Returning senior talent – 4A
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Continuing my look at teams with a solid senior class returning in 2021, I look at Class 4A. By chance, if you want to find returning senior talent, head to the south Metro and keep moving in that direction. With…
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Continue ReadingContinuing my look at teams with a solid senior class returning in 2021, I look at Class 4A. By chance, if you want to find returning senior talent, head to the south Metro and keep moving in that direction. With all but one team in that direction, the south – at least in Minnesota – shall rise with talent this season.
Hutchinson 5 players ranked by PRZ
Sam Rensch Sam Rensch 6'6" | 205 lbs | DB Hutchinson | 2022 State MN DB, Colin Nagel Colin Nagel 6'3" | 230 lbs | TE Hutchinson | 2022 State MN TE, Aaron Elliott Aaron Elliott 6'3" | 215 lbs | LB Hutchinson | 2022 State MN LB, Mitchell Piehl Mitchell Piehl 6'0" | 170 lbs | RB Hutchinson | 2022 State MN RB, Nolan Prokosch Nolan Prokosch 5'9" | 170 lbs | RB Hutchinson | 2022 State MN RB
Everyone knows Hutch likes to run the ball down opponents’ throats, and they are off to a good start with that plan. Although Nagel may be moving positions, they are returning Piehl and Nagel – their two leading rushers from 2020. They return plenty of experience on the defensive side of the ball too. Elliot was second on the team in tackles, and Rensch – who will play basketball at the next level – returns to anchor the secondary. Read more on Rensch here.
Jordan 5 players ranked by PRZ
Peyton Nawrocki Peyton Nawrocki 6'2" | 260 lbs | OL Jordan | 2022 State MN OL, Zach Schlicht Zach Schlicht 6'2" | 255 lbs | OL Jordan | 2022 State MN OL, Ashton Sivilay Ashton Sivilay 6'0" | 170 lbs | WR Jordan | 2022 State MN WR, Noah Millhouse Noah Millhouse 5'11" | 170 lbs | QB Jordan | 2022 State MN QB, Ben Swanson Ben Swanson ATH Jordan | 2022 State MN ATH
Returning a starting quarterback who completed nearly 65 percent of his passes in Millhouse is a great place to start. Add to that; Millhouse gets his top target from last year – Sivilay. Additionally, the offensive and defensive lines are anchored by athletic interior lineman Nawrock and the powerful Schlicht on the edge of both offensive and defensive lines.
Mankato East 7 players ranked by PRZ
Jacob Eggert Jacob Eggert 6'1" | 195 lbs | QB Mankato East | 2022 State MN QB, Puolrah Gong Puolrah Gong 6'6" | 170 lbs | WR Mankato East | 2022 State MN WR, Gus Gartzke Gus Gartzke 5'9" | 185 lbs | LB Mankato-East | 2022 State MN LB, Wyatt Rodriguez Wyatt Rodriguez 6'0" | 280 lbs | OL Mankato-East | 2022 State MN OL, Braden Letourneau Braden Letourneau 6'2" | 255 lbs | OL Mankato-East | 2022 State MN OL, Diego Reyes Diego Reyes ATH Mankato-East | 2022 State MN ATH, Nathaniel Drumm Nathaniel Drumm WR Mankato-East | 2022 State MN WR
East returns one of the best quarterbacks in the state. For more on Eggert – check out a previous feature I did on the quarterback. Although they lose their top two receivers, East will be relying on two experienced pass-catchers in Drumm and Gong. Forty percent of the offensive line is also back. Rodriguez is a physical mountain of a man at center and a two-way, athletic man in the trenches in Letourneau.
Mankato West 7 players ranked by PRZ
Mekhi Collins Mekhi Collins 6'4" | 205 lbs | WR Mankato West | 2022 State MN WR, Gannon Rosenfeld Gannon Rosenfeld 6'3" | 220 lbs | DL Mankato West | 2022 State MN DL, Ryan Haley Ryan Haley 6'0" | 205 lbs | LB Mankato-West | 2022 State MN LB, Zander Dittbenner Zander Dittbenner 6'0" | 195 lbs | QB Mankato-West | 2022 State MN QB, Walker Britz Walker Britz 6'1" | RB Mankato-West | 2022 State MN RB, Aidan Wall Aidan Wall ATH Mankato-West | 2022 MN ATH, Hayden Hartman Hayden Hartman 6'2" | 185 lbs | LB Mankato-West | 2022 State MN LB
There should be a lot of good football played in the town of Mankato, as East’s cross-town rival – Mankato West, is coming off an undefeated season and has seven significant contributors returning. I will beat this drum until I am done writing about football but bringing back experience at the quarterback position is critical. Dittbenner completed 60 percent of his passes and had a better than three to one touchdown to interception rate. Collins is one of the most explosive offensive players in the state. Haley and Rosenfeld finished one and two in tackles. Rosenfeld led the team with seven sacks – finishing ahead of Haley’s three sacks.
SMB 5 players ranked by PRZ
Chase Carter Chase Carter 6'6" | 220 lbs | DL SMB | 2022 State MN DL, Michael Hall Michael Hall 6'1" | 220 lbs | LB SMB | 2022 State MN LB, Sanjay Redd Sanjay Redd 5'10" | 165 lbs | RB SMB | 2022 State MN RB, Luke Sugalski Luke Sugalski 6'5" | 240 lbs | OL SMB Football (The Blake School) | 2022 State MN OL, Charlie Johnson Charlie Johnson 6'3" | 180 lbs | QB SMB | 2022 State MN QB
The Wolfpack returns possibly the best player in the state with Michigan State commit Carter. For more detail on Carter – check out this feature on him. On the offensive side of the ball, Redd’s speed and quickness help him do a little bit of everything – including returning kicks. Speaking of returning, they will welcome back running back/linebacker Hall – who was a significant contributor as a sophomore but missed his junior season with an injury. Sugalski is a long, athlete lineman who returns at one of the tackle spots.