Twenty-Five 2021 MN Unranked Prospects You Need to Know
Somehow, someway, this season is almost over. Despite this being the weirdest and fastest high school football season I have been alive for, a lot of great storylines, performances, and players have emerged to make this yet another successful and…
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Continue ReadingSomehow, someway, this season is almost over. Despite this being the weirdest and fastest high school football season I have been alive for, a lot of great storylines, performances, and players have emerged to make this yet another successful and exciting year in Minnesota prep football. I have been particularly impressed with the class of 2021, who have battled through so many distractions, obstacles, and dilemmas just to play the game they love. Although they have been tough and adjusting day by day through this crazy year, they are still inarguably the most hindered high school football graduating class in several decades due to circumstances far out of their control. It’s really hard not to feel for these guys and their hopes for the college recruitment process, so with that in mind PrepRedzoneMN is going to do our best to bring light and exposure to as many Minnesota preps that we missed on our 2021 rankings as possible. Below are 25 MN prospects that should be on our rankings and who you need to know! Thanks for reading.
Prospects
Joshua Streit (Eden Valley-Watkins) TE/WR. 6’8, 215 lbs. @Joshua_Streit – Currently holds football offers from South Dakota State and is receiving recruiting interest from Iowa State. Also holds basketball offers from St. Thomas, Denver, North Dakota State, Cal-Poly, St. Cloud State, Northern State. It’s honestly a little embarrassing that I missed the gigantic TE/WR prospect out of Eden Valley-Watkins, especially since I spent a fair amount of time in college game-planning to stop his also gigantic brother Jared at St. John’s. The Streit’s are a fantastic MN high school football family with a lot of talent and accomplishment between Jared, Justin, Jacob, and young Joshua. With such high upside there really shouldn’t be any surprise that the youngest Streit is receiving FBS interest, and in his first three game highlight from senior year he made some really impressive plays on both offense and defense, including some deep TD catches a really cool play out of the DE position where he tipped a pass to himself for an INT. For such a big guy he’s got pretty good feet at the LOS, and is a mauler of a blocker as well that has no problem shoving people into the turf. Obviously the basketball skills are present, as he’s got a great vert and can high-point the football like it’s his job. He’s an absolute redzone weapon who looks almost unstoppable on the fade route. He’s got one of the highest upsides of any senior recruit in the state and is easily a Top-35 prospect if I hadn’t messed up and not found him for the rankings! I’m really excited to see what he decides to do in college and I’m hoping he gives football a shot! Senior First 3 Games
Payton Beyer (Owatonna) WR/DB. 6’3, 180 lbs. @PaytonBeyer – Currently has DII scholarship offers from Bemidji State and UMD. Beyer is another prospect I’m sad I overlooked on the rankings, especially with the Huskies history of producing really tough and athletic ball players over the past 10 years. Beyer is the latest in line of standout Huskies, and he’s a total playmaker who I think could successfully play some D1 FCS ball. A really strong ball-carrier who is very tough for just one defender to bring down, Beyer can make some highlight reel catches and slip through tackles with ease. He’s laterally quick as well, and as a DB he shows a unique comfortability with the ball in the air and has impressive technique. He also is an asset in special teams, and is liable to burn you for a big gain whenever the ball is in his hands. He’s generally the best athlete on the field when he plays and is going to make a collegiate recruiting coordinator veryyyy happy in the future. 2020 Weeks 1-3 vs. Monticello vs. Mankato West
Tave Ball (Waseca) RB/WR. 5’8, 190 lbs. @TaveBall – I was lucky enough to cover a game between Waseca and Cambridge-Isanti a few weeks ago, and with a ton of talent on both sides it was really Ball who stood out and stole the show. He was lighting in a bottle who popped off two big kick returns (one for a TD) and a punt return for a big gain as well. He was also impressively explosive out of the backfield as a RB, and possesses some game-changing speed and has a great frame that’s low to the ground, and combined with his great lower body strength he’s a bowling ball of a ball-carrier. He’s so dynamic that there just isn’t way he wouldn’t be a major contributor at the next level. He hasn’t reported any offers or interest so hit him up, coaches! Midseason Highlights Week 4 vs. Marshall
Ayden Davison (Cooper) LB/RB. 6′, 210 lbs. @aydendavison05 – Holds offers from Southwest Minnesota State and Valparaiso. Another prospect who I am shaking my own head at over the fact that he got left off the rankings, the Benilde-St. Margaret’s transfer has been a productive addition to the Cooper Hawks star-studded roster. He’s a really aggressive player who has tremendous closing speed and can hold the edge really well. I think he’s got the ability to play inside or outside LB, and also shows a good ability to get after the QB and rush the passer. I also love his motor and how he plays with a ton of energy. 2020 Week 1-4 vs. Bloomington Jefferson
Ramon Lee Jr. (MPLS Washburn) RB/LB. 6’, 220 lbs. @ObeyOmb – The big-boy of a RB is a thunderous and powerful and also shines on the defensive side of the football where he is really tricky to move out of gaps and a strong tackler. I got to see him play live this season against rival Southwest and there’s a lot of power in his game. He hasn’t reported any offers or collegiate interest so coaches: don’t be shy!
Brayden Truelson (Owatonna) QB. 5’11, 175 lbs. @BraydenTruelson – Has a rocket of an arm and can make strong, accurate, throws across all three levels of the field. His accuracy is the most impressive – and my personal favorite – trait of the Huskies gunslinger, and he’s a really fundamentally sound quarterback who is a total sleeper of a Minnesota QB prospect. His Head Coach Jeff Williams also speaks very highly of him, and I don’t think it’s unfair to say that Truelson is the best QB in his district and one of the best in Southern Minnesota. He hasn’t reported any interest or offers! vs. Century vs. John Marshall
Joe Abbott (Lakeville South) DB/WR. 6’2, 175 lbs. @Joeabbott2284 – I like Abbott’s game as a defensive back the most, as he showed strong fundamentals in coverage thus far this season and is more than willing to come up and make a tackle from the CB position. With his size and speed he’d make for a heckuva DIII defensive back but given the competitiveness of Lakeville South’s roster and schedule he could make for a nice DII DB as well. 2020 Midseason Highlights
Noah Richards (Edina) DE. 6’2, 220 lbs. @N_Richards6 – The Edina Hornet DE has a good amount of twitch at the LOS, and shows a solid amount of bend around the edge as well. The second play of his midseason tape he absolutely wrecked a ball-carrier that was fun to watch and sent the Maple Grove runner’s helmet flying out of the screen. He’s a strong defensive lineman with a high-motor who can help out in the run and pass game and will knock the crap out of you. Definitely a DL sleeper for 2021s who hasn’t reported any interest or offers. 2020 4 Game Midseason Highlights
Nate Becker (Maple Grove) DL/TE. 6’4.5, 250 lbs. @NateBecker15 – Holds a D1 FCS offer from the University of St. Thomas. Becker’s measurables coming out of high school are very similar to former Crimson graduate and PWO Minnesota Golden Gopher DL Sam Renner – who worked his butt off and earned a scholarship as an upperclassman for Minnesota. Becker shows that he could potentially succeed in playing D1 ball in his tape, as he is very explosive out of his stance and moves really well for his size. In the first three-four plays of his midseason tape we see the 250 lber. line up at DE/FB/and TE, and he moves really well for his size and is a ferocious blocker with a ton of strength. He uses his hands well at the DL position too, and looks like he can play like he’s unblockable when he turns it on. I don’t know how more schools haven’t been contacting Becker. He’s got an absurd amount of potential and you’ll be hearing a lot more about him from me going forward. 2020 First Three vs. Osseo
Ibukun Taiwo (Alexandria) WR/DB. 5’9, 165 lbs. @ibukuntaiwo8 – The transfer from the state of Texas is having a productive senior high school season here in MN, and has played both ways for the Alexandria Cardinals while making some athletic grabs as a wideout and some nice open field tackles as a DB. I think he does his best work as a slot WR, and is very shifty and dangerous after the catch. As a DB he sure ain’t scared to hit ya, and I think he’d make for a great DIII WR prospect who could make a MIAC very happy. 2020 Midseason
Robert Grace IV (SMB) WR. @robertgracee – Grace IV is a hooper at Blake who tried his hand at football his senior season for the Wolfpack and is making his presence known in the Metro. The standout PG on the hardwood is a speedster with the ball in his hands, and has solid vision and some impressively shifty cuts that make him a nightmare to track down in the open field. Defenders also incorrectly assume he’s easy to bring down once they get their hands on him, but Grace IV has impressive balance and lower-body strength to stay upright through contact. He made some really big plays against a fast and talented North Polars defense a couple weeks ago, and has a bright future on the gridiron if he tries to play two sports in college. Also s/o to his dad, who was my freshman football coach at Southwest and is really good dude. vs. MPLS North vs. St. Anthony Village vs. Mound Westonka vs. Fridley
Ivan Ayala Jr. (MPLS Washburn) OL/DL. 6’2, 250 lbs. @IvanAyala0419 – Another blast from the past, I believe I am the same age and got to play three years against Ayala’s older brother Tony in high school, who was a really promising QB prospect who had a really unfortunate preseason injury our senior year and missed the entire season. Ivan is just as promising though, as he’s a tough and beefy OL prospect who has strong hands and is a solid run and pass-blocker. He’s a very high-effort kid as well who looks really hard for defenders to disengage from once he gets hands on. vs. St. Croix Lutheran vs. Southwest
William Katchmark (Columbia Heights) DE. 5’11, 230 lbs. @WilliamKatchma1 – A strong pulling guard who plays with good leverage and loves to put kids on their butts, the stud 225 lber. is also on kickoff coverage and can get down the field really well. As a DL he’s got a lot of burst off the LOS and uses his hands really well, and he’s a really promising DL prospect who would be an awesome addition to the MIAC. There’s a lot of versatility in his game and he’s a fun one to watch. vs. Richfield vs. Washburn
Deon Barber (Bloomington Kennedy) LB/RB. 5’11, 220 lbs. @DeonBarber9 – 2019 All-District . The Bloomington Kennedy Eagles have been putting out some lowkey standout college prospects the past few years – particularly at the DIII level – and Barber is next in line of promising collegiate recruits. At 220 lbs. he moves really well, and can fire through the LOS on blitzes and can cover ground in his drops from the LB position. He made a really impressive interception for the second play on his highlights where he perfectly dropped into a passing lane and picked off a pass that would have been an opposing WRs touchdown. He’s also really strong once he gets his hands on you as a tackler, and makes lead blockers pay for trying to move him. I’m excited to see where he ends up playing college football. Midseason Highlights vs. Columbia Heights
Xavier Powers (Blaine) OG. 6’1, 290 lbs. @PowersXavier65 – GPA 3.39 – Great sized run blocking OL who can work to the second level and is strong enough to keep defenders right where he wants them once he’s engaged. vs. Centennial
Jahrese Brandon (Como Park) DE/TE. 6’2, 245 lbs. @getpaidjay – Comes off the edge with some serious speed for his size and has some great foot drive through contact and when trying to get off blocks. He’s got some great size and is a really hard-hitter too, and makes sure that the QB feels him when he puts a lick on em. I like his patience when he’s reacting to read-options and RPOs as well. Senior midseason
Sir’Vell Miller (MPLS Washburn) WR/DB. 6’1, 160 lbs. @MillerVell – I love Miller’s concentration when bringing the ball in and his willingness to make tough catches through contact, and shows a good amount of burst once he’s got the ball in his hands too, and is dangerous in the open-field with a mean stiff-arm and some impressive jukes. vs. SCL vs. Southwest vs. Richfield vs. Columbia Heights
Jamar Nelson (MPLS Washburn) RB/WR/DB. 5’9, 160 lbs. @JamarNelson11 – I watched Nelson take a kickoff back to the house against the Southwest Lakers, and the play really does a good job of encompassing Nelson as a prospect, as the first word that comes to mind when thinking of Washburn’s #5 is the word: explosive. He’s made big plays all year for the Millers on offense (multiple TD runs/catches), defense (pick-six), and special teams (KORs for TDs). He’s got really impressive vision and more than enough speed to spare, and is an asset in the open field and a really tough ball-carrier to wrangle down. He could play a ton of different positions in college and coaches really need to start getting in contact. vs. Southwest vs. Bloomington Kennedy
Preston Swartz (Prior Lake) DE/LB. 6’1, 205 lbs. @pswartz50 – The Prior Lake Laker explodes out of his stance and does a great job of remaining patient and letting the mess of blockers and bodies sort itself out before finding the football. He also does a great job of working down the LOS in pursuit of ball-carriers, and is overall a great run-defender who could play at multiple positions across the DL in college. 2020 Midseason
Amir Madyun (Park Center) TE/ILB. 6’4, 245 lbs. @AmirMadyun – A primarily blocking TE who works out of the HB position who can really hurt defenses as a pass-catcher, Madyun is a really intriguing prospect with a lot of power in the blocking and pass-catching game with excellent size who can really get going once he’s got the ball in his hands. He looks not fun at all to tackle, and puts his shoulder pads to good use and will hit tacklers like a mack truck. I wish it hadn’t taken so long for Madyun to get on my radar, and I hope scholarship coaches start getting in contact soon because he’s a really dynamic college TE prospect. 2020 Midseason Highlights
Brett Tharaldson (Bemidji) QB. 6′, 180 lbs. @BrettTharaldson – Shows crisp footwork and a nice, high release point who throws a really accurate ball with a lot of zip on it. They always say that accuracy is a non-teachable trait from QBs, and Tharaldson doesn’t look like he needs any help in that department. I really like how he steps up into the pocket as well. He’s forsure a 2021 sleeper of a QB prospect in the state. vs. Sartell vs. Edina vs. Andover vs. Brainerd vs. Alex
Charlie Harris (Apple Valley) OLB. 6’2, 230 lbs. @Harris28Charlie – It’s always fun to watch a 230 lber. cover a kick, and man does Harris put a good stick on the returner when he got there vs. the defending 5A state champion Chaska Hawks to force a fumble. Harris is a massive OLB recruit who moves well for his size and fights off blocks well to find the ball-carrier. Once he gets his hands on you too it’s over. vs. Chaska vs. Jefferson vs. Park
Terry Davis (Eden Prairie) TE/FB/DE. 6’1, 210 lbs. @0newayTerry – The Eden Prairie Eagle TE prospect gets out of his stance quickly and works to the second and third level efficiently to find blocks. He’s got a lot of force once he gets to the point of contact as well. I really like his blocking technique, as he gets his hands inside and uses a good combo of strength and leverage to make sure the would-be tackler hits the turf. He’s also got some great shake as a route-runner for his size, and vs. Prior Lake he absolutely destroyed a DBs ankles near the endzone. He’s an athletic and strong 2021 TE prospect. vs. Prior Lake vs. Shako vs. Edina vs. Wayzata
Jarrod Wisdorf (Farmington) DB/LB. 6’1, 180 lbs. @JarrodWisdorf – Has recorded a couple interceptions already this season and is coming off a Farmington Tiger Defensive Player of the Game award last week.
Mitchell Cummins (Chanhassen) DB/RB. 5’11, 185 lbs. @MitchCummins – A hard-hitting DB prospect who runs the alley well and can play in the box or as a regular two-high safety, Cummins is a patient run-defender who tackles well, can hold the edge, and engages blocks with a free outside shoulder and can work back inside for the tackle. He’s a great athlete at the safety position and has some serious speed from the defensive backfield. Senior Midseason