MN High School Football All-Decade Team 2010’s (Offense)

On Memorial Day, I decided to release the defensive portion of Minnesota’s All-Decade high school team from the 2010’s. (you can find that <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2020/05/mn-high-school-football-all-decade-team-2010s-defense/">here</a>) As a refresher, my criteria to make the list is just a player that graduated from 2011-2020. The list will consist of five players who were known as offensive linemen, three wide receivers, two running backs, one tight end and one quarterback, as well as a few honorable mentions.   Offensive Lineman <ul> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="7246" first="Quinn" last="Carroll"], OT/OG/C, Edina (2019)</li> </ul> [player_tooltip player_id="7246" first="Quinn" last="Carroll"] headlines arguably the strongest position group between the offensive and defensive side of the ball. The former Edina superstar was a road-grader for the Hornets during his high school career. He happened to burst onto the scene as a sophomore, putting together some of the best film I have ever seen. He finished as the 119th ranked recruit in the class of 2019, which led to a commitment to offensive lineman factory, Notre Dame. He suffered a knee injury in the 2019 preseason, sidelining him for all of last season, but he is on pace to still have a tremendous football career. <ul> <li>Frank Ragnow, OT/DE, Chanhassen (2014)</li> </ul> [caption id="attachment_21977" align="alignright" width="202"] photo via: WXYZ-TV Detroit[/caption] Ragnow is arguably the most accomplished player to come out of Minnesota in the last 10 years. After plowing through Metro teams during his high school career. He became a four star recruit in the class of 2014, he committed to the University of Arkansas shortly after. He had a dominant three year career in Fayetteville, and then he decided to declare for the 2018 NFL Draft as a junior. Ragnow then was selected 20th overall by the Detroit Lions, and he has been the Lions starting Center ever since. <ul> <li>Tommy Olson, OT/DT, Mahtomedi (2011)</li> </ul> [caption id="attachment_21978" align="alignleft" width="183"] photo via: KFAN Minneapolis[/caption] The Mahtomedi product was a classic Midwestern offensive lineman. After a great career for the Zephyrs, Olson went on to have a great four-year career for the Minnesota Gophers. After starting all fourteen games for the Gophers in 2014-15, Olson surprisingly announced he was done with football, as he likely would’ve had an opportunity to play in the NFL. He is now best heard as contributor to 100.3 KFAN’s wildly successful radio station. <ul> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="2082" first="Bryce" last="Benhart"], OT, Lakeville North (2019)</li> </ul> [player_tooltip player_id="2082" first="Bryce" last="Benhart"] was right behind [player_tooltip player_id="7246" first="Quinn" last="Carroll"] in 2019 as one of the most heralded offensive lineman in the country. Benhart, standing at a whopping 6’9" 290+ left college programs salivating at his potential while he led Lakeville North to a state title in his senior year. His wrestling background (undefeated state champion in 2018) was shown on the field as he was relentless finishing his blocks. The 2019 four-star recruit eventually committed to Nebraska where he is now on pace to have a very successful career. <ul> <li>JC Hassenauer, C/DT, East Ridge (2014)</li> </ul> [caption id="attachment_21981" align="alignright" width="200"] photo via: The Crimson White | Sam MacDonald[/caption] JC was a terrific all around lineman for East Ridge during his high school career. His road-grading style constantly opened up holes for the Eagles running backs. He too, quickly rose up recruiting boards, as he finished as a consensus top 200 four-star player, which he parlayed into a scholarship at national powerhouse Alabama. He went onto to play predomently as a reserve for the Crimson Tide, but he did start at center in the 2018 National Championship game vs. Georgia. He went onto to go undrafted in the 2018 NFL Draft, but he was shortly signed by the Atlanta Falcons. He is now listed on the Pittsburgh Steelers roster heading into the 2020 season. Honorable Mentions: <ul> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="18026" first="Bastian" last="Swinney"], OT/DT, Edina (2020)</li> <li>Ronald Audette, OT/DT/TE, Elk River (2018)</li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="1561" first="Jacob" last="Smith"], OT/DT, Rosemount (2018)</li> <li>Blaise Andries, OT/DT, Marshall (2017)</li> <li>Patrick Kasl, OT/DT, Forest Lake (2016)</li> <li>Drayton Carlberg, OT/DT, DeLaSalle (2015)</li> <li>Nick Davidson, OT/DT, Eden Prairie (2012)</li> </ul>   Wide Receivers <ul> <li>Tyler Johnson, QB/SS/WR, Minneapolis North (2016)</li> </ul> I decided to break my own rules, because Tyler Johnson was far too explosive of a player for Minneapolis North to leave off this list. Most Minnesota sports fans obviously have seen Johnson blossom into an NFL receiver, but during his high school years he was an outstanding quarterback. For the Polars, Johnson recorded completed 56.6% of his passes for 2,606 yards, and 36 touchdowns in his senior year. He didn’t slow down there, as he ran for 1,380 yards on the ground with 22 touchdowns. On the defensive end he even brought in four interceptions returning two for touchdowns. After only one reception in high school it is certainly remarkable that the Minneapolis North native will be catching passes from Tom Brady next season, as he was drafted 161st overall in April’s draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. <ul> <li>JD Spielman, WR/RB/CB, Eden Prairie (2016)</li> </ul> [caption id="attachment_21986" align="alignleft" width="96"] photo via: mnfootballcoaches.com[/caption] JD Spielman is also a well-known name in the Minnesotan sports world, as he is the adopted son of current Vikings GM Rick Spielman. He deserves to be known as much more than that as he was awarded Mr. Football in 2015. in his senior year, JD rushed for 1,259 yards on 102 carries and had 13 catches for 203 yards. He totaled 19 rushing touchdowns, two receiving, he added three more touchdowns on kickoff and punt returns and even two more TDs on interceptions. Spielman has went on to have a great career for Nebraska, as he has totaled 800+ receiving yards, and 15 total touchdowns in all three years of serious playing time. Heading into his senior year it was reported in March that he will be taking a leave of absence from the program for personal reasons, but while he has been on the field there is not doubt that he has been one of the best athletes to come through the state of Minnesota. <ul> <li>James Onwualu, WR/FS/RB, Cretin Derham-Hall (2013)</li> </ul> [caption id="attachment_21987" align="alignright" width="243"] photo via: Clint Jenkins/247Sports [/caption] Onwualu had a fascinating football career beginning in Cretin Derham-Hall. Despite breaking his jaw the summer before his senior year, he finished the season with nearly 1,000 receiving yards and had 18 touchdowns. He often trained with Minnesotan natives Larry Fitzgerald and Michael Floyd which ultimately led to him committing to Notre Dame. After struggling to find the field in his freshman season in South Bend he made a position change to linebacker, where he succeeded very quickly and even became a team captain. He went on to even have an NFL career where he appeared in nine games for the 49ers in 2017 and five games for the Chargers in 2018 and now it seems that he is out of the game of football all together.   Honorable Mention: <ul> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="2096" first="Treyton" last="Welch"], WR/LB, Buffalo (2018)</li> </ul>   Tight Ends <ul> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="1557" first="Brevyn" last="Spann-Ford"], TE/OLB, St. Cloud Tech (2018)</li> </ul> [caption id="attachment_9956" align="alignleft" width="130"] photo via: [player_tooltip player_id="1557" first="Brevyn" last="Spann-Ford"] | Hudl[/caption]Spann-Ford was one of the most interesting athletes to come through Minnesota in recent memory. Standing at 6’7" 240 pounds he has elite size for the tight end position. With his great size he was able to move at an elite level. In his senior season the St. Cloud Tech star recorded 46 catches 770 receiving yards and 16 total touchdowns. He was able to contribute on the defensive end as well, as he recorded 60 total tackles and even returned an interception for a touchdown. PJ Fleck saw his potential as he offered him a scholarship and he has went on to record for receptions for 25 yards and one touchdown in his redshirt freshman season in 2019.   Honorable Mention: <ul> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="2195" first="Russell" last="Corrigan"], QB/TE/OLB, Hutchinson (2020)</li> <li>Brandon Lingen, TE, Wayzata (2014)</li> </ul>   Running Backs: <ul> <li>Jeff Jones, RB/FS, Minneapolis Washburn (2014)</li> </ul> Jones and Williamson were both too dominant to leave either one off this list. In his four year career Jeff Jones finished with 532 carries for 4,668 yards, 77 touchdowns leading to the 2013 Mr. Football award for Minneapolis Washburn. That alone should be enough to land him on this list. Unfortunately, Jones went onto to struggle to find the field at the University of Minnesota, which ultimately led to him leaving the program and transfer to Iowa Western Community College, and later landed at Waldorf University where he is currently heading into his senior year and final year of football eligibility. <ul> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="2084" first="Jason" last="Williamson"], RB/FS, Owatonna (2019)</li> </ul> [caption id="attachment_15778" align="alignleft" width="115"] pictured above: [player_tooltip player_id="2084" first="Jason" last="Williamson"] at the 2018 MN All-Star game[/caption]Williamson had arguably the greatest single season performance that any high school player has had in the state of Minnesota. The former Owatonna legend recorded a remarkable 313 carries for 3009 yards and 46 touchdowns in one season, yes you read that right. He decided to stay home and attend the University of Minnesota. He spent his first season with the Gophers red-shirting, as he was recovering from a knee injury, but there is no reason why he can have a great four-year career in college with the potential to even play at the next level.     Honorable Mentions: <ul> <li>Wade Sullivan, RB, Lakeville North (2017)</li> <li>Robbie Grimsley, RB/FS, Hutchinson (2015)</li> <li>Bridgeport Tussler, RB/DB, Osseo (2013)</li> <li>John Santiago, RB/DB, St. Francis (2015)</li> </ul>   Quarterbacks <ul> <li>Phillip Nelson, QB, Mankato West (2012)</li> </ul> [caption id="attachment_21989" align="alignleft" width="170"] photo via: Abbey Mercando[/caption] Recency bias would say that [player_tooltip player_id="7244" first="Jalen" last="Suggs"] has been the best quarterback in the state of Minnesota in the last 10 years, but I believe Phillip Nelson deserves the crown. He finished his senior season with 2,784 yards and 35 touchdowns passing, plus 1,243 yards rushing and 20 more scores on the ground. He set the state career record with 135 total touchdowns in his entire high school career. The former Mankato West QB had a wild career past high school. After two years for the Gophers, Nelson transferred to East Carolina where he performed relatively average. He then went on to play in the CFL, AAF, and XFL in consecutive seasons from 2018-2020, as two of those leagues have now folded Nelson is actively looking for work in hopes of continuing his playing career.   Honorable Mentions: <ul> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="7244" first="Jalen" last="Suggs"], QB/FS, SMB (2020)</li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="10962" first="Aidan" last="Bouman"], QB, Buffalo (2020)</li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="1566" first="Owen" last="King"], QB, Caledonia (2018)</li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="2083" first="David" last="Roddy"], QB/DE, Breck (2019)</li> <li>Noah King, QB/SS, Caledonia (2020)</li> </ul>