Small Towns, Big Awards: 2021 MN Small School Sleepers

Something that we at <em>PrepRedzoneMN </em>have always strived to accomplish, and still need to get better at, is being inclusive and bringing exposure to outstate and non-Metro Minnesota prep recruits. Although I am satisfied with our coverage of players from all around the state and our focus on prospects and programs from 6A to 9Man, there is definitely room for improvement and this year some really incredible football players unfortunately fell under our radar.  A lot of these guys had fantastic seasons and put up crazy statlines in this abbreviated 2020 season, and with recruitment exposure harder to come by for outstate prospects I wanted to consolidate a list of some small school Minnesota seniors who took home some serious hardware and awards from this season. Additionally, a lot of these guys are still uncommitted to play college football, so I hope some coaches reading this feature hit some of these guys up. Also, I hope everyone has had a Merry Christmas and a safe Holiday season. Thank you for reading! <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="18028" first="Logan" last="Purcell"] </strong><em>(Annandale) </em>OT/DE. 6’7, 250 lbs. Committed to the University of Minnesota. Was named to the <em>Kare11 </em>and <em>Startribune </em>Preseason All-Metro Teams, <em>Kare11 </em>All-Metro Offensive Team, <em>StarTribune </em>All-Metro Offense, AP First Team All-State. Population of Anndandale, Minnesota: 3,395 <strong>Joshua Streit </strong><em>(Eden Valley-Watkins) </em>TE/DE. 6’7, 210 lbs. Was named to the 2020 Vikings All-State Team. Holds a football offer from South Dakota State and basketball offers from Northern State, St. Cloud State, Cal-Poly, North Dakota State, Denver, St. Thomas. Received a recruiting graphic from Iowa State. Population of Eden Valley, Minnesota: 1,036. Population of Watkins: 935 <strong>Adam Tonsfeldt </strong><em>(Barnesville) </em>ATH. 5’8, 160 lbs. @Adam72517857 Named to the Vikings All-State Team, a Mr. Football Finalist, AP Second Team All-State. Offered by Concordia-Moorhead. Population of Barnesville: 2,603 <strong>Camden Dicke </strong><em>(Cannon Falls) </em>DB. 6’5, 220 lbs. Named All-District, <em>PostBulletin </em>All-Area First Team 2020. Recorded 27 tackles, 3 interceptions and 8 catches for 129 yards and 2 TDs. A kid I need to learn a lot more about and am mad I didn’t have on my radar. Yes, you read that right, he’s 6’5, 220 playing DB and WR. Someone give this man a scholarship!! Population of Cannon Falls: 4,065 <strong>Michael Stenhibel </strong><em>(Cannon Falls) </em>OL. 5’11, 240 lbs. Named All-District, <em>PostBulletin </em>All-Area First Team 2020. Population of Cannon Falls: 4,065 <strong>Riley Miller </strong><em>(Cannon Falls) </em>LB. 6’, 190 lbs. Named All-District, <em>PostBulletin </em>All-Area Second Team Defense, District Defensive MVP. Led team in tacklers with 49 and also put up 462 rushing yards and 6 TDs. Population of Cannon Falls: 4,065 <strong>Marcus Banks </strong><em>(Cannon Falls) </em>RB. 6’2, 195 lbs. Named All-District, <em>PostBulletin </em>All-Area Second Team Defense, District MVP. Posted 597 rushing yards and 12 TDs on 7.8 YPC. Also recorded 39 tackles and 3 receiving TDs and 3 FFs. Population of Cannon Falls: 4,065 <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="18047" first="Gavin" last="Wysong"] </strong><em>(Hills-Beaver Creek) </em>ATH. 5’9, 185 lbs. Named to the Minnesota Vikings All-State Team, MN 9-man All-State Team. Offered by Mayville St, UW-River Falls, Trine, Concordia-Moorhead, Hamline, and receiving recruiting graphics from almost half a dozen NSIC schools and Morningside. Population of Hills: 658. Population of Beaver Creek: 284 <strong>Cameron Anderson </strong><em>(Blue Earth) </em>WR/DB. 6’2, 170 lbs. @cameron0218 Named to the Minnesota Vikings All-State, Mr. Football Finalist, AP Second Team All-State. Holds a PWO from South Dakota. Also offered by Southwest Minnesota State, Bemidji State. Population of Blue Earth: 3,133 <strong>Zach Burns </strong><em>(Morris Area/Chokio-Alberta) </em>ATH. 5’11, 170 lbs. Named to the Minnesota Vikings All-State Team. Population of Morris: 5,351. Population of Chokio: 383. Population of Alberta: 97 <strong>Mitchell Fiebiger </strong><em>(Blooming Prairie) </em>LB. 6’1, 210 lbs. @mitchel94802035 Named to the Minnesota Vikings All-State Team, <em>PostBulletin </em>All-Area 2020 Team, 3x All-District. In 2020 posted 61 tackles, 5 TFLs, 3 sacks, and 29 catches for 581 yards and 9 TDs in 5 games. Population of Blooming Prairie: 1,960 <strong>Michael Leidenfrost </strong><em>(Pierz) </em>RB. Named to the Minnesota Vikings All-State Team, <em>BrainerdDispatch </em>All-Area First Team, All-District, District DB MVP. Rushed 166 times for 841 yards and 13 TDs. Also caught 19 receptions for 196 yards and 2 TDs and 72 tackles, 2 PBUs, 1 INT, 1 FF, and 2 KOR TDs. Population of Pierz: 1,367 <strong>Bode Magnuson </strong><em>(Pequot Lakes) </em>WR. 5’10, 160 lbs. @BodeMags6 - Named to the Minnesota Vikings All-State Team, <em>BrainerdDispatch </em>All-Area First Team. Threw 90-171 for 975 yards and 11 TDs + 102 rushes for 571 yards and 4 TDs. Population of Pequot Lakes: 2,309 <strong>Carter Sjoblad </strong><em>(Pequot Lakes) </em>RB/DB. Named <em>BrainerdDispatch </em>All-Area, All-District, District DB MVP. Rushed 72 times for 330 yards plus 28 tackles, 5 INT. Population of Pequot Lakes: 2,309 <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="22926" first="Jaden" last="Norby"] </strong><em>(West Central Area/Ashby) </em>ATH. 6’4, 230 lbs. Committed to North Dakota. Named to the Minnesota Vikings All-State Team. Population of Ashby: 444 <strong>Nolan Rueter </strong><em>(Albany) </em>RB/LB. 6’2, 185 lbs. @nolanrueter1 Named to the Minnesota Vikings All-State Team. Population of Albany: 2,734 <strong>Colton Halverson </strong><em>(Houston) </em>OT. 6’3, 285 lbs. Named All-District, <em>WinonaDailyNews </em>All-Area 2020. Population of Houston: 966 <strong>Zander Rusert </strong><em>(Cotter) </em>DL/OL. Named All-District and <em>WinonaDailyNews </em>All-Area 2020. Totaled 29 tackles, 7 TFL, 4 sacks in 5 games this fall. <strong>Ben Weiser </strong><em>(Rushford Peterson) </em>OC/NG. 6’5, 320 lbs. Named All-District, <em>WinonaDailyNews </em>All-Area 2020, <em>PostBulletin </em>All-Area Second Team Offense. Population of Rushford: 1,705. Population of Peterson: 197 <strong>Austin Rasley </strong><em>(Deer River) </em>RB. Named AP Second Team All-State, <em>DuluthNewsTribune </em>All-Area First Team Offense, All-District. Rushed 174 times for 1,325 yards and 19 TDs. Rushed for 358 yards in one game in 2020. Finished career with 3,225 rushing yards, 39 TDs, and 11 interceptions. Population of Deer River: 934 <strong>Jake Klancher </strong><em>(Crosby-Ironton) </em>LB. @jklancher24 - Named AP Second Team All-State, <em>BrainerdDispatch </em>All-Area First Team, All-District. Posted 105 tackles, 8 TFL, 2 PBUs, 1 FF.Population of Crosby: 2,341. Population of Ironton: 561 <strong>Alec Churness </strong><em>(Two Harbors) </em>LB. @alecchurness - Named AP Second Team All-State. Population of Two Harbors: 3,546 <strong>Bodin Mayer </strong><em>(Lanesboro) </em>OL/DL. 6’3, 240 lbs. Named to the MN 9-Man All-State Team, Second Team <em>PostBulletin </em>All-Area Defense. All-District, lead district in sacks. Population of Lanesboro: 754 <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="22930" first="Preston" last="Rohloff"] </strong><em>(Hancock) </em>QB. 6’2, 190 lbs. @Preston3Rohloff - Named to the MN 9-Man All-State Team. Population of Hancock: 738 <strong>Gavin Walker </strong><em>(Win-E-Mac) </em>QB. 6’2, 195 lbs. Named to the MN 9-Man All-State Team. Population of Erskine: 479. Population of Winger: 224. Population of McIntosh: 610. Population of Mentor: 147 <strong>Jaden Finck </strong><em>(Verndale) </em>DL. 6’3, 210 lbs. Named to the MN 9-Man All-State Team, <em>BrainerdDispatch </em>All-Area First Team. Recorded 52 tackles and 8 TFLs. Population of Verndale: 576 <strong>Ben Kraft </strong><em>(Grand Meadow) </em>DL. 6’2, 200 lbs. Named to the MN 9-Man All-State Team, <em>PostBulletin </em>Second Team Defense. Totaled 50 tackles and 6 sacks this past season.Population of Grand Meadow: 1,176 <strong>Cameron Sneed </strong><em>(Grand Meadow) </em>DT/OL. 5’11, 200 lbs. Named a 2x MN 9-Man All-State Team Selection and a <em>PostBulletin </em>First Team All-Area pick. Population of Grand Meadow: 1,176 <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="18223" first="Gavin" last="Johnson"] </strong><em>(Mabel-Canton) </em>DL. 6’3, 205 lbs. Named to the MN 9-Man All-State Team. Population of Mabel: 755. Population of Canton: 346 <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="24439" first="Jaden" last="Kolker"] </strong><em>(Renville County West) </em>LB. 5’11, 210 lbs. @JadenKolker -Has been offered by Concordia-Moorhead, St. John’s, Waldorf, UW-River Falls. Named to the MN 9-Man All-State Team, 2x <em>WestCentralTribune </em>All-Area 2020. Population of Renville: 1,189 <strong>Drew Dean </strong><em>(McGregor) </em>LB. 5’9, 180 lbs. Named to the MN 9-Man All-State Team. Population of McGregor: 366 <strong>Riley Ashburn </strong><em>(Renville County West) </em>DB/WR. 6’4, 190 lbs. @RileyAshburn15 - Holds offers from UW-River Falls and Concordia-Moorhead. Named to the MN 9-Man All-State Team, <em>WestCentralTribune </em>All-Area Honorable Mention, All-District. Posted 20 receptions for 429 yards and 7 TDs, 30 tackles, 2 INTs. Population of Renville: 1,189 <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="18110" first="Casey" last="Schultz"] </strong><em>(Caledonia) </em>LB. 6’4, 230 lbs. Committed to the University of North Dakota. Named All-District, District Defensive Player of the Year, <em>PostBulletin </em>All-Area 2020, <em>LaCrosseTribune </em>All-Area. Population of Caledonia: 1,657 <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="18181" first="Austin" last="Klug"] </strong><em>(Caledonia) </em>WR. 6’4, 190 lbs. @AustinKlug11 - Named to the <em>LaCrosseTribune </em>All-Area 2020 team, <em>PostBulletin </em>All-Area Second Team Offense. Population of Caledonia: 1,657 <strong>Brendan Kennedy </strong><em>(Southland) </em>LB. 5’9, 195 lbs. Named to the <em>PostBulletin </em>All-Area First Team, All-District, District Defensive MVP. Posted 60 tackles, 10 TFLs, and 266 rushing yards and 5 TDs in 4 games. Population of Adams: 793 <strong>Christian Tentis </strong><em>(Plainview-Elgin-Millville) </em>OL. 5’10, 200 lbs. Named to the <em>PostBulletin </em>All-Area First Team, All-District. Population of Plainview: 3,300. Population of Elgin: 1,085. Population of Millville: 179. <strong>Carter Quam </strong><em>(Kenyon-Wanamingo) </em>OL. 6’3, 220 lbs. @c10quam - Named to the <em>PostBulletin </em>All-Area First Team, 2x All-District, 3x Lineman of the Year. Also a 3-year starter. Population of Kenyon: 1,806. Population of Wanamingo: 1,080 <strong>Austin Koenigs </strong><em>(Chatfield) </em>OL. 6’1, 200 lbs. Named to the <em>PostBulletin </em>All-Area First Team, 2x All-District, All-Conference. Population of Chatfield: 2,805 <strong>Dylan Ehmke </strong><em>(Hayfield) </em>OL. 5’8, 210 lbs. Named to the <em>PostBulletin </em>All-Area First Team, 3x All-District, Co-District Lineman MVP. Allowed 0 sacks in 159 dropbacks in 2020. On defense tallied 58 tackles, 8 TFL, 5 sack, 1 FF. Popultion of Hayfield: 1,330 <strong>Caden Grinde</strong> <em>(Spring Grove) </em>LB. 6’4, 170 lbs. @mambacg5 - Committed to Upper Iowa to play basketball. Named to the <em>PostBulletin </em>All-Area Second Team Defense, All-District, Team MVP. In 2020 recorded 125 tackles and 41 catches for 419 yards and 3 TDs. Population of Spring Grove: 1,272 <strong>Conner Schumacher </strong><em>(Plainview-Elgin-Millville) </em>DB. 6’1, 175 lbs. @cmschumacher13 - Named to the <em>PostBulletin </em>All-Area Second Team Defense. Posted 37 takles, 7 PBUs, 1 INT and 1,072 passing yards and 9 TDs + 7 rushing TDs. Population of Plainview: 3,300. Population of Elgin: 1,085. Population of Millville: 179. <strong>Connor Bushbaum </strong><em>(South Ridge) </em>RB. 5’9, 160 lbs. @conbushy - Named to the MN 9-Man All-State team, <em>DuluthNewsTribune </em>All-Area First Team Offense, All-District, District Offensive Player of the Year, Area Player of the Year. In 2020 posted 141 rushes for 1,503 yards and 16 TDs with a single game best of 347 rushing yards vs. <em>Silver Bay. </em>Population of South Ridge: Unincorporated <strong>Deekon Anvid </strong><em>(South Ridge) </em>DE. Named <em>DuluthNewsTribune </em>All-Area First Team Defense, District Defensive Player of the Year, All-District. Posted 54 tackles, 8 TFL, 2.5 sacks. Population of South Ridge: Unincorporated <strong>Eli Schlangen </strong><em>(Two Harbors) </em>DB. 6’1, 170 lbs. @schlanger_22 - Offered by the University of Jamestown, Valley City State, UW-Eau Claire, Gustavus, St. Scholastica, St. Olaf, UW-River Falls. Named All-District, <em>DuluthNewsTribune </em>All-Area First Team Defense. Posted 55 tackles, 5 interceptions, 807 rushing yards and 11 TDs. <strong>Gavin Skelton </strong><em>(Mesabi East) </em>LB. @gskelton_9 - Committed to University of Minnesota-Duluth. Named 2x <em>DuluthNewsTribune </em>All-Area First Team Defense, 2x All-District. 4-year starter, 3-year tackle leader. In 2020 posted 89 tackles, 7 TFLs, 4 FF, 2 INT. Population of Aurora: 1,636 <strong>Riley Larson </strong><em>(International Falls) </em>LB. Named <em>DuluthNewsTribune </em>All-Area First Team Defense, All-District. Posted 68 tackles, 10.5 TFL, 3 sacks, 3 interceptions. Population of International Falls: 5,930 <strong>Alex Benkvsky </strong><em>(Mountain Iron-Buhl) </em>OL. Named <em>DuluthNewsTribune </em>All-Area First Team Offense, All-District. Only allowed 1 sack all season. On defense posted 38 tackles, 3 TFL, 1.5 sack, 4 FF. Population of Mountain Iron: 2,845. Population of Buhl: 979 <strong>Micah Hamson </strong><em>(United South Central) </em>5’10, 165 lbs. Named <em>AlbertLeaTribune </em>All-Area First Team Offense. Recorded 75 tackles. Population of Wells: 2,187 <strong>Ethan Greenfield </strong><em>(Alden-Conger/Glenville-Emmons) </em>FB/LB. Named <em>AlbertLeaTribune </em>All-Area First Team, All-District. Posted 38 rushes for 200 yards and 46 tackles and 3 sacks. Population of Alden: 643. Population of Conger: 145. Population of Glenville: 625. Population of Emmons: 381. <strong>Tim Peppel </strong><em>(BOLD) </em>FB/HB/DT. 6’ 235 lbs. Named <em>WestCentralTribune </em>All-Area First Team, All-District, District RB MVP. Tallied 111 carries for 832 yards and 10 TDs and 33 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 1 FF. Population of Olivia: 2,347 <strong>Drew Sagedahl </strong><em>(BOLD) </em>ATH. 6’1, 180 lbs. Named <em>WestCentralTribune </em>All-Area First Team, District DB MVP, All-District. Passed for 61-120 for 603 yards and 6 TDs. Also caught 4 TD passes, 4 INTs, 303 rushing yards and 6 TDs. Population of Olivia: 2,347 <strong>Josh Dykhoff </strong><em>(Wadena-Deer Creek) </em>WR/LB. Named <em>BrainerdDispatch </em>All-Area 2020, All-District. Made 26 receptions for 410 yards and 8 TDs plus 22 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 INT, 1 FF. Population of Wadena: 4,094. Population of Deer Creek: 321