PrepRedzoneMN Top-20 2025 Rankings Breakdown
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Yesterday was a good day. After hours of research, analysis, and evaluations I’m still ecstatic to bring to our PrepRedzoneMN subscribers the first look, introductory release of our 2025 rankings and watchlist. Consisting of a Top-20 and a 81 person watchlist,…
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Continue ReadingYesterday was a good day. After hours of research, analysis, and evaluations I’m still ecstatic to bring to our PrepRedzoneMN subscribers the first look, introductory release of our 2025 rankings and watchlist. Consisting of a Top-20 and a 81 person watchlist, we have freshman Minnesotans from up in the Iron Range to down near the Iowa border represented in the 101 member register, as well as everywhere in between. Just in case you didn’t know, it dang sure ain’t easy to play varsity football as a freshman no matter how big your school is and impressively we have more than a few prospects in our Top-20 that made big waves in their initial, and sometimes second year playing varsity ball during their first year of high school. Additionally, the rest of the ranked recruits have some noteworthy freshman/JV tape, and below I’ll breakdown and evaluate the PRzMN newcomers of the 2025 rankings. Although it’s early, and these young bucks are far from done growing, developing, and fully introducing themselves to the recruiting scene, these 20 freshman standouts have a bright future ahead of them and absolutely deserve this initial ranking and exposure. Check out who made the Top-20 below, and thank you for reading!
#1. Hank Artz Hank Artz 5'11" | 240 lbs | ATH Fairmont | 2025 State MN (Fairmont) DL/TE. 6′, 225 lbs. @ArtzHank
The younger brother of Fairmont High School senior and North Dakota State PWO signee Hudson Artz Hudson Artz 6'0" | 185 lbs | DB Fairmont | 2022 State MN , younger brother Hank has been firmly on the PRzMN radar since last season when he started on the Cardinals defensive line as only an 8th grader! At a country strong 225 lbs., he’s upped his game and responsibility on the Fairmont squad and added some TE/HB reps to his expanding role and laid many a devastating hit during the 2021 season. He’s a menace coming off the edge, as he’s strong enough to back down bigger tackles and has the lateral agility to cross face if need be, and when he gets a clean shot on the QB he makes sure to put him into the ground as hard as he possibly can. He also attacks blocking attempts with impressive ferocity, and plays balls to the wall and with excellent effort on every rep. He’ll sacrifice his body to make a play, can hold the edge with his hand in the dirt or as a standup OLB, and his freshman tape is filled with big hits and opponents hitting the dirt. There is a ton to be excited about here, and Artz was undoubtedly the #1 prospect in the 2025 class at this point in time. If you’re a fan of MN prep football is a must know name. 9th Grade Season
#2. Luke Emmerich Luke Emmerich 6'2" | 190 lbs | ATH Monticello | 2025 State MN (Monticello) QB. 6’2, 180 lbs. @luke_emmerich29
Possessing an intriguing 6’2, 180 lb. frame that is both big for his age and built to add a lot more potential mass, Emmerich got QB1 reps for the Monticello Magic in 2021 and put some good things on film including nice zip and accuracy on his shorter throws, the toughness to hang in the pocket and deliver strikes with a big hit bearing down on him, and even the athleticism to make some impressive catches from the WR position as well as help out on special teams as a returner. He could potentially play all over the field over the next three years as well as in college, and has the attitude and on field comfortability of someone much older than a freshman. His versatility, confidence, frame, and overall athleticism are the main reasons he’s holding down the #2 spot in our 2025 rankings. I’m excited to see how he continues to grow and develop going forward. Freshman SZN
#3. Jacari Swinea Jacari Swinea 6'1" | 180 lbs | ATH Worthington | 2025 State MN (Worthington) RB. 5’10, 175 lbs. @JacariSwinea
RB1 in this initial 2025 MN rankings comes out of the small Worthington program in Southwest Minnesota. Despite putting a few kids into the junior college ranks over the past decade, Swinea has a very good chance of becoming the Trojans most hotly recruited football prospect of all time. Displays a long, lean frame that will be able to hold a lot more weight and muscle as he keeps growing and shows burst and speed out on the edge as a ball carrier. In addition to his homerun ability he made a eye-popping run around :55 seconds into his freshman tape where he slips through a tackler in the backfield and then cuts, dances, and shoots through clumps of defenders into the second level of the defense for an impressively balanced carry that made something out of nothing. He can also catch the rock out of the backfield and has noteworthy contact balance for his age and size. He’s fun to watch run the rock and has a wide skillset for a young buck in his first year of high school. Safe to say more exciting runs are coming! Keep it up, Jacari. C/o 2025
#4. Jaden Blanck (Winona) RB. 5’10, 170 lbs. @jadenblanck
RB2 of the PRzMN 2025 rankings is a former Wabasha-Kellogg standout who transferred to Winona going into his first year of high school and showed out on the Winhawks varsity gridiron throughout 2021. For 170 lbs., he’s a total truckstick, who ran over more than a few attempted tacklers this fall in exciting and physical fashion. He also has a noticeably strong lower body (pushing a 315 squat) that can slip through tackle attempts at his legs and drag defenders for extra yardage. He’s also got a good jump cut at the LOS and some solid feet in the open field and is a balanced back for his age who is going to become even less fun to tackle as he adds more winters in the weight room under his belt. You got a fan in me, Jaden!
#5. Xavier Fleming Xavier Fleming 6'3" | 220 lbs | DL Park Center | 2025 State MN (Park Center) DE. 6’2, 195 lbs.
The Park Center Pirates have some very exciting young bucks coming up in their program. The most attractive of the bunch at this point in time comes in to round out our Top-5 in the long, physical, 6’2, 195 lb. DE Xavier Fleming Xavier Fleming 6'3" | 220 lbs | DL Park Center | 2025 State MN . Despite his age and lightness for the varsity defensive line spot he uses his long arms, heavy hands, and natural strength to split combo blocks and double team attempts and can withstand chips and 1-on-1 blocking attempts depending on the OT. He can use his quickness to get off the ball well as beat blockers through their inside shoulder, and shows sideline-to-sideline pursuit ability/effort and some strong tackling to boot. With good size for a 14-15 year old it’s a safe bet he’s got a lot of growing left, which is quite exciting in the eyes of a recruiters and college programs, and he’s got a high ceiling and is a heckuva way to wrap up the Top-5. Full SZN highlights
#6. Tony Kollie Tony Kollie 6'0" | 210 lbs | LB Robbinsdale Cooper | 2025 State MN (Robbinsdale Cooper) LB. 6′, 185 lbs. @TonyKollie
In a program known for putting out studs at the skill positions and has a good tradition of LBs from the past decade, I am very excited about what I see from varsity contributor Tony Kollie Tony Kollie 6'0" | 210 lbs | LB Robbinsdale Cooper | 2025 State MN . He posted 32 tackles and 2 TFLs in his opening introduction to MN high school football and possesses solid size for a freshman ‘backer. He shows the quickness to evade blocks, the ability to recognize runs before they fully develop to make tackles in the backfield, and the strength to finish tackles/plays against upperclassman when given the opportunity. He lined up at both the MLB and OLB spots and has a knack for staying around the football. If he can add some strength and weight this offseason he’s going to be able to begin driving these ball carriers backwards and bringing more authority to his tackles, and that’s going to be a scary sight for 5A RBs and QBs the next three years. Rooting for you, Tony! Freshman highlight reel
#7. Khalif Brown Khalif Brown 6'1" | 190 lbs | WR Benilde-St. Margaret's | 2025 State MN (Benilde-St. Margaret’s) WR. 6′, 175 lbs. @KhalifBrown11
Coming in at #7 on our introductory 2025 rankings comes from Benilde-St. Margaret’s Red Knights and their baller of a freshman wideout Khalif Brown Khalif Brown 6'1" | 190 lbs | WR Benilde-St. Margaret's | 2025 State MN . A surefire Top-10 prospect with one of the most electric tapes of anyone on the entire rankings, Brown’s tape is filled with big blocks, explosive cuts, and broken ankles of would-be tacklers against the quick, tough, and athletic wideout in St. Louis Park. He’s got great elusiveness in the open field and looks like he can consistently make the first man miss with the ball in his hands, the fearlessness to finish catches through contact and big hits, and the overall athleticism to turn small completions into bigger plays and momentum building conversions. He’s certainly poised to be WR1 for the next three years as well as one of the most elusive and exciting prospects in the entire class. Check out his tape if you haven’t already —> 2021 Season
#8. Brady Schornstein Brady Schornstein 5'11" | 190 lbs | DB Champlin Park | 2025 State MN (Champlin Park) QB/ATH. 5’9, 155 lbs. @bradyschornste1
The first 6A recruit on the rankings, Schornstein split time on varsity and JV in 2021 but got meaningful tick on the Rebels varsity offense, which should tell you something about his athleticism and talent as a prospect. He’s got some speed and shake in the open field when he tucks it and runs, and I like his hard-nosed attitude of trying to run defenders over despite his freshman physique and stature. I also love how he will hang in there to deliver a ball downfield through contact, and that toughness extends to his execution as a read-option QB. He’s got touch and some accuracy as a passer, but his strengths as of right now lie with his legs and ability as a ball carrier. No matter where he plays he’s a competitor and a playmaker and I’d want him to touch the ball as much as possible going forward. Also a standout baseball player. 2021 tape
#9. Elijah Johnson Elijah Johnson 5'9" | 190 lbs | RB Fairmont | 2025 State MN (Fairmont) RB/LB. 5’8, 180 lbs. @ElijahLJohnson8
It’s quite exciting to see another Fairmont Cardinal crack the Top-10 of the introductory 2025 rankings. Johnson, like his co-rankee Artz at #1, is noticeably strong compared to his peers and made plays in multiple phases of the game. He had a couple of nice kick returns that showcased his vision as well as some burst, and a lot of those same strengths show up when he lines up in the backfield as a RB for Fairmont’s offense. Johnson also contributed on defense as a hard hitting LB, and after watching him lay the wood on a kickoff rep a minute and 15 seconds into his freshman tape I’m inclined to believe his future lies on the defensive side of the ball. Either way, he’s dynamic, physical, and strong, and I’m happy to see that Fairmont is continuing to grow into a Minnesota recruiting hotbed. Wreck that weight room this winter, Elijah!
#10. Connor Cade Connor Cade 5'9" | 185 lbs | RB Lakeville South | 2025 State MN (Lakeville South) RB. @connor_cade24
The first primarily JV player to certify himself as a ranked freshman in Minnesota comes out of 6A metro powerhouse Lakeville South. Although he didn’t play varsity ball in his year of high school, Cade had some ridiculous JV/frosh highlights filled with spins, cuts on a dime, top end speed, and an overall exciting offensive skillset. Lakeville has a really strong youth football program, so there are a lot of underclassmen competing for playing time at both South and North, and the Cougars already have a loaded offensive backfield at the varsity level, so it’s hard to hold his lack of playing time on varsity against him. The majority of JV standouts I watch in Minnesota translate that skill and playmaking ability to the next level, so I don’t see why Cade would be any different. He’s fun to watch and has a bright future ahead of him in a rushing attack built for RBs. Freshman Tape
#11. Miskir Esayas Miskir Esayas 6'1" | 175 lbs | QB Park of Cottage Grove | 2025 State MN (Park of Cottage Grove) ATH. 5’11, 150 lbs. @EsayasMiskir
Esayas plays for the prestigious Howard Pulley AAU program and doubles it up and shows a lot of potential on the gridiron as well. He scored 17 TDs in eight games at the JV level in 2021 and looks fast and explosive on film with big kickoff returns, long runs, downfield throws with accuracy, and a ton of splash play ability from a variety of positions. He’s a natural football player who can make a play for your offense wherever you put him, and I’m pumped to see him compete at the varsity level in the coming years. Good luck during basketball season, Miskir! Freshman Year highlights
#12. Dallas Hanson Dallas Hanson 6'2" | 260 lbs | OL Lake City | 2025 State MN (Lake City) DL/OL. 6’1, 220 lbs. @B1GD23
The Lake City Tigers have a strong 2022 recruiting class and look to continue that momentum with a potentially big time prospect in freshman lineman Dallas Hanson Dallas Hanson 6'2" | 260 lbs | OL Lake City | 2025 State MN . The 220 lber. split time between JV and varsity in his inaugural high school season and shows some strength and quickness as a defensive lineman who can impact the passing game as a rusher. He also got significant time at LT and displayed the power to move weaker opponents our of their gap and the leg drive to finish blocks when given the opportunity. If he keeps growing and adding to that noteworthy size he’s going to be a force the next three years. Freshman Year
#13. Meyer Swinney Meyer Swinney 6'4" | 210 lbs | WR Edina | 2025 State MN (Edina) WR. 6’2, 175 lbs. @meyer_swinney
The younger brother of 2021 Top-5 Minnesota recruit and Cal-Berkeley OT Bastian Swinney, Meyer shows off that noteworthy size in his freshman/JV tape and plays like a XL receiver who can power through tackle attempts, high point the football, and make catches through contact. He’s a big play machine for the non-varsity Edina Hornets and with how big his brother got I am quite pumped to see how he continues to grow and what position is primarily in his future. If I had to put money it right now, I’d bet tight end, but let’s reevaluate after next season and see what strides the younger Swinney has made on and off the field. Midseason Freshman Year
#14. Jack Yerhot Jack Yerhot 5'10" | 170 lbs | DB Minnetonka | 2025 State MN (Minnetonka) QB/SS. 5’11, 155 lbs. @JackYerhot37
Accounted for 1,986 total yards and 19 TDs in his first season of high school football and showcases the skills and athleticism of some of his stud Minnetonka Skippers QB forefathers such as Braden Sikes and Aaron Syverson. What I mean by that is Yerhot possesses poise in the pocket, a nice arm, and legitimate big play ability with his legs whether he is improvising or when he tucks it and runs. He shows all of this and more in his freshman tape and made some accurate throws in and outside of the pocket on a variety of routes and the speed to outrun angles and take advantage of bad leverage and team defense by opponents. I think he’s the Skippers QB of the future and I’m looking forward to the day he suits up under the Friday night lights on the varsity gridiron of “Tonka. Freshman SZN
#15. Harold Nkwelle-Mesumbe (Rochester Century) ATH. 5’10, 175 lbs. @juniormes8
Played varsity, JV, and freshman ball in his first year of high school and solidified himself as a big hitter who uses his hands well to disengage from blockers, has some bend off the edge as a blitzer, and can play multiple positions on both defense and special teams. He lays the wood any chance he gets and explodes through ball carriers and can finish plays when given the opportunity. He had a big varsity performance against cross-town rival Mayo and looked disruptive from a standup OLB/DE spot and consistently showed up to impact an opposing offense every game he played in during the 2021 season. Big hits are my favorite part of football and he’s got that knack for cracking kids that keeps a prospect on my radar for a long time. More thumps are coming! Freshman highlights
#16. Gavin Caswell Gavin Caswell 6'1" | 195 lbs | QB Rosemount | 2025 State MN (Rosemount) QB. 6′, 160 lbs. @GavinCaswell1
The three-sport athlete had a nice season on non-varsity for the Irish and went 60-101 for 1,123 yards through the air and 16 TDs to four interceptions. He also added 932 rushing yards and nine 9 TDs on the ground. His highlights go game by game so there is a lot of film to go through, but Caswell has dual-threat capability with noteworthy speed that defenses always have to account for. He also made a solid variety of throws from the pocket and has solid arm strength and accuracy for his age and size. QB is a tough position to evaluate so young so I’ll be keeping a close eye on the Rosemount standout in the coming years, but he’s definitely a strong athlete who can produce for an offense in a variety of ways. ’21 Season highlights
#17. Riley Grossman Riley Grossman 6'1" | 185 lbs | QB Lakeville North | 2025 State MN (Lakeville North) QB. 6′, 165 lbs.
Also a standout basketball player, Grossman has some limited game tape but in the available clips it’s easy to see the lefty gunslinger has some arm talent and can sling that rock downfield with no problem whatsoever. The ball flies out of his hand and he can make throws in and outside of the pocket with accuracy and touch.
#18. Luke DeChene Luke DeChene 6'0" | 200 lbs | LB Anoka | 2025 MN (Anoka) ATH. 5’10, 170 lbs. @DecheneLuke
A do-it-all JV athlete who made a ton of splash plays from his WR position for the Tornadoes, DeChene has soft hands and concentration that serves him well when making catches in traffic or through contact. He also displays some elusiveness and tackle breaking ability after the catch and is a strong 170 pounds who will see varsity reps sooner rather than later. Freshman Games 5-9
#19. Brock Wyandt Brock Wyandt 6'0" | 180 lbs | WR Farmington | 2025 State MN (Farmington) WR. 6′ @BrockWyandt
Lacking in film but younger brother of stud Apple Valley senior QB Tim Wyandt Tim Wyandt 6'0" | 165 lbs | QB Apple Valley | 2022 State MN and has good size for a freshman.
#20. Mason King Mason King WR Caledonia | 2025 MN (Caledonia) WR. @kingmasonj23
The cousin of the illustrious King family of Caledonia royalty, fellow PrepRedzoneMN scout Nate Wahl saw King play basketball live for PrepHoopsNext and said the athleticism and skillset was already present in the young buck. No film, but you’d be a fool to bet against a Caledonia underclassman who already has received high praise from coaches in the program, much less a King. Big things coming, Mason. We’re excited!