Minnesota’s 2022 Top-31 Sleepers: Not Unranked for Long
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We’re more than halfway through this shortened 2020 Minnesota prep football season, and although this is an irregular and atypical season for many reasons, some of the traditional and normal characteristics that I find so wonderful about high school football…
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Continue ReadingWe’re more than halfway through this shortened 2020 Minnesota prep football season, and although this is an irregular and atypical season for many reasons, some of the traditional and normal characteristics that I find so wonderful about high school football season are still shining through. I discussed this a little when writing about midseason highlight tapes (another feature that will be posted soon), but something else I love about the high school football season is the emergence of players who were not on my radar prior to the season beginning. Since Week 1 the 2022s in Minnesota have done a particularly outstanding job of balling out and catching my eye, and unfortunately I missed a lot of these studs in our 2022 update from early this summer. With this mind I wanted to do focus an entire feature on “Minnesota’s Top-31 2022 Sleepers” concentrating on the best 2022s you need to know, and who will not stay unranked for long! These guys have major college potential, and I hope you enjoy this breakdown of their film from their junior seasons. Thanks for reading!
Already Ranked Special S/O: Gannon Rosenfeld Gannon Rosenfeld 6'3" | 220 lbs | DL Mankato West | 2022 State MN (Robbinsdale Armstrong) DB. 6’, 180 lbs. @Jordan2Ndd – I don’t know how it happened, but somehow McClom got ranked disturbingly low on our 2022 rankings in our latest update. I’ll say this right now to clear things up: he is not the #224 overall prospect and #18 ranked DB. He’s a Top-40 prospect easily, and one of the Top-5 in the state for the class of 2022. After playing at Providence Academy the past two seasons and transferring to Robbinsdale Armstrong for his 2020 junior season, McClom has made some serious noise so far this season. He’s been an athletic and dangerous kick-returner who has already taken two KORs back to the house for TDs, and these skills translate to his prowess as a DB, as he’s fast, gets out of his breaks with explosiveness, and is instinctual and finds himself the football. He’s already got great size as well, and is in the midst of a productive junior season that should help him in the recruiting game. I think he’s got the skill-set to play some FCS ball.
Top-31 (no particular order)
Ethan Fischer (Maple River) OT. 6’8, 255 lbs. The giant from Maple River originally came onto my radar from former NorthstarFootballNews and now 24/7sports contributor Ryan Burns, and he found a good one. Although he only has one game on Hudl from this season, you can tell in the 12 second clip that he is a D1 FBS prospect. He’s easily got the size to play OT in college, and is a sturdy and very strong junior who has already played all over the OL and DL in high school. He’s got a great anchor in pass-pro, and plays low for size and makes sure to keep his hands inside when engaged. He plays a lot of DL as well, and is overwhelming strong and powerful for opposing OLs to deal with. He’s also long, and well built for 265 lbs., and is also quick laterally. He’s got all of the makings of a Power-5 OT prospect and will be a high and lofty edition to the rankings. 2020 vs. Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial
Blake Haus (Sartell-St. Stephen) OL/DL/TE. 6’5, 255 lbs. @Blake_Haus – I’ve written about Haus before, and for good reason, as the 255 lber. had a monster offseason and moves well enough at his size to mix in at TE for the Sabres as a junior. The game highlights he has posted from this season show him playing DT as well though, and it is a sight to see. He’s light on his feet and laterally explosive, as well as twitchy with good hand-fighting ability. He swallows people up when he tackles him too, and has a good motor. He’s a hard-hitting OL too, and is a strong run-blocker. A lot of his traits that help him as a DL make him a great puller and a really promising two-way college prospect. He’s got FBS potential in my eyes. 2020 Highlights vs. Alexandria
James Spencer (Osseo) DE. 6’6, 220 lbs. @TheJSpencerIII – A really intriguing prospect who plays on the illustrious Howard Pulley AAU squad, and has the prototypical size that FBS coaches seem to be looking for out of the DE position recently. He doesn’t have a lot of reps in his first three game highlight from this season, but I love his length and the twitch that shows up on film. I think it’s safe to say his best football is in front of him and he has a FCS ceiling as a prospect. 2020 First Three Games
Camden Ludeman (Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial) RB. 5’11, 190 lbs. @CamdenLudeman Possesses good vision and a nice ability to cut on a dime, and is a supremely shifty RB with good size and good lower body strength. In the two games from 2020 he has posted he rushed for 7 TDs and over 300 yards, and even returned a punt for a big gain against St. James. He’s really fun to watch and has a lot more TDs in his future. It’s still early to gauge where his ceiling is as a college prospect but I think it’s easily within his capabilities to play some DII scholarship ball. 2020 vs. New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva 2020 vs. St. James
Mitchel Jaskowiak (Glencoe-Silver Lake) RB/ATH. 6’4, 220 lbs. @Jaskowiak2M – The recent recipient of a Twitter shoutout from our National Scouting Director Jake Lemming, who wrote that “This kid has the size at 6’4, 220, and the blocking ability to play at the Division 1 level. Has some FCS interest but no offers…” Lemming hit the nail on the head with his tweet, as Jaskowiak is a D1 sized prospect who plays all over the field for GSL. He looks fast for his size, and is a physical and high-effort blocker who keeps his pad level low and feet driving through contact. He made plays in the running, passing, and blocking game thus far this season as well, and is a load to bring down and a powerful runner and blocker with quick feet and the ability to run through you and around you if need be. He’s a really exciting prospect to have found for a person with my job, and I think he absolutely has the ability to play FBS football as a FB or TE or possibly OLB/DE. He’ll also find his way to a high place in our rankings on our next update, and I’m a big fan of his game. Midseason Junior Highlights
Devin Lockerby (Fairbault) OL/DL. 6’5, 300 lbs. @DevinLockerby – If you’re a consistent reader of PrepRedzoneMN then your memory should be jogged by Lockerby, as I’ve mentioned the junior before as he is receiving a ton of interest from NDSU and some from South Dakota as well, and he has all the makings of a D1 lineman from the 10,000 Lakes. He’s powerful, light on his feet for 300 lbs., and is an efficient puller who can get out and move in space well and puts people into the ground with ease. A big junior season will help him tremendously, and I think he has a D1 ceiling as a recruit. 2020 vs. Northfield
Mason Wilson (Stillwater) DE/TE. 6’3, 230 lbs. @MasonWilson35 GPA 3.8. – In his third year of starting on Varsity the Stillwater Pony is finally getting some well-deserved recognition, as he also received a recruiting shoutout from Jake Lemming in which he said that #42 for Stillwater “has one heck of a get off and looks explosive on film this fall. I think he could develop into one of the state’s top DL.” High praise from Mr. Lemming, and he once again was right on the money, as Wilson is already well filled out at 6’3, 230 lbs., and fires off of the ball like he’s shot out of a cannon. He eats up space on ball-carriers impressively, and uses his hands physically and efficiently when defeating blocks. He’s also a good tackler, and if he gets a free release into the backfield he remains patient and doesn’t overrun the play. He’s also a good tackler, and is a really exciting prospect coming out of Stillwater. He’s got a FBS ceiling in my eyes. vs. Shakopee Midseason junior year
Kyle Haas (Prior Lake) QB. 6’, 200 lbs. @kyle1haas GPA 4.1 – The Prior Lake Lakers have made a splash in 6A this season, and despite sitting at 2-2 they played St. Michael-Albertville and Lakeville South – two of 6A’s top teams – really well and could be sitting here at 4-0 if a couple plays went their way those games. A lot of this Laker success has to do with their new QB1: Kyle Haas. He’s a thick QB recruit and at midseason he’s thrown 21/31 for 271 yards and 3 TDs with 15 carries for 74 rush yards and 3 TDs. He’s a high academic prospect, and shows active feet in the pocket and can throw an accurate ball on the move or in the pocket as well. He’s also a good athlete capable of taking off and hurting you with his legs if need be. I think he can definitely play some DII scholarship ball. Junior Midseason 2020 vs. STMA
Elijah Hammonds (Fairbault) RB/ 5’10, 215 lbs. @EJ_Football777 GPA 3.5 – One of my PrepRedzoneMN coworkers in Nate Wahl gave Hammonds a “Minnesota Sleeper of the Day” shoutout on Twitter in September, stating in his evaluation that the Fairbault Falcon is a “Strong yet elusive runner and very tough to bring down. Also has strong acceleration when he hits a gap. Four sport athlete and good measurables at 5’10, 215 lbs.” Well said by Wahl, as Hammonds possesses an obviously strong lower-body that shoots him into the open field, and I really love his size and his low center of gravity that help him to propel himself as a powerful runner who is tough to bring down and has some sneaky speed when he finds daylight. I love his contact balance and feet as well, and he can no doubt play some scholarship ball at the DII level with the FCS as his ceiling. 2020 vs. Northfield
Cayden Holcomb (Rochester Mayo) DB/WR. 5’10, 165 lbs. @holcomb_cayden – The junior has already had an accomplished underclassman career, as he’s already been named All-District, All-City, and All-Conference (track) ad is going into his third year starting on varsity for the Spartans. The kid can do it all, as he plays WR, DB, LS, P, KOR, PR, and RB, and has made plays at every position in this short 2020 season, including KORs for TDs and big plays offensively and defensively. As a WR, he’s dangerously quick at the LOS with his release, and runs some good routes with good hip breakdown and some solid hands. He’s also fast, and is lethal after the catch as well as a good blocker. He’s just one of those naturally gifted football players, and you can line him up anywhere on the field and he’s going to make something happen. He is a FCS sleeper in my opinion! 2020 vs. Owatonna vs. Rochester Century vs. John Marshall
Gavin Falk (Edina) OL. 6’5, 270 lbs. @gavinfalk2 – The Edina Hornets are putting together a nice line of P5 offensive lineman, so I’ve been trying to keep my eyes on the team to see who is potentially next in line to become the next highly-touted Hornet OT prospect. The future may have revealed itself with Falk, as he’s got the size that D1s want to see from the OT position and shows really strong hands and hand placement, and moves well for his size out in space. I like his pass-set, and he’s a violent finisher who has no problem shoving kids into the turf, even in pass-pro. He looks light for 270 and still has some room to pack on weight, and he’s an OL prospect I’m going to keep a careful eye on moving forward. He’s got the potential to play D1 FBS football in college if he works hard. 2020 Midseason Highlights
Sanjay Redd (SMB) RB/DB. 5’10, 160 lbs. @ReddSanjay – Redd is in the midst of a killer junior season in 2020, and a few weeks ago he went off vs. Mound Westonka and ran for 127 yards with four TDs plus a 79 yard KOR for a TD later that game to earn a MNFootballHub Top Performer award. The Wolfpacks #5 has some JETS, and the middle school All-American Track & Field performer hits the hole like a bolt of lightning. If he gets daylight he’s gone, and looked like the fastest player on the field against a talent-packed North Polars squad last Friday. His vision is solid too, and I like his moves in the open field, but his biggest and best trait is definitely his speed. He is FAST, and to take the words out of The Longest Yard line: “he makes fast people look not fast.” Seriously, watch his tape if you don’t believe me! He’s got FBS potential no doubt. 2020 vs. MPLS North 2020 vs. St. Anthony Village 2020 vs. Mound Westonka 2020 vs. Fridley
Ben Kattreh-Kuritz (Minneapolis Southwest) OL/LS. 6’4, 250 lbs. @BenKK64SWHS GPA 3.92 – 2019 All-District and Twin City Blue OL of the Year. Doesn’t have updated film from this season, but I got to watch him live against rival Washburn last Friday and he was a force in the run and pass game who showed great strength and technique to make holes for the Lakers RBs. I’ll need to see some more film before I can predict his potential college level, though. However, I like what I see!
Camden Dean (Lakeville South) QB/DB/WR. 5’11, 170 lbs. @CamdenDean12 – Splitting time with senior QB Reid Patterson Reid Patterson QB Lakeville South | 2021 State MN – a Concordia-St. Paul basketball commit – is no easy task, but Dean seems to have carved himself out a nice role in the offense as he’s dangerous at carrying out fakes from the QB position and is a threat with his legs out of the backfield and can throw a nice touch pass if needed too I also love the plays he made as a WR (sweet sideline catch) and DB (great breaks on the ball), and you can tell he’s a tough athlete who will play anywhere the coaches want him. His speed and quickness are two of his stronger traits, and he has DII potential off of the limited sample size presented right now. 2020 Weeks 1-3 2020 vs. Burnsville
Jordan Reynolds (Blaine) WR. 6’2, 160 lbs. @TheSportsKid21 – Has had a productive season on JV and will be a name to watch for Blaine as a senior next Fall.
Josh Jacobson (Lakeville South) RB/LB 6’, 180 lbs. @JoshJacobson725 – Has seen a bigger role in the Cougar offense this season as an upperclassman, and seems to have either willingly or unwillingly taken on the role as FB in the run-heavy offense of Lakeville South. He’s a solid and well-built recruit who looks stronger than his 180 lbs. suggest, and he is a punishing lead blocker and physical/hard-hitting LB on the defensive side of the ball. I like how he runs the football, as he’s got good burst and runs really aggressively and isn’t scared to lower the pads and run over a defender or two if need be with his strong lower-body. I think he’s got an FCS ceiling as a recruit, either at FB or OLB. 2020 vs. Burnsville HS 2020 vs. Prior Lake HS
Jamal Dixon (Moorhead) CB. 6’2, 175 lbs. @Jamaldix1 – With excellent size at the CB position, Dixon is an asset in run-support and is a strong tackler who great length. I also really like how he keeps his feet active when covering WRs, and he gets out of his breaks pretty well. He can play some DII ball in the future, especially playing against the deep and talented Moorhead Spuds roster. 2020 Midseason 2020 vs. Rogers
Nate Litke (Spring Lake Park) RB/WR. 5’11, 180 lbs. @nathan_litke GPA 4.05 – The junior has already played a ton of positions for the Panthers so far this year, and has thrown, caught, and rushed for a TD offensively so far this season. My favorite play on Litke’s midseason tape was on kickoff coverage, as he came sprinting down the field and put his shoulder into a bigger upback, completely leveling the blocker and sending him on his butt. He even followed it up by making the tackle! As an offensive weapon though I really like what I see. He’s got good shake and deceiving feet when running routes, and has good acceleration and burst when the ball is in his hands. He’s also strong for his size, and is a tough runner who will finish carries with contact, and is a tough kid who isn’t scared to hit. SLP has a nice looking 2022 class, and Litke definitely has the potential to play some DII ball in the future. 2020 Midseason Highlights
Connor Weed (Farmington) QB/DB. 6’, 175 lbs. @Connorweed40 – Last week versus the Roseville Raiders the junior DB picked off two passes, and earlier in the season he picked off a pass vs. Hopkins and helped a teammate pickoff a tipped ball from his great read and coverage on an attempted WR rocket screen. He’s had a nice little junior campaign where he has made some big PBUs, tackles, and interceptions to make waves on a tough Tigers defense. I very much like how he tackles, and he’s got good fundamentals and makes sure to not let ball-carriers outside of him at his CB position. He also keeps his feet and hands active, and I like his promise in man-coverage as well as zone, as he shows good instincts in both coverages. In man, I love how he gets his head around and tracks the ball, and melts the WR into the sideline and uses it as a natural defensive help. In zone he reads the QB’s eyes well and knows that if someone leaves his zone, someone is probably coming in. He’s a great looking DB prospect who can play some scholarship DII ball in the future, and my favorite trait of his is definitely his tackling ability. 2020 vs. Hopkins 2020 vs. Burnsville 2020 vs. Roseville
Isaiah Ward (Centennial) OL/DL. 6’2, 255 lbs. @IsaiahWard76 – Plays OL with a wide-base and a strong initial punch that gets opposing DL off balance. He also plays low and with good leg drive, and he’s got solid size to play OG in college. He’s got some obvious strength from his tape though, and mauls kids in the run game. I know they expect someone to engage, but I don’t think they’re ready for how strong he is once he gets hands on. He can potentially play some DII scholarship ball in the NSIC in college! 2020 Weeks 1-2 2020 Weeks 3-4
Christian Connelly (Byron) WR/LB. 6’3, 180 lbs. @Connelly2828 – Has recorded at least 4 sacks and 30 tackles through three games so far this season, and is a really tough edge-defender who can blitz off the edge with speed and holds leverage on runners outside as well. He’s really quick and gets off blocks well, and is an aggressive tackler with a good frame. He does need to add some weight though, as he gets pushed back at the point of contact somewhat. However, his get-off and quickness at the LOS make him a good-looking OLB prospect at the next level. I think he’s got some DII scholarship level ability. vs. Albert Lea vs. Winona vs. Mankato East
Cedric Wall (Rosemount) WR. 6’3, 180 lbs. @CedricWall5 – Possesses some great size at the WR position, and in a TD catch vs. Champlin Park I liked his outside release at the LOS, ball-tracking ability when the pass is in the air, and his somewhat high-pointing of the football when it was in the air. He’s got some good football in front of him, but I need to see a bigger sample size of plays before I can predict what level he could play at in college. vs. Champlin Park
Ty Hansen (Pipestone) ATH. 5’10, 155 lbs. @TyHansen_15 – Coming out of a good program in Pipestone, Hansen has played WR, DB, and returned kicks so far this season for Pipestone, and he’s a speedy recruit who can break down his hips well as a WR and shows some natural coverage ability as a CB. As of right now I see him as a prized DIII recruit, but scholarship DII ball is not out of the realm of options. 2020 vs. Redwood Valley vs. 2020 Blue Earth
Eli Anderson (Fairmont) WR/FS. 6’, 160 lbs. @EliAnderson22
Finally the first home game of the year. pic.twitter.com/ShapJKlV8H
— Eli Anderson (@EliAnderson22) November 2, 2020
Sergio Altamirano (Minneapolis South) LB. 5’10, 180 lbs. @SERG19ALT – I got to see the South Tiger junior LB in person last Friday against MPLS Roosevelt, and he was a tackling machine for South who easily found himself near 20 tackles as the final whistle blew. He’s a good sized backer who is tough and rarely misses tackles, and he has good range and could track ball-carriers to the sideline as well as burst into the backfield for a TFL. He reads his keys well and purses well too, and is also a good wrestler on the best wrestling team in MPLS. He could be a good DIII or NAIA linebacker at the next level.
Ari Sullivan (Cambridge-Isanti) WR. 5’11, 180 lbs. @AriSullivan8 – A strong and thick WR prospect who has no problem making tough, contested catches and can run short, intermediate, or deep routes successfully as well as hurt you as a runner. He is a tough recruit and projects right now as a really good DIII or NAIA recruit. 2020 vs. Waseca 2020 vs. Monticello 2020 vs. Hutchinson 2020 vs. Chisago Lakes
Greg Mitchell III (Anoka) DB/WR. 5’10, 170 lbs. @GregMitchell04 – The Anoka Tornadoes have a strong junior class this season, and he’s a good tackler, specifically in the open field, with a good frame to add more weight. He plays with high energy as well and right now looks like a really nice DIII or NAIA DB recruit. 2020 vs. Totino-Grace 2020 vs. Osseo 2020 vs. Eagan
Josh Kirchoff (Chanhassen) WR. @josh_kirchoff – Made a couple big catches vs. arch-rival Chaska last Friday, and has no problem finishing a catch with a hard hit coming, and is a deep threat at the WR position who also does a good job of working back to the QB if the play breaks down. I need to see some more reps from him to get an idea of what level he could play at in college. 2020 vs. Chaska 2020 vs. Bloomington Jefferson
Dylan Nelson (Mayer-Lutheran) RB/DB. 6’, 180 lbs. @Dnels2022 – The Mayer-Lutheran athlete is apart of a deep and talented 2022 class at the school, and I really like what I see on his tape as he’s a tall and slashing RB with good vision and the strength to run through arm tackles and weaker tackle attempts. He can also catch the ball out of the backfield, and is a three down RB prospect who can play some DII ball in the future and possibly find himself on a FCS roster. I really like his game and will continue to track him as a prospect! 2020 vs. Maple River 2020 vs. Alden Conger 2020 vs. United South Central
Tommy Hamann (Wayzata) DE/TE. 6’3, 215 lbs. @hamann_tommy GPA 3.7 – Despite 2020 being a somewhat down year for the Trojans, they have a really deep 2022 class that is getting their chance to show out on the varsity stage. Hamann is one of those juniors, and he is an exciting one!! Capable of perfectly executing stunts and twists from the DL position, he is a hard-hitting pass-rusher who closes the distance quickly to ball-carries and comes off the edge with force. I love his speed and effort when running down QBs, and his size and strength help him to beat double teams and hold his gap. He’s also an incredibly violent tackler, and makes you feel him when he gets his hands on you. From what I’m seeing on tape, combined with Wayzata’s lengthy history of successfully developing DL and LBs for the next level, I think it’s safe to say that Hamann could be playig in the Missouri Valley Football Conference come signing day of senior year. Junior Midseason highlights
Colton Gregersen (Burnsville) OL/FB. 6’2, 220 lbs. @GregersenColton – A well-built high school prospect who I think projects as a DL at the next level, Gregersen is big, violent, and uses his hands and understanding of leverage to literally toss blockers and defenders aside with ease and joy. As a DL he uses his hands violently to shed blocks, and he’s a physical and nasty tackler who makes you feel him when you hit him. His size, strength, versatility, and aggressiveness make me a big fan of his game, and I think he could play some FCS ball if he keeps working hard. He’s putting some good reps out on tape so far against some of Minnesota’s toughest competition. Keep your ears open for news of Burnsville’s #21! 2020 vs. Farmington 2020 vs. Lakeville South 2020 vs. Eagan