MN Prep Quick Hitters: Transfer Portal/JUCO/Misc. Updates

Before I get going on this new feature, I’d first off like to apologize for my absence from the PrepRedzoneMN front page since the PRzMN Showcase last month! The PrepRedzone Spring Showcase Series has been time-consuming (in an exciting way), and my girlfriend and I are in the process of figuring out our next step in her potential career, so a trip to Florida occurred and a move is in our near future, but things are finally slowing back down and I am back to the grindstone to bring to our loyal and wonderful MN subscribers some consistent MN prep content throughout the summer. We’re going to start today with some transfer portal updates, JUCO news, and some other miscellaneous happenings in the recruiting world that have been building up over the past month or two, and in my opinion, a lot of these moves, offers, and commitments are very exciting and have major impacts on the conferences the prospects have moved to and the player’s athletic careers as well. Let’s take a more detailed look at some of these updates below! Thanks for reading.

Transfers

Seth Green (East Ridge/Allen, TX) QB/RB/HB. 6’4, 240 lbs. Transferred from the University of Minnesota to the University of Houston

I’m sure most of our readers know of the “Green Line” and the Golden Gopher TD machine Seth Green, who came into the University of Minnesota as a QB after playing three seasons at East Ridge in Woodbury before transferring to national powerhouse Allen in Texas for his senior year. As a junior, he helped lead the Raptors to a 9-2 record while completing 142 passes for 1,850 yards and 20 TDs and adding 107 rushes for 551 yards and 5 TDs to earn a Second Team All-Metro nod. As a sophomore, he completed 86 passes for 1,323 yards and 13 TDs and rushed 47 times for 98 yards and 3 TDs. He signed with the Gophers and scored 15 TDs in his career after moving from QB to wildcat QB with kind of a HB role mixed in. He’ll use his remaining year of eligibility at the University of Houston after putting his name in the transfer portal on February 25th.

Ben McNaboe (Rogers) DL. 6’3, 240 lbs. Transferred from University of Minnesota to the University of North Dakota

A stud coming out of high school for the Rogers Royals, McNaboe signed with the Golden Gophers on a PWO and redshirted in 2019 before playing against Michigan in 2020 in his lone appearance of the season. He announced his transfer to FCS North Dakota on May 7th, where he’ll compete on the DL for the Fighting Hawks. As a prep at Rogers, he totaled 76 tackles, 17 TFLs, 4.5 sacks, and a FF on route to being named All-Conference as a senior. As a junior Royal, he recorded 65 tackles, 10 TFLs, 2 sacks, and a defensive TD for another First Team All-Conference nomination. He’s got a lot of years remaining to play some college ball and I am pumped to see how he fits in in the FCS.

Kaleb Blaha Kaleb Blaha 6'1" | QB Fridley | 2020 State MN  (Fridley) QB/ATH. Transferred from Winona State University to University of Wisconsin-River Falls

This transfer really surprised me, and it also bodes really well for the WIAC competition UWRF, who can benefit from the athleticism of the former Fridley standout at the quarterback position at the DIII level. Before signing with Winona State, Blaha was one of the most productive and prolific recruits in the entire state, and as a senior during the 2019 season, he was named AP All-State First Team, MN Vikings All-State, MN Mr. Football nominee, StarTribune All-Metro, All-District, District MVP, and the team’s offensive MVP and overall MVP. In 2018 as a junior he was named his district’s Offensive MVP, All-District, and team offensive MVP, as well as the MNFootballHub Player of the Week. Blaha is a dynamic athlete at the QB position who can make plays through the air or with his legs on the ground. I am PUMPED to see him at the DIII level!

Jenson Beachy Jenson Beachy QB Perham | 2019 State MN  (Perham) QB. 6’1, 195 lbs. Transferred from Minnesota State University-Moorhead to Concordia College-Moorhead

A transfer across town came from Perham’s 2019 graduate Beachy, who is going from DII to DIII all while staying in Moorhead as he moves from MSUM to the Cobbers of Concordia-Moorhead. As a prep, Beachy was his district’s QB of the year three straight seasons as well as the district MVP as a senior. He’s also the Yellowjacket’s career record holder in pass completions, attempts, touchdowns, yards, and total offense, and finished his career with 6,363 passing yards, 64 TDs, and 1,857 rushing yards plus 18 scores. For his accomplishments, he was named to the Minnesota Vikings All-State team and joins fellow transfer Ty Moser, who transferred from the NDSU wrestling team to play football, as a newly appointed Cobber. This kid is going to be a heckuva addition to the Cobbs as well as the MIAC!

Elijah Ofori Elijah Ofori DB Shakopee | 2020 State MN  (Shakopee) DB. 5’11, 175 lbs. Transferred from Morgan State to ASA Miami (JUCO)

A former South Dakota commit at corner who made a late commitment to FCS, HBCU competitor Morgan State in Baltimore, MD, Ofori was only in the Morgan State program for a year before entering his name in the transfer portal on the 10th of May. He committed to becoming a #JUCOPRODUCT four days later at ASA Miami, which has served former MN preps before and he is set to graduate in the fall of 2021. As a prep, he was named All-Conference in 2019, All-District in both 2018 and 2019, and was an MN All-Star game selection who posted 38 tackles, 2 interceptions, 9 PBUs, and 3 TFLs as a senior. I’ll be very excited to see how his JUCO season goes next fall and where his football career continues to take him!

Macauley Bartells (Jordan) RB. 6’, 185 lbs. Transferred from Minnesota State University-Moorhead to Gustavus Adolphus College

Another NSIC to MIAC transfer that really gets my blood pumping and the excitement boiling, Bartells was a 2020 graduate from Jordan Hubmen who rushed for 882 yards and 12 TDs in his prep career and unfortunately suffered a season-ending injury as a senior after six games and 428 rushing yards. He was also named his team’s Most Improved Player and lettered thrice in the Jordan program. He’s transferring from quite far from home to only a little bit down the road, and has great size for the RB position, and joins a Gustie position group that needs a full-time RB. He’s another new addition to the MIAC who has the potential to make some waves in the conference.

Ethan Sailer (Rochester Lourdes) TE/DE. 6’5, 260 lbs. Transferred from University of Sioux Falls to Bethel University

This new MIAC transfer is yet another to get pumped about, as Sailer is a great addition to the Bethel program that is known for its big boys and the size of their studs near the LOS. Coming from a strong Rochester Lourdes team, Sailer played QB, TE, and DE and also played the 5 on the hardcourt of the basketball team. As a senior, he totaled 75.5 tackles, 21 TFLs, and 10 sacks while adding four catches for 109 yards and a TD, and was named his district’s DL of the Year as well as an All-District HM nod in 2018. He played TE at Sioux Falls in the NSIC, but will probably move back to DE at Bethel and will put those impressive senior statistics to good use and try and channel things to the college level. I’m psyched to see the big boy in action in Arden Hills.

Lucas Fisher (Rochester Century) DB. 6’, 200 lbs. Transferred from Southwest Minnesota State to University of Wisconsin-La Crosse

A three-year contributor and two-year starter at SMSU of the NSIC and one of the most intriguing and experienced transfer prospects on this list comes out of the Rochester Century program at the well-built DB Lucas Fisher. A 2017 graduate of Century, Fisher was a 3-year All-Conference pick, a Third Team All-State selection, and finished his prep career with 128 tackles and 16 interceptions. As a college freshman he totaled 24 tackles and an interception, as a sophomore starter he recorded 53 tackles, 2.5 TFLs, .5 sacks, 3 INTs, 1 FF, 2 FR, and as a junior in 2019 he finished with 62 tackles, 2 TFLs, and an INT. After entering his name in the transfer portal he recently announced his commitment to DIII and WIAC perennial power UW-La Crosse, but he has recently changed his bio and doesn’t have the commitment in his media files and doesn’t have UWL in his bio anymore. We’ll see what happens with him once the fall rolls around.

Carson Kons (Park) RB. 5’10, 180 lbs. Transferred from Sioux Falls to the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse (not confirmed if he’s playing FB)

The Park of Cottage Grove graduate originally entered his name in the transfer portal in December after only a few months on campus in Sioux Falls and updated his bio on Twitter stating he attends UWL, but I am not 100% sure if he is continuing his football career or is just going to school for academics now. As a senior at Park he lined up at running back and free safety and rushed for 372 yards on 48 carries (7.75 yards per carry) with 46.5 yards per game, six TDs, and a long of 80 yards. For his efforts, he was named All-District and All-Conference. He was also a captain of the football team in 2019 and 2020 and a captain of the lacrosse team in 2020, and I hope he’s continuing his football career in the WIAC and would make for an excellent Eagle RB.

Austin Hopp (Minnetonka) OL. 6’6, 315 lbs. Transferred from Western Illinois to the University of Hawaii

An FCS freshman All-American as a Western Illinois Leatherneck, Hopp redshirted in 2017 before starting all 11 games in 2018 and hekoed Western to the third-best passing offense in the Missouri Valley and 22nd in the nation, leading to his Freshman AA pick. As a sophomore in 2019 he started all 12 games at LT and with COVID affecting the FCS fall season he threw his name in the transfer portal. It seemed to be an excellent choice, as he earned offers from the University of North Carolina-Charlotte, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Kent State, East Carolina, Arkansas State, and Hawaii before committing to the FBS Rainbow Warriors in April. As a prep at Minnetonka, he was named All-District HM and helped the Skippers to a section championship in 2016.

Still Looking for a Home

Jackson Martens (Burnsville/Iowa Central CC) LB. 6’2, 230 lbs. Entered his name in the transfer portal from Northern Iowa

Marlon Wiley Marlon Wiley ATH Jordan | 2019 State MN  (Jordan) WR. 5’10, 180 lbs. Entered his name in the transfer portal from South Dakota State University

The Jordan Hubmen alum has had a crazy collegiate athletic career thus far, as he originally signed to run track at South Dakota State, ran for the Jackrabbits for a year, and then decided to restart his football career, entered the transfer portal, and ended up staying at SDSU and signing with their football team. Now, after a year on the gridiron, he has reentered his name in the portal and needs a new home to play football at. As a prep he earned District ST Player of the Year in 2018 and was an All-District selection at WR after setting the school record with 78 catches for 928 yards and 8 TDs. As a junior he caught 36 balls for 560 yards and 3 TDs and was a 2x captain who was also named to the All-Metro Dream Team in 2018. He was a 2x state champion in the Class A 100-meter dash and brought those burners to the gridiron for the Jackrabbits. I’m very interested to see where he will end up.

Brock Johnson (Champlin Park) WR. 5’10, 165 lbs. Entered his name in the transfer portal from the University of Mary

A hero on the Champlin Park Rebels squad that reached the state championship two seasons ago, Johnson was named All-Conference, the team’s Offensive MVP, and caught 43 passes for 781 yards and 9 TDs as a senior. He totaled 93 receptions for 1,433 yards and 12 TDs in his prep career and has four years of eligibility remaining.

Deyon Campbell (Hopkins) WR. 5’9, 195 lbs. Entered his name in the transfer portal from South Dakota State

The speedster out of Hopkins High School – who was a 2x All-District pick in high school who saw action and scored from the WR, RB, and KR positions, including 12 TDs as a junior, signed to the Jackrabbits with high school teammate Malik Lofton out high school and spent three seasons there before entering his name in the transfer portal in March of 2021. He played in 22 games in his SDSU career and totaled 3 rushes for 58 yards, 8 catches for 70 yards, a tackle, and 3 kick returns for 85 yards as a Jackrabbit, and has two years of eligibility remaining. Whether he stays in the MVFC or bounces back to the NSIC he’s going to make waves at the next home he finds. Hang in there, Deyon!

Milkaso Dedefo Milkaso Dedefo ATH St. Louis Park | 2019 State MN  (St. Louis Park/MN State-Fergus Falls) DL/TE. 6’2, 250 lbs. Transferring from Southwest Minnesota State

A 2019 graduate of SLP, Dedefo posted 64 tackles and 5 sacks as a senior and was named All-District as a junior and senior. He signed with MN State-Fergus Falls and played TE and DE at the JUCO level before signing with NSIC competitor Southwest Minnesota State, but only spent a year on campus and didn’t get to play any football due to the NSIC not competing in 2020-21. He entered his name in the transfer portal on April 19th and hasn’t reported any offers since then. I hope he keeps balling!

TJ Tumbleson (Mahtomedi/Iowa Central CC) FB. 5’8, 220 lbs. Transferring from Abilene Christian as a grad transfer

A 2017 graduate from Mahtomedi, Tumbleson played two seasons at Iowa Central and in his sophomore season he appeared in all 12 games during 2018 and rushed for 119 yards on 36 carries. As a junior at FCS ACU, he appeared in 12 games and rushes 5 times for 18 yards, and caught six passes for 14 yards. He has one year of eligibility remaining and put his name in the portal officially on January 21st of this year. He has yet to find a new home to finish his career at.

JUCO Offers 

Bronson Warner Bronson Warner OL Eden Prairie | 2019 State MN  (Eden Praire/Iowa Western CC) OL. 6’2, 320 lbs.

An All-District selection at Eden Prairie on the OL, Warner just started to see his recruitment pop off and has earned offers from Western Illinois, Southeast Missouri, Abilene Christian, Grambling State, Tennessee-Martin, Missouri State, Jackson State, Louisiana-Monroe, Tarleton State, and Houston Baptist.

Raphael Orubo Raphael Orubo DL Woodbury | 2018 State MN (Woodbury/Iowa Western CC) DL. 6’4, 275 lbs.

An All-Metro Second Team pick as a senior at Woodbury, Orubo recently grabbed his first offer from Western Illinois.

Devon Richards Devon Richards ATH Simley (Inver Grove Heights) | 2019 State MN  (Simley/Iowa Central CC) DB. 6’2, 205 lbs.

Offered by Adams State University on March 29th of this year.

Jake Schwinghammer Jake Schwinghammer LB Tartan | 2021 State MN  (Tartan) LB. C/o 2021. Flipped his commitment from Iowa Western CC to St. John’s University