Class of 2024 All-Upper Midwest Offensive Dream Team
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I appreciate our reader’s and subscribers’ enthusiasm and support from the previous PrepRedzone Midwest Special Features naming the Class of 2023’s All-Upper Midwest teams, consisting of the best football players in the great states of North and South Dakota, Iowa, Michigan,…
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Continue ReadingI appreciate our reader’s and subscribers’ enthusiasm and support from the previous PrepRedzone Midwest Special Features naming the Class of 2023’s All-Upper Midwest teams, consisting of the best football players in the great states of North and South Dakota, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin who are entering their senior season of high school ball. It was a popular read on the PrepRedzone website, and as it should be, as the six states that make up the Upper Midwest are stacked with popular as well as underrated talent on the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. With such a popular response to the 2023 edition of the series, I wanted to run things back and focus on the best of the best from the 2024 crop of talent in my favorite region of the United States. To start things off we will begin with the Offensive Dream Team, and from the skill positions down to the maulers in the trenches I think there’s a special batch of talent brewing way up north in the coming years and we at PRZ want to give them some more well-deserved recognition going into their junior seasons. From NY6 commits to under-the-radar prospects without offers, check out these 22 stud offensive weapons below, and congrats to the selections on their C/o 2024 All-Upper Midwest Offensive Dream Team pick. Stay tuned for the upcoming Defensive Dream Team, and thanks for reading!
Quarterback
First Team:
CJ Carr CJ Carr 6'2" | 175 lbs | QB Saline | 2024 State MI (Saline, MI) 6’3, 195 lbs. Committed to Notre Dame
The grandson of legendary Michigan head coach Lloyd Carr set the recruiting world on fire recently when he turned down his Michigan legacy opportunity and committed to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. There are rumors that Saline’s Carr may reclassify to 2023, but for now, he’s a rising junior and was the easy choice for QB1 in the Upper Midwest’s 2024 class. In his sophomore season, Carr threw at a 64% completion average for 2,696 yards and 28 TDs to only four interceptions that were aided by his smooth, clean, and crisp throwing motion that looks in synch with his footwork and hips. On deeper balls downfield his ball placement is very impressive, as he puts the rock where only his WR can get it, as well as get it safely. He can also step up into the pocket and maneuver around pressure while keeping his eyes downfield and has more than adequate arm strength to hit just about every throw a prep OC could ask of him. I’ll be very interested to see if he reclassifies.
Second Team:
Isaiah Marshall Isaiah Marshall 6'0" | 210 lbs | QB Southfield A&T | 2024 State MI (Southfield A&T, MI) 6’, 200 lbs. Holds offers from Ole Miss, Louisville, Kentucky, Michigan, Boston College, and more
It’s an All-Michigan QB room for this Upper Midwest Offensive Dream, with stiff competition for the Second Team pick between Southfield’s Marshall and a talented gunslinger from Waterford Mott. The 6’, 200 lb. dual-threat ended up winning out thanks to his natural talent as a runner and passer. At a thick 205+ pounds, he’s got power and strength in his arm and legs, which allows him to stretch the field vertically as well as pop off big plays when he tucks and runs. He’s got a high release point that lifts the ball out of his hand with earnestness and touch, and there isn’t much he can’t do that’s asked of him from a QB standpoint. Overall, there’s a lot of noticeable and natural talent in his upper and lower body. Marshall passed for 2,236 yards and 28 TDs and added 534 yards and nine more TDs on the ground in 2021. He’s been to Louisville’s campus a couple of times, visited Boston College in May, and camped at Pitt earlier this month.
Running Back
First Team:
Corey Smith Corey Smith 6'0" | 180 lbs | RB Catholic Memorial | 2024 State WI (Catholic Memorial, WI) 6’, 175 lbs. Holds offers from Notre Dame, Iowa, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Michigan State, and more
The PRzWI Showcase MVP put up blazing 40 times at our camp this past winter and has been rewarded with 15 FBS and P5 offers with national helmet schools already throwing their names in the mix. Smith is a part of a loaded Catholic Memorial squad and 2024 class that has sent college coaches and recruiters to Waukesha in droves, and they have to love what they see from the All-Conference, All-Region, and state championship RB. He posted 96 carries for 1,130 yards and 18 TDs and five receptions for 129 yards and two TDs in his sophomore campaign and is surely going to best these numbers this coming fall, especially thanks to his big-play speed and contact balance at 175 pounds. With a shifty gait and good vision, Smith makes it hard for defenders to square him up and can run through arm tackles with ease. He can also easily pull away from defenders and take advantage of a small sliver in a defense and burst to daylight for six. He’ll also straight-up run you over if he wants, and on tape he makes it looks very easy and effortless against some of the best defenders Wisconsin has to offer. I’m sure the Badgers would be thrilled to keep him at home, but it’ll be tough sledding as more big boys enter his recruiting.
Smith
Second Team:
Titus Cram Titus Cram 6'1" | 190 lbs | RB Bondurant-Farrar | 2024 State IA (Bondurant-Farrar, IA) 6’, 195 lbs. Holds offers from Iowa, Iowa State, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Nebraska, and more
It’s shaping up to be an All-Midwest battle for Cram’s talent, as most of the Big10 and Big12 have offered scholarships and would love to have the small-town Iowa stud on their roster for the ’24 cycle. The three-phase contributor put up 1,461 rushing yards (7.6 YPC) and 26 TDs, eight catches for 232 yards and two TDs, 43 tackles, and 26 touchbacks on kickoffs as the K. Cram is a tough, physical, and powerful RB with a solid jump-cut, a mean stiff-arm, and hands out of the backfield to help out in the passing game. It’s a treat to watch him rumble, spin-off, run through, and step over tackle attempts, and his vision and strength at the point of contact must wear down defenses over four quarters. It’ll be interesting to see what position he ends up at in college, but for now he’s a prep RB that I would hate to try and tackle and will round out our RB room in this All-Upper Midwest 2024 special.
Wide Receiver
First Team:
Daniel Freitag Daniel Freitag 6'1" | 175 lbs | WR Bloomington Jefferson | 2024 MN (Bloomington Jefferson, MN) 6’1, 175 lbs. Holds a football offer from Minnesota and a plethora of high-major basketball offers
One of the top two-sport athletes in the Midwest for 2024, Freitag is not new to recruiting attention on the basketball side of things but just earned a hometown offer from the Gophers after balling out at their prospect camp earlier this month. Although his sophomore football season was cut short due to an injury a game in – which I’m sure has something to do with the disparity in his football to bball offers – he had another monster season on the basketball hardwood. As a WR, his body control, ability to drop his hips to cut off his routes, and catch radius are all outstanding. He’s long, can play aggressively if need be, and possesses the twitchiness to beat the press and the speed to pull away from DBs after he stacks them. I seriously cannot wait to get some new padded reps from him in 2022.
Nick Marsh Nick Marsh 6'3" | 195 lbs | WR River Rouge | 2024 State MI (River Rouge, MI) 6’3, 195 lbs. Holds 33 D1 offers from the likes of Notre Dame, Cinci, Penn State, Michigan, & Arkansas
One of the most popular WR recruits in the U.S. for 2024, Marsh is tough and will turn routine catches into momentum-shifting plays with the ball in his hands. He’ll also reel in receptions through contact and shows some nice cutting/COD ability throughout his routes with quick feet and loose hips to break off his routes and create separation. Those same gifts aid him well after the catch, and it’s safe to say he moves well for 6’3, 195 pounds. When he has the ball in his hands and runs with physicality, that’s when that 195-pound power is really on display.
Tashi Braceful Tashi Braceful 6'2" | 175 lbs | WR Southfield A&T | 2024 State MI (Southfield A&T, MI) 6’2, 175 lbs. Holds offers from Minnesota, Purdue, Cinci, Louisville, and Boston College among others
With a sweet name That I could yield some catchy NIL deals, Braceful posted 54 catches for 868 yards and 9 TDs last season and had a successful spring on the recruiting trail that caught him nine ACC, G5, Big10, and Big12 offers. I love how strong Braceful is at the catch point, as he can basically box out smaller, weaker DBs to snag the ball out of the air or brace (no pun intended) through a hit, stay upright, and work forward for yards after the catch. He’s also efficient with his feet at the LOS when releasing and was a contested-catch machine against some of the best competition the Detroit area has to offer.
Second Team:
Xavier Bowman Xavier Bowman 6'1" | 190 lbs | WR Southfield A&T | 2024 State MI (Brother Rice, MI) 6’1, 185 lbs. Holds offers from Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, and Eastern Kentucky
Bowman only caught 17 balls for 500 yards and 5 TDs in 2021 but is poised to increase that production as an upperclassman playing for powerhouse Brother Rice. He was a big play machine who made the most out of every catch he gathered in and was particularly dangerous on fade routes downfield. He’s got the speed to glide by DBs and can reel in catches with defenders draped all over him, and I also like how he tracks and get under the football. Going to be a big year for the Brother Rice pass catcher.
Isiah St. Romain Isiah St. Romain 6'1" | 170 lbs | WR Williston | 2024 State ND (Williston, ND) 6’2, 170 lbs. Currently is without an offer
The #1 pass-catcher out of the Dakotas for 2024 comes from the town of 27K near the NW tip of North Dakota. A two-way standout who is just as willing to lay a big hit as he is to take a reception to the house, St. Romain is also a standout hooper who should see offers in both sports when his time comes. On the gridiron, his 6’2, 170-pound frame looks fast and smooth and can beat DBs deep as well as work back to the football on underthrows and pluck the ball out of the air through contact. He’s still raw but looks like the best athlete out on the field when he’s playing. Can’t wait to see who starts getting involved in his recruitment.
JJ Douglas JJ Douglas 6'5" | 215 lbs | WR Janesville Parker | 2024 State WI (Racine Parker, WI) 6’5, 210 lbs. Currently without an offer
Although the size infers TE, Douglas is a very able-bodied and productive WR at the prep level who looks like he may have the mobility to stay in that position in college. His long legs and smooth, effortless gait help him assert himself as a real threat deep who can stack and eventually pull away from pursuing DBs. He also shows some body control and solid concentration when tracking and securing the catch and made some impressive and fearless receptions last fall, and he’s also got YAC ability and a little bit of looseness in his hips when changing direction. That size is also too hard to ignore, and with some of the athleticism he’s showing on film, as well as the tradition Wisconsin has with big-bodied WRs/TEs, I think Douglas has P5 potential and capability.
Tight End
First Team:
Brady Prieskorn Brady Prieskorn 6'6" | 230 lbs | TE Rochester Adams | 2024 State MI (Rochester Adams, MI) 6’6, 215 lbs. Holds offers from Oklahoma, Oregon, North Carolina, Georgia, Notre Dame, Ohio State, and more
Another All-Michigan position group, Prieskorn is inarguably the best TE in the Upper Midwest in the class of 2024 and holds some of the highest regarded offers in college football from the likes of Notre Dame, Ohio State, Georgia, Oklahoma, Michigan, and Miami, to name a few. At a long, lean, and more-than-ready to develop 6’6, 215 pounds, Prieskorn moves like a WR and can run a variety of routes flexed out in the TE role or on the perimeter as a WR. He was especially dangerous in the red zone, where he can get up and under the football and high point it out of the air with a DB waiting below him. He’ll be a huge asset in the passing game at the next level and despite his physical dominance, he’s only going to get bigger and badder now that he’s an upperclassman.
Second Team:
Dylan Mesman Dylan Mesman 6'5" | 220 lbs | TE Saline | 2024 State MI (Saline, MI) 6’5, 230 lbs. Holds offers from Michigan State, Cinci, Minnesota, Louisville, and more
The aforementioned QB1 Carr’s TE and favorite target, Mesman is no slouch as a recruit himself and holds offers from ACC, Big10, Big12, MAC, and G5 offers from around the country. He’s also coming off of a visit to Columbus and the Ohio State Buckeyes less than a week ago. He’s another pass-first TE who can split out wide like a WR and is potent and deadly on fades and back-shoulder tosses around the goal line. He can also do damage in the passing game as a traditional in-line TE and has the speed to outrun LBs and slower safeties at a long, lean 6’5, 230 pounds. He also has some blocking reps on his sophomore tape and is a willing blocker who can use those athletic gifts to overpower smaller opponents. More offers will be coming!
Offensive Line
First Team:
Nathaniel Johnson Nathaniel Johnson 6'5" | 305 lbs | OL Belleville | 2024 State MI (Belleville, MI) OT. 6’4, 270 lbs. Holds offers from Kentucky, Maryland, and Southern Mississippi
A Michigan D1 state champ last season, Johnson played LT for the Tigers and faced some of the best pass rushers in all of Michigan. In the run game, he can get out of his stance well and up into a defensive lineman on his interior or outside shoulder. He can also operate out to the perimeter and engage with smaller and quicker LBs, and when he locks on to ya it is game over. He’s a punishing drive blocker who can also pull and is always looking to finish blocks. Not a lot of pass pro tape on his sophomore film and is going to need some more dynamic and dominant junior tape to continue his list of P5 offers.
Navarro Schunke Navarro Schunke 6'6" | 290 lbs | OL Brandon Valley | 2024 State SD (Brandon Valley, SD) iOL. 6’5, 285 lbs. Holds football offers from South Dakota State, Pittsburg, and Nebraska
The best player in the Dakotas regardless of class comes out of heavyweight Brandon Valley and their two-sport monster Navarro Schunke Navarro Schunke 6'6" | 290 lbs | OL Brandon Valley | 2024 State SD . The 6’5, 285 lber. is one of the top-ranked heavyweight wrestlers in America and already has won their state championships as well as a Fargo national champion in both freestyle and Greco. In addition to his three D1 football offers, Schunke has also been contacted by wrestling programs such as Michigan, Arizona State, Northern Colorado, Wyoming, Oklahoma, North Carolina, Indiana, Maryland, Wisconsin, and NCState among others. On the gridiron, the South Dakota product played all over the OL and looks very impressive when pulling and getting out in front of his RBs in space. He’s a punishing hitter, strong, and has a great understanding of leverage that he uses against his opponents to finish. His footwork in both the run and pass game is also solid for a rising junior, and he’s got my money to be the most dominant 2024 offensive lineman in the Midwest going forward. The dude is an animal!
Donovan Harbour Donovan Harbour 6'5" | 320 lbs | OL Catholic Memorial | 2024 State WI (Catholic Memorial, WI) iOL. 6’5, 310 lbs. Holds offers from Ohio State, Oregon, Wisconsin, Penn State, and Tennessee, among others
Much like his RB, Catholic Memorial’s highly-touted offensive lineman Donovan Harbour Donovan Harbour 6'5" | 320 lbs | OL Catholic Memorial | 2024 State WI has some heavyweight and impressive offers going into his junior year. The 6’5, 310-pound mauler has recently heard from the likes of Ohio State, Minnesota, Iowa, Oregon, and Penn State this spring and has an awesome list of offers entering his upperclassman campaign for Catholic Memorial. Harbour is nimble and possesses a high motor at 310 pounds, can break down in space to block smaller opponents, and, has tremendous leg drive once he’s engaged. I also like his hand placement, and can absorb contact well in the initial hit and shows off his strength in his second effort. I also love his base, and if I had to choose just one of these lineman to build a team around I’d pick Donovan.
Cody Fox Cody Fox 6'4" | 265 lbs | OL East Buchanan | 2024 State IA (East Buchanan, IA) iOL. 6’4, 265 lbs. Committed to Iowa
I was pumped when the East Buchanan product and PRzIA Showcase standout announced he was going to be the first member of the Hawkeyes 2024 commitment class in the summer of 2021 and he followed it up with some excellent sophomore tape as an offensive guard and offensive tackle. Fox has some noticeable initial pop and flies out of his stance with quick feet and an explosive first step, which led to some thunderous hits between the tackles and out on the edge when pulling or kicking out the DE. He’s a strong, athletic big boy that Iowa is going to develop into an NFL-caliber blocker.
Derek Jensen Derek Jensen 6'7" | 310 lbs | OL Arrowhead | 2024 State WI (Arrowhead, WI) OT. 6’6, 285 lbs. Holds offers from Minnesota, Purdue, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Syracuse, and Central Michigan
Coming out of Wisconsin powerhouse Arrowhead, Jensen has great size for a prep OT and it looks like he has more room to grow and fill in as he gets older. He can eat up space and get to the toes of opponents quickly for a kid of his size and has a physical punch upon first contact. When he extends his arms past that first punch, it’s easy for him to maneuver the opponent out of the gap, and can also work and operate in a zone-blocking scheme. Jensen shows solid bend and balance at 6’6 and has got to be close to earning that coveted instate Badgers offer.
Second Team:
Kyle Rakers Kyle Rakers 6'4" | 290 lbs | OL Dowling Catholic | 2024 State IA (Dowling Catholic, IA) OT. 6’3, 260 lbs. Holds offers from Iowa State and Northern Illinois
Playing LT for West Des Moines-based Dowling Catholic, Rakers is physical at the point of attack and has some impressive pass pro reps in his sophomore tape that can handle speedier rushes upfield. He looks comfortable in his stance and fires off the ball well, freezes opposing DL when his initial punch, and, then works well to finish with leg drive and an understanding of using opponents’ body position against them. Rakers is also thick and sturdy and would make an excellent OG at the next level.
Will Sather Will Sather 6'0" | 270 lbs | OL Eden Prairie | 2024 State MN (Eden Prairie, MN) iOL. 6’1, 265 lbs. Is without an offer at this point in time
A monstrous two-sport athlete who won a big school heavyweight title last March and is a Top-10 ranked 285 lber. for his class, Sather could wrestle or play football in college and started on Minnesota 6A powerhouse Eden Prairie as an underclassman. As a center, his pad level is outstanding and his first step is explosive. He also has that easy understanding of leverage that you see in successful lineman/wrestling hybrids, and if he can keep getting bigger and stronger in the weight room and improve on his sophomore film he’ll be receiving football offers before he knows it.
Mitch Verstegen Mitch Verstegen 6'4" | 280 lbs | OL Kaukauna | 2024 State WI (Kaukauna, WI) iOL. 6’4, 280 lbs. Currently is without an offer
The largest player on the field in just about every game of his sophomore tape, Kaukauna Galloping Ghost RT is a destructive drive and down blocker in the run game and has a patient and efficient pass set who can cut off pass rushers or drive them around the top of the arch and around the QB. His strength at the initial point of contact is one of the most noticeable of the lineman on this Dream Team.
Andrew Dennis Andrew Dennis 6'5" | 285 lbs | OL Mount Pleasant | 2024 State MI (Mt. Pleasant, MI) iOL. 6’5, 240 lbs. Holds offers from Central Michigan, Miami (OH), Bowling Green State, and Toledo
The Mt. Pleasant class president helped lead his squad to a 10-1 record in 2021 and possesses a thick, strong lower body who is always looking to finish and inflict his will upon opposing defensive lineman. He’s one of the nastier finishers on this list, with a noticeable mean streak and a ton of physical dominance in the run game. He explodes out of his stance and brings his hips when finishing through blocks. Dennis sent some dudes flying in his sophomore tape! Although he currently just holds MAC offers the tape and size are good enough to indicate he has P5 potential and is a tank going into his junior season.
Aiden Horel Aiden Horel 6'5" | 325 lbs | OL Prior Lake | 2024 State MN (Prior Lake, MN) OT. 6’4, 305 lbs. Currently without an offer
The Prior Lake Lakers currently has a 2023 OT and 2023 DT committed to play Big10 football for the home state Golden Gophers, and that “iron sharpens iron” mentality has rubbed off well on the skillset of ’24 OT Horel. Playing some of the best defensive lineman Minnesota has to offer, Horel started on varsity as a sophomore and is strong, mobile, and determined in both the run and pass games. At 6’4, he does a good job of keeping his pad level low and strong technique as a run blocker. His best football is still in front of him!
Horel