Top-21 Unranked Minnesota 2023s
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I hope everyone enjoyed my 46 member “Top Unranked 2022” feature yesterday that was highlighted by the length, physicality, and versatility presented by those rising senior prospects. Today, we’ll move onto the soon-to-be upperclassmen from the 2023 class of Minnesota where I’ve have identified 21 names that our subscribers need to be aware of below who are currently unranked in the state. In particular, I am a huge fan of the first five names listed and I think they have the potential to become very sought after Division 1 prospects once this 2021 season concludes. All these studs won’t be unranked for long so enjoy the sneak peek. Please enjoy and thank you for reading.
Najee Nelson (Lakeville North) CB. 5’10, 165 lbs. @najee_nelson
Recently became just the third Minnesota 2023 to earn a D1 offer as Northern Iowa pulled the trigger early in June. Brother of former StarTribune Metro Player of the Year and NDSU Bison WR Raja Nelson Raja Nelson DB Lakeville North | 2020 State MN . No film as of right now but is an accomplished 7-on-7 player and that athleticism is definitely there.
Congrats to @najee_nelson on receiving an offer from @UNIFootball!#NorthOrNone // #SweepTheShed pic.twitter.com/i120a6Atbk
— Lakeville North Football (@LNHSPantherFB) June 4, 2021
Jordan Olabaju (Maple Grove) RB. 5’10, 195 lbs. @j_tyler_o
Prolific weight room monster who squats 475 lbs. and cleans 275 lbs. as an underclassman. Sophomore tape shows a JV/varsity back capable of hurting defenses when he hits the corner with a good combination of quickness and power for a younger RB. He showed some ability to make people miss with well-timed cuts and has the leg strength and drive to power through tackle attempts and drag defenders for a couple of steps. As he continues to grow he’s got the makings of a dangerous RB and with the tradition of stud backs coming out of Maple Grove I think the potential development is there as well. Keep working, Jordan!
Hayden Bills Hayden Bills 6'4" | 255 lbs | DL Rosemount | 2023 State MN (Rosemount) FB. 6’4, 235 lbs. @bills_hayden
This is definitely a name that I would emphasize remembering going forward, folks. The rising junior just finished second in the state of Minnesota in the AA Discus Throw behind the MN Gatorade Track & Field Athlete of the Year Marcus Hansen Marcus Hansen 6'5" | DL Waseca | 2021 State MN as only a sophomore, and also finished fourth in the state in the shot put to help Rosemount win the 2021 state track and field team championships. His 10th grade film – despite it not being primarily varsity film – displays a crushing fullback who leveled linebackers in the hole and used some good natural pop as well as technical blocking skills to violently block defenders into the turf and finish plays with authority. His film is full of pancakes and hard hits, and I think he’ll be a monster on varsity next season.
Sawyer Tordsen (Fairmont) OL/DL. 6’6, 260 lbs. @SawyerTordsen
In his brief sophomore highlights I liked Tordsen’s ability to play on both the offensive and defensive lines, his long, lean frame, and how he takes on and defeats blocks. He’s got a good understanding of leverage and shows a bit of a nasty streak, and I really liked what I saw from him as an interior defensive lineman at his size. He’s going to continue growing and getting stronger and that will be a scary site for opposing player and coordinators the next two years. There’s a lot of talent on the Fairmont football team and I think they have the makings for a deep state run this fall.
Blake Stahl Blake Stahl 6'5" | 195 lbs | WR Champlin Park | 2023 State MN (Champlin Park) WR. 6’4, 195 lbs. @BlakeStahl3
Had a good showing in June’s Gopher football camp in Dinkytown and is already an experienced 7-on-7 competitor. Not much padded film that is recent but he showed a good ability to cut his routes off in a non-padded setting and a solid understanding of separation and route-running nuances.
Had a great camp today @GopherFootball thanks @Coach_Fleck for hosting a great camp‼️ pic.twitter.com/uHgYn0oxqU
— Blake Stahl (@BlakeStahl9) June 3, 2021
Ryder Patterson (Lakeville South) RB/DB. @RPatt23
I’m assuming he’s the younger brother of 2021 Cougar graduate and All-Metro DB Reid Patterson Reid Patterson QB Lakeville South | 2021 State MN . Played all over the field both offensively and defensively for the junior varsity last season and made plays as a RB, WR, DB, and in the return game. He’s a shifty running back with good vision who can also run behind his pads when he needs to. He’s also got some pop from the defensive backfield and does a good job of finding the ball when it’s in the air. There’s a lot to like, especially with how how dynamic he is, and I’m sure he’ll find a role on the varsity of Lakeville South next season.
Micah Cozad (Moorhead) OL/DL. 5’11, 250 lbs. @MicahCozad
A 2021 state weightlifting champion, Cozad’s sophomore tape shows a JV bully of a lineman whose strength and attitude show up first on film. He also played some varsity, where the Spuds coaching staff utilized his mobility and had him pull and help with double teams. Cozad is violent when blocking or taking on blocks, and he does a good job of keeping his hands inside to gain control of opponents when playing OL. His nasty side and use of leverage also help him finish as many blocks as he can, and he never quits until he hears the whistle. Moorhead has a good tradition of state weightlifting champs and participants – especially among their lineman – and I think that background will play a big role in his potential success at the varsity level next season.
Eli Pfeiffer (Walker-Hackensack-Akeley) QB. 6’, 175 lbs. @EliPfeiffer_2
Holds a 3.5 GPA. Sophomore tape shows a varsity QB with good deep ball touch and accuracy and a quick release and the awareness to get the ball out of his hand as fast as possible. He can also hit receivers when on the run and his experience as a underclassman starter at QB will serve him tremendously going forward.
Jawahn Cockfield (Stillwater) DL. 6’, 225 lbs. @Jawahn5
A really nimble and light footed young buck with good size for the DL at his age, Cockfield was a disruptive 3-4 DE prospect who sheds blocks with ease and can track down ball carriers in the backfield impressively. His closing speed for a man of his size is great, and he can make more athletic tackles for a big guy that involve laying out or adjusting in space. I think a lot of his success comes from his first step and how well he moves at his size, and if he can learn to play with a little lower of a pad level I think he’ll be a factor on varsity next season. He also trains with my dudes at LOScrimmage so I know they’re going to get him right. Go Ponies!
Austin Schultz (Moorhead) OL. 6’4, 285 lbs. @AustinSchulttz
The Moorhead Spuds have a ton of size in their 2023 class and Schultz is one of those slabs of beef with great size for a young buck. He’s close to a 1000 pound club lifter right as well, and although he doesn’t have any film right now I think that will change after this fall.
Leo Smalley (Chaska) OL. 6’3, 265 lbs. @smalley_leo
As a sophomore the Chaska Hawk lineman played on varsity and did a great job of working to the second level to block LBs and find work through the whistle, and he also was a capable 1-on-1 blocker who excelled in run support. Getting varsity tick as a sophomore on the experienced and powerful 5A Hawks OL is no joke either so I think he’s got a lot of potential going forward.
Caleb Zejdlik (East Grand Forks) OL/DE. 6’, 240 lbs. @bigblue_23
Zejdlik is a physical OL/DL prospect who gets off the ball quickly and shows some nimble feet and good balance and uses both of those qualities to efficiently get opponents into the turf, whether he’s blocking them or wrapping up ball carriers. I think he does his best work as a defensive lineman, as he can get into the backfield or work down the LOS in pursuit more like a LB than a typical DL. I also love how he seems to always be working to finish when playing on the OL, and he’s nasty when he gets you to the turf as it looks like it fricken hurts when pancakes opponents. Big name out of EGF to keep an eye on!
Orion McCoy Orion McCoy 5'10" | 270 lbs | DL Minneapolis Washburn | 2023 State MN (MPLS Washburn) OL/DL. 5’10, 245 lbs. @MccoyOrion
Not a lot of film but on his game tape he defeated a block well and made a tackle in run support. He’s got good size and will have some good experience playing in the 612 going into his junior season.
Eli Lenort (Wayzata) WR. 6’, 175 lbs. @EliLenort
No film right now but never sleep on Trojan skill players!
Bruce Soukup (Prior Lake) OLB. 6’, 180 lbs. @bruce_soukup
Camped with Bemidji State and Augsburg this summer. Sophomore season highlights show a JV outside linebacker with blitzing potential, coverage ability, tackling, and even some instincts. When he can blitz off the edge he can really do some damage once he gets to the QB which was fun to watch as well.
Emmit Tutt (Champlin Park) WR. 5’9, 140 lbs. @TuttEmmit
A little speedster of a wideout with some good route running ability who initially caught my eye after he uploaded some film of him putting in work at the Gopher camp early in June. Check it out below!
Had a good time at the @GopherFootball camp here some 1o1 clips〽️ @cprebelfootball @PrepRedzoneMN @OliverJamesWes1 pic.twitter.com/kTydVktlol
— Emmit Tutt (@TuttEmmit) June 3, 2021
Carlos Morales (Park) OL.
Came to my attention after the Park Wolfpack twitter account posted a video of him hitting a deadlift of 555 pounds. No film though.
Daniel Phillips (Buffalo) RB/LB. 6’, 185 lbs. @Daniel57248070
Laid the wood on a poor kid from Rogers while swiping across the formation and showed a ton of talent while playing varsity as a sophomore on the Buffalo defense. He flashed with some impressive reps on his sophomore tape that included interceptions, big hits, block avoidance, pursuit, and overall hustle. He even made some impact offensively in the passing game on a well-executed TE screen. He doesn’t look like a sophomore out there and I think he’s got a very bright future of football ahead of him. He’s a great addition to the 2023 rankings.
Devin Develice (Andover) TE. @DevinDevelice
Young brother of Andover’s 2022 QB Connor. JV film shows a solid WR prospect who can operate out of the slot or as a wideout and does his best work over the middle.
Kobey Sandifer (SMB) WR. 5’11, 160 lbs. @KobeySandifer4
No film yet. Does play basketball for Minnehaha and is a good athlete who could play WR or DB for the Wolfpack next season.
Andy Kaiser (Eden Prairie) OL. 6’2, 255 lbs. @AndyKaiser54
Sophomore tape shows a JV OL prospect with good size for his age and a ton of leg drive and is really hard to disengage from once he gets hands on. I love how he keeps blocking until the whistle blows and he’s a technically sound run blocker to boot.