2023 MN Rankings Update: Top-20 Newcomers
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The PrepRedzoneMN 2023 rankings update is finally published! With the addition of 70+ prospects, we now sit at 250 total 2023s with the addition of a watchlist with over 20 members. I apologize for the delays, I take these rankings from my…
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Continue ReadingThe PrepRedzoneMN 2023 rankings update is finally published! With the addition of 70+ prospects, we now sit at 250 total 2023s with the addition of a watchlist with over 20 members. I apologize for the delays, I take these rankings from my home state seriously, and perhaps take too much time listing, editing, shifting, and adjusting to the point that deadlines have passed and I need to get back to writing content for the site. Before I go on, I do want to take the time to mention that an unfortunate part of this process is the fact that every time we update a graduating class I am not able to get every name listed that deserves to be. I like to come into the actual ranking business with my already long list of new prospects ready to go, so by the time I am done working and reworking the names I am ready to get things published and generally don’t go digging for kids I missed. I find prospects through a variety of means: Twitter, Hudl, MaxPreps, word of mouth, and MNFootballHub just to name a few, and at the end of the day there are always talented, decorated, and exciting players that I miss along the way. This isn’t something I like, and I of course mean no disrespect to those left off the rankings and am happy to add student-athletes to the rankings post-publishing, so if you think I missed you, your child, or a teammate of his, please email me at: oliver@prepredzone.com. Please be kind, I don’t find joy in ranking kids over each other, especially in Minnesota, but it is an important part of the industry and something I put a lot of hard work and honor into. Now, back to the actual update! With the 2023s sporting a new-look Top-5, Top-10, Top-25, Top-50, & Top-100, there has been a ton of movement since the last update around a year ago, Additionally, there have been many new additions to the MN rankings, and today we will break down the film, talents, and recruitment status of the 2023 MN Rankings Update: Top Newcomers. I hope you all enjoy!
#3 Overall: Reese Tripp Reese Tripp 6'8" | 320 lbs | OL Kasson Mantorville | 2023 State MN (Kasson-Mantorville) OT. 6’7, 315 lbs. Committed to Minnesota @TrippReese
The highest-debuting new addition to the c/o 2023 update comes from SE MN and the 2021 Class 4A state runner-up Komets’ gigantic, menacing, and ever-improving OT Reese Tripp Reese Tripp 6'8" | 320 lbs | OL Kasson Mantorville | 2023 State MN . The PrepRedzoneMN Showcase standout made a very strong case for the #1 rated OL title in the fertile Land of 10,000 Lakes thanks to the work he’s put into transforming his body and eye-popping tape, and he debuted at #3 overall in the 2023 class. We weren’t the only ones to take notice, as his size and film made for a quick recruiting ascension that saw his first offer in roll in from Iowa State on January 24th, a Central Michigan scholarship roll in on the 25th, and a visit, offer, and subsequent commitment to the hometown Golden Gophers on the 31st. Row the Boat! It’s no wonder FBS and P5 offers came rolling in, as the first three clips on his junior tape set the tone for an impressive junior highlight, as you see quickness, mobility, and some thunderous pop in a 6’7, 300+ lb. pound frame with some of his best plays coming under the bright lights of U.S. Bank Stadium in the state championship game. His DL highlights are particularly intriguing, as he shows off some lateral agility, speed in pursuit of the ball, and completely envelops RBs when he tackles them. From the OT position, he shows some bend when engaging with opponents, is a violent, nasty finisher, and gets off the ball extremely well for his size. Additionally, he’s put in a lot of work to lose 60+ pounds and get in much better playing shape and looks athletic for having dropped down to 315ish pounds, and combined with the fact that he is a blank slate (in a great way) in terms of pass-pro, I think his best days are still ahead of him. Junior SZN
#12 Overall: Keenan Wilson Keenan Wilson 6'2" | 280 lbs | DL Eagan | 2023 State MN (Eagan) DL. 6’2, 285 lbs. @KeenanWilson
The Eagan Wildcats have put out some really strong prospects in the trenches over the last 10+ years but not since the 2015 season with Nathan Nguon that they’ve had a D1 scholarship player on the roster. I’m sure they were happy to buck that trend with the recent emergence of talented DT Keenan Wilson Keenan Wilson 6'2" | 280 lbs | DL Eagan | 2023 State MN , who visited the Minnesota Gophers for their junior day and followed it up with an FCS scholarship offer from the South Dakota Coyotes. He also visited the University of St. Thomas four days ago. On tape, the 6’2, 280+ lber. looks quick and explosive. He’s got a nice get-off for a 280+ lber., and can win blocking matchups in a variety of ways thanks to an intriguing blend of strength and speed. There’s a rep 20 seconds into his junior film that I found eye-catching where he runs down a Hopkins RB on a sweep 40 yards downfield on a beautiful pursuit angle as the last defender to have a chance to stop the TD. I also like how he uses his hands to disengage from blockers, and he has multiple reps of him splitting double teams efficiently. He also annihilates QBs and ball carriers when he gets the chance and is overall a disruptive force and an impressive athlete at 6’2, 280+! More offers will be coming. Junior Highlights
#14 Overall: Alex Elliott Alex Elliott 6'2" | 200 lbs | LB Hutchinson | 2023 State MN (Hutchinson) RB/LB/DB. 6’2, 190 lbs. @alextelliott23
I first caught a glimpse of the next great Hutchinson Tiger last spring at the PrepRedzoneMN Showcase on May 2nd, where the then-sophomore played DB, clocked a 4.59 in the 40 at 180 pounds, and was “the most physically gifted DB at the showcase who is athletic enough to stay on top of WRs and get out of his breaks with speed.” Well, the younger Elliott took full advantage of his junior season and quickly popped on D1 radars after helping Hutch win a 4A state championship from a variety of positions and putting out some impressive JR tape from the RB, LB, and DB positions. He visited Minnesota and South Dakota State for gameday experiences, returned to Dinkytown for the Golden Gophers junior day, and in February was offered by Ohio, South Dakota, and Illinois State. With a long, lean frame, he can cover ground with his gait and still drop his hips and power out of cuts well enough to play CB at 6’2, 190. That long frame also aides him offensively, as he can slip through tacklers, beat DBs with well-timed cuts, and run over you if you don’t come at him correctly. GopherIllustrated’s Ryan Burns – a former scout for PRzMN – projects Elliott as an LB, and after watching him diagnose and trigger on runs, track the ball and defeat blocks, play with great leverage, and tackle in space I think he’s got the makings to be a good one. When I saw him at our showcase, I thought he had what it takes to play safety, so keep an eye on him as a potential Golden Gopher offeree when he camps with them in MPLS this summer. Go Tigers! Junior Highlights
#18 Overall: Ashton Lloyd Ashton Lloyd 6'5" | 235 lbs | TE Blue Earth Area | 2023 State MN (Blue Earth Area) TE. 6’5, 220 lbs. @Lloydy2048
A big-time addition to 2023 comes out of the 507 in the athletic 6’5, 220 lber. from Blue Earth Ashton Lloyd Ashton Lloyd 6'5" | 235 lbs | TE Blue Earth Area | 2023 State MN . Former Buccaneers Jonah Pirsig (Minnesota) and Carter Hanson (St. John’s) are two of my favorite MN preps from back in the day, so I was disappointed in myself for not having him on my radar sooner as I only found out about him around the time of the Minnesota Junior Day, which he attended. I also want to add that I think the junior filled out the Maroon and Gold jersey quite well! He’s an XL wideout for BEA and has experience running a variety of routes that lay an intriguing pass-catching foundation for a future TE. He’s got a little bit of shake in his routes as well and could drop his hips well enough to make CBs bite on various arrow, slant-outs, and other in or out-breaking routes. It also looks like he can play the ball well in the air and use body control to pluck the ball out of the air and offer a wide catch radius. He also has YAC ability and can run through and over tackle attempts thanks to a powerful lower body. He’s an impressive athlete at 6’5, 220, and another name with another legit shot at earning a Gophers offer depending on how well he camps this summer. Don’t sleep on the 507! Junior SZN
#19 Overall: Garrison Monroe (Shakopee) DB. 6’, 180 lbs. @GarrisonMonroe1
DB1 in the 2023 batch of Minnesota prospects comes from a loaded group of juniors at what is quickly becoming a heavyweight program in the Shakopee Sabers. 6’, 180 lb. athlete Garrison Monroe posted 23 tackles, 6 PBUs, 3 TDs, and 2 INTs while manning the safety and QB positions in the triple-option offense of Shako and made some splash plays all over the field thanks to his athleticism and dynamic skill-set. He has an impressive TD run to open his junior tape against Eagan where he runs and slips through a whole pile of would-be tacklers that show some real play strength at 180 pounds. As a safety – where he projects at the next level – I like his range and how quickly he can cover ground both in the deep levels of the field and when coming up near the LOS to make plays in the run game and on WR screens. He can track the ball and close on ball carriers like a predator out in the wild and runs through opponents when he tackles them. He went on gameday visits to NDSU, Minnesota, and Iowa State, attended the Minnesota, South Dakota, NDSU junior days, and checked out St. Thomas as well. He’s right on the cusp of that first offer. JR SZN
#20 Overall: Najee Nelson Najee Nelson 5'11" | 165 lbs | DB Lakeville North | 2023 State MN (Lakeville North) DB. 5’11, 170 lbs. @najee_nelson
The younger brother of former StarTribune Metro Player of the Year Raja Nelson, who started for four years at Lakeville North, Najee was (I believe) the third 2023 athlete in Minnesota (behind Jaxon Howard Jaxon Howard 6'4" | 245 lbs | DL Cooper | 2023 State MN and Grant Chapman Grant Chapman 6'5" | 280 lbs | OL Anoka | 2023 State MN ) to earn a D1 offer as the Northern Iowa Panthers and MN native Keelon Brookins (now the DB coach at Kent State) offered him in June of 2021. Time flies and he is now entering his senior season of prep ball, and the CB has now added another FCS offer from the 2021 FCS runner-ups Montana State Bobcats. Although he’s listed as DB2 in our latest update he is comfortably sitting as the #1 corner in the state, and on film, the athleticism his brother was known for is definitely on display on the perimeter of the Panthers defense. He brings a physical presence to the CB position who will come up quick and hard when triggering on runs, screens, and any kind of play out near the edge. He’s got the speed to chase down loose ball carriers and stay on top of faster wideouts, possesses quick feet in coverage, and can operate out of a zone scheme to bait QBs into passing it his way. He also shows off some ball skills and hands, but the #1 most impressive and eye-catching part of his tape is how well he hits and tackles, especially as a corner. Keep an eye on the Bison in this recruitment, if they offer I think it’d be hard for him to not commit and join his brother in Fargo. Season Highlights
#21 Overall: Hayden Bills Hayden Bills 6'4" | 255 lbs | DL Rosemount | 2023 State MN (Rosemount) DL. 6’4, 240 lbs. @bills_hayden
I’m pretty excited about the addition of the Rosemount bruiser Hayden Bills Hayden Bills 6'4" | 255 lbs | DL Rosemount | 2023 State MN to the 2023 rankings. He originally caught my eye thanks to his standout size and HB film from the JV Irish tape from his sophomore season and solidified himself as a name I had to keep an eye on after his impressive performance in the spring of 2021 track and field season in Minnesota. He finished second in AA in the discus and fourth in the shot put as only a sophomore and went on to win a USATF national championship in the discus. To go along with his great size, Bills possesses some quick and efficient hands that he uses to beat tackles at the top of their drop and keep them off-balance as they expect a power rush. The Rosemount junior has the strength to easily win 1-on-1 matchups and the body control to adjust to the paths of scrambling QBs in the backfield. He’s got some real pass-rush ability and is athletic enough to contribute as a TE for the Irish, where he did catch a TD pass as well as annihilate defenders as a blocker. He’s going to keep growing too. I can’t wait to watch him anchor one of the hardest-hitting teams in the state for 2022 and am pumped for college programs to start getting recruiting him. He could play football or throw at the next level. Junior Season
#33 Overall: Auvon Sager Auvon Sager 6'5" | 240 lbs | DL MPLS North | 2023 State MN (MPLS North) DE. 6’5, 240 lbs. @AuVon5
There’s a lot to be excited about in North Polars DE and pass-rush specialist Auvon Sager Auvon Sager 6'5" | 240 lbs | DL MPLS North | 2023 State MN . The junior had a breakout campaign on the gridiron in 2021 and for most of the regular season, he led the state in sacks, finishing the year with 12.5, good for fourth in Minnesota. Sager continues a growing line of talented Polars defensive lineman such as Davon Townley, Quientrail Jamison-Travis, & Willie Wilson and holds a similar skill-set and athleticism thanks to his basketball background and intriguing size/length. With a quick first step, some bend around the edge, and the quickness to work back inside, he’s the toughest DE to block in the 612 and gave tackles and TEs fits last season. I also like how much ground he can cover when he opens up and gets a full head of steam when running down QBs. He snuck up on more than a few ball carriers in 2021 and made them pay for it dearly. I think he’s poised for a monster senior season and will build on his recruiting status that includes junior day/spring game invites from Illinois State, MSU-Mankato, Iowa State, South Dakota State, and a couple of graphics from Northwestern. Hit that weight room hard, Auvon! JR SZN Highlights
#34 Overall: Demeir Flemino Demeir Flemino 6'0" | 160 lbs | WR East Ridge | 2023 State MN (East Ridge) WR. 6’, 160 lbs. @demeirflemino13
An exciting pass-catcher who has burst onto the recruiting scene after some noteworthy junior film landed him an invite to the Minnesota Junior Day, which he attended on January 31st. He’s also been invited to North Dakota State and Nebraska junior days as well. With a sleek, lean frame and playstyle, Flemino looks like one of the faster players in Minnesota on tape and is a true deep threat who rockets out of his stance and breaks. He eats up DBs cushions and gets to their toes before opponents can react and does a good job of setting up and breaking off his cuts in his route running and when the ball is in his hands. He also plays stronger than his 160 pounds suggest and he can run through tackle attempts in a surprising fashion. Has a solid case for both one of the fastest players in the state as well as one of the better route runners. Very excited to see how he performs during summer camp season. Junior SZN Highlights
#36 Overall: Keyuandre Watkins Keyuandre Watkins 6'5" | 215 lbs | DL Wayzata | 2023 State MN (Wayzata) DE. 6’5, 215 lbs. @KeyuandreWatki2
In terms of potential, I think Wayzata Trojan’s defensive end Keyuandre Watkins Keyuandre Watkins 6'5" | 215 lbs | DL Wayzata | 2023 State MN is up there with some of the most of any 2023er. He posted 20 tackles, 6 TFLs, 5 sacks, and a forced fumble during his junior campaign in 2021 and will surely best that production this upcoming fall after another offseason with the Trojans. He’s got the coveted college DE frame that possesses length and the possibility of adding a boatload of good weight in a college S&C program and played all over the Wayzata DL both in the interior and as a 5T and completely envelops ball carriers when he wraps them up. He plays in the trenches with a noticeable amount of speed and can close on the ball quickly and easily, especially in his get-off and in the open field when he gets some momentum going. He also shows some strength in his game as he can run through contact and 1-on-1 blocking attempts against weaker tackles. With the amount of speed he plays with and the likeliness of him thriving in a college weight program – especially at a larger level of competition – I think he’s got one of the higher ceilings in the class of 2023. He’s visited North Dakota, St. Thomas, and South Dakota junior days and also received a South Dakota State junior day invite. Junior Highlights
#37 Overall: Jaylin Reese Jaylin Reese 6'3" | 220 lbs | DL East Ridge | 2023 State MN (East Ridge) DL. 6’3, 220 lbs. @JaylinReese4
Another East Ridge Raptor who requires an introduction after solidifying himself as a top newcomer in the 2023 class is 6’3, 220 lb. DE Jaylin Reese Jaylin Reese 6'3" | 220 lbs | DL East Ridge | 2023 State MN . The junior visited North Dakota in November on a gameday visit and followed it up with South Dakota and St. Thomas junior day visits in February. He’ll look to nicely step into the shoes left by North Dakota State commit Toby Anene Toby Anene 6'3" | 230 lbs | LB East Ridge | 2022 State MN , who terrorized Metro QBs the past two seasons, and it looks like he’s got the skills to do it effectively. I’m a fan of how he defends the edge from his DE spot, as even if he allows the ball to get outside of him his pursuit speed and angles aid him in covering ground and finishing the play in space. He diagnoses and closes quickly and flashes some quickness and bend when rushing the passer. He also uses his inside arm well to freeze and back down tackles. He’s very much got a different game than Anene, but can match the Bison commits production and will continue to victimize Metro Maroon-South gunslingers like his predecessor before him. Keep an eye out for the Raptors next fall! Full 2021 Highlights
#44 Overall: Charlie Gleason Charlie Gleason 6'5" | 225 lbs | DL Stillwater | 2023 State MN (Stillwater) DE. 6’5, 220 lbs. @ItsCgleas
Much like the aforementioned Reese, Stillwater’s Charlie Gleason Charlie Gleason 6'5" | 225 lbs | DL Stillwater | 2023 State MN has some big shoes to fill in the pass-rushing department of his high school team as he takes over the reigns from Minnesota-Duluth commit and 2022 Ponies graduate Mason Wilson Mason Wilson 6'3" | 235 lbs | DL Stillwater | 2022 State MN . So far, the DE has received junior day invites from St. Thomas, Minnesota State University-Moorhead, Augustana, South Dakota State, and North Dakota State as well as a spring ball invite from the Iowa State Cyclones. With a high motor and some standout play strength, Gleason put some big hits on the QB in 2021 and put in work to do it, as he has the power to work through double teams and the lower body strength to eat up cut blocks like it’s cafeteria lunch. I also like how he beats blockers with spacing, as he is effective at “banging” (basically, putting hands on) the guard and cutting the distance too tightly for the tackle to get there in time. He’s got some good reps against some good tackles in the Metro and already possesses notable size, so he’s another name who could really boost his stock when camp season rolls around. Stilly just keeps getting better and better! JR SZN
#45 Overall: Chase Ullom Chase Ullom 6'1" | 210 lbs | LB Wayzata | 2023 State MN (Wayzata) LB. 6’1, 210 lbs. @ChaseUllom13
If I had to pick an “LBU” of Minnesota high school teams, it’d be hard to ignore the Wayzata Trojans. James Laurinaitis, Chris Wipson, Foster Conzet, Parker Hlavacek, and Loshiaka Roques are some of the best Trojan LBs over the past decade, and to continue that lineage is 2023 ’backer and wrestler Chase Ullom Chase Ullom 6'1" | 210 lbs | LB Wayzata | 2023 State MN . He visited South Dakota State, UNI, and South Dakota in October for the gameday experience and checked out the St. Thomas junior day on February 13th. He’s also been invited to attend MSU-Mankato, Illinois State, MSU-Moorhead, and Concordia-St. Paul junior day events and had a productive junior campaign in which he recorded 91 tackles, 5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, an interception, and a fumble recovery. He shoots gaps well and is effective as a pass rusher from the LB position who can beat blocks with speed or strength depending on who is coming after him. I also like his tackling ability and strength at the point of contact. He keeps his feet pumping after the initial hit and rarely allows ball carriers to fall forward or gain extra yards. With his size, combination of speed & strength, and success on the mat as a wrestler there are a lot of exciting aspects to Ullom’s game. 2021 Highlights
#50 Overall: Grayson Spronk Grayson Spronk 6'1" | 195 lbs | RB Prior Lake | 2023 State MN (Prior Lake) RB/ATH. 6’1, 195 lbs. @GraysonSpronk
Another impressive prospect out of the Prior Lake strength and conditioning program, Spronk hit a 340 lb. power clean (!) in February and absolutely blew my socks off after watching the video. That is some serious weight he’s throwing around, and you can see that power and explosiveness on his junior tape as he shows burst, pull-away speed, and contact balance in droves. His vision helps him as a dangerous kick returner for the Lakers and also shows some quick feet and cutting ability in the open field. Also can catch the ball out of the backfield! Sounds like 3-down back potential to me, baby! He visited the North Dakota junior day experience in January and the St. Thomas junior day event last month. More invites and visits are incoming. ’21 SZN
A goal I’ve had for a long time, 340 pound Clean
A new All Time school record pic.twitter.com/eTCy6IsOAA— Grayson Spronk (@GraysonSpronk) February 10, 2022
#51 Overall: Jermell Taylor Jermell Taylor 6'4" | 220 lbs | TE Eden Prairie | 2023 State MN (Eden Prairie) TE. 6’4, 220 lbs. @jermell_taylor
There are a couple of very intriguing TE/HB/DE hybrids on the Eden Prairie Eagles 2022-’23 roster, one of whom is 6’4, 220 lber. Jermell Taylor Jermell Taylor 6'4" | 220 lbs | TE Eden Prairie | 2023 State MN . He visited the Minnesota Gophers and Kansas Jayhawks on gameday visits in the fall and earned South Dakota, Dakota Wesleyan, UMary, and NDSU events this coming spring and summer. With legit size for a prep TE he is a real asset in the pass game and can high point the football and make contested catches, successfully execute screens, and get behind defensive backs in coverage with impressive speed at 220 pounds. He’s also tough to handle after the catch and can break tackles in a variety of means, including a mean stiff-arm. He’s got a few blocking reps on his tape, but the first two minutes are basically all receptions so I think it’s safe to say he’s a pass first TE recruit. He’s got no problems in the physicality department, so I’m sure that can come along to the level of his hands and impact in the passing game. Keep working, Jermell! #83 Junior Year
#52 Overall: Mark Rogalski Mark Rogalski 6'1" | 190 lbs | LB Saint Thomas Academy | 2023 State MN (St. Thomas Academy) LB. 6’1, 190 lbs. @Markrogalski2
One of the most fun highlight tapes I watched in the hundreds I watched while constructing these rankings comes from St. Thomas Academy Cadet linebacker Mark Rogalski Mark Rogalski 6'1" | 190 lbs | LB Saint Thomas Academy | 2023 State MN . Without sounding too excitable: THIS KID CAN FLIPPIN’ HIT! I mean wow, this dude will clean your clock and makes sure to create the utmost amount of violence in even the more routine tackles and plays throughout a game. He’s instinctive, turnover savvy, and plays balls to the walls like his hair is on fire. He can generate a lot of force and momentum off only a couple of steps, and also has a talented leg that can contribute to the PAT and punting games of the Cadets. He booted a 60+ yard punt against Cretin-Derham Hall in 2021. He’ll hear more about him in an upcoming “2023 Hardest Hitters” feature publishing soon on PRzMN. He’s earned junior day invites from Dartmouth and Columbia thus far. More college programs need to get some eyes on this dude. #8 Junior
#53 Overall: Mason Kolling Mason Kolling 6'5" | 240 lbs | ATH Kingsland | 2023 State MN (Kingsland) ATH. 6’5, 240 lbs. @kolling_37
Year after year, Minnesota produces a giant, versatile, and scholarship and/or D1-caliber 9man product who seemingly goes onto find success on the fields of the Missouri Valley or Northern Sun in the Upper Midwest. I always try to keep tabs on my top 9man products in Minnesota throughout the year, and my favorite of the 2023 cycle is Kingsland’s Mason Kolling Mason Kolling 6'5" | 240 lbs | ATH Kingsland | 2023 State MN . Coming from a school of only ~165 students, Kolling is representing the smallest school on this list but is a XL jumbo athlete who plays all over the field and is always the biggest, baddest dude on the gridirons of Southeast MN. He shows off impressive flexibility, quickness, and speed at his height and weight and possesses soft hands that help him as a legit threat as a pass catcher. He’s also got the expected strength you’d hope to see at a prospect of that size and could manhandle and toss around smaller opponents like the Spring Valley version of Andre the Giant. If he can start and stop, get out of his stance, catch, and tackle like he shows on film while in-person I think he has FCS written all over him. He checked out North Dakota in November for a gameday visit and attended the St. Thomas junior day event in St. Paul. He’s also been invited to SDSU and NDSU junior days and has uploaded videos showcasing his athleticism such as his 305 max bench in January and an impressive one-handed dunk during basketball season in February. Big-time potential sleeper of the 2023 class!
— Mason Kolling (@masonkolling) February 24, 2022
#56 Overall: Andrew Harren Andrew Harren 6'5" | 200 lbs | WR Sauk Rapids-Rice | 2023 State MN (Sauk Rapids-Rice) WR. 6’5, 195 lbs. @AndrewHarren
Not since Braden Tretter have I been so excited about a SSR wide receiver prospect, and if it wasn’t for Carter Loesch Carter Loesch 6'3" | 220 lbs | LB Sauk Rapids-Rice | 2022 State MN this would be the most excited I’ve been about a Storm prospect. A literally big addition to the rankings, 6’5, 195 lb. Harren brings ideal size to the WR position and has caught the attention of both South Dakota and North Dakota State, the former of which he’s visited on gameday and junior day visits and the latter on a gameday opportunity. In seven games, Harren totaled 25 receptions for 427 yards and 5 TDs and presents as a deep threat at 6’5 who can stack DBs, track the football while it’s in the air, and secure the catch through contact. For a bigger pass catcher he can also drop his hips well to execute double-moves and quick breaks in his routes and I also love his balance and toughness when going over the middle. Also a real goal line threat and mismatch within the red zone. Easily a scholarship talent with FCS potential. Keep grinding, Andrew!
#60 Overall: Gaabi Boucha (Warroad) LB. 6’3, 225 lbs. @gaabi72366618
I can’t lie, I don’t remember the last Warroad Warrior football recruit to play college football. In a school known for hockey, I was thrilled when I got ahold of some film of 6’3, 225 lb. RB and LB Gaabi Boucha for this summer’s Preseason All-State teams. The eye-popping size for his position was the first thing worth mentioning, and it got even better after watching the big boy move. He’s an excellent big back with contact balance, a powerful lower body, a strong one-cut ability, and even hands out of the backfield. His first defensive play of his junior tape also lets you know he’s a stud as he completely thumps a kid horizontal on a short pass over the middle. He even bombed a TD pass on a trick play to even further emphasize his versatility. All-in-all it’s easy to see he’s an athlete, and if you have any doubts check out the clip of him hurdling an opponent below. Also, big shoutout for Boucha as he proudly represents the Ojibway Nation and the Atik Clan in his athletic and academic endeavors. Also plays hockey for the illustrious Warrior squad. You got a big fan in me, Gaabi!
Tweeted about Warroad 2023 6’3, 225 RB/LB Gaabi Boucha last summer as I was scouting for our @PrepRedzoneMN Preseason All-State teams and am pumped to see him building on his game as a junior. @gaabi72366618
Check out this INT where he completely clears the opposing QB👀#stud pic.twitter.com/xzVyzF0I5S
— PrepRedzone Oliver (@OJW_Scouting) November 10, 2021
#63 Overall: Caden Spence Caden Spence 6'1" | 190 lbs | RB Zimmerman | 2023 State MN (Zimmerman) RB. 6’3, 190 lbs. @SpenceCaden
There is a strong case that 6’3, 190 lb. Zimmerman RB Caden Spence Caden Spence 6'1" | 190 lbs | RB Zimmerman | 2023 State MN is under-ranked even at his introductory #63 spot, but it’s inarguable that he’s currently under-recruited. With an intriguing frame at the RB spot, Spence tallied 109 carries for 1,302 yards and 16 TDs in 2021 and put some nice things on film including top end speed to outrun defenders angles, a naturally shifty gait that’s deceptive and slippery in the open field, vision, and a secondary gear of burst/acceleration that he uses to pull away from opponents at the LOS as well as the second and third levels of the field. He’s also up there for one of the fastest players in the state and busted out some huge runs in 2021. I have a feeling he’s not done climbing up the rankings. Someone really needs to hit this dude up, he hasn’t reported any current interest or offers. Get at him! JR Season