Top Ranked Football Players/Wrestlers Going into Winter

If you take football out of the equation the sport I have invested the most time and energy into would be wrestling. Although my wrestling career began in high school and I was average at best during my four year career, the physicality and toughness of the sport really drew me and the feeling of getting your hand raised kept me in it. It also made me a better football player and helped my tackling tremendously, and after noticing the benefits I challenged myself and completed the J Robinson 28 Day Intensive Camp at the University of Minnesota much to the dismay of my poor mother. It’s still one of my greatest accomplishments, and helped me that Fall as I captained the best Southwest Lakers football in history. The lessons I learned from wrestling in high school have stuck with me to this day, and I’ve always been observant of the two-sport football/wrestlers that I see balling out on the gridiron or wrestling mat year to year. The two sports go hand in hand, and I’m also keen to finding potential college football recruits that wrestle in my job here with PrepRedzone. Last wrestling season was a great one for MN prep football players/wrestlers, as we saw two-sport stars such as [player_tooltip player_id="3523" first="Craig" last="Orlando"] (Bertha-Hewitt-Verndale-Parkers Prairie), Payton Anderson (Fairmont), Kolin Baier (Mankato East), [player_tooltip player_id="19002" first="Max" last="McEnelly"] (Waconia), [player_tooltip player_id="18042" first="RJ" last="Chakolis"] (Hopkins), [player_tooltip player_id="10966" first="Isaiah" last="Green"] (Saint Cloud Tech), and [player_tooltip player_id="10972" first="Bennett" last="Weber"] (Waconia) were all named State Champions at their respective weight classes. 2021 has the makings to be another year filled with MN prep football players dominating on the wrestling mat, and tracking and finding these athletes is made much easier by the hard-working writers and wrestling fans at The Guillotine, who released their 2020-21 Preseason Rankings this past November. After checking out the rankings, I found a few weight classes LOADED with duel-sport studs across Class A, AA, and AAA that I wanted to share with our readers. Check out which wrestlers and weight classes you need to keep your eye on this Winter, and stay tuned for upcoming articles featuring more wrestlers/football players this Winter. Thanks for reading! Class A: 220 Pounds 2. Shane Noyes (Canby) Only has film updated from 2019-20 season. Finished 3rd in 220A in 2020 state individual championships and won the 3rd place match over the man ranked a spot below him. 3. [player_tooltip player_id="18114" first="Daniel" last="Erlandson"] (Breckenridge) FB/LB. 6’. Committed to the University of Jamestown to play college football. Finished 4th in the 2020 state tournament. 5. Carter Quam (Kenyon-Wanamingo) MLB/DE. 6’4, 220. 2x All-District, Team Defensive MVP as a junior. Junior film shows a high-motor and strong tackler with a great frame. Efficient off the edge. as well. He won in the consolation semifinal round last state tournament. This season on the gridiron he was named to the PostBulletin All-Area team. 3x team lineman of the year. 8. Zachary Howard (Red Lake County Central) Huge kid with some really impressive plays in his junior game film - including a particularly impressive game vs. Mahnomen-Waubun that showed off some really exciting speed when he tracked down a RB on a long run and looked great for his size, and a massive hit on an interception return after his QB threw a pick. Lot to like from my perspective. Class A: 285 Pounds 1. Cian Buehler (Ottertail Central/Battle Lake) OL. 6’2, 270 lbs. Finished 3rd in the state last season at 285A. Has a ton of pop off the snap as a OG with great hand placement and an obvious understanding of leverage from the wrestling background. Dominant run blocker. 2. Jakob Swalla (Minnewaska Area) Played RG as a junior for Minnewaska and was just a mauler on the OL. There were more than a few different plays where he basically played completely through the whistle to pile drive a guy into the grass. Powerful hands and really aggressive offensive lineman. 4. Tim Peppel (BOLD) FB/HB/DT. 6’, 235 lbs. Named to the WestCentralTribune 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. I really really wish he had updated senior highlights. 5. Jaden Finck (Verndale) 6’3. Named to the MN 9-Man All-State team, BrainerdDispatch All-Area First Team. Class AA: 182 Pounds 2. [player_tooltip player_id="18125" first="Caden" last="Dewall"] (Becker) LB. Placed 3rd in the state last season at 170AA and went 40-2. Part of a tremendous Becker Bulldog LB corps that included NDSU signee [player_tooltip player_id="18049" first="Brayden" last="Weber"] as well as the Halvorson boys of Tommy and Teddy. Has his senior football film updated showed some versatility as he played some RB and HB as well and made plays at every position. As a LB he does a tremendous job of fighting through or off blocks and is a strong and technically sound tackler. Heckuva athlete. 4. [player_tooltip player_id="23721" first="David" last="Wilfert"] (Orono) LB. 5’11. Has senior game film updated and shows a LB with active feet who is stoutly built and a strong tackler (although he tackles a little high). Also played some HB and was a hard-nosed blocker who could potentially play some FB in college. 5. [player_tooltip player_id="18130" first="Grant" last="Louwagie"] (Marshall) LB. Committed to Southwest Minnesota State to play college football. Was ranked throughout the season last year. 6. [player_tooltip player_id="18102" first="Wyatt" last="Block"] (Mankato West) LB. Committed to Northern State University. 2x All-City and 2x All-Conference as well. 8. Cole Ranweiler (New Ulm) RB. 5’10. Was a prolific RB this season that busted out a 85-yard TD run vs. Sibley East and a 50-yard TD run vs. St. Peter. Strong runner with good speed at the top end. 9. Will O’Brien (Dassel-Cokato) 10. Lance Munsterteiger (Mound-Westonka) DL. Played a ton of different positions for the White Hawks. Class AA: 220 Pounds 2. [player_tooltip player_id="18085" first="Josh" last="Franklin"] (Fridley) DL. Placed 3rd in the state last season at 195AA with a record of 36-3. Had a prolific 2020 fall football season that saw him earn First Team All-Metro and First Team All-State honors. He recorded 32 tackles, 16 TFL, 5.5 sacks, 1 FF. He’s got offers from Mayville State, St. John’s University, Hamline, Augsburg. 3. [player_tooltip player_id="18040" first="Garrison" last="Solliday"] (St. Thomas Academy) DL. Placed 3rd in the state last season at 220AA with a record of 18-3. The most accomplished football player on the list, he’s a Mr. Football Finalist, an East Metro Football POTY Finalist, PrepRedzone Preseason 5A Defensive Player of the Year, 2x All-Metro, and 2x All-State. One of the hardest hitters in the state and a versatile and dynamic DL/LB. 4. [player_tooltip player_id="18049" first="Brayden" last="Weber"] (Becker) LB. Placed 6th in the state at 220AA last season. Committed to the North Dakota State Bison. 9. Tanner Grangruth (Mora) Has some updated senior game film and is a physical and downhill LB who was also laid some big hits as a FB and on kickoff coverage. Class AA: 285 Pounds 2. Nick McKenzie (New London-Spicer) DL. Finished 4th in the state last year at 220AA with a record of 42-7. Has updated senior game film and is a really impressive athlete for his size. As a two way lineman he’s really mobile and has tremendous range for his size and can get after ball-carriers all over the field. I really like his DL film, he made some incredibly disruptive plays off the snap and is a thunderous tackler and blocker. Someone would be getting a STEAL with McKenzie. <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/11572178/5faea01a15f5f00a8c4427f8">vs. Zimmerman</a><a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/11572178/5faeb843b022c70218437db0">vs. ACGC</a> 3. Kessler Kenning (Annandale) DL. <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/11578361/5fa6abda0661610ba044c629">2020 vs. Glencoe-Silver Lake</a> 4. Anthony Moe-Tucker (Kasson-Mantorville) DL. 2022. Finished 6th in the state as an undersized heavyweight sophomore at 285AA last season. Came to our PrepRedzoneWI Showcase earlier in December and balled out as a RB who had loose hips and light feet for a kid of his size. Really strong and sturdy frame who can play a ton of different positions on the football field. Talented athlete overall. 5. Andreas Barnett (Detroit Lakes) DL. 6’5, 300 lbs. Moves pretty well for his size and is a powerful two-way player for the Lakers. <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/11366046/5f9fef2bf327b503781f8b0a">TFL vs. Perham</a> 6. Elijah Novak (Foley) DL. 6’2. 2022. <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/8333122/5fcfcc3119a5bd004c3310ce">vs. St. Cloud Cathedral</a> <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/8333122/5fd00139b535220444d21ca6">vs. Albany</a> 7. [player_tooltip player_id="18105" first="Rieley" last="Fleming"] (Mankato East) DL. 6’1. Got to watch Fleming live this season as I watched Mankato East take on Mankato West, and he was all over the field from both the OL and DL. His senior tape displays a thick DL with a good jump off the LOS and an ability to eat up double teams and strong hands that make him really hard to block 1 on 1 for an opposing OL. 8. [player_tooltip player_id="18082" first="Shea" last="Albrecht"] (Orono) OL/DL. 6’4. Made it deep into the state tournament but unfortunately did not place. Has had a heckuva senior football season that included him being named our inaugural PrepRedzoneMN Offensive Lineman "Hog Molly" Award, a Mr. Football Finalist, All-Metro Second Team, All-State Second Team, District Lineman of the Year. Holds offers from MSU-Mankato, UMary, Northern State, Bemidji State, Missouri Western State, Wayne State College, University of St. Thomas. Receiving recruiting contact from Fresno State, Texas Tech, Wyoming. 9. Brody Ash (Milaca) OL/DL. 6’4. Has an updated senior game film vs. Little Falls and showed off a nice pancake. Class AAA: 182 Pounds 2. [player_tooltip player_id="19002" first="Max" last="McEnelly"] (Waconia) RB/LB. Was the 170AAA State Champion last season with a record of 54-1. Explosive playmaker on both sides of the ball with a ton of lower body strength who absolutely a Top-3 talent in the state of Minnesota for 2023. 2x All-District and 2020 District Offensive MVP. 3. [player_tooltip player_id="49843" first="Jacob" last="Meissner"] (Providence Academy) RB. 2022. Wrestles for Osseo and finished 4th in the state at 170AAA last season. Big time sleeper prospect in the state for the 2022 class. He’s an impressive combo of speed and power as a RB and is physical at the point of contact. Also a really explosive tackler as a LB and showed off a sweet hurdle vs. MPLS North. 9. Matt Seykora (Owatonna) OLB. Committed to play baseball at Southwest Minnesota State University. Accomplished three-sport athlete. 10. Tommy Pederson (Eden Prairie) LB. 2023. Played some JV ball for Eden Prairie last season but is no doubt a name to watch going forward on both the gridiron and the wrestling mat. Class AAA: 195 Pounds 1. [player_tooltip player_id="18042" first="RJ" last="Chakolis"] (Hopkins) LB. Was the state champ at 195AAA last season with a record of 38-4. Named All-Metro and AP First Team All-State. He holds FCS offers from Valparaiso and St. Thomas and a DII scholarship opportunity from UMary. His recruitment is still open, and the LB/RB made some big-time plays for the Royals this past Fall and busted out big runs, long passes, and hard hits. He's a sure tackler with a ton of power in his frame. 5. [player_tooltip player_id="18126" first="Parker" last="Venz"] (Farmington) LB. Placed 4th at 182AAA last Winter. Parker is the brother of Nebraska Cornhusker All-American 184 lber. Taylor Venz and is an accomplished wrestler in his own right. He's also a powerful LB who meets RBs in the hole with force. 7. [player_tooltip player_id="18071" first="Nick" last="Flaskamp"] (MPLS Southwest) LB/RB. 3x state tournament qualifier on the wrestling mat. Is coming off a tremendous 2020 Fall season that saw him named a Mr. Football Finalist, First Team All-State, First Team All-Metro, and more. Led the state in tackles with 93 through the regular season and rushed for over 1,000 yards as a RB. Committed to the University of St. Thomas to play football. 9. Colton Hinrichs (Bemidji) DL. State wrestling qualifier. All-District, District Defensive MVP in 2020. Committed to Bemidji State University to play football. Class AAA: 220 Pounds 2. [player_tooltip player_id="18129" first="Jagger" last="Schack"] (Osseo) OL/DL. Finished 4th in the state at 220AAA last year. Doesn't have senior film updated unfortunately. 4. Quinn Sell (Minnetonka) OL/DL. Doesn't have any current film updated. 7. [player_tooltip player_id="23706" first="Cameron" last="Miller"] (Prior Lake) DL. 6'2. Committed to Minnesota-Duluth to play football. 8. [player_tooltip player_id="18121" first="Sam" last="Mcenelly"] (Waconia) FB/LB. Committed to Winona State University to play football. Named All-District. Class AAA: 285 Pounds 1. [player_tooltip player_id="18053" first="Gavin" last="Layton"] (Coon Rapids) OL. Finished as the 285AAA runner-up last year with a record of 51-1. Just heard the news today that the dynamic athlete committed to Augsburg University to wrestle in college. Hopefully he'll play some football as well! 2. Vincent Gladbach (MPLS Washburn) OL. Finished 6th last season at 285AAA with a record of 33-9. Only has film updated from the 2019 season. 3. Jade Trelstad (Shakopee) DL. 2022. Named 2020 All-District HM this past Fall. His junior highlights showcase an offensive lineman who can move and block in space, plays with a low center of gravity, and has a good amount of pop in his punch. 5. Tyler Nebelung (Anoka) OL. 6'5. Made it deep into the state tournament last Winter but did not place. Committed to Southwest Minnesota State to play football. 7. Zander Rusert (Cotter) DL. Wrestles for Winona. Named to the WinonaDailyNews All-Area 2020 Team as well as All-District. 8. Nick Lopez (Northfield) RT/DT. Comes off with the ball with some force and is a good finisher as a blocker and a really disruptive defensive lineman. Uses his hands well and is an athletic big man who flies around and plays through the whistle. Could play OL or DL in college. 9. Xavier Powers (Blaine) OL/DL. 6'2. Bruising offensive guard who is light on his feet and uses good hand placement. Great frame to play OG in college. 10. Kellen Stewart (Eastview) OL/DL. Only has film updated to 2019 season.