Class of 2020 MN Top Unsigned: LB’s
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I’ve been making a deliberate effort to not try and discuss the COVID-19 pandemic and its affect on the college recruiting landscape for the MN preps I am blessed to cover, but with campus visits and even face-to-face meetings delayed…
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Continue ReadingI’ve been making a deliberate effort to not try and discuss the COVID-19 pandemic and its affect on the college recruiting landscape for the MN preps I am blessed to cover, but with campus visits and even face-to-face meetings delayed it’s time to dive headfirst into promoting the c/o 2020 unsigned athletes from each and every position group on the gridiron. These ’20 athletes are the most impacted, so any kind of exposure these articles can provide will hopefully be helpful and important. Northstar Football News will begin these features with the always exciting linebackers, and Minnesota has a particularly deep unsigned 2020 class with some high-profile thumpers still uncommitted. Take a look at some still available heavy-hitters, and enjoy the review of their careers and accomplishments. Thanks for reading!
Cole Smutny (Woodbury) 5’11, 205 lbs. @colesmutny2020 First Team AP & MFCA All-State, First Team Kare11 & MNFootballHub All-Metro, MN All-Star Game Participant, Metro East Defensive Player of the Year, All-District. In 2019 posted 112 tackles, 17 TFLs, 2 sacks, 1 FF. Also played RB for the Royals and trucked more than a few would be tacklers as a ball-carrier. The recipient of a great “Recruiting Report” by Brian Jerzak this March, Smutny stated that he is still in contact with the University of Minnesota and NDSU for PWOs, and had Concordia-St. Paul, Augustana, and Valparaiso offers but was not interested. DIII competitor the University of St. Thomas is still in the mix as well. His Hudl tape is a ton of fun to watch, as he was one of the hardest-hitters in Minnesota this past fall. I’m excited to see where he ends up. Senior Season Woodbury Royals
https://www.northstarfootballnews.com/2020/03/recruiting-report-cole-smutny-2020/
Anthony Gipson (Maple Grove) 6’0, 220 lbs. @AgipsonJr Second Team AP & MFCA All-State, Second Team MNFootballHub & StarTribune All-Metro, MN All-Star Game participant, All-District. Has recorded a 4.6 40-yard dash. In 2019 tallied 113 tackles, 20 TFLs, 4 INTs, 3 INTs for TDs, 2 sacks, 5 PBUs. Also doubled as a RB, and was a bruiser of a ball-carrier that I wish got more carries for the Crimson. Aggressive and instinctual backer who plays fast and downhill. Also a big hitter. Not a lot of news on recruiting, has followers on Twitter from DI, DII, and DIII schools. Senior Season Highlights
Dacion Francis Dacion Francis 6'0" | 220 lbs | LB Robbinsdale Armstrong | 2020 State MN (Robbinsdale Armstrong) 6’1, 225 lbs. @DaceF_53 Second Team AP & MFCA All-State, Second Team StarTribune & MNFootballHub All-Metro, All-District. Totaled 91 tackles, 17 TFLs, 6 FFs, 4.5 sacks, 3 FRs, 2 INTs in 2019 season. Forced a ton of fumbles from absolutely destroying ball-carriers, and is an explosive athlete that moves very well for a prep of his size. Also not a lot of recruiting news, but does have followers from all levels of college football. Senior SZN 2019 Highlights
Jonathan Bunce (Edina) 6’3, 230 lbs. @jbuncee Second Team AP & MFCA All-State, Second Team StarTribune & MNFootballHub All-Metro, MN All-Star Game participant. 34 ACT, 4.0/4.2 GPA. 100 tackles, 10 sacks, 108 rushes for 521 yards and 8 TDs. Such a fun kid to watch play live, as #44 for the Hornets was all over the field every Friday night and was an unstoppable force at RB and LB in 2019. Moves incredibly well for a legit 230 lber., can go sideline to sideline in pursuit, and always knocks ball-carriers backwards at contact. Strong kid and super sure tackler. #44 Senior SZN
https://www.northstarfootballnews.com/2020/01/all-state-recruiting-report-jonathan-bunce-edina-2020/
Bradley Buhl Jr. (Jackson County Central) 6’1, 220 lbs. @thebradbuhl MN All-Star Game participant, 2x All-District. Totaled 100 tackles, 132 carries for 912 yards and 12 TDs. Finished JCC Huskie career with nearly 30 TDs on the ground. Fell in love with #3 covering the 3A MN state semifinal game w/ JCC playing eventual champion Pierz, as #3 had 20+ tackles and more than 100 hard earned yards in a tough and exciting playoff game. Buhl’s an athletic and strong backer with a high motor that is strong at the point of contact, and is definitely an overlooked LB who could help a college program at a variety of levels. Sr. Season
Gabe Hanninen Gabe Hanninen 6'1" | 215 lbs | LB Detroit Lakes | 2020 State MN (Detroit Lakes) 6’1, 215 lbs. @ghanninen3 MN All-Star Game participant, All-District. A physical and nasty defender with a good ability to identify offensive plays and locate the ball in a hurry, the Detroit Lakes Lakers product is most likely being overlooked due to location, but has still received offers from Valley City State, University of Jamestown, UMary, Bemidji State, Minnesota State-Moorhead, and Concordia-St. Paul. No timetable on a decision. Is a productive and hard-running FB for the Lakers as well, and may be looking to play RB in college. Senior Season Highlights
Markus Pokornowski (Cloquet) 6’0, 200 lbs. @MarkusPokornow1 MN All-Star Game participant, 2018 District Offensive POY, All-District. In junior season, had 124 carries for 1351 yards (10.9 ypc/135 ypg) and 22 TDs. 37 tackles and 11 TFLs as junior. Has some DIII’s following his Twitter, definitely could play RB or LB at the college level. Senior Year
Cade Schmidt (Staples-Mosley) 5’11, 200 lbs. MN All-Star Game participant, All District, All-Area, one of only 3 Brainerd area players of 86 rostered for MN All-Star game. In 2019 season recorded 136 tackles, 27 TFLs, 4 FF, 3 sacks, 787 all purpose yards, 9 TDs as a fullback. Relentlessly pursuing LB, great tackler with good form and constant foot drive, can go sideline-to-sideline and has a knack for big plays and big hits on either side of the ball. Couldn’t find a Twitter, so I have no idea what his recruiting status is. Senior Year
Cade Schmidt.Blaine Cooper (Spring Lake Park) 6’1, 185 lbs. Team captain, team leading tackler, All-District. Got to see #1 for the Panthers a few times in 2019, and he was all over the field as the team’s MLB and recorded double-digit tackles in every game I saw him play in. Although a little undersized, he’s a tough, fearless, and athletic LB that rarely misses tackles and packs a ton of punch to boot. 1/2 of Cooper’s Senior SZN Section Tournament Highlights
Matt Schmidt (Wayzata) 6’2, 195 lbs. @Matt_Schmidt_ All-District. Tallied 68 tackles, 8 TFLs, 1 INT, 1 FF in 2019 6A state championship winning season. Led the best defense in state from his LB position, puts himself in great positions and diagnoses plays quickly. does tackle high but is strong at point of contact, ton of room to grow on his 195 lb. frame. Not many coaches following his Twitter, mostly NAIA and JUCOS. 2019 Senior Season
Nick Wypy Nick Wypy LB Lakeville North | 2020 State MN (Lakeville North) 6’0, 200 lbs. @NickWypy All-District, 2019 Team Captain. Totaled 78 tackles, 8 TFLs, 3 sacks, 1 FF in 2019 senior season. Junior day visit to Minnesota State-Mankato, UMD, Drake. Holds offers from now defunct UMN-Crookston, and Minnesota State University-Moorhead. Fast and aggressive + a ferocious tackler, productive pass rusher, great trigger on the ball one the play is diagnosed. Senior Season 2019
Gabe Johnson (Burnsville) 6’2, 225 lbs. @gabe18johnson All-District. 3.55 GPA and 24 ACT. Career defensive totals: 203 tackles, 26 TFLs, 6 sacks, 6 FF, 8 PBUs. Played a ton of snaps over his time for the Blaze against some of the Metro’s best competition, and moves very well for his size, can play ILB or OLB. Took visits to South Dakota State, North Dakota State, Concordia-St. Paul, Northern State, Bemidji State. Career Highlights
https://www.northstarfootballnews.com/2019/10/recruiting-report-gabe-johnson-2020/
Ben Reppenhagen Ben Reppenhagen 6'3" | 225 lbs | LB St. Thomas Academy | 2020 State MN (St. Thomas Academy) 6’3, 234 lbs. @reppenhagen_ben 2x All-District, Preseason All-Metro. 4.0 GPA, 29 ACT. Has received an offer from UPenn. The next in line of STA’s great LB’s to wear #25, Reppenhagen is impressively strong, with the ability to move lineman out of the way, physical and the biggest guy on the field playing for the MN state 5A runner-ups. Senior Highlights
Noah Link (Champlin Park) 6’3, 215 lbs. Totaled 108 tackles, 12 sacks, 8 TFLs, 1 FF, 1 INT, 2 FR, 3 PBUs in 2019 season. Helped the Rebels reach the 6A state championship game. Great in coverage and in the run game, big bodied kid with a lot of room to grow into his frame. vs. Prior Lake
Tommy Stolpestad (SMB) 5’10, 200 lbs. @tstolpes02 Team Captain, All-District. Recorded 75 tackles, 12 TFLs, 3 sacks, 2 FFs, 1 INT in 2019 season in which the Wolfpack reached the MN 4A state championship game. Great tackler. Senior Season
Blake Kowalczyk (Pierz) 5’10, 180 lbs. @KowalczykBlake 285 bench, 370 squat, 255 clean. All-District, team captain. Had an unreal performance in the 3A MN state semifinal game against Jackson County Central in which he totaled almost 20 tackles on defense and 100 yards rushing on offense as a fullback for the eventual 3A state champions. Totaled 875 yards and 11 TDs on offense his senior year. Was a standout, overlooked two-way player for the Pioneers who has multiple DIII and DII suitors. Was one of the first athletes I was lucky enough to do a “Recruiting Report” for when I began writing for Northstar Football News. 2018 Junior Highlights
https://www.northstarfootballnews.com/2019/08/free-recruiting-report-blake-kowalczyk-2020/
Nate Mertes (MPLS Southwest) 5’11, 195 lbs. @natemertes 3x All-District, 2x team defensive MVP, District Defensive MVP, 300+ career tackles, team captain. In senior season totaled 98 tackles, 16 TFLs, 1 FF, 1 FR, 2 INTs, 1 sack, and 40 carries with 355 yards and 3 TDs. Visited Bemidji State University. Has twitter followers from coaches of all levels, but definitely could use someone to make a strong push and believe in him. Got to see Mertes play throughout his career, and was an obvious defensive leader for the Lakers who put everyone in great position, was great in coverage and a physical tackler, ton of varsity experience. Senior Season
Cam Jackson (Cretin-Derham Hall) 5’11, 205 lbs. @THEREAL_CAMJ All-Conference. 3.6 GPA, 24 ACT. Visited Concordia-St. Paul. 2-year starter. Totaled 96 tackles, 21 TFLs, 5 sacks, 5 FFs, 3 blocked kicks. Senior Season Highlights
Macade Cannon (Isensee) [Hermantown] 6’4, 200 lbs. @macade_msu Tallied 118 tackles, 8 TFLs, 1 INT, 28 catches for 350 yards and 6 TDs in 2019. Dynamic ATH who is criminally under-recruited at the moment. Complete Senior Season Highlights
Gabe Amore (Delasalle) 6’1, 190 lbs. As a junior totaled 133 tackles, 2 TFLs, 1 FF, and 1 PBU. Junior Highlights
Thank you for reading! Stay tuned as check out some more of Minnesota’s top unsigned recruits from every positional group on the field. Thank you for supporting Northstar Football News.