Minnesota Hog Molly of the Year: The Nominees

We are continuing a trend on the offensive line. We handed out a South Dakota Hog Molly of the Year (to the best Offensive Linemen), and we’ve moved over to the home state of Minnesota. We have 15 nominees, and a decision will be made next Thursday on who the winner is! These are the 15 names that are worthy of our first-ever Minnesota Hog Molly of the Year. The winner will be announced next Thursday at around 7 PM! [player_tooltip player_id="18046" first="Sam" last="Floysand"], Cretin-Derham Hall If I taught the offensive line position to the junior high kids coming up, I would refer them to watch [player_tooltip player_id="18046" first="Sam" last="Floysand"] of CDH on Hudl. Floysand has some of the most fundamentally sound footwork I have seen in Minnesota as an offensive lineman, and that alone should give you enough reason to give him a nomination for this award. Air Force commit. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/video/3/10739909/5dd36c626655af0c2455f978">Junior Tape</a> [player_tooltip player_id="18139" first="Charlie" last="Folkens"], Rogers Folkens is just another one of those linemen that defines a fisher on the offensive line. Charlie does such a nice job at building leverage on the line and has such an excellent shove with his strong legs to drive the defender to the ground. Somehow Folkens is flying well under the radar, getting his first Division II from a Northern Sun program last week. Folkens is certainly an FCS prospect that could be an absolute steal to some program in the Northern Sun. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2EfY5s">Senior Tape</a> [player_tooltip player_id="18218" first="Max" last="Soeth"], Moorhead Soeth might be the biggest "in your face" linemen on this list. Soeth plays a chippy game on the Spuds offensive line, being the man in the middle and the minister upfront for a Spuds defense that was the best program in the state in Class 5A. Concordia-Moorhead got one heck of a commit in the trenches in [player_tooltip player_id="18218" first="Max" last="Soeth"]. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2EgP5b">Senior Tape</a> [player_tooltip player_id="18028" first="Logan" last="Purcell"], Annandale Watching Purcell on the Cardinals offensive line last season was a "man amongst boys" mentality in their section game against Milaca. Purcell is the definition of that with his 6’7 250-pound frame. Purcell on the line certainly just continues to outman defenders and has rock-solid footwork. It will be interesting to see which side of the ball Purcell plays on in a Golden Gophers uniform. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2EhMVW">Senior Tape</a> [player_tooltip player_id="18140" first="Tyler" last="Magnuson"], Wayzata Magnuson will be one of the favorites, and rightfully so because he defines the term the word "mauler." The Syracuse commit is in the driver’s seat on almost every block you see on his senior film. The Trojans' driller was one of PRZ MN’s biggest "we messed up" in on our 2021 rankings, moving a crushing 70+ spots in our most recent 2021 rankings. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2EdUaR">Senior Tape</a> Devin Lockerby, Fairbault (2022) You can bet Lockerby will be highly touted to take home this award next season, but his film doesn’t lie whatsoever for being on this year’s list. Lockerby has an awesome pull-block and very quality mobility with his footwork. A lineman, you can is well on his way to being one of the Class of 2022’s best finisher type blockers in the state of Minnesota. Division I prospect out of Fairbault. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2EeE9T">Junior Tape</a> [player_tooltip player_id="22928" first="Aidan" last="Kingsbury"], Concordia Academy Kingsbury has such a violent punch yet is another fantastic finisher type blocker. The way he mauls threw linemen with his physical power makes him notorious for this list. Kingsbury's versatility to get a quick first punch as well as being able to drive a man upfield using his great 6'5 265-pound frame did wonders for the Beacons OL in 2020. One of only two school hog mollies on this list. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2CUbyW">Junior Tape </a> [player_tooltip player_id="18086" first="Eli" last="Olson"], Mankato East Do you want some pancakes? Olson had plenty in the Cougars’ 2020 shortened season. His attacking ability to drive a player to the ground from multiple angles is what I like so much about Olson. Olson also does a great job at knocking out defenders at the first level, plowing plenty of legroom for his running backs. Olson is a UMD commit, as the Bulldogs put together quite the fantastic 2021 class coming to Duluth. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/video/3/9425918/5da8f4520c53540cb4809a20">Senior Tape</a> Shea Albrecht, Orono A running back behind Albrecht is the safest man on earth, but if you are a defender on the other side of him, not so much. Albrecht is so forceful on both sides of the football it’s almost inhuman. His ability to finish blocks is textbook, and the fact that this kid has just ONE Division I offer locally is absolutely mind-blowing after an impressive 2020 season. Albrecht is a Division I talent, no questions asked. Senior Tape Read Oliver’s <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2019/10/recruiting-report-shea-albrecht-2021/">Recruiting Report</a> on Albrecht Ethan Fischer, Maple River (2022) Southern Minnesota’s best-kept secret. Fischer defines the man against boys mentality as standing at a massive 6’8 270 pounds. Fischer is like the big truck pushing the Prius as most of the defenses he goes up against; no guy can hang with him. Fischer will have a strong shot at this award next year. Fischer will need to develop a little bit more of a punch this offseason. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2DiTYA">Sophomore Tape</a> [player_tooltip player_id="18099" first="Everett" last="Sunvold"], St. Michael-Albertville Sunvold was a kid I had in mind for this award long before I knew we’d be handing out a Hog Molly of the Year. Sunvold is so solid at engaging with the defense at all costs. Not a kid that is afraid to get more than one punch in on a play sometimes can field multiple punches repeatedly. Sunvold was huge in [player_tooltip player_id="23686" first="David" last="Collins"] and his strong year at running back. Sunvold is one that would be an FCS talent in a normal year but has tons of options in the Northern Sun. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2CDJmX">Junior Tape</a> Check out my <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2019/10/recruiting-player-profile-everett-sunvold-stma-2021/">recruiting report</a> on Sunvold from last season. [player_tooltip player_id="18025" first="Riley" last="Mahlman"], Lakeville South Mahlman is one of the most versatile linemen you are going to ever see in Minnesota. Prep Redzone MN’s #1 2021 prospect is not one block, and he’s done kind of linemen; Mahlman tries to knock down multiple players on a play like bowling pins going down at the bowling alley. Mahlman also has been used as just the biggest blocking tight end you may ever see. Really excited to see how well Mahlman does at Wisconsin! <a href="http://www.hudl.com/video/3/9929633/5dd68f7432e6d40c184b7de1">Junior Tape</a> [player_tooltip player_id="18420" first="Lucas" last="Heyer"], Hill-Murray (2022) I usually prefer to give these awards to a senior, but rolling back Heyer’s 2020 season, you have to say that he puts himself in the running for this award as just a junior with another year left. Heyer is one of the most forceful linemen I have ever watched on tape and packs one of the quickest punches. Heyer goes into every play not trying to "just block a guy" but to destroy them off the line. What else do I like about Heyer? He’s an asset on both sides of the line and is just as explosive on the defensive line. [player_tooltip player_id="18061" first="Gerrit" last="Poncius"], Buffalo Poncius is the best engager on this list, and there’s not much argument. At 6’7 275 pounds, Poncius does a great job at driving the bus upfront for the Bison. The South Dakota commit takes defenders on a crash course as far away from his QB1 as possible. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2EWxDr">Senior Tape</a> [player_tooltip player_id="18041" first="Jake" last="Raines"], Woodbury Raines is the other big physical center on this first list of nominees. Raines plays with a strong grit and is one that will drive a player 10 yards upfield and get a well-earned pancake out of it. Raines came into the year very underrecruited but will be another stout offensive lineman for the UMD Bulldogs 2021 class, which might I say for the hog mollies, is one of the best classes in the Northern Sun. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2EhZxZ">Senior Tape</a> SECOND TEAM [player_tooltip player_id="18215" first="Rogan" last="Lilienthal"], Mayer Lutheran <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2EgLnN">Senior Tape</a> [player_tooltip player_id="18084" first="Forrest" last="Scheel"], Eden Prairie <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2EWxDr">Senior Tape</a> [player_tooltip player_id="18077" first="Alec" last="Rasmussen"], Wayzata Rasmussen does one of the best jobs on this list of knocking guys around regardless of their height level. Rasmussen has an excellent drive in his feet and a huge frame. Rasmussen will need to work on his foot speed at St. Thomas, in which I think he will be a fine player for the Tommies that will start plenty of games. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2EXezg">Week 1-4 Tape</a>