Returning senior talent: Class 5A

First, I looked at the Class of 2022 player rankings from a 6A point of view. Now, we transition to the teams in 5A who dominate our rankings. These teams run the entire spectrum of 2021 results; an undefeated team from ’20 and a team that failed to win a game. Both teams come into this season with a ton of experience. <strong>Rochester John Marshall</strong> 4 players ranked by PRZ [player_tooltip player_id="49850" first="Ben" last="Laack"] OL, [player_tooltip player_id="18542" first="Peter" last="Ladu"] WR, [player_tooltip player_id="18557" first="Danny" last="Ta"] WR, [player_tooltip player_id="49929" first="Thout" last="Aguek"] WR Starting with a physical, experienced interior lineman, Rochester John Marshall’s Laack will be a four-year starter. Laack also has great feet for a player his size. Ladu gives the team a deep threat on the outside who also helps at corner. Ta will give the Rockets a second guy who can stretch the defense. Aguek adds a third guy on the outside with varsity experience. <strong>Rochester Mayo</strong> 4 players ranked by PRZ [player_tooltip player_id="116202" first="Michael" last="Mankaka"] WR, [player_tooltip player_id="116208" first="Cayden" last="Holcomb"] ATH, [player_tooltip player_id="116270" first="Bennett" last="Ellsworth"] QB, [player_tooltip player_id="116488" first="Caden" last="DeJong"] OL Ellsworth returns under center. He is coming off a season in which he threw thirteen touchdown passes against just two interceptions. Two of those touchdowns were thrown to Holcomb, who was the Spartans’ leading receiver in 2020. Holcomb not only led the team in receptions, but the two-way player also led the team in tackles and interceptions. DeLong is a mauler at left tackle who will continue to keep Ellsworth in a clean pocket. <strong>Moorhead</strong> 4 players ranked by PRZ [player_tooltip player_id="18446" first="Jack" last="Teiken"] DL, [player_tooltip player_id="116251" first="Jamal" last="Dixon"] DB, [player_tooltip player_id="18544" first="Zane" last="Linn"] OL, [player_tooltip player_id="18552" first="Alonn" last="Salman"] WR While the Spuds will have to replace a ton of talent on the offensive side of the ball from their undefeated season of 2020, they have an excellent place to start on the line of scrimmage with Teiken – one of the state’s top defensive linemen and Linn. The latter will be a welcome addition after rehabbing from an injury. He has been on the radar of plenty of schools in the Midwest. North Dakota commit Dixon will anchor the secondary by bringing his ability to play the pass and the run with equal efficiency. <strong>Robbinsdale Cooper</strong> 7 players ranked by PRZ [player_tooltip player_id="18433" first="Camden" last="Royal"] RB, [player_tooltip player_id="18441" first="Joseph" last="Russell"] QB, David Connors Jr. WR, [player_tooltip player_id="18528" first="Elijah" last="Enna"] OL, [player_tooltip player_id="18550" first="AJ" last="Rhines"] DL, [player_tooltip player_id="18563" first="Donte" last="Williams"] WR, [player_tooltip player_id="49871" first="Adam" last="Wodtke"] LB The Hawks return their leading passer, rusher, and receiver from last season. Royal is one of the most complete backs in the state, and Russell completed two-thirds of his passes with a four-to-one touchdown to interception ratio. Four of those touchdown throws went to Williams, who averaged 75-yards per game. Wodtke will likely be asked to shoulder more of the load defensively as Cooper graduated their top three tacklers – leaving Wodtke as the leading returning tackler. <strong>Robbinsdale Armstrong</strong> 4 players ranked by PRZ [player_tooltip player_id="116195" first="Jordan" last="McClom"] DB, [player_tooltip player_id="49865" first="Kayden" last="College"] WR, [player_tooltip player_id="49942" first="Eustace" last="Mcgowan"] ATH, [player_tooltip player_id="49949" first="Quantez" last="Ward"] ATH McClom returns as last season’s interception leader. He nearly averaged one pick per game as a junior. He is also one of the most dangerous kick returners; he took three kicks back to the house in 2020. McGowan is a physical slot receiver who uses his body well against defenders. College returns as the team’s leading receiver. Ward is a dual-threat option on offense, lining up at receiver and quarterback his junior season. <strong>Minneapolis Southwest</strong> 4 players ranked by PRZ [player_tooltip player_id="49953" first="Charlie" last="Boucher"] TE, [player_tooltip player_id="116282" first="Preston" last="Engen"] QB, [player_tooltip player_id="49866" first="Brayden" last="Engrav"] OL, [player_tooltip player_id="49955" first="Keandre" last="Brown"] ATH Engen will be back behind center in 2021. He throws a tremendous deep ball with enough arm strength to get the ball downfield, even on the run. He will be throwing and running behind ultra-physical right tackle Engrav – who never seems to give up on a block – even if he has already driven his man ten yards downfield. Boucher will be one of Engen’s returning targets at the tight end position, but his most significant impact will likely be on the defensive line. As a junior, Boucher collected eight sacks in just seven games. As a stand-up defensive end, he puts pressure on the quarterback without disregarding his responsibilities setting the edge. <strong>Park of Cottage Grove</strong> 4 players ranked by PRZ [player_tooltip player_id="49893" first="Evan" last="Bearth"] QB, [player_tooltip player_id="116459" first="Treyton" last="Bammert-Mueller"] ATH, [player_tooltip player_id="18543" first="Shane" last="Lewis"] DL, [player_tooltip player_id="49870" first="Micah" last="Runion"] DB Bearth returns to start behind center for the Wolfpack. He completed nearly 70 percent of his passes last season and has a great arm. He can quickly load up a deep ball off his back foot. Being able to throw behind someone like right tackle Lewis doesn’t hurt. Bearth will be throwing to two of his top three receivers from last year in Runion and Bammert-Mueller. Bammert-Mueller is Park’s Jack of all trades. Defensive end, tight end, kicker, or punter, he puts his stamp on the game in all three phases of the game. <strong>Park Center</strong> 9 players ranked by PRZ [player_tooltip player_id="116212" first="Austin" last="Ayobamidele"] WR, [player_tooltip player_id="116259" first="Clinton" last="Adebomi"] ATH, [player_tooltip player_id="18537" first="Ismael" last="Kante"] LB, [player_tooltip player_id="116283" first="James" last="Spencer III"] DL, [player_tooltip player_id="116455" first="Micha" last="Hobin"] ATH, [player_tooltip player_id="116489" first="Kellen" last="Kopp"] OL, [player_tooltip player_id="116479" first="Marcus" last="Freeman"] ATH, [player_tooltip player_id="18518" first="Jonathan" last="Young"] LB, [player_tooltip player_id="49905" first="Chris" last="Frazier"] WR The Pirates struggled through a winless season in 2020, but they have plenty of talent coming back to attempt to turn things around. Ayobamidele led the team in receiving last season, and fellow seniors Frazier and Hobin were second and third on the team. Linebacker Kante led the team in tackling – doubling the next closest teammate’s total.