PrepRedzoneMN's Top 2023s 6A, 5A, 4A

It’s never too early to start shouting out standout underclassman! For PrepRedzoneMN, it’s incredibly rewarding to scout and identify younger Minnesota talent before the general public learns of them. It’s one of my favorite parts of the job, and after checking out the Hudl accounts of every 6A, 5A, and 4A football team in the Land of 10,000 Lakes I feel like we’ve found some studs. Let’s get to know some of these potentially standout 2023s, check out their film, and see who made the included "Watchlist" as well. As a quick note, some of these preps were found well after we released our initial 2023 ranking, and that 2023 update is coming very soon. Thanks for reading! Standouts (in no order) [player_tooltip player_id="19002" first="Max" last="McEnelly"] (Waconia) RB. 5’10, 180 lbs. @MaxMcenelly 2020 MN 170AAA state champion in wrestling. In 2019 posted 905 rushing yards with a 5.6 YPC average, and scored 10 TDs. One of the best two-sport athletes in the state and one of the most intriguing football prospects for the class of 2023, McEnelly’s older brother will be a senior on Waconia’s football team this year and recently earned a scholarship offer from Winona State. Possesses a rare strength for his age, which is especially prevalent in his lower body. Powerful runner with a strong cutting ability and good vision help him to look about as far from a freshman RB I’ve seen. Can go through you or around you, and runs violently behind his pads. Will probably grow into more of a power back but he has some good speed for his age. By far my favorite thing about him is his ability to break tackles various ways. If he can get just a little bit faster he’s going to not only be one of the best backs in the state for 2023 but one of the best in the Midwest. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2CDHyG">Freshman Year Highlights</a> [player_tooltip player_id="19005" first="Love" last="Adebayo"] (St. Thomas Academy) RB. 5’8, 150 lbs. @LoveAdebayo1 Another very talented rising sophomore RB, Adebayo is possesses game-changing speed and has some impressive shiftiness and balance to boot. Splitting carries with stud [player_tooltip player_id="18062" first="Danny" last="McFadden"] in the backfield of the 2019 5A state runner-ups STA, Adebayo made himself known and created some waves felt through 5A after he made some big-time plays during the Cadets state championship appearance last fall. Possess great vision. great burst, a strong jump-cut, and a mean stiff-arm that makes him a threat to score on any given play. He also has some rare strength for a freshman that defenders didn’t expect last year, and helped him to run some people over, and if he gets in the open field he’s gone. Ton of potential and overall just a very exciting RB. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2Dqs5m">Freshman Varsity SZN</a> Charlie Fragassi (St. Paul Highland Park) LB/RB. 6’1, 215 lbs. @CharlieFrassi24 I really like Fragassi’s versatility as a LB as he is fast and can cover ground, drop into coverage and read the QB, and shows a good tackling ability once he gets to the ball-carrier but can help himself by keeping his feet moving a little more in the open field. Great frame too. <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/13087458/5da34a0c8cde0e0d0834a3a5">Freshman Varsity Highlights</a> [player_tooltip player_id="19009" first="John" last="Barrow"] (St. Louis Park) DL. 6’1, 240 lbs. Can hold his gap through a double-team who plays with a high-motor. Stout run-defender who can tackle as well. Honestly, SLP’s Hudl was a little far away so it was hard to see how he uses his hands and feet, but he took on a lot of blocks and was very hard to move even for a double-team. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2CDYrx">Freshman Highlights</a> [player_tooltip player_id="19004" first="Peyton" last="Lange"] (SMB) OL/DL. 6’9, 365 lbs. @peytonlange2 A colossal offensive tackle prospect who played on the interior OL as well as at NG for the MN 4A 2019 state runner-ups who will be very popular with D1 schools once the time comes, Lange is a bully of an OLineman who moves very well for his size and excels as a run-blocker. With his size and ability to pull he’s a scary one for defenders to take on, and he doesn’t stop until the guy he has his hands on is in the turf. He still has some technical things to clean up, but man the potential is there for an eventual Power-5 tackle. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2CCr0B">Freshman Year</a> [player_tooltip player_id="19006" first="Gavin" last="Bass"] (Rosemount) LB. 6’2, 200 lbs. @Gavinbass56 The brother of Rosemount graduate and current South Dakota State OL [player_tooltip player_id="1606" first="Ian" last="Bass"], Gavin started at LB for Rosemount playing against some of the best competition the state has to offer, and he did more than hold his own. Bass absolutely mauled and destroyed potential blockers (the first play of his Hudl is crazy), and he’s a vicious and physical LB with a long of strength in his 200 lb. frame. Once he gets ahold of you as a ball-carrier you’re going down, and he’s going to make you feel him too. With so much room to grow on his frame and the amount of pop he already has, he’s going to be the most potentially dangerous defender in the class of 2023. With all the tape of MN kids I’ve watched this offseason, almost no one gets off blockers better and with more violence at the LB position than Bass. It’s really fun to watch, and he’s got the potential to be much more highly recruited than his older brother. Check out his film if you haven’t already, I promise you won’t regret it. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2CUzXt">Highlights Freshman Year</a> Bahjat "BJ" Zakiel (Osseo) RB. 5’10, 175 lbs. @bjzakiel Didn’t play varsity in 2019 but has some good film from JV/freshman team. Good size on him and is a physical player. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2C9WnU">Freshman Highlights</a> Kayode Amusan (Woodbury) LB. @kayode_amusan31 Looked like a man amongst boys in his 2019 highlights from JV, and as his brother is former Woodbury grad/South Dakota LB now playing for Davenport University Kolade Amusan - I think it’s a safe bet that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree talent wise. Amusan will be a name to know going forward and I’d be surprised if he doesn’t play significant varsity minutes this spring for the Royals. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2BxWWp">2019 Freshman Highlights</a> Ugonna Okeke (Woodbury) DE. 6’2, 220. Also has some good JV film where he shows a really nice jump off the ball and some good speed off the edge as a DE as well. Looks skinny for 220 and looks to have the ability to play varsity football this spring. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2Buf4a">9th Grade Highlights</a> Montaine Smith (Tartan) LB. 6’ 215 lbs. @MontaienS Played some varsity snaps for Tartan last fall and showed zero hesitation in hitting someone. Good frame for a LB and his physicality should help him to find more playing time come spring. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2BjWkU">vs. Hastings JV</a> <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2C9Jrc">vs. Henry Sibley</a> Cooper Walder (Sauk Rapids-Rice) OL. 6’8, 295 lbs. As I’m sure you can tell, the kid is huge. Don’t see a lot of freshman that size, and Walder showed a knack for pancaking kids on freshman squad/JV last season. <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/12816048/5d98bc7690eee10c288cf4a7">vs. Moorhead JV</a> <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/12816048/5d8e14d7e984c808f81e299e">vs. Hutchinson JV</a> Sam Musungu (Andover) 6’0, 175 lbs. No football highlights available on his Hudl, but did play some varsity snaps for Andover last year and I also believe he played on the varsity basketball team for the Huskies as well. [player_tooltip player_id="19010" first="Cole" last="Hentges"] (Sartell-St. Stephen) QB/DB. 5’11, 175 lbs. @cole_hentges Started at QB for Sartell as a freshman and showed himself to be a smooth and natural athlete who can stand in the pocket and make accurate throws or can scramble and improvise and make something out of nothing. Has great touch on his throws and puts the ball into an area where his WR can best succeed, whether that’s in stride on a slant or on the inside shoulder on a hitch to shake the CB. A really intriguing QB prospect who could probably play any skill position on the field, his best days are in front of him and I’m really excited to watch. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2CDJ69">2019 Highlights</a> [player_tooltip player_id="19008" first="Bryan" last="Cassellius"] (Winona) LB/TE. 6’0, 190 lbs. @BryanCasselliu1 Playing varsity for the Winhawks ain’t easy, but Cassellius got himself onto the field and showed a promising ability to tackle, cover, and come off the edge. Strong kid who can also kick PAT’s if needed. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2DaE8u">Freshman Highlights 19</a> Antonio Fondren (Delasalle but transferred to Benilde-St. Margaret’s) DE/TE. 6’5, 225 lbs. @FondrenAntonio Long, strong DE for his age who uses his hands well and can impact the game as both a run-defender and a pass-rusher. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2DiAr8">2019 Varsity Highlights</a> Dylan Weber (Becker) 6’0, 180 lbs. @Dylan55033362 The brother of rising senior Becker star LB/wrestler [player_tooltip player_id="18049" first="Brayden" last="Weber"], Dylan is already a good sized kid and with the way the Becker Bulldogs pump out college football recruits I won’t be surprised one bit when we start hearing about a new, stud Weber in Becker. Watchlist Riley Olson (Rochester Century) 6’0, 245 lbs. Cade Bunnell (Burnsville) 5’10, 200 lbs. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2C5tsP">Freshman Year</a> Max Scikenjanski (Stillwater) Eric Knies (Forest Lake) Garrison Monroe (Shakopee) Charlie Anderson (Woodbury) Owen Jewison (Woodbury) 6’2, 180 Joe Salava (Woodbury) 6’1, 170 Thomas Fritz (Austin) Dominic Dimaggio (Northfield) Charlie Monaghan (Northfield) Chuck Gilbert (Bloomington Jefferson) 6’2, 170 Carter Van Holland (Chanhassen) RB Kaleb Rector (Chaska) 6’1, 225 Reese Turner (Chaska) 5’11, 185 Elijah Bollman (Mankato West) WR [player_tooltip player_id="19031" first="Mason" last="Riggs"] (Mankato West) Chris Nelson (Mankato West) Noah Erickson (St. Thomas Academy) Daniel Dahl (St. Thomas Academy) Jordan Wold (St. Thomas Academy) 6’, 190 Jackson Cercioglu (St. Thomas Academy) 6’1, 200 Ben Hyde (Mahtomedi) Jamil Sigman (MPLS Washburn) 5’10, 200 Jonathan Hall (St. Paul Central) 6’ 230 Henry Bendickson (St. Louis Park) 6’, 200 lbs. Daniel Yugei (Elk River) Carson Haack (Elk River) Marqun Tucker (Elk River) Austan Orvedahl (Duluth East) Luke Moller (Albert Lea) 5’10, 150 Tyler Voshell (Albert Lea) Brody Johnson (Byron) Howie Head (Kasson Mantorville) [player_tooltip player_id="19019" first="Dominic" last="Davis"] (Winona) [player_tooltip player_id="19011" first="Mason" last="Langowski"] (Winona) Ethan Dake (New Ulm) Jonah Vierstraete (Marshall) Jacob Buysse (Marshall) Chidi Nwakama (Marshall) Tyler Maeyaert (Marshall) [player_tooltip player_id="19012" first="Christian" last="Koenig"] (Hill-Murray) AJ Boarman (Holy Angels) Chuck Gilbert (Holy Angels) Josh Byrne (Chisago Lakes) Kaden Postal (Duluth Denfeld) Christopher Woods (Hibbing) Blake Schoolmeester (Willmar) 6’4, 180 lbs.