2023 MN Rankings Update: 12 Biggest Stock Risers
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Although there is always a lot of excitement around the initial publishing and announcement of an updated PrepRedzoneMN rankings class, a true update is never properly finished until we have posted the “Top Newcomers” and “Stock Risers” articles. Now that we have…
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Continue ReadingAlthough there is always a lot of excitement around the initial publishing and announcement of an updated PrepRedzoneMN rankings class, a true update is never properly finished until we have posted the “Top Newcomers” and “Stock Risers” articles. Now that we have gotten into the meat of the recent MN 2023 update and have a few articles under our belts highlighting some newcomers, well-built LBs, and returning ballhawks, I believe it’s time for the always-important “Stock Risers” installment. This is one of the best tests available for tracking and later predicting the growth of recruits year-to-year, and I’m excited to detail for you guys which Minnesota preps have put in a ton of work both physically and mentally and saw their name significantly climb up the rankings now that this new update is complete. Before we get going, I do want to make note that it had been a solid year since the last update, so in my defense, some of these rankings came when the prospect had limited or sometimes zero available film. However, some of these I simply missed or did not do my due diligence when trying to get an evaluation on, so I’m not trying to sit here and give myself every excuse available. Either way, there were some very impressive ranking jumps from prospects all around the Metro and beyond, and below I have the details on the most significant ranking climbs of the 2023 class in Minnesota. Thanks for reading!
Chiddi Obiazor Chiddi Obiazor 6'6" | 220 lbs | DL Eden Prairie | 2023 State MN (Eden Prairie) WR/DE. 6’6, 230 lbs. Jumped from 61 to 10 (51 spots)
It’s a little too easy to compare former Eagle great Jermaine Johnson and rising senior Chiddi Obiazor Chiddi Obiazor 6'6" | 220 lbs | DL Eden Prairie | 2023 State MN , but there are hints of the formers game in the 6’6, 230 lb. D1 football and basketball recruit Obiazor. With a good get-off as well as length, speed, and natural athleticism for days, Chiddi is following in the footsteps of older brother Namdi (now at Texas Christian) and is well on the way to playing big-time football as he recently earned an FBS offer from Ohio and has more on the way. He also tore up the Gophers prospect camp last summer, which leads me to believe he is going to turn some heads on this upcoming camp season as I like his potential at either the TE or DE position. His junior highlights are limited, but with his ceiling and athletic traits, it was easy to move the Eden Prairie Eagle standout up from 61st in the state up to #10.
Martin Owusu Martin Owusu 6'4" | 270 lbs | DL Prior Lake | 2023 State MN (Prior Lake) DL. 6’3, 265 lbs. Jumped from 18 to 7 (11 spots)
Not the largest jump on the list, but still notable in the fact that Owusu has continued to improve despite already being one of the better prospects in the state. Although eyes were on him as a young buck, the Prior Lake product stayed hungry and determined to become the best prospect he could be and has been rewarded for his efforts as he is now one of – if not the most – popular recruits in the state. The 6’3, 265 lb. defensive lineman, heavyweight wrestler, and multi-time PrepRedzoneMN Showcase veteran has been offered by North Dakota State, UMass, New Mexico State, Ohio, Western Illinois, Kent State, Bowling Green, Miami (OH), Toledo, Utah State, Western Michigan, Akron, South Dakota, Central Michigan, Illinois State, Wyoming, and UNI and is receiving interest from Nebraska (visited), Minnesota (visited), Vanderbilt, Kansas (visited), and Iowa State (visited). He is closing in on that coveted P5 offer and will need a strong summer and some impressive senior tape for someone to pull the trigger, and if he can build on the already impressive strengths he shows on film I can absolutely see that happening. His junior tape displays a powerful punch when defeating blocks in run defense and can run downline near the LOS with good speed for his size when pursuing ball carriers. He also freezes RBs and QBs in their tracks when he puts his pads on them and has a quick first step that can help him beat linemen off the snap past their inside or outside shoulders. I also like his positional versatility on the DL and ability to play the 5T defensive spot or slide inside at the 3T. He has inarguably earned a Top-10 ranking and bumped up from 18 to 7 in the latest update. He may not be done either!
Levi Teetzel Levi Teetzel 5'11" | 190 lbs | ATH Hutchinson | 2023 State MN (Hutchinson) ATH. 5’11, 200 lbs. Jumped from 44 to 23 (21 spots)
A really interesting prospect out of the 2023 class comes out powerhouse Hutchinson and their seemingly endless supply of dynamic and explosive athletes who project to a variety of positions at the next level. Out of the 2023 class comes from All-District RB Levi Teetzel Levi Teetzel 5'11" | 190 lbs | ATH Hutchinson | 2023 State MN , who posted 176 rushing attempts for 1,530 yards and 17 TDs to go along with 25 tackles and three interceptions defensively as the Tigers pounced their way to a ’21 Class 4A state title. He’s a thought-provoking projection to the college ranks, as I could potentially see the 5’11, 200 pounder at RB, LB, or even S at the next level, and am a huge fan of the combination of speed, contact balance, and physicality he brings to the table in his junior tape. His feet and vision lend themselves to his production at the RB position, and he did a great job of keeping defenses on their toes in 2021 because he could run by you or run through you depending on the situation. He broke a ton of tackles and popped off many huge runs in his junior campaign and will be the primary workhorse of the Tigers offense as they look to repeat as state champions in 2022. I’m not the only one to have noticed Teetzel’s potential, as he took a visit to the Minnesota Gophers junior day and has also checked out South Dakota, St. Thomas, and North Dakota State. A solid sophomore season in 2020 saw him earn the 44th spot in the state and after the latest update Levi Teetzel Levi Teetzel 5'11" | 190 lbs | ATH Hutchinson | 2023 State MN is sitting at #23 overall in Minnesota’s 2023 class.
Greg Johnson Greg Johnson 6'5" | 275 lbs | OL Prior Lake | 2023 State MN (Prior Lake) OL. 6’5, 285 lbs. Jumped from 80 to 17 (63 spots)
A prospect with possibly the best chance of continuing to move up the 2023 rankings comes out of a loaded Prior Lake Lakers rising senior class and their impressive offensive lineman Greg Johnson Greg Johnson 6'5" | 275 lbs | OL Prior Lake | 2023 State MN . The 6’5, 285 pounder is coming off his first two offers from Northern Iowa and Ball State and is far from done and I think his stock is going to continue to rise as more college programs get eyes on him. He made the largest jump in the rankings so far on this list as his hard work, eye-popping junior film, and striking size helped him climb 63 spots from 80 to 17, well inside the Top-25. On tape, Johnson’s second clip of his junior season is a good one, as he pulls from the play-side guard spot and long-strides downfield as a lead blocker, where he crushes the pursuing safety into the turf 20-25 yards downfield to spring his RB into the endzone. He can move and block in space well for 6’5, 285 lbs. and is a crushing run blocker who seems to have that innate will to finish that is always important at the OL position. Johnson also possesses noteworthy strength in his chest and triceps and has a clean pass-set that looks promising on tape. He can gain enough depth to handle speed rushes upfield and is still looking to finish even in pass block settings. In a strong crop of ’23 offensive linemen in Minnesota, the Prior Lake product has distinguished himself and has P5 potential if he keeps growing and developing. I have a feeling this isn’t his last time making a big jump up the rankings!
Marques Monroe Marques Monroe 6'1" | 190 lbs | DB Bloomington Kennedy | 2023 State MN (Bloomington Kennedy) DB. 6’1, 185 lbs. Jumped from 78 to 26 (52 spots)
I was a happy man when I realized that the Bloomington Kennedy Eagles had themselves a potential D1 prospect in their 2023 class a while back when hard-hitting safety Marques Monroe Marques Monroe 6'1" | 190 lbs | DB Bloomington Kennedy | 2023 State MN began to really stand out after putting in a ton of work in the offseason between his sophomore and junior seasons. I should have seen his promise earlier, as he’s been a varsity contributor since his freshman season and has been putting thunderous hits onto QBs, RBs, and WRs since he first stepped on a high school gridiron. In 2021 he made a ton of splash plays from the defensive secondary, including a 101-yard interception return for a TD, FG blocks, kickoff returns for TDs, bone-crushing hits that jar the ball loose for both PBUs and forced fumbles, and tackles and TFLs behind the LOS. He does a solid job of reading the eyes of opposing QBs and can utilize his speed and athleticism to play the ball aggressively and take advantage of poorly thrown balls and shows good range when the ball is in the air. I also like how he uses his athleticism to contribute offensively, and he’s fun to watch when the ball is in his hand and can bust some moves in the open field and break tackles in different fashions. With his length and two-way production I think he’d make an excellent safety at the next level, and although he hasn’t earned that coveted first offer I’m keeping a close eye on a variety of FCS schools involved in his recruitment. He worked himself up from 78th in the state to just outside the Top-25 at #26 overall. I like watching this kid play.
Sam Peters Sam Peters 6'6" | 225 lbs | TE Maple Grove | 2023 State MN (Maple Grove) TE. 6’4, 215 lbs. Jumped from 94 to 16 (78 spots)
Jumping up an formidable 78 spots from just inside the Top-100 to just outside the Top-15 is Maple Grove pass-catcher Sam Peters Sam Peters 6'6" | 225 lbs | TE Maple Grove | 2023 State MN . You can’t fault me as much for his miss in the rankings from two updates ago as Peters was playing sophomore ball with the Crimson in the limited 2020 season, so it was harder than usual to get information on younger prospects. The 6’4, 215 pounder put in some significant work going into his first season as an upperclassman as he made a big splash in the Metro varsity scene as Maple Grove put together a heckuva 2021 season in route to an appearance in the 6A state championship game. Peters was a big reason for all of that success, and with his size and physical abilities displayed on his junior film, the rising senior now holds offers from Northern Illinois, South Dakota, Illinois State, Army, Eastern Michigan, UMass, and Akron. He’s also earned an invite to the upcoming Minnesota Gophers junior day. He’s not done either and will look to build on his 29.3 yards per reception average from 2021 as well as his 5 TDs in his upcoming senior season. On tape, Peters shows off a frame that could thrive in a college strength & conditioning program and proved himself to be a weapon as both a pass-catcher and a blocker as a more traditional inline TE or out of the slot. He’s got great speed for his size and was a deep threat downfield who was particularly effective in the middle of the field on posts and deep curls where he had to find pockets in a defensive zone. He’s also got soft hands and also shows a little swivel in his hips as a route runner, but I am overall the biggest fan of the speed he plays with for a projected TE. I’ll be very interested to see how his recruitment continues to trend and progress.
Aidan Boehle Aidan Boehle 6'6" | 210 lbs | DL Minnetonka | 2023 State MN (Minnetonka) DE. 6’5, 205 lbs. Jumped from 113 to 22 (91 spots)
The third biggest jump of the entire 2023 rankings update comes from the loaded Minnetonka Skippers and the long, lean, and far from done developing Aidan Boehle Aidan Boehle 6'6" | 210 lbs | DL Minnetonka | 2023 State MN . He possesses that always-desired 6’5+ height and the frame that could add an almost limitless amount of good weight and muscle in the right college S&C program – which helped him grab the attention of programs like Minnesota, NDSU, Kansas, and South Dakota – and he seems to be continuing that interest with the strengths he put on his junior tape. He’s very quick for his size and when combined with his length and reach make for a tough 1-on-1 blocking matchup for opposing tackles, TEs, and RBs in pass pro. He can also execute stunts and twists well and can lay the hammer on QBs when he’s given the opportunity. I also see some flexibility and comfortability in his stance and if he can work on lowering his pad level consistently I think he’s got the chance to be one of the toughest 1-on-1 blocking assignments of anyone in the Metro. After primarily playing JV and sophomore ball in 2020 it’s no surprise to see the rising senior jump an impressive 91 spots from 113 up into the Top-25 at #22 overall. Keep your eye out for the Skippers in 2022, especially in the trenches and on defense. They are stacked!
Reese Littlefield Reese Littlefield 6'3" | 235 lbs | LB Centennial | 2023 State MN (Centennial) LB. 6’3, 235 lbs. Jumped from 92 to 41 (51 spots)
Already featured in my PrepRedzoneMN rankings update feature focusing on the plethora of well-built LBs in the 2023 class, Centennial Cougar linebacker Reese Littlefield Reese Littlefield 6'3" | 235 lbs | LB Centennial | 2023 State MN is a Mack truck at 6’3, 235 lbs. whose hard-hitting style and eye-popping size make it hard for me to not think of soon-to-be Gopher PWO LB and Burnsville 2022 grad Colton Gregersen Colton Gregersen 6'2" | 235 lbs | DL Burnsville | 2022 State MN . That is a strong comparison coming from my end, as Gregersen has one of my favorite tapes in the entire ’22 class and Littlefield also put out a great junior tape that has resulted in junior day invites from MSU-Mankato and SMSU as well as camp invites from North Dakota State and MSU-Mankato. Also a stud lacrosse player, Littlefield attacks blocks with physicality and is impressive in the way he identifies and flows to the football. He’s able to beat blockers to the hole and play with enough speed to meet RBs at or behind the LOS as well as start and stop to adjust to the ball carrier’s path. Littlefield is also a very technically sound tackler who doesn’t allow ball carriers to work forward for extra yards after contact and is an exciting inside LB prospect with impressive mobility for his size. No wonder he jumped from 92 up to 41 overall in the 2023 update. I don’t think he’s done climbing either!
Nick Fazi Nick Fazi 6'1" | 180 lbs | QB Eden Prairie | 2023 State MN (Eden Prairie) QB. 6’1, 180 lbs. Jumped from 103 to 54 (49 spots)
The biggest stock riser of the 2023 QB group comes out of the esteemed Eden Prairie Eagles and their QB1 Nick Fazi Nick Fazi 6'1" | 180 lbs | QB Eden Prairie | 2023 State MN . As a sophomore, Fazi led the Eagles’ JV and sophomore squads but comfortably stepped into the starting varsity role thanks to his arm strength and that always-important decision making and mental processing that is so revered in the EP quarterback room. He put his body on the line more than a few times to make the play for his team and is a tough, mobile gunslinger who shows accuracy and the ability to drop the ball into tight windows either from the pocket or while on the move. I like his touch on deeper balls, and he is also able to successfully improvise and scramble when things break down, keep his eyes downfield, and step into an accurate throw to a streaking WR or TE. Don’t sleep on his ability to make plays with his legs as well! Fazi visited Minnesota, Kansas, and UNI during the season and should see his recruitment pick up in the coming months. The signal-caller bumped up from 103 to 54 and stands at QB2 in the latest Minnesota 2023 update.
Jamarrius Courtney Jamarrius Courtney 6'0" | 200 lbs | QB Chaska | 2023 State MN (Chaska) QB. 6’2, 200 lbs. Jumped from 165 to 118 (47 spots)
Played his junior season for the Benilde-St. Margaret’s Red Knights but has transferred to Chaska for his final year of high school ball. Courtney made a name for himself and put his game on our radars after his standout showing at the PrepRedzoneMN spring showcase a yearish ago. He’s a solid 6’2, 200 pounds who had a cannon for an arm that stood out amongst the dozens of QBs participating. He also showed solid touch on his deep ball and was competitive, confident, and athletic while standing over 6’ and 200 pounds. In 2021, he went 127 for 288 passing for over 1,400 yards and 8 TDs and also rushed 132 times for 579 yards and 8 more touchdowns. He displays that athleticism we saw in person on his junior film as he’s able to throw the rock from a variety of arm angles and leg positions and could generate zip without stepping fully into his throws. There’s arm talent there, but with this being his third high school in as many years I want to see some more consistency and accuracy on tape and in his stat line. Without showing off his skill set in Rosemount that afternoon I doubt he’d have climbed that 47 spots to begin knocking at a spot inside the Top-100.
Zach Dahl Zach Dahl 6'3" | 230 lbs | LB Farmington | 2023 State MN (Farmington) LB. 6’3, 230 lbs. Jumped from 174 to 55 (119 spots)
The biggest jump of the entire update comes from the Farmington Tigers defensive ranks and another aforementioned well-built LB prospect in 6’3, 230 lb. thumper Zach Dahl Zach Dahl 6'3" | 230 lbs | LB Farmington | 2023 State MN . Coming from one of the best strength and conditioning programs in the state, this kid is notably strong and plays like it, as he destroys lead blocking attempts and finishes his hits and tackles with authority. He does a good job of chopping his feet, dropping his hips, and breaking down before he makes a tackle, which helps him square up ball carriers and explode through his hits and can consistently freeze RBs and not allow them to gain extra yards after contact by pumping their feet or falling forward. He does his best work between the tackles – where he can beat blocks with either quickness or power – but can chase and pursue out on the edges as well as come up hard when the QB steps up into the pocket. He’s another 230+ lber. who moves well for his size and should generate considerable recruitment interest out on the trail this summer and next fall. Farmington’s defense is going to be scary next season.
Michael Haugo Michael Haugo 6'4" | 185 lbs | WR Moorhead | 2023 State MN (Moorhead) WR. 6’4, 185 lbs. Jumped from 176 to 65 (111 spots)
The second-largest rankings improvement featured in this PRzMN article comes from the recruiting hotbed that is the Moorhead Spuds. The outstate powerhouse bordering North Dakota has once again reloaded in their quest for another state championship in Class 5A and feature a diverse array of talent spread across a variety of positions and graduating classes. One of their 2023s with the highest upside is 6’4 wideout Michael Haugo Michael Haugo 6'4" | 185 lbs | WR Moorhead | 2023 State MN , who is also a distinguished track athlete who clocked a 21.82 in the 200 and has received track & field recruitment interest from Army, Navy, Iowa, and Minnesota. He’s also taken football visits to North Dakota State, North Dakota, and South Dakota State for spring junior days, and his junior tape consists of some intriguing reps as he shows off the ability to high-point the football, break off his routes well for a 6’4 wide receiver, and create big gains on screens and shorter routes that require some shake after the catch. His long legs and strong lower body help him to run and slip through tackle attempts at his lower body and he’s got soft hands and the deep play potential to play the X position in a receiving corps. Also athletic enough to contribute as a kick returner as well and overall has a very intriguing skill set with the physical tools to find a lot of success at the next level. He’s still waiting for that first offer but upped his game enough to move 111 spots from 176 to 65. Go Spuds!