Returning senior talent: Class 5A
In this article:
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…
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Continue ReadingFirst, 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.
Rochester John Marshall 4 players ranked by PRZ
Ben Laack
Ben
Laack
6'3" | 280 lbs | OL
Rochester John Marshall | 2022
State
MN
OL,
Peter Ladu
Peter
Ladu
6'1" | 180 lbs | WR
Rochest John Marshall | 2022
State
MN
WR,
Danny Ta
Danny
Ta
WR
Rochester John Marshall | 2022
State
MN
WR,
Thout Aguek
Thout
Aguek
ATH
Rochester John Marshall | 2022
State
MN
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.
Rochester Mayo 4 players ranked by PRZ
Michael Mankaka WR,
Cayden Holcomb
Cayden
Holcomb
5'10" | 180 lbs | ATH
Rochester Mayo | 2022
State
MN
ATH,
Bennett Ellsworth
Bennett
Ellsworth
6'2" | 200 lbs | QB
Rochester Mayo | 2022
State
MN
QB,
Caden DeJong
Caden
DeJong
6'3" | 250 lbs | OL
Rochester Mayo | 2022
State
MN
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.
Moorhead 4 players ranked by PRZ
Jack Teiken
Jack
Teiken
6'4" | 255 lbs | DL
Moorhead | 2022
State
MN
DL,
Jamal Dixon
Jamal
Dixon
6'2" | 180 lbs | DB
Moorhead | 2022
State
MN
DB,
Zane Linn
Zane
Linn
6'4" | 280 lbs | OL
Moorhead | 2022
State
MN
OL,
Alonn Salman
Alonn
Salman
6'2" | 185 lbs | WR
Moorhead | 2022
State
MN
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.
Robbinsdale Cooper 7 players ranked by PRZ
Camden Royal
Camden
Royal
5'10" | 175 lbs | RB
Cooper | 2022
State
MN
RB,
Joseph Russell
Joseph
Russell
6'0" | 180 lbs | QB
Cooper | 2022
State
MN
QB, David Connors Jr. WR,
Elijah Enna
Elijah
Enna
5'10" | 235 lbs | OL
Cooper | 2022
State
MN
OL,
AJ Rhines
AJ
Rhines
5'11" | 260 lbs | DL
Cooper | 2022
State
MN
DL,
Donte Williams
Donte
Williams
6'2" | 195 lbs | WR
Cooper | 2022
State
MN
WR,
Adam Wodtke
Adam
Wodtke
6'0" | 195 lbs | LB
Robbinsdale Cooper | 2022
State
MN
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.
Robbinsdale Armstrong 4 players ranked by PRZ
Jordan McClom
Jordan
McClom
6'0" | 180 lbs | DB
Armstrong | 2022
State
MN
DB,
Kayden College
Kayden
College
6'4" | 195 lbs | WR
Armstrong | 2022
State
MN
WR,
Eustace Mcgowan
Eustace
Mcgowan
ATH
Robbinsdale Armstrong | 2022
State
MN
ATH,
Quantez Ward
Quantez
Ward
ATH
Robbinsdale Armstrong | 2022
State
MN
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.
Minneapolis Southwest 4 players ranked by PRZ
Charlie Boucher
Charlie
Boucher
6'3" | 230 lbs | TE
MPLS Southwest | 2022
State
MN
TE,
Preston Engen
Preston
Engen
6'2" | 175 lbs | QB
MPLS Southwest | 2022
State
MN
QB,
Brayden Engrav
Brayden
Engrav
6'3" | 280 lbs | OL
MPLS Southwest | 2022
State
MN
OL,
Keandre Brown
Keandre
Brown
5'10" | 200 lbs | ATH
MPLS Southwest | 2022
State
MN
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.
Park of Cottage Grove 4 players ranked by PRZ
Evan Bearth
Evan
Bearth
6'4" | 190 lbs | QB
Park of Cottage Grove | 2022
State
MN
QB,
Treyton Bammert-Mueller
Treyton
Bammert-Mueller
6'5" | 230 lbs | ATH
Park of Cottage Grove | 2022
State
MN
ATH,
Shane Lewis
Shane
Lewis
6'2" | 275 lbs | DL
Park | 2022
State
MN
DL,
Micah Runion
Micah
Runion
5'10" | 170 lbs | DB
Park of Cottage Grove | 2022
State
MN
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.
Park Center 9 players ranked by PRZ
Austin Ayobamidele
Austin
Ayobamidele
6'3" | 175 lbs | WR
Park Center | 2022
State
MN
WR,
Clinton Adebomi
Clinton
Adebomi
5'10" | 165 lbs | ATH
Park Center | 2022
State
MN
ATH,
Ismael Kante
Ismael
Kante
6'1" | 195 lbs | LB
Park Center | 2022
State
MN
LB,
James Spencer III
James
Spencer III
6'6" | 220 lbs | DL
Park Center | 2022
State
MN
DL,
Micha Hobin
Micha
Hobin
5'10" | 185 lbs | ATH
Park Center | 2022
State
MN
ATH,
Kellen Kopp
Kellen
Kopp
6'3" | 230 lbs | OL
Park Center | 2022
State
MN
OL,
Marcus Freeman
Marcus
Freeman
6'1" | 185 lbs | ATH
Park Center | 2022
State
MN
ATH,
Jonathan Young
Jonathan
Young
5'9" | 175 lbs | LB
Park Center | 2022
MN
LB,
Chris Frazier
Chris
Frazier
WR
Park Center | 2022
State
MN
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.