2026 Minnesota Camp Season MVPs
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Throughout the summer, we have gotten a chance to watch a handful of Midwest prospects take flight when it comes to showing off their talents at college camps, which is a new experience for them, as they are now considered…
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Continue ReadingThroughout the summer, we have gotten a chance to watch a handful of Midwest prospects take flight when it comes to showing off their talents at college camps, which is a new experience for them, as they are now considered higher-level prospects than before, as a junior high or youth camps, there is a lot less weight when it comes down to their recruitment as now, they have opened up the eyes of plenty of college coaches to start building their lists of the best prospects in each class, especially as they enter the high school ranks in the upcoming 2022 season. We have traveled all over the Midwest for camps at various Division levels and, although a much smaller group usually, have found PLENTY of prospects that showed that athletic ability in our eyes at Prep Redzone to play at the next level even though their recruiting journey is just beginning as incoming freshmen in high school.
We knock ourselves into in-person evaluations of multiple prospects that showed a ton of athletic skillsets from our viewings in Brookings at South Dakota State and Dinkytown at the Minnesota Gophers prospect camp and who we would consider The MVPs in the 2026 class in Minnesota from camp season.
Roman Voss Roman Voss 6'4" | 215 lbs | ATH Jackson County Central (MN) | 2026 State MN , QB, Jackson County Central (MN)
It would surprise the average football consumer, but not me, as Roman started his work at the South Dakota State prospect camp by running the fastest pro agility amongst ALL quarterbacks that came out to the Jackrabbits camp in Brookings. The poise that Roman showed off inside the pocket in 1v1s was outstanding for a prospect his age as he showed a lot of upside with his accuracy on intermediate and deeper routes at SDSU. Even when I got to watch his tape with some off-balance throws after extending the play, Roman showed off an authentic release with a strong zipper on the football over the middle of the field. This young man shows so much grit at the quarterback position, as he shows a fearless demeanor to trust his instincts to thread the needle on higher-traffic throws he needs to make. Although Roman is another QB prospect that makes me feel old as this is the second Voss brother at QB for JCC I have scouted in my years at Prep Redzone, I will second my Prep Redzone, Next colleague Al Pops that Roman is a QB prospect college coaches should offer right now to assure they get in the mix first, not last as this young man is just starting his high school football journey and comes in as another high character kid for his age that I like off the field too. Tape V
Jabari Strader Jabari Strader 6'0" | 185 lbs | WR Edina | 2026 State MN , WR, Benilde St. Margaret’s (MN)
I got to watch Jabari at the Minnesota Gophers camp last month, and yet again, this is just a WR prospect that plays above the rim with the upside he has for the future with his vertical and route-running ability come to life. He has some wicked speed when he gets his openings in the open field and shows such finessive traits with his change of direction to quickly get from one side of the field to the other. Jabari is a prospect that plays much bigger than his measurables and will show off at 6’0 175 pounds. His vertical is also momentous when he takes the ball off the top of the secondary, as Jabari shows the elite balance for his age when hugging the sidelines to keep his footwork churning to get those extra yards. Jabari can also be a swiss-army knife when he comes off the screen or in the slotback spot, as his long-striding lower body can substantially cover the ground around the football field, showing off finished longevity in his runs, which is a hard skill set to perfect being at a young age. If I am a college coach recruiting Minnesota, this is another prospect I would offer right now, as his high school journey is just beginning at Benilde St. Margaret’s next year, and you cannot wait around for the upside this young man is going to grow on for the Red Knights over the next four years. Tape v:
Nick Kinsey Nick Kinsey 6'3" | 210 lbs | QB Stillwater | 2026 State MN , QB, Benilde St. Margaret’s (MN)
Nick is likely the earliest offered quarterback I have gotten an early evaluation before the action got started, with offers coming in from UCONN and Ole Miss over the summer. What exactly have we seen from Nick, especially at the Gopher Camp this past June? As an incoming freshman, you will meet a young man who already has outstanding character traits, and it is easy to see why, mechanically, what looks like a Division I football path. Nick shows off developing footwork that comes out of the early part of the snap quickly and much quicker than you will see from most quarterbacks at his age. One thing I always will strive on with our Prep Redzone prospects, does your tape match or nearly match my in-person evaluation? With Nick, it certainly does, and he showed that at the Gopher Camp, unloaded energetic precision that gives all of his wide receivers an edge to catch that ball in stride. You may have heard me mention the word “grit” in an earlier evaluation which is a must-have trait for a QB prospect wanting to play at the college level must have, and something I believe Nick has grown on since I met him last year. He throws a striper of a ball on short and intermediate routes and development on his deep ball accuracy will be a fun site to watch as he gets into the high school ranks. Do not be surprised if more college programs come calling on this young man over the next year, as his journey is just beginning to take shape to play at the next level. Tape V: