See How Minnesota’s Top Prospects Are Keeping Their Game in Tune During the Offseason
WAYZATA-- 7 on 7 football is something you may have seen recently on the Netflix series, All-American that debuted in 2019-2020. After watching that entire series and finishing it a little less than a month ago, I thought to myself, could this summer football league take off in Minnesota? News flash to now: It’s already here and it’s in year two. In what started with a direct message via Twitter from our Prep Redzone Minnesota account, I found the My 7on7 Passing League, which features Minnesota’s best talent from all over the state. Top prospects like
Michael Olowo
Michael
Olowo
6'2" | DB
Rogers | 2021
State
MN
of Rogers (top MN CB, 2021),
RJ Chakolis
RJ
Chakolis
5'11" | LB
Hopkins | 2021
State
MN
of Hopkins (top MN LB, 2021), Trevon Howard of IMG Academy/SMB (top prospect in 2022),
Cole Hentges
Cole
Hentges
6'0" | 200 lbs | QB
Sartell | 2023
State
MN
of Sartell-St. Stephen (top MN QB in 2023), and so many more take their talents to this intense one-hand touch football league that is rising up the ranks in Minnesota.
This past Sunday, I took it in for the first time at Wayzata High School, and although the season was in its last week, I can’t wait to come back and watch even more next offseason. I’ll go over the basics of the rules of 7 on 7, the teams that makeup "7 on 7 football" in our great state of Minnesota, and the prospects that commit their offseason to 7 on 7 football from January through the June months.
The Rules
Even though it is one hand touch football, don’t think for a second these kids and coaches don’t get hyped up like it’s a state championship game. The rules are much different than your standard 11 man football and go as follows:
Quarterback
The quarterback has just four seconds to release the football. If they take longer than 4 seconds, it is a loss of down. There is no rushing the quarterback or the defense crossing the line of scrimmage until after the pass is thrown.
Running the Football
There is no running the football in 7 on 7 Passing League. It makes sense to call it the passing league!
Field Setup
One of the coolest things I witnessed on Sunday in Wayzata is the way the field is setup. You can play with four teams on one standard football field. The offense starts on their opponent’s 40-yard line and has to get the ball all 40 yards to score. They get four downs like your standard game of football, only except there is only one first down at the 20-yard line. Once you make it past the 20-yard line, you have to score in those four downs, there are no field goals, etc.
The Scoring Aspect
With the scoring aspect of 7 on 7 Passing League, it goes as followed as both sides of the football can be rewarded points which makes this version of football even more interesting.
Touchdown= 6 points. One extra point given from passing from the 10-yard line and two extra points given from passing from the 15-yard line.
Interception= 3 points and your offense gets possession of the football. If the player that picks the ball off runs it back to the offense’s 40-yard line, 6 points are awarded.
There are no fumbles in the game, the play is just considered dead.
The "Big 5" Teams That Run Minnesota 7 on 7 Football
I wasn’t able to get every prospect from every team on Sunday, but these are some prospects to watch in classes 2021-2024 that are listed below along with their 7 on 7 teams. Note: Only a few teams were at Wayzata on Sunday and The Big 5 that run Minnesota are E-Money, TNT Academy, TC Elite, Twin City Aces, and Potenza Sports. I will update this article as I get more prospects from TC Elite and Potenza Sports.
E-Money Prospects List
Coached by Eric Harrison. This team took home the championship belt on Sunday in Wayzata. Some talented prospects that play for E-Money are:
Tyler Schuster
Tyler
Schuster
6'2" | QB
Blaine | 2021
State
MN
, QB, Blaine (2021)
Schuster’s arm I saw on Sunday matches exactly what I see on tape today. Schuster isn’t afraid to air it out and can make a big throw after big throw. Schuster has two offers on the table in the Northern Sun but at 6’2 195 pounds and 3.5/5 speed, I think Schuster should see his recruiting pick up in the coming months.
Junior Tape
Jordon Mcclom, CB, Providence Academy (2022)
No Tape via Hudl. True 6’1 defensive back that has tons of potential. Physical as far as coverage goes. If he can show more of what I saw on Sunday, he could be an up and comer in the Class of 2022. Mcclom also is a passionate prospect that isn’t afraid to rattle the receiver he’s defending.
David Ayeni
David
Ayeni
6'2" | LB
Anoka | 2021
State
MN
, LB, Anoka (2021)
Ayeni has offers from Bemidji State, Northern State, Wayne State, and Southwest Minnesota State and has an interest in the Missouri Valley as well. His physical play on tape, in my opinion, is great enough to get a Division I offer in the coming months. He doesn’t just tackle, he destroys whoever has the football!
Junior Tape
Dylan Hanson, Prior Lake (2023)
Freshmen Tape
Hunter Berthiaume
Hunter
Berthiaume
QB
Wayzata | 2021
State
MN
, WR, Wayzata (2021)
Watch the Tape
Nick Fazi
Nick
Fazi
6'1" | 180 lbs | QB
Eden Prairie | 2023
State
MN
, QB, Eden Prairie (2023)
Freshmen Tape
Dylan Fischer, OL/DL/OLB, Burnsville (2022)
Fischer defines the term "finisher" when it comes to his blocking ability. As a 220-pound offensive lineman, Fischer showed on tape that he is out there to fight for his team and will fight until the whistle is blown. Dylan will be a proven workhorse in his next two seasons with the Blaze.
Sophomore Tape
Sean Allerheilligen, WR, Providence Academy (2022)
No Film via Hudl.
Austin Berthiaume, QB, Wayzata (2021)
Berthiaume at 6’5 is a pitch and catch type QB for the Trojans. His windup throwing the football is extremely raw but his arm strength is similar to a pitcher in baseball throwing a fastball as his arm strength is very good. He will need to work on his throwing mechanics to be strong at the next level.
Junior Tape
TNT Academy Prospects List
Coached by TJ Dean, this program has some big names you may have already met on Prep Redzone Minnesota.
Camden Royal
Camden
Royal
5'10" | 175 lbs | RB
Robbinsdale Cooper | 2022
State
MN
, RB, Robbinsdale Cooper (2022)
Royal has already picked up two Division I offers from Illinois State and Buffalo. This to be junior is rising up our ranking boards at Prep Redzone Minnesota. Royal will also get more exposure by making the transfer to Robbinsdale Cooper from Benilde St. Margaret’s with the big recruiting tree
Jaxon Howard
Jaxon
Howard
6'4" | 245 lbs | DL
Robbinsdale Cooper | 2023
State
MN
is accumulating in the Class of 2023 with already 20+ offers.
Sophomore Tape
Marselio Mendez, WR, Cretin-Derham Hall (2021)
Mendez was a complete unknown when I watched him vs. East Ridge this fall. Mendez will lose his sidekick at WR in Tyson Schilling and his QB in Furman commit Preston Thelemann but Mendez brings back a playmaker mentality for the Raiders this fall.
Junior Tape
Trevon Howard, S, IMG Academy (FL), Formerly of SMB (2022)
Howard has offers from Michigan, Indiana, and Minnesota thus far. Howard’s list should grow as he has transferred to the IMG Academy in Florida, which is a hotbed for producing Power 5, Division I talent.
Sophomore Tape
RJ Chakolis
RJ
Chakolis
5'11" | LB
Hopkins | 2021
State
MN
, LB, Hopkins (2021)
Chakolis currently has offers from Valparaiso, Minnesota-Duluth, University of Mary, and plenty of interest from Power 5 schools through Division II. The state wrestling champion is also ranked #1 in our prospect ranking at the linebacker position and from what I saw on Sunday, he should be getting more love from other programs soon as he had two interceptions against some of Minnesota’s best quarterbacks and wide receivers.
Junior Tape
Cole Hentges
Cole
Hentges
6'0" | 200 lbs | QB
Sartell | 2023
State
MN
, QB, Sartell-St. Stephen (2023)
See the recruiting report done on Hentges here. One of the top prospects and quarterbacks in the Class of 2023. Freshmen Tape
Cade Conzemius
Cade
Conzemius
5'10" | 165 lbs | WR
Minnetonka | 2022
State
MN
, WR, Minnetonka (2022)
I got to interview Conzemius last December in this recruiting report. Sophomore Tape
Travis Biery, LB, Sauk Rapids-Rice (2023)
Watch the Tape
Twin City Aces Prospects List
Coached by Chris Griggs. They were not out at 7 on 7 in Wayzata, but they have a lot of strong prospects to connect with such as:
Eli Gillman
Eli
Gillman
6'0" | 195 lbs | ATH
Dassel-Cokato | 2022
State
MN
, WR/CB, Dassel-Cokato (2022)
Gillman is a defense’s worst nightmare. He was an all-district player at running back and logged 21 touchdowns for the state runner up Chargers from Dassel-Cokato last season. The three-sport athlete offers so many weapons offensively and defensively. He has a clean-cut vision and can find the hole when running up the gut and by the way, he has 4.4 speed to make it even worse for the defense. He has clutch hands, he can return kicks, he also is a versatile cornerback that’s not afraid to go up and make a play. Gillman’s high school may be hard to find on a map, but you are going to want to find him because he’s a Division I prospect coming out of little Dassel, Minnesota. He will be a top 15 prospect with the 2022 rankings coming out in the next few weeks.
Sophomore Tape
Monte Gillman, Dassel-Cokato (2024)
Eli’s little brother is another strong athlete in the making. The film is limited, but Monte has the potential to be an asset to the Chargers program in 2020. He has a very strong jumping ability and like his brother, a strong football IQ.
Watch the Tape
Jay Homuth
Jay
Homuth
6'5" | 180 lbs | WR
Barnesville | 2022
State
MN
, WR, Burnsville (2022)
Homuth is a 6’5 wide receiver with all the length you could want on your roster. He could also play tight end with a little more of a build in the weight room.
Watch the Tape
Charles Rice
Charles
Rice
LB
Fridley | 2021
State
MN
, RB/SS, Fridley, (2021)
With already three offers on the table from NAIA and Division III already has some momentum when it comes to recruiting. Watching Rice’s film, you would like to see more how he is in coverage. Rice is an excellent tackler and a prospect that only gets faster as he progresses but the lack of coverage film as safety makes me want more. Rice does have great size at 6’3 to be a supportive safety at the college level.
Watch the Tape
Jack Behning
Jack
Behning
6'4" | 180 lbs | WR
Lester Prairie | 2022
State
MN
, WR, Alexandria (2022)
Hoskins is another top wide receiver prospect from Greater Minnesota up north in Alexandria. If you haven’t watched the film below yet, you need to right now as he is an absolute speed demon. If you want to skip forward, go to right before the 1:30 mark, where Hoskins jukes basically an entire defense out of their shoes for an easy touchdown. Gives off very much a Randall Cobb prototype in his prime in Green Bay. Hoskins will be another WR from Greater Minnesota in the top 15-20 range in the next update in the coming weeks in the Class of 2022.
Sophomore Tape
Haydn Stay
Haydn
Stay
6'4" | 220 lbs | ATH
Princeton | 2022
State
MN
, LB, Princeton (2022)
One of the rising young linebackers in Minnesota. Stay is built like a semi-truck and hits like one too from what I’ve witnessed in person last season in sectional play. Stay is a Big Ten prototype at linebacker in the making.
Watch the Tape
Blejay Gboweay, WR/ATH, Champlin Park (2023)
Freshmen Tape
Will Schaack, WR, ________ (2024)
I wasn’t able to find where Schaack will be playing high school football in the metro, but from the clips, I’ve seen from Twitter he will be a prospect we are talking more about in the next few years as he already runs crisp routes with quick speed.
Michael
Olowo
6'2" | DB
Rogers | 2021
State
MN
of Rogers (top MN CB, 2021),
RJ Chakolis
RJ
Chakolis
5'11" | LB
Hopkins | 2021
State
MN
of Hopkins (top MN LB, 2021), Trevon Howard of IMG Academy/SMB (top prospect in 2022),
Cole Hentges
Cole
Hentges
6'0" | 200 lbs | QB
Sartell | 2023
State
MN
of Sartell-St. Stephen (top MN QB in 2023), and so many more take their talents to this intense one-hand touch football league that is rising up the ranks in Minnesota.
This past Sunday, I took it in for the first time at Wayzata High School, and although the season was in its last week, I can’t wait to come back and watch even more next offseason. I’ll go over the basics of the rules of 7 on 7, the teams that makeup "7 on 7 football" in our great state of Minnesota, and the prospects that commit their offseason to 7 on 7 football from January through the June months.
The Rules
Even though it is one hand touch football, don’t think for a second these kids and coaches don’t get hyped up like it’s a state championship game. The rules are much different than your standard 11 man football and go as follows:
Quarterback
The quarterback has just four seconds to release the football. If they take longer than 4 seconds, it is a loss of down. There is no rushing the quarterback or the defense crossing the line of scrimmage until after the pass is thrown.
Running the Football
There is no running the football in 7 on 7 Passing League. It makes sense to call it the passing league!
Field Setup
One of the coolest things I witnessed on Sunday in Wayzata is the way the field is setup. You can play with four teams on one standard football field. The offense starts on their opponent’s 40-yard line and has to get the ball all 40 yards to score. They get four downs like your standard game of football, only except there is only one first down at the 20-yard line. Once you make it past the 20-yard line, you have to score in those four downs, there are no field goals, etc.
The Scoring Aspect
With the scoring aspect of 7 on 7 Passing League, it goes as followed as both sides of the football can be rewarded points which makes this version of football even more interesting.
Touchdown= 6 points. One extra point given from passing from the 10-yard line and two extra points given from passing from the 15-yard line.
Interception= 3 points and your offense gets possession of the football. If the player that picks the ball off runs it back to the offense’s 40-yard line, 6 points are awarded.
There are no fumbles in the game, the play is just considered dead.
The "Big 5" Teams That Run Minnesota 7 on 7 Football
I wasn’t able to get every prospect from every team on Sunday, but these are some prospects to watch in classes 2021-2024 that are listed below along with their 7 on 7 teams. Note: Only a few teams were at Wayzata on Sunday and The Big 5 that run Minnesota are E-Money, TNT Academy, TC Elite, Twin City Aces, and Potenza Sports. I will update this article as I get more prospects from TC Elite and Potenza Sports.
E-Money Prospects List
Coached by Eric Harrison. This team took home the championship belt on Sunday in Wayzata. Some talented prospects that play for E-Money are:
Tyler Schuster
Tyler
Schuster
6'2" | QB
Blaine | 2021
State
MN
, QB, Blaine (2021)
Schuster’s arm I saw on Sunday matches exactly what I see on tape today. Schuster isn’t afraid to air it out and can make a big throw after big throw. Schuster has two offers on the table in the Northern Sun but at 6’2 195 pounds and 3.5/5 speed, I think Schuster should see his recruiting pick up in the coming months.
Junior Tape
Jordon Mcclom, CB, Providence Academy (2022)
No Tape via Hudl. True 6’1 defensive back that has tons of potential. Physical as far as coverage goes. If he can show more of what I saw on Sunday, he could be an up and comer in the Class of 2022. Mcclom also is a passionate prospect that isn’t afraid to rattle the receiver he’s defending.
David Ayeni
David
Ayeni
6'2" | LB
Anoka | 2021
State
MN
, LB, Anoka (2021)
Ayeni has offers from Bemidji State, Northern State, Wayne State, and Southwest Minnesota State and has an interest in the Missouri Valley as well. His physical play on tape, in my opinion, is great enough to get a Division I offer in the coming months. He doesn’t just tackle, he destroys whoever has the football!
Junior Tape
Dylan Hanson, Prior Lake (2023)
Freshmen Tape
Hunter Berthiaume
Hunter
Berthiaume
QB
Wayzata | 2021
State
MN
, WR, Wayzata (2021)
Watch the Tape
Nick Fazi
Nick
Fazi
6'1" | 180 lbs | QB
Eden Prairie | 2023
State
MN
, QB, Eden Prairie (2023)
Freshmen Tape
Dylan Fischer, OL/DL/OLB, Burnsville (2022)
Fischer defines the term "finisher" when it comes to his blocking ability. As a 220-pound offensive lineman, Fischer showed on tape that he is out there to fight for his team and will fight until the whistle is blown. Dylan will be a proven workhorse in his next two seasons with the Blaze.
Sophomore Tape
Sean Allerheilligen, WR, Providence Academy (2022)
No Film via Hudl.
Austin Berthiaume, QB, Wayzata (2021)
Berthiaume at 6’5 is a pitch and catch type QB for the Trojans. His windup throwing the football is extremely raw but his arm strength is similar to a pitcher in baseball throwing a fastball as his arm strength is very good. He will need to work on his throwing mechanics to be strong at the next level.
Junior Tape
TNT Academy Prospects List
Coached by TJ Dean, this program has some big names you may have already met on Prep Redzone Minnesota.
Camden Royal
Camden
Royal
5'10" | 175 lbs | RB
Robbinsdale Cooper | 2022
State
MN
, RB, Robbinsdale Cooper (2022)
Royal has already picked up two Division I offers from Illinois State and Buffalo. This to be junior is rising up our ranking boards at Prep Redzone Minnesota. Royal will also get more exposure by making the transfer to Robbinsdale Cooper from Benilde St. Margaret’s with the big recruiting tree
Jaxon Howard
Jaxon
Howard
6'4" | 245 lbs | DL
Robbinsdale Cooper | 2023
State
MN
is accumulating in the Class of 2023 with already 20+ offers.
Sophomore Tape
Marselio Mendez, WR, Cretin-Derham Hall (2021)
Mendez was a complete unknown when I watched him vs. East Ridge this fall. Mendez will lose his sidekick at WR in Tyson Schilling and his QB in Furman commit Preston Thelemann but Mendez brings back a playmaker mentality for the Raiders this fall.
Junior Tape
Trevon Howard, S, IMG Academy (FL), Formerly of SMB (2022)
Howard has offers from Michigan, Indiana, and Minnesota thus far. Howard’s list should grow as he has transferred to the IMG Academy in Florida, which is a hotbed for producing Power 5, Division I talent.
Sophomore Tape
RJ Chakolis
RJ
Chakolis
5'11" | LB
Hopkins | 2021
State
MN
, LB, Hopkins (2021)
Chakolis currently has offers from Valparaiso, Minnesota-Duluth, University of Mary, and plenty of interest from Power 5 schools through Division II. The state wrestling champion is also ranked #1 in our prospect ranking at the linebacker position and from what I saw on Sunday, he should be getting more love from other programs soon as he had two interceptions against some of Minnesota’s best quarterbacks and wide receivers.
Junior Tape
Cole Hentges
Cole
Hentges
6'0" | 200 lbs | QB
Sartell | 2023
State
MN
, QB, Sartell-St. Stephen (2023)
See the recruiting report done on Hentges here. One of the top prospects and quarterbacks in the Class of 2023. Freshmen Tape
Cade Conzemius
Cade
Conzemius
5'10" | 165 lbs | WR
Minnetonka | 2022
State
MN
, WR, Minnetonka (2022)
I got to interview Conzemius last December in this recruiting report. Sophomore Tape
Travis Biery, LB, Sauk Rapids-Rice (2023)
Watch the Tape
Twin City Aces Prospects List
Coached by Chris Griggs. They were not out at 7 on 7 in Wayzata, but they have a lot of strong prospects to connect with such as:
Eli Gillman
Eli
Gillman
6'0" | 195 lbs | ATH
Dassel-Cokato | 2022
State
MN
, WR/CB, Dassel-Cokato (2022)
Gillman is a defense’s worst nightmare. He was an all-district player at running back and logged 21 touchdowns for the state runner up Chargers from Dassel-Cokato last season. The three-sport athlete offers so many weapons offensively and defensively. He has a clean-cut vision and can find the hole when running up the gut and by the way, he has 4.4 speed to make it even worse for the defense. He has clutch hands, he can return kicks, he also is a versatile cornerback that’s not afraid to go up and make a play. Gillman’s high school may be hard to find on a map, but you are going to want to find him because he’s a Division I prospect coming out of little Dassel, Minnesota. He will be a top 15 prospect with the 2022 rankings coming out in the next few weeks.
Sophomore Tape
Monte Gillman, Dassel-Cokato (2024)
Eli’s little brother is another strong athlete in the making. The film is limited, but Monte has the potential to be an asset to the Chargers program in 2020. He has a very strong jumping ability and like his brother, a strong football IQ.
Watch the Tape
Jay Homuth
Jay
Homuth
6'5" | 180 lbs | WR
Barnesville | 2022
State
MN
, WR, Burnsville (2022)
Homuth is a 6’5 wide receiver with all the length you could want on your roster. He could also play tight end with a little more of a build in the weight room.
Watch the Tape
Charles Rice
Charles
Rice
LB
Fridley | 2021
State
MN
, RB/SS, Fridley, (2021)
With already three offers on the table from NAIA and Division III already has some momentum when it comes to recruiting. Watching Rice’s film, you would like to see more how he is in coverage. Rice is an excellent tackler and a prospect that only gets faster as he progresses but the lack of coverage film as safety makes me want more. Rice does have great size at 6’3 to be a supportive safety at the college level.
Watch the Tape
Jack Behning
Jack
Behning
6'4" | 180 lbs | WR
Lester Prairie | 2022
State
MN
, WR, Alexandria (2022)
Hoskins is another top wide receiver prospect from Greater Minnesota up north in Alexandria. If you haven’t watched the film below yet, you need to right now as he is an absolute speed demon. If you want to skip forward, go to right before the 1:30 mark, where Hoskins jukes basically an entire defense out of their shoes for an easy touchdown. Gives off very much a Randall Cobb prototype in his prime in Green Bay. Hoskins will be another WR from Greater Minnesota in the top 15-20 range in the next update in the coming weeks in the Class of 2022.
Sophomore Tape
Haydn Stay
Haydn
Stay
6'4" | 220 lbs | ATH
Princeton | 2022
State
MN
, LB, Princeton (2022)
One of the rising young linebackers in Minnesota. Stay is built like a semi-truck and hits like one too from what I’ve witnessed in person last season in sectional play. Stay is a Big Ten prototype at linebacker in the making.
Watch the Tape
Blejay Gboweay, WR/ATH, Champlin Park (2023)
Freshmen Tape
Will Schaack, WR, ________ (2024)
I wasn’t able to find where Schaack will be playing high school football in the metro, but from the clips, I’ve seen from Twitter he will be a prospect we are talking more about in the next few years as he already runs crisp routes with quick speed.
