-off and excellent vision to identify the ball-carrier in an early phase of every play I have gotten to watch from Jaxon.
- Jaxon also strikes a chord with his significant reach by being able to pick up on ball carriers that are slightly out of reach for the less lengthy linebackers we have seen in the Dakotas.
- I love the upcoming chances of Jaxon getting more NSIC attention by the end of his senior season and possibly an opportunity for a late PWO or offer coming from the Missouri Valley.
Austin McNulty Austin McNulty DL Tri Valley | 2023 State , DE, Tri-Valley (2023)
Rank: #44
- My colleagues and I at Prep Redzone Dakotas have been well-aware of the athletic prospects coming out of the Tri-Valley Mustangs for a bit now, and Austin McNulty Austin McNulty DL Tri Valley | 2023 State is the highest-ranked newcomer we have ever on our rankings ever (since 2020) from Mustang Country.
- Regardless of where Austin lines up on either side of the ball, similar skillsets can be seen and you have to love watching this young man’s hands and the aggression they show off when you look at him as a next-level prospect. The pull-off aggression and finesse Austin has in his arsenal has to get more attention from the NSIC this fall.
- I also think a development for Austin from the TE spot is using that effective get off burst to show off more agile ability out of his stance. Like I said, he gets out quick but utilizing his moves from the tape I got to watch against Winner a month ago, shows some solid development looking at his future.
- Austin shows off a DL prospect that works his tail off and it’s easy to see that on his tape. You can almost bet that this young man will be the first contact to the ball for the Mustangs defense.
Julian Scott Julian Scott 5'11" | WR Rapid City Stevens | 2023 State , WR, Rapid City Stevens (2023)
Rank: #51
- Julian is another prospect that rose to the occasion where it matters in the summer, picking up an early offer from Chadron State and local Black Hills State earlier in the summer.
- The low base Julian plays with his agile cutting ability with his route running has gotten so much stronger this season for the Raiders.
- I like Julian’s early read steps when lining up against the secondary, as he reads his defensive back with a strong football IQ and shows creative ability on how he can hold the upper edge especially when he gets into his deeper routes.
- Julian can be considered certainly a swiss-army knife wherever he lines up on offense as you can use him best in the slot, on the outside or use him in motion as you can bet he will use all that speed of his to get to the edges and has that finished burst on long runs I love watching prospects possess from a skillset perspective.
- Julian also runs a 10.80 100 meter dash, which if you haven’t watched his track speed yet you sure as heck will want to as I don’t believe this young man’s done yet on getting attention on his recruiting trail.
Vegas George Vegas George 6'3" | 220 lbs | DL Bismarck Legacy | 2023 State , DL, Bismarck Legacy (2023)
Rank: #66
- I have to start with I love watching Vegas’s spin move on his tape against Mandan last season, as he has a heavy accelerator in his 6’3 205 pound frame that carries excellent crossover speed when he hammers into the backfield.
- There is so much feistness when this kid jumps out of his stance as he has the elite motor to carry on the play well-beyond the edge of the defensive line and has the finished speed to create chaos on the outside of the field as well.
- Vegas shows a consistent pad-level on the several reps I have watched on tape and you can tell has another gear that he can turn on of game speed, which is very contious on every rep I got to watch from him.
- I would love to see him put more tape together showing off his get-off of blocks at a strong rate, obviously you can see the skillsets he has with his sheds but a more clear picture of it plus those speed and moves will give Vegas better eye-appeal to college coaches at the next level.
- Just one offer from the NSIC on the table with I am sure growing interest from a handful of more local NSIC programs coming this fall for this young man.
Kaydn Turnbow Kaydn Turnbow 6'3" | 240 lbs | DL Minot | 2023 State , DL, Minot (2023)
Rank: #71
- Golly, college coaches will want to watch the tape on Kaydn these first four weeks of the season. His get off is massive and motor when left barely touched is a liability for the offensive lines to manage.
- There is a lot to like about Kaydn’s strength he has thru heavy contact areas as he has strong momentum in his feet to win the battle and keep his lower body actively churning into the backfield into the ball-carrier.
- Even when he gets slightly off balance Kaydn does a solid job of keeping his feet in alignment with lining up his contact level, as his low center of gravity clinches on point with the ball carrier.
- I would 100% Kaydn is a BIG reason why the Minot Magicians have woken up North Dakota in 11AA especially on the defensive side of the ball as his heavy pressure throughout the season have created their fair share of turnovers due to his rumble into the backfield on a consistent basis.
- Kaydn has a couple offers, but this 6’3 240 defensive end is way under recruited in my eyes and is well-deserving of more attention the way he’s been playing his tail off this fall.
Sam Fischer Sam Fischer 5'10" | 180 lbs | RB Rapid City Christian | 2023 State , RB, Rapid City Christian (2023)
Rank: #80
- When I chatted with Rapid City Christian Head Coach Matt Mcintosh this fall, he loved this kid’s chances of playing at the next-level and watching a few clips from Sam, that certainly can be seen early on in his senior season for the Comets.
- Sam has a lot more elusive feet than he’ll get credit for on tape, as I liked his shifty yet well-balanced vision and patience when pressing on the inside run.
- Sam has also grown a ton size wise from what his Hudl tapes might show, as he’s turned into a longer-striding 6’1 190 pound running back that just has a natural feel for the running back position.
- If I was a local school in the Dakotas, I would certainly take a look at this under the radar senior from Rapid City Christian, as he’s put together a versatile senior campaign for the Comets thus far.
Ethan Bergstrom Ethan Bergstrom WR Mayport-CG | 2023 State , WR, Mayport-CG (2023)
Rank: #96
- Regardless of where you line Ethan up on either side of the ball, he certainly has that agile and physical ability you are going to want on your college roster next-year.
- His tape from the WR position, shows off some determined route-running ability on the intermediate routes as every ball you watch him catch shows some pure athletic ability and reach even when the ball is slightly off-line from where he is positioned on the route.
- I haven’t gotten a hold of Ethan’s midseason tape as of yet, but I believe he can grow on becoming more agile with his route-running coming out of the slot WR position.
- Ethan shows great patience as an athlete when he’s in the Patriots backfield, as he natural instinct comes out clean and he shows some good finishing speed with excellent stamina for the duration of his runs.
- No offers yet, but the Division II level has started to put together some solid interest going into his senior season.
Deegan Houska Deegan Houska 5'10" | 170 lbs | DB Pierre | 2023 State , DB, Pierre (2023)
Rank: #97
- Deegan has put together some consistent read steps when climbing into the next-level of the field and with that adds the solid contact ability he has put on the ball carrier earlier on as we look at the mid-way point of the undefeated Pierre Governors season.
- I love the longevity Deegan shows off on tape from his game against Yankton last week, as he had the patience to stay with his wide receiver and not sway too quickly to make a jump on the ball and keep the momentum he built off the entirety of the route to make a very noticeable pass breakup.
- Deegan plays with tons of discipline, but also has the ability to show off a quick trigger to react to the coverage on shorter routes to use his competitive instinct to cause havoc and a lack of uncomfortable ability whenever he comes near the pass-catcher coming up from a deeper space for the Governors.
- Deegan is extremely versatile in pass coverage and defending the run, as you’ll see that mix generate great flow on tape when you watch it from what he did last season for Pierre.
- He has excellent ball-tracking ability regardless of the depth of the route he is running with and he showed that a ton at the Northern State prospect camp this summer too which is where he got onto my radar and is now a top 100 prospect in the Dakotas.
- No offers yet, but is certainly due for one in my book.