Minnesota 2023 Rankings Update: Highest Debuts

Yesterday, we at PrepRedzoneMN were fortunate and excited to bring to our wonderful subscribers an updated and exclusive refurbishment of Minnesota’s c/o 2023 high school football rankings. Our initial ranking from early 2020 held only a Top-12 and a 20ish player watchlist, but we revamped things into a brand spanking new 182-player ranking with a completely new Top-25 and a ton of talent across the board. Top to bottom there is a ton of talent in the class of sophomores in the state of MN, and amongst the over 150 new additions there were some particularly high debuts amongst 2023s that were not named in the initial rankings. Let’s check out the game of some of these recruits who made a big splash in their rankings entrance and were one of the "Highest Debuts" of the sophomore class. Thanks for reading! #2: [player_tooltip player_id="112042" first="Grant" last="Chapman"] (Anoka) OL. 6’6, 280 lbs. Holds an offer from Iowa State. The highest debut of any MN prep to make the list, Chapman grabbed his first D1 offer from Power-5 competitor Iowa State on the 15th of February, and it will surely not be his last. To begin things, I’m not positive if Chapman would be in this position with the Anoka Tornadoes if it wasn’t for 2020 graduate and true freshman Golden Gopher starter at LB [player_tooltip player_id="2218" first="Cody" last="Lindenberg"]. The Anoka football program had been on somewhat of a rough patch the past decade in-terms of wins and losses as well as college football prospects (minus [player_tooltip player_id="2117" first="Joey" last="Lombard"]) prior to Lindenberg bringing the program some well deserved college exposure as well a few hard-fought wins. That was the past though, and Chapman seems to have already taken over the reigns as Anoka’s next big thing, and I think he’s entirely worthy of the #2 spot in the state. I’m a big fan of his pass-set, not only because there isn’t a lot of pass-pro film in lineman prospects out of the state, but also because he stays square and doesn’t over-drop in his steps, not to mention he’s got an insane amount of initial pop and power in his pads. He’s patient at not giving up the inside gap when pass-blocking as well, and he’s also a strong finisher who understands leverage and how to get a defender on his backside. He also showed in his film that he can climb and block at the second level and even pull as an OT really efficiently. He’s a really complete package for an underclassman OL prospect, and he’s going to be one of the most dominant football players in the state by the time he gets older. I’m excited to continue watching his evolution as a football player. #4: [player_tooltip player_id="112043" first="Carson" last="Hansen"] (Lakeville South) RB. 6’1, 180 lbs. What a 2020 for the young Cougar ball-carrier. Hansen exploded onto the Metro’s 6A scene by putting up 76 carries for 816 yards and 14 TDs in the shortened 2020 season to earn All-District honors. He is a monster in Lakeville South’s T-formation offense, and is the perfect rusher for the system as he’s a long-striding, ground-covering ball-carrier with excellent vision and is slippery and can make people miss with either speed or power. He’s strong enough to run through weaker tackle attempts and even stay in-bounds after that last would-be tackler tries to best to shove him out of bounds when he’s lost the angle. He can cut back across the field with ease and can even catch the rock out of backfield, and his long legs make him very hard for defenders to corral. #6: [player_tooltip player_id="112044" first="Sawyer" last="Seidl"] (Hill-Murray) RB. 5’10, 165 lbs. Definitely the most electric player on the rankings, Seidl tallied 142 rushes for 992 yards and 8 TDs in five games and looked good doing it. He’s explosive, shifty, elusive, with excellent acceleration out the jump and a wide skill-set and variety of moves to make would-be tacklers miss, including a hurdle that he introduced to us readers in the 2020 season. His top-end speed is impressive as well, and he truly is a threat to take the ball to the house every play he gets a touch. For a prospect of his size he also shows off a really nice ability to run through weak tackles, either with his lower-body or above the waist, and is also in possession of a mean and violent stiff-arm that looks quite painful to be on the receiving end of. The Hill-Murray Pioneers are stacked in their 2022, ’23, and even freshman class, and Seidl should be receiving more college gridiron looks as things keep progressing. #7: [player_tooltip player_id="112045" first="Jack" last="Liwienski"] (Minnetonka) DL. 6’3, 265 lbs. I heard a story before that Beau Allen - a former Minnetonka great, Wisconsin Badger standout, and a 5+ year career in the NFL - is the only four-year starter in Tonka’s history. It may have been only four-year starter on defense ever, but I’m pretty sure it was overall. Either way I don’t think there have been may three-year starters on the DL in program history, and the list of 3x All-District/Conference awardees can’t be very long too. Liwienski is making headway in both categories, as he started on the Skippers DL and also played some LT on the offensive side of the ball as well. He’s got great size for his age and can execute stunts and twists and operate/cover multiple gaps if need be. He’s got a quick get-off, is light on his feet for 265 lbs., and finishes hits with a ton of authority and smacks people hard when he gets to the ball. He put a serious lick on more than a few QBs this past season. He’s also an effective puller as a OT and has a great initial pop off the LOS. There’s a ton of power in his body and his best football is still in front of him! #11: [player_tooltip player_id="112046" first="Wes" last="Overton"] (Rockford) TE/OLB. 6’2, 195 lbs. I was not ready for the Rockford products sophomore tape. Although undersized to play TE in college, Overton’s tape really shines in the physicality category, and in particular as an OLB. The first play of his sophomore tape he trucks not one but two defenders to get himself into the endzone, and he follows it up with a tough catch over the middle that required a lot of concentration and a really sticky single hand. His athleticism is off the charts, and looks like a really natural football on film. In 2020 he totaled 23 receptions, 485 yards and 7 TDs as well as 67 tackles, 7 TFLs, 2 INT, and 2 FFs. At 55 seconds into his tape it looks like he almost kills a kid on a blindside block, and the hard hits keep coming as you move further through his tape. He also lined up all over the field and did a variety of things for Rockford on both offense and defense. I’m very intrigued to see how he keeps progressing as a prospect. #12: [player_tooltip player_id="112047" first="Sam" last="Backer"] (Chatfield) RB. 5’11, 190 lbs. Man, I’m happy I kept my ears to the ground and got Backer on my radar thanks to his selection as a First Team All-Area pick from the Post Bulletin All-Area 2020 football team after he put up a really impressive fall season this past year that saw him rush for 782 yards and 10 TDs in five games. Of all of the All-Area teams I could find after the season concluded, I believe Backer was the only sophomore named, and his talent and tape match the accolades as he is a powerfully built RB who has excellent balance through contact and is nice combination of speed and size. He has an effective spin-move and also possesses the power to run through weaker tackles even when it looks like he’s all wrapped-up. He can also catch the ball out of the backfield and run the alley like a natural as a DB on defense. He’s a nice looking small-school prospect who will hopefully have a ton of coaches coming through Chatfield to check him out. #13: [player_tooltip player_id="19007" first="Logan" last="Hoppe"] (Hutchinson) DL. 6’4, 235 lbs. The younger brother of one of our top 2021 LBs in the state and Sioux Falls commit [player_tooltip player_id="18056" first="Tristan" last="Hoppe"], younger brother Logan is already bigger than his brother and started on one of the state’s most competitive 4A teams on the DL of the Hutch TIgers in 2020. He’s twitchy enough to beat offensive lineman on inside breaking pass-rush moves but also has the sheer strength and power to overwhelm with a bull-rush. He’s got a good rip and continues to work to beat the man in-front of him until the whistle blows. He’s also smooth when taking on double-teams and is a strong tackler who wraps up well, but needs to keep his feet moving on contact. Overall though he’s a pretty nice looking sophomore DL prospect. #14: [player_tooltip player_id="112048" first="Josh" last="Och"] (Chanhassen) WR. 5’11, 165 lbs. The battle for the top WR in the state of MN for the class of 2023 was a good one, and although we have four wideouts in the Top-25 the #1 spot ultimately was given to Chanhassen’s [player_tooltip player_id="112048" first="Josh" last="Och"]. The Storm’s WR room is usually filled with talent and speed, and from everyone I’ve talked to it seems like Och may be the most impressive of the bunch. On tape, he’s a sure-handed, big-play WR who made some really difficult catches with good coverage from the opposing DB. He’s got the speed to hurt defenses deep, but what I liked the most about him as a recruit was his toughness at the catch and how he wasn’t scared to go up and get the ball through contact or with a defender bearing down on him hard. He will also finish the catch through a big hit, and he can also make an impact on special teams as a KR, where he shows off some good vision and cutting ability. #15: [player_tooltip player_id="112049" first="Tyson" last="Cooreman"] (Randolph) WR/OLB. 6’4, 190 lbs. I can’t lie, I’m really excited about the Randolph Rocket ’23er and his absurd potential. I was told about Cooreman on twitter, and then went on to find out he’s already an accomplished basketball player and an experienced varsity football player for the Rockets. Then I found out about his size, and at a legit 6’4, 190 I was more than ready to check out his film. With long-strides, long arms, a smooth gait, he’s a good looking athlete on film who can start, stop, and cut well and has great hands and a great vertical. Honestly, I was not expecting to like his OLB film as much as I did. He read the QBs eyes well and was patient and reactive to WRs routes, and triggered on the ball impressively. He played all over the field on both sides of the ball in 2020, and could project as either a TE/WR or OLB at the next level if he can keep adding strength. We at PrepRedzoneMN always want to do a better job of bringing exposure to Outstate prospects, and every year I find a kid with a ton of potential and athleticism who deserves to be looked at by scholarship programs. For 2023, this prospect is Cooreman. Keep your eyes out for him! #16: [player_tooltip player_id="112050" first="Antonio" last="Fondren"] (Benilde-St. Margaret’s) DE. 6’5, 240 lbs. A Delasalle Islander transfer, Fondren is built like a grown man already, and knows how to use his size at the DE position for the Red Knights. Before I get into his defensive pros however, I thought it was a really good sign that Fondren helped out BSM’s offense as a TE, where he ran routes, blocked, and was an asset in both the run and pass games. He truly shines as a defensive lineman though, where he can penetrate his backside gap and still get to the ball-carrier just due to speed and quickness and is a forceful tackler who makes sure ball-carriers feel him when he gets hands on. In some games, it really looked like the blocking OT and RB didn’t even want a piece of him, and he’s a good tackler in space who is patient and makes sure his feet don’t stop. If he continues to progress I don’t see how he wouldn’t be a Division 1 DE prospect in a couple of years. #17: [player_tooltip player_id="112051" first="Jai" last="Kalvik"] (Hopkins) OL. 6’4, 225 lbs. The battle for the top offensive lineman spots were difficult to decide upon as well, and a kid who really snuck up on me in-terms of skill and potential. The Hopkins Royals have no problem starting talented OL young, and this year in-particular they had two really experienced and bruising offensive lineman that they relied upon to make things happen offensively. Kalvik is next in line and will need to step into a bigger role as an upperclassman, but it looks like a lot of the tools he needs are already there, as he’s got a great frame and is a lean 225 but still has the strength to move kids off the LOS and out of his gap. He does a great job of keeping his feet pumping upon contact and keeps his hands in really good position once he locks on. He also moves and works to the second and third level with ease and works through the whistle every snap. He’s a great run-blocker for his age already and has a ton of good football in-front of him. #18: [player_tooltip player_id="112052" first="Martin" last="Owusu"] (Prior Lake) DL. 6’4, 245 lbs. Owusu is a name that people need to start getting familiar with. He showed up to our PrepRedzoneMN Showcase and really got the coaches and staff in-attendance excited with his strength, size, and raw power for a sophomore. Although his tape didn’t knock my socks off, this is where prospects getting seen by us in-person is incredibly valuable. Owusu had a ton of good reps against some of the most promising lineman in the state for the class of 2022 all session long, and showed refinement in his pass-rush technique and an ability to beat OTs with speed-rushes or power moves. I’m also a big fan of Owusu due to his duel-sport prowess as Prior Lake’s heavyweight on their extremely competitive wrestling team, where he is a quick and athletic heavyweight in a weight class filled with giants. He’s also a lean and well filled 245, so I think it’s safe to say his upside is that of a FBS prospect. Keep working, Martin! #20: [player_tooltip player_id="22946" first="Karson" last="Lindsay"] (JWP) ATH. 6’1, 200 lbs. Another small-school standout comes from Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton program in Southwest Minnesota. Filled with underclassman talent, Lindsay is my personal favorite of the bunch and also an assistant coaches son who wears a multitude of hats for JWP and is one of the most dynamic athletes on this entire list. He started as a freshman in 2019, and has already played a variety of positions for the Bulldogs in his short career thus far. He has played quarterback since he was a freshman, but has moved on from his old role of LB by playing cornerback for JWP at 6’1, 200 lbs, and he does it well! He can change direction, get out of his breaks, and has the top-end speed to stay behind receivers. He can also get up and play the ball well at its highest point, and is a strong tackler who is an asset in run-support. I’d still guess that he’d play LB in college but he’s definitely helping his stock showing off so much versatility. Very excited to see where his recruitment takes him. #23: [player_tooltip player_id="112054" first="Jacob" last="Kilzer"] (Maple Grove) QB. 6’2, 195 lbs. Lord, what a continuation of the massive & athletic Maple Grove quarterback lineage. Since Brad Davison, the Crimson have put well-built and playmaking athletes at the QB position, and they got another special one in sophomore signal-caller Kilzer. The 6’2, 195 lber. took over the varsity offense for a UMD QB commit this past season when things were looking dim, and he was in no ways intimidated by the spotlight or the pressure. He throws an awesome ball on the run, is mobile and can navigate the pocket efficiently to buy time, and has a really strong arm for a sophomore. My man also runs the rock with some authority, and bounces off tackles like Cam Newton and is a powerful ball-carrier with a great frame to back it up. He’s a really promising athlete at the quarterback position. #24: [player_tooltip player_id="112055" first="Joey" last="Krouse"] (Prior Lake) WR. 5’10, 170 lbs. I did not expect Prior Lake to have a sophomore so involved with their varsity offense, but when I saw his tape I saw why the Laker coaches must be such big fans. His speed, vision, and cutting ability are really impressive for a sophomore, and he can tote the ball between the tackles or out on the edge if you want him to. He also can catch the ball out of the backfield and looks like a natural at tracking and making a play on the football. He also made an impact on special teams, and I hope Prior Lake keeps increasing his work load, because I’m very excited to see him make more plays in the Metro as an upperclassman. #25: [player_tooltip player_id="112056" first="Max" last="Shikenjanski"] (Stillwater) WR. 6’1. Already a talented hooper who plays for the illustrious D1 MN AAU squad, Shikenjanski is an explosive wideout with some game-changing speed and really impressive ball-skills. He’s a tough WR who can make contested catches, isn’t scared to get hurt, and will run over the middle or underneath with pleasure. He can also break off his routes well when running shorter routes, works back to the ball when it’s in the air, and can find open holes in zone coverage to sit into. All in all he’s got a pretty refined skill-set for his age and he has a ton of room to move up the rankings. Big upside here out of Stillwater!