Minnesota’s Top Football/Basketball Players: 2021

Happy New Years, everybody! I hope you guys all had a safe and wonderful holiday season. We are currently still updating rankings, so in the mean time I wanted to dive back into some big features for PrepRedzoneMN and start things off by letting our readers know who some of the best duel-sport football players/hoopers are going into the new year. Using our awesome and comprehensive sister site PrepHoopsMN and their Top 300 Rankings for the class of 2021. The ’21 class in Minnesota is loaded more so than most years with talented preps that excel on both the gridiron as well as the hardwood, and below you will find out where some of the most distinguished Minnesotans are ranked on the basketball court on the PrepHoops site, as well as a little bit about their senior season playing football. Thanks for reading! 2. Will Tschetter (Stewartville) QB. 6’9. Committed to Michigan to play basketball. Has played quarterback for the Stewartville Tigers the past few years and capped things off this past Fall as he went 64-85 for 642 yards and 8 TDs in 4 games. Also rushed 17 times for 87 yards and a TD. He unfortunately does not have his senior football season updated on Hudl. 7. [player_tooltip player_id="22927" first="Davon" last="Townley"] (MPLS North) DE. 6’6, 245 lbs. Holds an offer to play both football and basketball for Tennessee. Also holds football offers from Ole Miss, Oregon, Kentucky, Michigan State, Arizona, Arizona State, Nebraska, Boston College, Indiana, Mizzou, Minnesota, Iowa State, Central Michigan. Holds basketball offers from Hampton, Western Illinois, Morgan State. From what I’ve heard he is going to play football in college and the recent favorite to earn his talents seems to be the Arizona State Sun Devils. The Gophers used to be the favorite, but something in Arizona on Herm Edwards staff must have peaked his interest. He’s a big name to keep an eye on. 8. Joshua Streit (Eden Valley-Watkins) WR/TE. 6’7. Holds a South Dakota State offer for football and received a recruiting graphic from Iowa State. Holds basketball offers from St. Thomas, Denver, North Dakota State, Cal-Poly, Saint Cloud State, Northern State. Was a matchup nightmare this past Fall and showed himself to be a deep threat as well as a redzone asset who had no problem displaying his physicality as a DE and blocking TE. He’s got phenomenal ball-skills and high points the football better than anyone in the state. I really hope he plays football in college. 12. [player_tooltip player_id="18098" first="Reid" last="Patterson"] (Lakeville South) QB/DB. 6’2. Committed to play basketball at Concordia-St. Paul. Named All-Metro and First Team All-State as a DB. Also played some QB for the Cougars situationally. Was a hard-hitter and efficient tackler for the Cougars who can do a lot of different things as a football player and is overall an outstanding athlete. 14. [player_tooltip player_id="22925" first="Kyreese" last="Willingham"] (Waseca) WR/PR. 6’5. Committed to Minnesota State University-Mankato to play basketball. Also held a football offer from the Mavericks, as well as Northern State, Southwest Minnesota State. Also held a basketball offer from Concordia-St. Paul. 15. [player_tooltip player_id="18045" first="Trey" last="Longstreet"] (Delano) TE. 6’7. Committed to Northern State University to play basketball. Held an Iowa State football offer. Doesn’t have his senior Hudl updated. 16. [player_tooltip player_id="18180" first="Joshua" last="Strong"] (Champlin Park) DB/WR. 6’. Committed to Minnesota-Duluth to play basketball. Also held a football offer from UMary, UMD, St. Thomas. Was offered to play basketball by Hillsdale College, Concordia-St. Paul, Army-West Point. Doesn’t have his senior film updated on Hudl. 17. Ryan Dufault (Waseca) QB. 6’. Committed to play basketball for the University of St. Thomas. I got to watch him play QB for Waseca this past season and it was fun to watch. He was a shifty and physical runner from the quarterback position and scored a ton of TDs with both his legs and his arms. He’s going to do some big things for the Tommies as a PG. 20. [player_tooltip player_id="18063" first="Bryce" last="Lance"] (Marshall) WR. 6’3. Committed to play football at North Dakota State University. Named to the Minnesota All-State team and First Team AP All-State as a DB. Also named MarshallIndependent Football Player of the Year. Totaled 30 catches for 634 yards and 8 TDs as well as six interceptions and a pick-six. He set program records with 78 catches, 1,769 yards, and 18 TDs. Also holds the season record of 873 yards and the Tigers record of 11 interceptions. 24. [player_tooltip player_id="18025" first="Riley" last="Mahlman"] (Lakeville South) OL. 6’9. Committed to the University of Wisconsin-Madison to play football. First Team All-State, All-Metro, All-District. Also named to the Minnesota Vikings All-State team. 26. [player_tooltip player_id="18191" first="Eddie" last="Beeninga"] (Wayzata) DB. 6’1. Committed to play basketball at the University of Minnesota-Moorhead. Senior football highlights show a DB who uses his hands efficiently at the LOS and when the ball is in the air and never gives up on a play. Also a strong tackler who laid a big time hit on a punt return. Both his older brothers play basketball at Minnesota State-Moorhead. 31. [player_tooltip player_id="23782" first="Finn" last="Diggins"] (Perham) TE. 6’5. Committed to play football at North Dakota State University. Made some big plays this past season with some powerful and exciting runs after the catch and some massive truck sticks. He’s sure handed and can make tough contested catches in traffic or with a defender draped all over him. Also showed some good speed for his size after the catch and some good hops. NDSU is getting a really promising athlete. 43. [player_tooltip player_id="18028" first="Logan" last="Purcell"] (Annandale) OL/DE. 6’7, 240 lbs. Committed to play football at the University of Minnesota. Senior tape exhibits a mobile and light-footed OL prospect who can move in space and understands leverage. Also a disruptive DE with forceful hands and some impressive pass rush moves to go along with a never ending motor. He’s going to be a great future Gopher offensive lineman. 48. [player_tooltip player_id="18181" first="Austin" last="Klug"] (Caledonia) WR. 6’4. Committed to play baseball at NIACC as a JUCO product. Won a couple All-Area awards as a WR for powerhouse Caledonia. Doesn’t have any senior film updated. 51. [player_tooltip player_id="24435" first="Sam" last="Votava"] (East Grand Forks) QB. 6’1. Holds a football offer from Concordia College-Moorhead and basketball offers from Lake Region St, Concordia College-Moorhead, Mayville State. Doesn’t have his senior film updated. 53. Ryan Miles (Richfield) QB. 6’5. Had one of the best seasons of any quarterback in the state of Minnesota and earned a First Team All-Metro nod from Jim Paulsen. He’s got a cannon for an arm and can make any throw needed from his coach and can absolutely hurt you with his legs. He’s a tough competitor who is a great leader, playmaker, and overall athlete. He’s still uncommitted and hasn’t reported any football offers but needs to be playing college football somewhere next season. Hopefully he’s coming to our PrepRedzoneMN Showcase coming up as well. 55. Drew Sagedahl (BOLD) QB. 6’. Committed to play basketball at St. John’s University. Won a host of awards in 2020 including All-District and All-Area nods. No senior film updated. 57. Spencer Goetz (Chaska) WR. 6’3, 200 lbs. Hasn’t reported any offers for either sport. Senior stats of 36 tackles, 3 sacks, 6 TFL, 1 INT for a TD, and 5 PBUs. On offense he caught 5 balls for 80 yards and 1 TD and rushed 17 times for 67 yards and 4 TDs. Great speed off the edge who lays the boom at the point of contact. Can cover a zone well and moves and tackles well in space. I love how he closes space on ball-carriers. 62. Robert Grace IV (SMB) WR. 5’10. Committed to play basketball for Macalester College. Played his first high school football season as a playmaker and showed himself to be a playmaker with game-changing speed and some really shifty moves in the open-field. He made some big plays against some good competition and is an experienced basketball player who is a great get for the Scots. 63. [player_tooltip player_id="18076" first="Brady" last="Walthall"] (Moorhead) WR. 6’. Has been offered by Minnesota State University-Moorhead, Jamestown, Dordt, Minot State, Morningside, Concordia College-Moorhead, St. John’s, UW-River Falls. Has a basketball offer from Lake Region St. Named First Team AP All-State and led the state with 50 receptions, 746 yards, and 12 TDs. I’m really looking forward to seeing where Brady and his twin brother Blake end up, as that MSUM offer was pretty recent and it would be sweet if they joined teammate [player_tooltip player_id="18153" first="Thomas" last="Myers"] as Dragons. 73. [player_tooltip player_id="18031" first="Joe" last="Alt"] (Totino Grace) TE. 6’6. Committed to Notre Dame to play football. Was a Mr. Football Finalist, Second Team All-State, and Minnesota Vikings All-State pick. Versatile player overall who made an impact in the passing game and was a punishing run/pass blocker with money technique. 83. Marquise Gleb (South St. Paul) WR. 6’2. Physical two-way player who is a good route runner and positions his body to reel in receptions and break tackles after the catch. He’s a physical blocker and tackler as well. I like his blend of speed and size and he’s a strong player at the WR position. 84. [player_tooltip player_id="18026" first="Bastian" last="Swinney"] (Edina) OL. 6’7. Committed to Cal-Berkley to play football. First Team All-State and All-Metro. Future Cal coaches raved about his versatility, and HC actually saw Swinney play basketball in-person before football and noticed the athleticism and footwork. He’s powerful and moves well in space for a man of his size too. 85. [player_tooltip player_id="22926" first="Jaden" last="Norby"] (West Central Area/Ashby) TE. 6’5. Committed to North Dakota to play football. Minnesota Vikings All-State team. Dynamic and a tremendous athlete. Played a ton of positions over the course of his career and has some great speed for a kid of his size and shows a ton of promise as a pass-catcher, in part due to his basketball background. 98. [player_tooltip player_id="18083" first="Kaleb" last="Skelly"] (Spring Lake Park) WR/DB. 6’4. Committed to Northern State University. Minnesota Vikings All-State pick. I got to see Skelly play live a few times over the course of his high school career and he was a dependable and playmaking WR and FS who could jump out the gym and loved making contested catches and tough tackles. Great frame with a ton of upside and I was pumped to see he made it into the Top-100 on PrepHoopsMN. 116. Bryce Boyd (Holy Angels) WR. 6’4. Committed to the University of St. Thomas. Recorded 6 TDs and 3 INTs in 2020. Great ball skills and an instinctual and explosive pass-catcher who maintains his speed in and out of his breaks and is dangerous after the catch. Also sports a great frame and is going to be a dangerous college wideout. 120. [player_tooltip player_id="18075" first="Blake" last="Walthall"] (Moorhead) WR. 6’. Holds football offers from Minnesota State University-Moorhead, Minot State, Concordia-Moorhead, St. John’s, Concordia-St. Paul. Caught 37 receptions for 590 yards and 11 TDs in 2020 due to his ability to cut and break off his routes efficiently, as well as make people miss and run through weaker tackle attempts at the point of the catch and after. He made some ridiculous catches this Fall and the work he put in during the offseason really showed off in his route-running and toughness at the point of the catch. Could play a bunch of different receiver positions in college. 139. Michael McIntyre (Osseo) DL. 6’4, 240 lbs. Committed to the University of Mary. All-Area and All-District. Held a PWO from Central Arkansas and a D1 offer from Drake. Strong, high-effort DL/TE who moves well for his size and is hard to block/disengage from. He’s quick off the LOS and patient in his reads. Great leader as well and is coming from a great coached program in Osseo. 162. Ben North (East Ridge) DB. 6’. Committed to Creighton to play baseball. Named All-Metro, All-State, and MN Vikings All-State team after an impactful senior season despite being hampered by some injuries. Heckuva three-sport athlete who opposing teams had to gameplan against and was a physical presence on a stout East Ridge defense. 170. [player_tooltip player_id="18127" first="Trent" last="Finney"] (SMB) TE. 6’4. Committed to Grand View University to play football. Can do a ton of different things on the football field and has great feet and great hands to go along with a strong upper body and a lot of room to put on weight. 176. [player_tooltip player_id="23692" first="Curtis" last="Favors"] (Tartan) WR. 6’3, 215 lbs. Offered by Concordia-St. Paul and UW-River Falls for football. Really intriguing pass-catcher with a high ceiling with a strong frame, good speed, and soft hands. He’s a load to hit and bring down and can bounce off tacklers and make plays after the catch. 179. [player_tooltip player_id="18095" first="Connor" last="Braaten"] (Cambridge-Isanti) QB. 6’5. CI signal-caller can hurt defenses with his legs or his arms and has a strong arm and is mobile in and out of the pocket. 199. [player_tooltip player_id="18108" first="Mac" last="Lockner"] (Woodbury) WR. 6’3. Can jump out the gym and has soft hands and a big catch radius. 212. [player_tooltip player_id="18073" first="Isaac" last="Ask"] (Farmington) WR. 6’3. Committed to the University of Mary to play football. Tough and dependable receiver who gets himself separation and is sure handed and athletic. 233. [player_tooltip player_id="18044" first="Trey" last="Feeney"] (Moorhead) QB. 6’2. Committed to North Dakota to play football. AP State Player of the Year, PrepRedzoneMN Player of the Year, First Team All-State. Led the state in completions, yards, TDs through the air. 271. Micah Niewald (Fridley) DB. 5’10. All-Metro Second Team who posted 15 tackles, 5 INTs, and 21 receptions for 251 yards and 3 TDs as a two way starter. Offered by Bethel, Hamline, UW-River Falls, Mayville State. 273. [player_tooltip player_id="18171" first="Tucker" last="Haakonson"] (Rocori) ATH. 6’1. Visited Gustavus Adolphus College. My lord this kid can do it all. Incredibly experienced and productive over his high school career and is a natural playmaker and football player. 288. [player_tooltip player_id="18193" first="Cooper" last="Yaggie"] (Breckenridge) QB. 5’11. Visited and offered by Concordia-Moorhead. Offered a football PWO from NDSU, offered by St. John’s. Most athletic kid on the field when he plays football. Can play any position on the field and is an outstanding athlete. Very excited to see where he ends up.