PrepRedzoneMN Showcase Session 2 Standouts: QB/WR/TE

I am happy to report that Monday’s inaugural PrepRedzoneMN Showcase was a resounding success, with a couple hundred Midwest athletes, almost 20 different college programs from the DII, DIII, NAIA, and JUCO level, and a handful of media from PrepRedzone as well as 24/7Sports making the drive to Savage for our one day, two session bonanza of talent and competition. It was a really exciting and valued opportunity to have a leading role in running the event, and in the future I will be able to focus more on evaluating the talent, though I did notice some eye-popping performances from players at all positions. With my colleague Nate Wahl already having posted some articles from the event focusing on the lineman and the RBs/LBs from the event, I thought I would start things off by featuring the standout QBs and WRs/TEs from our second session from the Showcase. Scroll below to find out which athlete’s had themselves a nice individual performance and either broke out onto the recruiting scene or solidified themselves as sure-fire collegiate prospects. I made sure to denote their bib # from the event, whether they stood out in the testing, indy, or 1-on-1 portion of the event, and any other relevant notes from Monday. Thanks for reading! Quarterbacks Bib #115: [player_tooltip player_id="49893" first="Evan" last="Bearth"] (Park of Cottage Grove) 2022. The junior - who is also a dangerous basketball player who dropped 31 points yesterday - measured in at a legit 6’4 and nearly 200 lbs. He caught my eye during the testing portion of the event where he scored a 4.65 in the short shuttle, displaying his quickness and athleticism for a kid of his stature. No wonder he’s such a good basketball player, he’s a legit athlete. Bib #117: George Bjellos (Woodbury) 2024. The freshman showed off some nice size (6’, 184 lbs.) for his age and ran a 4.69 short shuttle during testing. Always nice to get a head start on scouting the young bucks. Bib #120: Luke Crosby (Prior Lake) 2023. The sophomore Laker gunslinger clocked in at a blazing 4.31 short shuttle on his second attempt. Bib #121: Camden Dean (Lakeville South) 2022. Measured in at 5’9.5 and 165 lbs., and overall tested really well with highlight times of a 4.78 40 and a 4.54 short shuttle, as well as a 9 foot broad jump. It was no surprise to see that Dean was Lakeville South’s starting QB for the majority of the season, as he was not only a solid athlete but threw the football with a ton of zip and had some good accuracy as well. It was also impressive to see him throw on the move, and our QB coach Quinn Frisell liked his technical movements as well as arm strength. Bib #122: [player_tooltip player_id="49920" first="Zander" last="Dittbenner"] (Mankato West) 2022. Measured in at 5’11, and 191 lbs. and ran a 4.84 in the 40 and clocked a 4.35 in the short shuttle. Another well-rounded quarterback who possessed accuracy, zip on his footballs, the ability to make throws from a variety of angles, and an overall technically sound release and throwing motion. He was another athlete who impressed 612Q’s frontman Quinn Frisell. Bib #124: Cooper Drews (Princeton) 2023. I got to watch the sophomore play live for Princeton this past Fall and loved his poise in the pocket and big arm, and he was came and balled out on Monday. He measured in at 6’3.25 and 191 lbs. and ran a 4.28 and a 4.22 in our short shuttle drills. The arm strength was there in person as well, and his deep ball accuracy was on the money. He’s going to be a top QB in the 2023 class for MN. Bib #125: [player_tooltip player_id="22947" first="Jacob" last="Eggert"] (Mankato East) 2022. The nearly 6’, 175 lb. junior came into the Showcase already high on the radar of our National Scouting Director Jacob Lemming, and showed off some impressive quickness with a 4.6 and a 4.5 in the short shuttle. In-terms of arm talent, Eggert’s fundamentals and quickness in his release were really impressive. He got the rock out quick and he got it out with some velocity. He was also accurate as I had expected, and could make throws at all levels of the field. He’s mobile as well, and I was impressed with the timing of his throws as well, he never held onto the ball for too long. [caption id="attachment_98786" align="aligncenter" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/01/2-8-crop-509x334-1611262265.jpg"><img class="wp-image-98786 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/01/2-8-crop-509x334-1611262265-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="22947" first="Jacob" last="Eggert"] - Mankato East 2022[/caption]Bib #129: [player_tooltip player_id="18529" first="Cade" last="Fitzgerald"] (Champlin Park) 2022. Man, I was not ready for the junior Rebel to come out and record probably the best individual testing performance of any athlete on the entire day. The 5’11, 165 lber. tested at a blazing 4.56 40, a 4.35 short shuttle, and a 9’1 broad jump. I mean, sheeeeesh. I was standing right there when he clocked in in the 4.5s for the 40, and I remember thinking that if I was a college coach I wouldn’t even care how well he threw the football, I’d want this kid on my team. I hope to see Fitzgerald’s recruitment start to take off a little more after this. Bib #133: [player_tooltip player_id="49840" first="Colton" last="Hackel"] (Perham) 2022. Measured in at 6’1, 208 lbs. and ran a 4.59 followed up with a 4.47 in the short shuttle. Also had a cannon. Bib #142: Devin Jordan (Eden Prairie) 2023. Measured in at 6’, 160 lbs., ran a 4.82 40 and a 4.32 and a 4.37 in the short shuttle. His 8’7 broad jump was also solid for an underclassman. Bib #152: Ryan Miles (Richfield) 2021. The First Team StarTribune All-Metro QB was a late addition to the Showcase but was a signal-caller I had my eye on coming into the event after his impressive career as a Richfield Spartan QB concluded this past Fall. He possessed one of the strongest arms at the entire Showcase, and had clean footwork and great timing on his throws in-which I saw a fair amount of ability to lead the WRs under the ball and in a place where the DB couldn’t make a play on things. He was technically really sound as a QB prospect, got rid of the ball in a hurry, and was cool, calm, and collected in the pocket. He’s the best available senior QB prospect in the entire state of MN. At 6’2.5 and 195 lbs. he can bring a lot of different assets to the QB position for a college program. [caption id="attachment_98800" align="aligncenter" width="300"]<img class="wp-image-98800 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/01/2-11-crop-509x334-1611262709-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> Ryan Miles - Richfield 2021[/caption] Bib #157: [player_tooltip player_id="49842" first="Nathaniel" last="Staehling"] (Brainerd) 2022. As I hope all of you know by now, I really got into this job so I could help and bring exposure to athletes from Minnesota, so the following story regarding Staehling at Monday’s Showcase really makes me feel some type of way. Prior to the Showcase I had been talking to Nate about what position he should come in and compete at, and was really deciding between QB and LB. Well, turns out it didn’t really matter, as I was approached by GopherIllustrated and 24/7Sports contributor Ryan Burns after Staehling ran his initial 40 asking me about him and where he was from. I explained that he played at Brainerd and was their QB, and we both agreed that LB was probably going to be the position most college coaches see him at, and it turns out that Staehling thought the same way and has been working out at LB this offseason. This is excellent news, as the junior Warrior absolutely dazzled the second session of the Showcase and really turned things up after measuring in at 6’1.5 and 215 lbs. while clocking a 4.75 in the 40 and a 4.34 and 4.4 flat in the short shuttle. He’s no doubt a D1 prospect at LB and had Mr. Burns really intrigued, and I think he did wonders in-terms of kickstarting his recruitment after coming to our event. He’s a smooth, fluid athlete with broad shoulders and a ton of room to continue putting on weight. Looking forward to him starting to hear from Missouri Valley schools and possibly even the Gophers! Great job, Nate. [embed]https://twitter.com/RyanBurnsMN/status/1351544939826524164?s=20[/embed] Bib #163: [player_tooltip player_id="49836" first="Justin" last="Wohlers"] (Lake City) 2022. Another impressive tester who measured at 6’5, 213 lbs. and clocked 4.62 and 4.59 in the short shuttle. He was another gunslinger who stood out to our QB coach Quinn Frisell due to his technique and arm talent. He had a lot of range and natural arm strength, but could dial things back and had a lot of control on the ball and could fit it into some tight windows. He’s also another outstanding hooper with a really high ceiling as a football player. Bib #165: Tanner Zolnosky (East Ridge) 2024. The freshman QB for the Raptors is another stud to keep an eye on after he got on my radar from meeting Tom Lemming on his annual recruiting tour around the country. He’s got a lot of talent and looked older than his age would suggest when throwing the football. Had some good zip and accuracy. Wide Receiver/Tight End Bib #146: [player_tooltip player_id="49897" first="Jack" last="Kinsey"] (Wayzata) 2022. Measured in at 6’5.5 and 220 lbs. Ran a 4.84 in the 40 and a 4.59 in the short shuttle, as well as a 8’9.5 broad jump. Wayzata has such a strong tradition of TEs that I think it’s fair to say that we found the next stud in 2022 big-boy [player_tooltip player_id="49897" first="Jack" last="Kinsey"]. He’s light-footed and athletic for his size, had some good hands, and had a pretty nice route-running game that saw some nice shiftiness and sure-handedness for a kid of his size. Tons to like, as he’s physical but can also beat you with finesse if need be. Bib #167: Eli Anderson (Fairmont) 2022. Measured in at 5’11, 157 pounds, and ran a 4.71 40 and a 4.56 short shuttle. Bib #172: Riley Butcher (Glencoe-Silver Lake) 2022. TE. 6’1, 215 lbs. Although we didn’t get any official numbers on Butcher, the GSL junior caught my eye during 1-on-1s with some slick route-running and a nice ability to cut off his route on a dime and get in and out of cuts quickly for a big man. He was well filled out too. Bib #175: [player_tooltip player_id="49835" first="Charlie" last="Coenen"] (Chanhassen) 2022. Measured well as anticipated as he came in at 5’11.75, 185 lbs., and clocked back-to-back 4.7 40s (4.75 and 4.78), and a 4.5 followed by a 4.28 5-10-5 short shuttle, as well as a 9’8 broad jump. He’s a shifty WR with natural separation ability including good speed at the top end, some loose hips that help him disguise where he is breaking to, and some soft hands and quick feet. There’s a lot to like in the Storm playmaker. Bib #176: [player_tooltip player_id="18425" first="Mekhi" last="Collins"] (Mankato West) 2022. One of our sure-fire Top-10 prospects in the 2022 class, the Mankato West 6’4, 205 lber. tested impressively with a 4.75 40 and a 4.44 and 4.35 short shuttle, and used his exceptional combo of height, speed, and ball skills to separate himself as a matchup nightmare for opposing DBs. He can stretch the field vertically as a deep threat, has some good wiggle in his routes, and has the length and body control to box out DBs and become an impressive possession receiver if necessary. He looked all of the part that his tape suggests. [caption id="attachment_98796" align="aligncenter" width="225"]<img class="wp-image-98796 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/01/2-6-225x300.jpg" alt="" width="225" height="300" /> [player_tooltip player_id="18425" first="Mekhi" last="Collins"] - Mankato West 2022[/caption] Bib #180: [player_tooltip player_id="49909" first="Colin" last="Dussault"] (Chaska) 2022. The Chaska Hawks are coming off a season that saw a senior WR receive an All-Metro nod, and I think the 2022 class has an even more dangerous target in junior 6’3.5, 178 lb. wideout Collin Dussault, who had coaches buzzing after his performance on Monday. Although he didn’t test out of this world, Dussault came to play during the 1-on-1 portion of our event and showed out when competition was in-front of him. He was a tough matchup for DBs in all three phases of the field, was a nuanced route-runner for his age, and had some naturally soft hands and impressive leaping ability. He made some tough, contested catches throughout 1-on-1s and really made a name for himself once things wrapped up. I’m looking forward to seeing more of him and his game going forward, as his game was impressively smooth. Bib #181: [player_tooltip player_id="49885" first="Jacob" last="Emslander"] (Blaine) 2022. TE. Measured in at 6’3, 225 lbs. and looked good running drills. He’s a powerful kid who is a beast at the LOS and looks all of the TE his frame and skill-set make him out to be. He’s a strong and good athlete. Bib #189: Colin Girdaukas (Sheboygan Lutheran, WI) 2022. The Wisconsin native earned our PrepRedzoneWI staff’s attention after his exciting junior season in 2020 and has been hitting our camp circuit hard since things wrapped up this Fall. he continues to put up impressive testing numbers that back up his excellent production at the high school level. On Monday he measured at 5’11.75, 190 lbs. and ran a 4.7 in the 40 and a 4.7 in the 5-10-5. Girdaukas is a detailed route-runner who is quick out his breaks and is sure-handed and strong at the point of the catch. He can beat DBs with speed, quickness, power, or a combo of all three, and is a fun one to watch. Bib #190: Puolrah Gong (Mankato East) 2022. The Mankato East wideout stood out immediately just for his physical gifts. At 6’4.5 and 170 pounds he ran a 4.81 40 and back-to-back 4.7s in the short shuttle, and I really liked how his physical tools translated to his game on the field. He can jump out of the gym, and with great instincts, timing, and vertical ability he’s a nightmare to try and break up passes on as he can get up and get over DBs with ease when the ball is in the air. He ran faster than his 40 time would suggest, and his length and foot quickness made him a problem for DBs to get their hands on. He’s a really intriguing matchup problem as a WR and is a standout basketball player as well. [caption id="attachment_98797" align="aligncenter" width="225"]<img class="wp-image-98797 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/01/2-7-1-225x300.jpg" alt="" width="225" height="300" /> Puolrah Gong - Mankato East 2022[/caption] Bib #201: Luke Kokat (Union Grove, WI) TE. An absolute D1 product at the TE position, Kokat is an exciting competitor whose 6’2.5, 207 lb. frame can be used in a variety of fashions that display his experienced skill-set. He can get open using his strength or his speed and athleticism, and is a smooth and natural route-runner who was especially dangerous up the seam or on outside breaking routes. His frame is excellent and he’s a really strong kid, and Union Grove is fricken stacked in their 2022 class. His in-person game matched his great Hudl tape, so I expect big things to be coming for this kid and hopefully some D1 offers soon. [caption id="attachment_98802" align="aligncenter" width="300"]<img class="wp-image-98802 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/01/2-13-crop-509x334-1611262780-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> Luke Kokat (right) - Union Grove 2022[/caption] Bib #205: [player_tooltip player_id="49819" first="Teigan" last="Martin"] (Mayer-Lutheran) WR. Measured in at 6’5 and 201 pounds, and although there has been some controversy as to what Martin could potentially play in college, I think his skill-set and testing numbers point more towards a WR than a TE. He ran a 4.5 in the short shuttle and showcased that quickness during 1-on-1s, where he was shifty and could cut really well for a kid of his size. That misdirection ability was big in his game, but he also could high-point the football and had a huge catch radius. He’s an intriguing prospect with a lot of versatility on the gridiron. [caption id="attachment_98787" align="aligncenter" width="225"]<img class="wp-image-98787 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/01/2-9-225x300.jpg" alt="" width="225" height="300" /> [player_tooltip player_id="49819" first="Teigan" last="Martin"] - Mayer-Lutheran 2022[/caption] Bib #208: Marselio Mendez (Cretin Derham Hall) 2021. The speedster measured in at 5’8 and nearly 155 lbs., while putting up a 4.66 40 and a 4.22 and a 4.15 in the short shuttle. Man, I was not ready for how explosive the CDH product was going to be. He was lightning in a bottle and had the top-end speed to completely leave DBs in the dust, the lateral agility to take ankles and leave defenders wondering where in the world he went, and had an extremely impressive vert that I saw him float in the air like a talented hooper. He was elite in his route-running, sure-handed, and one of the most explosive athletes at the entire event. STILL UNCOMMITTED! [caption id="attachment_98795" align="aligncenter" width="300"]<img class="wp-image-98795 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/01/2-4-1-crop-509x334-1611262537-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> Marselio Mendez _ CDH 2021[/caption] Bib #209: Damian Meyer-Andre (Jackson County Central) 2021. Really shifty and a polished route-runner, he caught my eye multiple times after he made some really impressive snags on balls that seemed to be out of his reach. Another senior who is STILL UNCOMMITTED! Bib #215: Jack Rivord (Superior, WI) 2023. Well put together for a sophomore, the 6’1, 187 lber. posted a 4.53 and a 4.44 in the short shuttle. Bib #216: Ross Rivord (Superior, WI) 2022. Rivord - like fellow Wisconsin native Kokat - has the frame and the in-person skill to potentially play himself some D1 scholarship football in the future. At 6’2.5 and 212 pounds he is kind of an inbetweener as far as LB or WR, but his frame and his speed is something really special for his size. He ran back-to-back 4.8 40s, and in the short shuttle posted times of 4.38 and 4.19. These measurables really stood out on the field, as he ran like a WR but was built and used his body like a TE. He could run any route asked of him, run it well, and kept surprising DBs with his quickness and ability to break with power and explosiveness. He was a really tough matchup who could high-point the football or used his hands strongly at the point of contact. His upside is huge and he’s a big sleeper in the 2022 class right now. [caption id="attachment_98792" align="aligncenter" width="300"]<img class="wp-image-98792 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/01/2-2-1-crop-509x334-1611262477-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> Ross Rivord - Superior 2022[/caption] Bib #222: [player_tooltip player_id="18426" first="Haydn" last="Stay"] (Princeton) 2022. TE/LB. Last but not least, the unbelievable 2022 Princeton product [player_tooltip player_id="18426" first="Haydn" last="Stay"]. If you guys read Ryan Burns’ writeup of the event you would have seen that Burns, as well as myself and the big time college coaches that are recruiting him all see him as a LB at the next level. He killed it at the testing portion with a 6’3,, 226 lb. weigh in, and back-to-back 4.8 40s and a 4.43 and 4.31 short shuttle, and his frame and physical tools all scream LB at the next level. He could potentially play LB in the Big10, so I hope he comes around and starts seeing his future in college on the defensive side of the ball. At the Showcase however he still made waves as a TE, as he boxed out DBs with the best of them and made some really hard catches that were contested to the point of a flag and where the DB was normally draped all over him. He was a fun one to watch, runs well and naturally, and is light on his feet and quick and explosive out of his breaks. His upside is unreal and it was awesome seeing him in-person. [caption id="attachment_98803" align="aligncenter" width="225"]<img class="wp-image-98803 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/01/2-10-225x300.jpg" alt="" width="225" height="300" /> [player_tooltip player_id="18426" first="Haydn" last="Stay"] - Princeton 2022[/caption]