Top MPLS City Performers Through 3 Weeks

When I originally applied for this job to write for the formerly named NorthstarFootballNews now PrepRedzone, one of my sweeping and immediate goals was to bring exposure to athletes from Minneapolis and especially the now disbanded MPLS City Football Conference. These seven schools: Edison, North, Patrick Henry, Roosevelt, South, Southwest, & Washburn, are the seven programs most near and dear to my heart as a Southwest Laker graduate, and when I was growing up there were some overlooked studs in the conference year after year that could have benefited from a service like ours. With that in mind I wanted to get a special look at the college prospects at those seven teams, let you know who is performing well through three weeks of the season, and check out how the team’s season is going. Thanks for reading about the 612! Edison Tommies The Tommies are unfortunately sitting at 0-3 so far this season after tough losses to Roosevelt, Brooklyn Center, and an OT thriller with South. They are led by the athletic and dynamic [player_tooltip player_id="24443" first="Michael" last="Moore"] (6’2, 180 lbs.), who is a threat from the RB, WR, FS, and occasionally QB, and is a playmaker with good instincts and a long frame that I think projects him as a great college DB. I’m also a fan of the game of 5’11, 225 lbs. OC/DL [player_tooltip player_id="49833" first="Michael" last="Hall"], who would make for a solid DIII lineman if he adds some weight and has helped open holes for the intriguing 2022 RB/LB prospect Jack Hewitt-Perry, who is listed at 6’, 160 lbs. on Hudl but looks much larger as a ball-carrier. Defensive players Hunter Parent (5’8, 175 lbs) and Eddy Ndayinkengurkiye (5’10, 165 lbs.) are also tackling well so far this year and could help a college squad at the NAIA, DIII, or JUCO level next season. The future is also looking bright for Edison as they have some nice sized junior prospects in 6’1, 175 lb. LB Thomas Minnema, 6’ 170 lb. QB Toby Carr, and 6’1, 250 lb. DT Jamaine Young. Keep grinding, Tommies! North Community Polars The Polars are arguably the most talented team in the entire state, and I will never forgive COVID-19 for taking away the potential 2A state championship matchup between the Polars and the owners of the nation’s longest winning streak in the Caledonia Warriors. It would have been a game for the ages. Either way, North is the best team within Minneapolis’ borders, and are led by one of the top uncommitted 2021s in [player_tooltip player_id="22927" first="Davon" last="Townley"] (6’7 230 lbs.), North Carolina A&T QB commit [player_tooltip player_id="18066" first="Zach" last="Yeager"] (6’2, 195 lbs), more top uncommitted 2021s in RB [player_tooltip player_id="18033" first="Terrance" last="Kamara"] (5’9, 180 lbs) and LB [player_tooltip player_id="18034" first="Dominic" last="McMillian"] (6’2, 205 lbs), and potential DII monster DL [player_tooltip player_id="18070" first="Darnell" last="McCrea"] (6’2, 215 lbs), who transferred in from Benilde-St. Margaret’s. The senior class besides these talents is also stacked, as TE/LB [player_tooltip player_id="23696" first="CJ" last="Brown"] is a beast, OL/DL [player_tooltip player_id="18197" first="John" last="Collins Jr."] (6’, 295 lbs) has a ton of game experience and has no problem moving people, LB Dave Wylie flies around and isn’t scared of contact, and Mario Kuiah is versatile and physical. The future is also bright for the Polars, as 2022 WR [player_tooltip player_id="18424" first="Mario" last="Sanders"] is a D1 prospect followed quickly behind by [player_tooltip player_id="18449" first="De’Meiko" last="Anderson"] - who are both standout hoopers. Some girth is added inside by the experienced [player_tooltip player_id="18535" first="Quiyon" last="Jordan"] and [player_tooltip player_id="18561" first="Chester" last="Watley"], and make sure to keep your eyes out for 2023 big-boy Jeremiah Sims, who at 6’5, 220 lbs. is next in line to take over North’s ever growing list of standout OL/DL. The Polars are 3-0 and have a big matchup with 4A powerhouse SMB tonight. Go Polars! Patrick Henry Patriots Despite a tough 0-3 start to the 2020 season, including a 28-32 heartbreaker to Spectrum, the Patriots have some exciting college prospects. QB Crispin Jackson (6’4, 180 lbs) has a nice arm and can make some big plays with his arm or his legs, RB Antaine "AJ" Johnson (5’8, 150 lbs.) is a speedster who has already earned a DII offer from Fort Valley State University in Georgia, and OL/DL Jack Auginash (6’3, 260 lb.) could potentially play some scholarship ball is a great puller and loves putting people into the ground. A nice looking 2023 prospect in Tysean Hughes (6’, 265 lbs) will be a force in the city going forward. Stay tough, Patrick Henry! Roosevelt Teddies Sitting at 1-2 with a big game at South looming this afternoon, the Teddies have one of their strongest senior classes in a while led by QB August Butler (6’2, 200 lbs.) - who sets the tone for the Teddies and can definitely help a college football team at a variety of positions. His biggest weapon and target is two-sport star [player_tooltip player_id="23712" first="Dennis" last="Holte"] (6’2, 210 lbs.), and aided on the OL by Aidan Smith (6’1, 210 lbs.) Holte can ball on both the gridiron and the hardwood, and would make for a tremendous DIII recruit capable of playing multiple positions. I also like 2023 6’1, 160 lb. DB/WR Montrell Bryant, who has some good football ahead of him and high ceiling as a recruit. Keeping rolling, Teddies! South Tigers The biggest surprise in Minneapolis for the 2020 season and one of the more happy storylines in the state this year is the 3-0 South Tigers. They are coming off a thrilling 20-18 OT win against Edison last week and are set to play Roosevelt in a couple of hours here, and are looking for their first 4-0 start in I don’t even know how long. With strong team continuity and some kids stepping up big in a variety of roles, I am pumped for South’s players and coaching staff. Going into the season we all knew that NSIC target [player_tooltip player_id="23694" first="Kader" last="Diop"] (6’, 180 lbs) could ball, and he’s lived up to the hype so far despite battling injuries here and there through the first three games. The dark-horse surprise standout has no doubt been 5’10, 200 lb. RB/DE Demetrius Seay, who has put the team on his back and been a workhorse of a ball-carrier capable of moving the chains and creating big plays when South needs him to. He needs to be playing college ball somewhere next year after his impressive senior season so far. The Tigers also have some promising 2022 recruits in WR Adam Kelbrants (6’, 165 lbs), FB Rey Saice (5’9, 190 lbs), and All-District OLB Cassius Whipple Garnett (6’1, 190 lbs.). Also s/o to my good friend and college teammate Kosey Mitchell - who is helping South’s resurgence as their RB coach currently. Big things coming, Tigers! Southwest Lakers The future is bright for my beloved Lakers, and at 2-1 with two big games still coming up on their schedule with arch-rival Washburn tonight and the top-dog Polars to end the season. Mr. Football potential finalist and Preseason All-Metro LB/RB [player_tooltip player_id="18071" first="Nick" last="Flaskamp"] is an absolute monster, and has almost 600 yards rushing and 43 tackles in only three games thus far. What gets me really excited though is his surrounding cast. DB [player_tooltip player_id="23736" first="Jaden" last="Reed"] - despite not having a ton of film from his junior year - is an athletic freak and is leading the stare in interceptions going into Week 4 of the 2020 season. CB [player_tooltip player_id="23746" first="Marcus" last="Mattox"] is one of the best DBs in the city and has DII scholarship offers, and LB [player_tooltip player_id="18152" first="Darnell" last="Harper"] and DL Landon Ramos are providing a ton of physicality at the point of attack. They also have a really nice batch of 2022 prospects, led by OL Ben Kattreh-Kuritz (6’5, 250 lbs.) and OL/DL [player_tooltip player_id="49866" first="Brayden" last="Engrav"] (6’4, 250 lbs) in the trenches and skill-players in QB Preston Engen (6’2, 170 lbs.), LB/RB [player_tooltip player_id="49955" first="Keandre" last="Brown"] (5’11, 195 lbs), FS JD Lewis (6’, 160 lbs.), and standout LB [player_tooltip player_id="49953" first="Charlie" last="Boucher"] - who is coming off a MNFootballHub Player of the Week nomination. Go Lakers!! Washburn Millers The Millers are 3-0 going into their big matchup with down the street arch-rival Southwest tonight, and are led by one of the hottest recruits in the state lately in 6’3, 220 lbs. [player_tooltip player_id="18207" first="Nyle" last="Dickel"]. He received a shoutout from our National Scouting Director Jake Lemming recently, and is leading the state in tackles with fellow 612 LB Flaskamp nipping at his heels only a tackle behind. The current senior class is loaded for Washburn, and they have size and speed across the board at a ton of positions. Skill players Jamar Nelson (5’9, 160 lbs.), Sir’Vell Miller (6’1, 165 lbs.), and [player_tooltip player_id="18072" first="Jamarien" last="Wheeler"] (6’1, 200 lbs) are all playmakers on both sides of the ball who get some beautiful passes thrown to them by prized DIII QB recruit [player_tooltip player_id="18131" first="Andrew" last="Gotziaman"] (6’3, 210 lbs.), and are supported by the thick and powerful RB Ramon Lee Jr. (6’, 220 lbs) who is really fun to watch run the ball. They’re also aided in the trenches by [player_tooltip player_id="18209" first="Evan" last="Knofczynski"] (6’2, 220 lbs), Sabrii Omar (6’4, 250 lbs), Austin Carnicom (6’4, 200 lbs.), and Ivan Ayala (6’2, 250 lbs.). Tonight’s matchup of the city’s most heated rivalry is sure to be a thriller tonight. It’s Miller Time!!