The next Locked In Game Report combines the two times I’ve seen the Millard North Mustangs. I first watched them as they hosted South Dakota’s Sioux Falls Washington, which resulted in a dominant 49-18 showing of their offensive firepower. Last Thursday, I watched them travel to Elkhorn South, where they got into a defensive slugfest and survived a 14-13 scare. Across the two games, I saw a lot of great players, with some featured below and others I’ll be waiting to evaluate further at the end of the season.
For now, I have 9 players who caught my eye in the two contests, including a Nebraska commit, seven uncommitted seniors, and a junior who will likely rise up several boards:
Notable Standouts:
Logan Grosdidier, 2027 – QB – 5’10” 175 lbs – (@GrosdidierLogan)
Senior QB Logan Grosdidier has been part of an effective two-man system this year and has more than maximized his reps with some incredible performances so far. He really stood out against SF Washington, completing 12 of 14 attempts (86%) for 151 yards and a touchdown. When watching the film, my biggest takeaway is that Logan makes good reads, which lead to good decisions with the ball. He’s an accurate QB with solid timing and placement, which lets him put the ball where he wants it, whether it’s deep, short/intermediate, or over the middle. He has good speed on his passes and the zip to fit the ball into tight windows. Another aspect of Logan’s game that stands out is his scrambling ability, which helps him spill out of the pocket to avoid pressure or to extend the play for his receivers downfield. He’s very elusive for defenders looking to bring him down for the sack and can make them whiff on tackles. Not afraid to tuck the ball and take off to the sticks. Solid QB prospect who plays with an insane drive and has been working hard on his development throughout his prep career. Don’t sleep on this guy!
Holden Laird, 2027 – QB – 6’2″ 180 lbs – (@Holden_Laird)
Senior Holden Laird is the second half of this 1-2 punch at QB and has also looked very efficient running the offense. Against SF Washington, Holden seamlessly stepped in on three series and completed his two pass attempts for 102 yards and two touchdowns. Holden has solid size at 6’2″ and 180 pounds, which helps him project as a passer who can sit in the pocket as he works through his progressions. As he works through his progressions, Laird showed the mobility to maneuver around pressure while keeping his eyes downfield. He can also deliver an accurate throw over the middle of the field, layering it over defenders and dropping the ball right in the bucket. We have a limited sample size from Holden as a passer, but from what I’ve seen in-game and at camps, I am sure that Holden can continue to develop into a next-level QB.
Tory Pittman III, 2027 – S/WR – Nebraska Commit – (@ToryP_3)
I got to see two sides of Nebraska commit Tory Pittman III in the two games I watched: an explosive offensive performance against SF Washington and a defensive showcase at Elkhorn South. Pittman has established himself as one of the more exciting athletes in the country, and it shows with his ability to strike from anywhere, offense or defense. Offensively, Tory has been nearly impossible to contain, with the speed to take the top off defenses and go deep or take quick passes to the house. He has excellent hands at the catch point and can hold onto the ball through contact. Defensively, Tory’s instincts and athleticism have always stood apart and even more so in his senior season. He is seeing plays faster and uses his quick trigger to break on the ball immediately. Pittman’s ball skills make him a threat to hawk down passes and flip them the other way. There isn’t much more to say about the elite safety, as he’s proven why he was such a highly-coveted prospect… Husker Nation should be elated as they land a future star!
Kylonn Haynie, 2027 – RB – 5’9″ 195 lbs – (@HaynieKylonn)
Senior Kylonn Haynie has been a man on a mission this season, and I’ve seen it firsthand as he’s gashed both defenses I’ve seen him play against. Against SF Washington and Elkhorn South, Kylonn racked up 290 rushing yards and five touchdowns, including the Mustangs’ only two touchdowns in the near upset against the Storm. Kylonn looks a lot more refined and polished as a prospect this season, as he seems to be seeing his lanes and trusting his blocks at a higher level. He has also taken off with his explosiveness and burst when hitting those gaps, showing he can hit top gear quicker and separate from defenses for the home run ball. He’s very strong and has a durable frame that can chip away at defenses with inside runs. Haynie’s legs are also constantly driving through contact, which helps him break tackles and makes him very difficult to bring down on initial contact. Great balance in his base. We don’t see it often, but Kylonn is also a great pass catcher out of the backfield who can take advantage of blockers and space in front of him to rack up the yards after catch. Kylonn is one of the top uncommitted prospects in the state with interest from a number of D1 programs.
Drew Nelsen, 2027 – LB – 6’2″ 225 lbs – (@drew_nelsen22)
Senior LB Drew Nelsen has followed up his breakout junior season with an excellent first half to his senior campaign. Nelsen has been all over the field for the Millard North defense, bringing a true “thumper” mentality as a linebacker while still showing the ability to play off-ball and be effective in coverage. Nelsen is very reactive with a quick trigger to the ball when he reads the run and is strong enough to take on and shed blocks at the line of scrimmage. Drew is a great tackler who can blow up RBs in the hole and can also make sure stops in the open field. He has great lateral mobility that helps him scrape along the LOS before taking an effective angle to the ball on outside runs. This mobility and change of direction also flashed in coverage, as he can quickly flip his hips to bail into coverage and pick up a crossing receiver before flipping his hips again to get to the ball on the other side of the field in time to make the tackle. Very effective as a QB spy who can erase dual-threats from carving up defenses on the ground. High-effort, versatile player with great size at 6’2″ and 225 pounds, athleticism, and football IQ. Drew has received offers from D2 and FCS schools, with several still expressing interest in the Mustang prospect, setting himself up to make a late-season surge on the recruiting trail.
Evan Robinson, 2027 – LB/DL – 6’2″ 225 lbs – (@EvanRobinson_1)
Senior Evan Robinson has been a player high on our radar since his freshman campaign, and through two outings, it’s clear to see the hard work put in throughout those years. Evan is a versatile defender with a great mix of size (6’2″, 225 lbs), speed (10.7 100m), and strength that can allow you to play him anywhere on the field. He has a quick first step when he triggers downhill and can convert that speed into power with a jarring punch to his opponents and the leg drive to bull rush his way into the backfield. Once he breaks into the backfield, Robinson shows nonstop pursuit and great closing ability that led to splash plays, including the game-winning strip sack to ice the game against Elkhorn South. This motor also shows when he hustles 15, 20, 25 yards downfield to make a tackle when it seemed like he was out of the play. Evan also displayed the ability to set the edge and get off his blocks when defending outside runs. Very mobile when in space as well, Evan can go from mugging the line of scrimmage to dropping into the hook-curl zones or out to the flats in pass coverage. Robinson’s physicality also pops on tape as he gets to the ball with mean intentions and is twitchy enough to avoid getting shook off in the open field. Another Millard North LB who would be an absolute steal at this point in the recruiting process!
Caden Cox, 2027 – DL – 6’0″ 205 lbs – (@caden40cox)
Senior Caden Cox has shown out in the two times I’ve seen him, proving he can outwork an “undersized” label and produce on the field. In the two matchups I’ve seen Caden in, he’s combined for 12 tackles, a TFL, and a sack while displaying an intense motor and non-stop pursuit from snap to whistle. He uses his low center of gravity to his advantage, keeping his pad low and maintaining good leverage while attacking blockers. Caden has a ton of power in his hands and can use them to violently rip, swim, etc. when engaging in handfighting with his opponent. He also showed some nice finesse moves with quick spins, bend, and twitch to counter power blockers. Caden has a great nose for the football as he is constantly finding himself near the ball. Looking forward to watching more tape from Caden’s senior year.
Jaron Faughn, 2027 – DB – 5’11” 170 lbs – (@JaronFaughn2)
The Mustangs’ secondary features a ton of star power, but one player who falls a little under the radar is senior JaRon Faughn. JaRon has taken the momentum from a great spring/summer cycle into the season, where he has been a big contributor to the Mustangs’ defensive success. Faughn is a starter at CB where he plays with good technique, including smooth footwork, loose hips, eye discipline, and ball skills. When you turn on the tape, you can see that JaRon brings a ton of versatility to your defense with his effectiveness in man or zone coverage. His speed and agility make him very difficult to shake in man coverage, as he also does a great job reading the receiver’s hips through the route and can stick with them through their breaks. In zone coverage, Faughn showed he can read the QB’s eyes and quickly identify route concepts, while also breaking up routes with sharp breaks on the ball and great closing speed to be disruptive at the catch point. I like JaRon’s aggressiveness when going up to make a play on the ball, but I was also impressed with his awareness to avoid getting too physical and drawing a PI. Great tackler in space who can sniff out outside runs and break down to stop backs in the open field—good BOOM in his hits too. Hold the ball tight around JaRon because he will give it a mean punch to try to force a fumble. JaRon brings additional upside as a return man on special teams. Solid prospect with a number of D2 offers who should receive a few more before the end of the season.
Kingston Maas, 2028 – OL – 6’4″ 285 lbs – (@King_Maas_75)
Things are starting to come together for junior lineman Kingston Maas, who has shined in his first year as a starter for the Mustangs. Kingston’s presence in the trenches has made a huge difference for this run game, as he is an athletic, physical blocker who loves to finish plays with his defender in the dirt. Right off the bat, Kingston possesses the size that coaches will look for at the next level at 6’4″ and 285 pounds, with experience at guard, which is where he projects best. The aspect of Kingston’s game that stands out most is his run blocking, where he shows a quick first step out of his stance and the lateral mobility to pull, reach, down block, or climb to the second level with ease. He is especially dangerous on pulling plays, where he quickly builds a head of steam before exploding through the defender’s chest at the point of contact. Maas is consistent in his pad level and does a great job maintaining a lower center of gravity when engaged with defenders. He has a strong base that allows him to anchor down or use his legs to drive defenders off the ball. Solid bend at the hips and knees. As a pass blocker, Kingston’s vision and awareness stood out; he can quickly adjust to different defensive looks, look for extra work downfield, or double up on a defender. Kingston definitely has the tools to become a big name on the recruiting trail.
