Up North Recruiting Report: Nathaniel Staehling/Brainerd (2022)

BRAINERD– The Warriors of Brainerd will have a new leader at head coach for the first time since 1975 this season, as Ron Skolski retired after 58 seasons of giving his life of coaching football at Kensington (now West Central), Slayton (now Murray County Central), Princeton, and Park Center, before ending up in Brainerd in 1975. They will be led by head coach Jason Freed, who was Skolski’s defensive coordinator for the last 10 seasons. Before that, Freed was a head coach at Houston (MN) HS where he started in 2004 and by 2008, he won a 9-man state championship with the Hurricanes.

Today, we meet Nathaniel Staehling, who is the starting quarterback for the Brainerd Warriors. We chatted with this 2022 NFN prospect about being the leader of the Warriors, his recruiting interest, and much more.

Get to Know Nathaniel Staehling

Staehling fits the norm of measurements you want your quarterback to have at 6’2, 205 pounds. Before his sophomore season, Staehling not only played quarterback but was an active linebacker and safety for the Warriors along with playing quarterback. In his sophomore season, he focused on being QB1 and QB1 only, taking away his knack for hitting people at linebacker. His biggest attributes at quarterback are his strong arm and how he’s not afraid of contact with the football in his hands. He also is a solid leader and has a physical presence that not every quarterback has. Strength wise, Staehling prides himself on his speed, arm strength, leadership, and his physicality.

Favorite Part About Being QB1

Staehling told us his favorite part about being the quarterback is being the leader on and off the field. “I like to take control of the offense and hype my guys up and I like to turn pressure into energy,” Staehling told NFN his different forms of leadership he takes on the field.

College Interest/Elevator Pitch

Staehling hasn’t had much contact with college coaches as of yet, but he said he’s had a large showing of coaches from the Nothern Sun Intercollegiate Conference have followed him on Twitter. He also said two FCS programs, one in the Midwest and one in the Northwest has also followed him on Twitter. Staehling had this to say in his elevator pitch to college coaches:

My pitch would be, I will bring leadership, a competitive edge, physicality, and a team-first attitude to your program.

Working from Last Season

The Warriors coaching staff told Staehling he should be constantly throwing the football year-round. Everything from his technique of throwing the ball, his footwork, and working on his strength in which Staehling lifts 3-4 times per week during the offseason and is a member of the Brainerd Warriors track team as well. Going to several camps and being coached by college coaches, has helped Staehling grow as a quarterback as well.

Nathaniel’s Mentors

Family first, when it comes to Nathaniel’s mentor and that is 2020 player Ben Staehling who will play for the Dragons at MSU-Moorhead this fall. Nathaniel adopted Ben’s work ethic and his competitive edge in their years growing up. Every practice or work out, Ben pushed Nathaniel to always get better. Another football mentor in Nathaniel’s life was Joe Pohlkamp. Pohlkamp was Staehling motivation guy, as he has always brought out the best in Nathaniel. “He showed I had it in me when I didn’t know I did,” Staehling said about his other mentor who has been coaching him since he was 8 or 9 years old. Nathaniel also enjoys how new head coach Jason Freed has a strong influence and will push the Warriors into continuing their team-first attitude and strong leadership that Ron Skolski built for so long in Brainerd.

Learning About Yourself as a Player

Staehling said the improvement of “staying positive” when things don’t go your way is something he can work on. Staehling has the same dream most Minnesota football kids do, he wants to go to state but to even better that goal, he said ” to have a team that doesn’t give up and a team that outworks the other team regardless of ability,” is what Staehling wants in year 2 as the starter for the Warriors.

You can watch the strong mobile QB and big arm of Nathaniel Staehling here as he shows off his legs and a solid deep ball to his receivers.