PrepRedzoneMN 2023 Rankings Update: Small-Town Sleepers

I'll never miss a chance to repeat PrepNetwork and PrepRedzone's mission: to bring exposure to the under-recruited and under-exposed prep football players of all levels. As a Minnesota-based company that was founded and built on shedding light on Minnesota sleepers, we've always understood the importance of identifying and highlighting the small town players from Outstate Minnesota who can straight-up play. This mission is especially relevant after we publish our rankings updates, when momentum is building and as many prospects as possible should be covered, and today I'm very excited to break down and evaluate some of my favorite Small-Town Sleepers from the PrepRedzoneMN 2023 Rankings Update earlier this week. Small schools, big game, and bright lights, we got it all for you below. Thanks for reading!   Outstate Standouts   [player_tooltip player_id='295816' first='Jackson' last='Thompson'] (Moose Lake-Willow River) RB. 5'8, 180 lbs. @24JThompson   Ranking: #123 overall. Moose Lake population: 2,804. Willow River population: 370   One of my Top-10 favorite 2023s regardless of projection, this won't be the first time our consistent readers have heard of the Rebels running-back who pound-for-pound is one of the toughest ball carriers in the Land of 10,000 Lakes. Following in the footsteps and continuing the legacy of playmaking MLWR RBs of Jake Disterhaupt, Trent & Blake Juhl, Eli Werner, and Logan Orvedahl is no easy task and the 180 lber. is more than up to the challenge and brings his unique running style and skill set to the table as a prospect. As mentioned, this dude runs hard, seeks out contact, and has a special and more-than-impressive ability to stay upright and run through multiple tackle attempts like a 6'2, 220-pounder. Thompson is an electric, punishing runner with arguably the best contact and the 218's version of Maurice Jones-Drew. His tape is a must-see: <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2GcZXk">http://www.hudl.com/v/2GcZXk</a>   [player_tooltip player_id='244997' first='Tate' last='Link'] (Dassel-Cokato) RB/LB. 5'9, 200 lbs. @tate_link   Ranking: #171 overall. Dassel population: 1,443. Cokato population: 2,726   If you're an avid reader of my work you already know I am a fan of prep wrestling and am a proponent and high on wrestling/football players and how the mat can translate to the gridiron. Defending 3A state champs Dassel-Cokato has themselves a heckuva two-sport standout who represents a lot of what I like in football/wrestling crossover athletes. Meet rising senior [player_tooltip player_id='244997' first='Tate' last='Link'], whose brother Jude just win a 160-pound state championship last spring and signed to the Iowa Hawkeyes wrestling program, is an accomplished athlete himself and placed 4th at 182 lb. AA last spring and helped the Chargers win their first state football championship earlier that school year. His junior tape shows a defensive specialist who lined up all over the field and can get in the backfield in a hurry once he reads and triggers. He's quick and strong for 5'9, 200 with good pad level and a knack for finding the football. He's also a strong tackler. Can't wait to see him disrupt more backfields in 2022. No reported offers as of yet!   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/05/Tate-Link1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-330877" /></figure>   Link ^   [player_tooltip player_id='154572' first='Anthony' last='Sykora'] (West Central Area) RB. 5'10, 185 lbs. @anthony_sykora   Ranking: #172 overall. Barrett population: 364   A PrepRedzoneMN Showcase standout who also shines on the wrestling mat and won a state title at 170A this past March, Sykora has caught the eye of just about every scout at PRzMN after a productive and playmaking junior season that included: 190 pass yards and 2 TDs, 1,156 passing yards and 16 TDs, 195 receiving yards and a TD, and 50 tackles and 4 INTs. A spinning, cutting, jumping, and natural runner with the ball in his hands, Sykora's vision and ability to break tackles in a variety of fashions are fun to watch and a huge plus for his recruiting stock and junior film. He thrives when a run is looking grim and can turn nothing into something for the benefit of his offense and team. He's earned Concordia-Moorhead and Minnesota State University-Moorhead offers this spring and more are on the way.   [player_tooltip player_id='295966' first='Marcus' last='Johnson'] (Mayer Lutheran) OL/DL. 6'4, 305 lbs. @JohnsonMarcus79   Ranking: #168 overall. Mayer population: 2,313   A small-schooler who is ranked too low in retrospect, Johnson is filling in nicely for the star-studded 2022 graduating class that won a Class A state championship this past fall and has earned offers from North Dakota, St. Thomas, SMSU, and UMD since the end of May. The big bruiser shines as an LT and DT for Crusaders and is nimble and explosive out of his stance for a 6'4, 300+ lber. with a nasty will to finish and good strength for his age. A menacing run blocker with pass pro experience, he's also got a quick first step from the DL and is overall an athletic big man who earned that FCS North Dakota offer and is about to be a bully in South Central MN as a senior. He'll be a huge piece of the puzzle if Mayer Lutheran can repeat as state champions in 2022.   [player_tooltip player_id='295821' first='Jack' last='Spanier'] (Rocori) QB. 6', 175 lbs. @SpanierJack   Ranking: #147 overall. Cold Spring population: 4,238   An outstanding SS on the Spartans baseball team, Spanier follows in a long line of athletic and natural Rocori signal-callers and completed 122 passes at a 55% clip for 1,436 yards and 12 TDs with 113 rushing yards and an additional two tuddies. His pocket presence and ability to escape pressure and buy time are excellent and combined with his strong arm and quick release and you have the makings of a dangerous prep QB who can frustrate and break down an opposing defense over four quarters. His scrambling ability is arguably the best of any 2023 gunslinger in the state. He's got a DII NSIC offer from Winona State!   [player_tooltip player_id='331107' first='Tytan' last='Small'] (St. Charles) LB. 6', 195 lbs. @SmallTytan   Ranking: #214 overall. St. Clair population: 3,749   The three-sport standout who excels in football, baseball, and wrestling placed fifth in last spring's state wrestling tournament and holds MIAC roster spots from St. Olaf and Macalester at this point. The MLB and RB posted an eye-popping 140 tackles last season thanks to his quick diagnosing of run plays, slipperiness at avoiding blocks, and tackling strength/technique. He's a thumper with good speed for the position who would be an awesome addition to the MIAC. Good luck this season, Tytan!   [player_tooltip player_id='301901' first='Jensen' last='Wallin'] (Monticello) TE/DE. 6'2, 235 lbs. @Jensen_Wallin_   Ranking: #201 overall. Monticello population: 13,700   Although Monti is one of the bigger cities on this list I wanted to include the great-sized TE/DE [player_tooltip player_id='301901' first='Jensen' last='Wallin'] and figured this is as good a time as any to do it. Holding a lone offer from Northern State, Wallin will surely see his popularity take off after his senior season thanks to that size, strength, how well he's been coached up, and his position versatility. After a monster offseason this winter/spring that has seen him put on 25 pounds, I can't wait to see how the results show up on the field, as his junior tape shows off a strong tackler and blocker who can impact all three phases of the game. I like how he works to finish after he's engaged with an opponent from his TE spot, and his athleticism helps him contribute as a pass catcher, pass rusher, and run stuffer. A monster out of Monti is back!   [player_tooltip player_id='19015' first='Cade' last='Bruett'] (Delano) QB/WR. 6'3, 215 lbs. @CadeBru6   Ranking: #234 overall. Delano population: 6,167   Another three-sporter who is a member of Delano's accomplished hockey team, Bruett brings great size to the table and is dynamic and capable of doing whatever is asked of him offensively. He can scan the field and progress through his reads well for a prep QB and also does a good job of getting rid of the ball quickly, and I like that his accuracy shows up on throws to every level and distance of the field. He'll stand in to deliver a throw through contact and puts the ball in good position for his receivers to make catches and keep going forward. There's a lot to like in the football/hockey/baseball standout and I'm excited for that first offer to come rolling in. Keep grinding, Cade!   [player_tooltip player_id='300101' first='Cole' last='Schmidt'] (Delano) RB/LB. 5'11, 185 lbs. @cschmidty29   Ranking: #250 overall. Delano population: 6,167   Another Delano Tiger recruit to crack this list of small-town sleepers, Schmidt was an accomplished track & field runner this spring who won All-Area Boys T&F Athlete of the Year honors as a high hurdler who is still waiting for that coveted first college football opportunity. It shouldn't be too long, as his 2021 highlights display a RB who runs behind his pads and can run through weaker tackle attempts to set a physical presence from the RB position. He can get you tough yardage when needed, especially at the goal line, and can also catch the rock out of the backfield and block downfield. He's a three-down RB who is only going to get better as he continues to grow and add weight and strength. Go Tigers!   [player_tooltip player_id='382846' first='Malakye' last='Parker'] (Goodhue) RB. 5'11, 185 lbs. @ParkerMalakye   Ranking: #249 overall. Goodhue population: 1,191   A captain and All-District RB who holds a St. Olaf offer and several NSIC visits under his belt, Parker has been working hard this offseason to build on a junior campaign that saw him show off a skillset of game-breaking speed, especially when he turns the corner, balance out of his cuts, and hands out of the backfield. If you give him too much daylight he's going to take it and get gone, but will also run behind his pads and put some muscle into his runs when needed. It'll be a fun senior season for the Goodhue standout.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/10/Malakye-Parker-crop-2914x1913-1633120151.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-210438" /></figure>   Parker ^   [player_tooltip player_id='188213' first='Cooper' last='Ochsendorf'] (Maple River) LB. 6', 180 lbs. @cooperao2   Ranking: #261 overall. Maple River district population: 6,130   A Minnesota State University-Moorhead recruit who received a junior day invite and visited the Dragons' campus this spring, Ochsendorf can close on the football quickly and plays with a fired-up and energetic on-field mentality that gets his teammates going and can ignite and inspire his defense. For his size, he's strong and slippery when getting off blocks and a good tackler who operates comfortably around the LOS and between the tackles. That coveted first offer is coming and coming soon!   [player_tooltip player_id='295968' first='Cole' last='Johnson'] (Chatfield) WR. 6'4, 190 lbs. @colejohnson02   Ranking: #175 overall. Chatfield population: 2,690   Possessing excellent size both for the WR position and as a prep hooper from the Great State of MN, Johnson helped the Gophers win a AA state championship last fall on the gridiron and is poised to help take another favorable run at the 2A crown in 2022. A deep threat with dominance in 50/50 ball situations and good speed for his size, Johnson was a matchup nightmare at the small school level and shows good ball skills and a ton of juice after the catch thanks to his long legs and overall athleticism. He's going to easily improve on his current ranking if he can successfully build on his impressive junior tape, as his ball skills, size, and body control have the potential to be dominant game-in-and-game-out. As of right now, he holds St. Olaf and UW-Eau Claire offers.   [player_tooltip player_id='112104' first='Wyatt' last='Borresen'] (Belle Plaine) DB. 5'11, 150 lbs.   Ranking: #270 overall. Belle Plaine population: 7,137   I am a big fan of the prospects and football players that the Belle Plaine Tigers put out year-after-year, as they are generally dynamic, experienced, and physical, and DB Borresen is no exception. As a FS and occasional QB, the rising senior is patient, can impact the run and pass game, and is a solid tackler for his size who can clean up loose ball carriers and receivers downfield.   [player_tooltip player_id='313203' first='Grant' last='Loge'] (Pequot Lakes) QB. 6'5, 175 lbs. @GrantLoge   Ranking: #255 overall. Pequot Lakes population: 2,128   A college strength and conditioning coordinator's dream at a lean & mean 6'5, 175 lbs. with a ton of room to grow, Patriots' gunslinger Loge has visited Valley State and received prospect camp invites from Sioux Falls, Dakota Wesleyan, SMSU, and Upper Iowa but is still waiting on that big first offer that can change a prep football player's life. A righty with touch on his downfield throws and accuracy on out-breaking routes, Loge can effectively use his athleticism to buy time and avoid pressure in the pocket and will hang in there through a big hit. Not positive if his college future is at QB or not, but either way you have to be a good athlete to play QB for your high school and that bodes well for his future either way.   [player_tooltip player_id='313129' first='Hunter' last='Bockoven'] (Milaca) LB. 5'11, 200 lbs. @bockoven_hunter   Ranking: #224 overall. Milaca population: 2,894   Rounding out our Small-Town Sleepers is Milaca 5'11, 200 pound linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='313129' first='Hunter' last='Bockoven'], who mans the Wolves MLB spot and whose tackling capability originally caught my eye for these rankings. He's a speedy and high-motored linebacker who rocks #75 (which I think is awesome) and plays with good pursuit angles and the strength to halt RBs in the hole. He hasn't reported any interest or offers, sadly. That'll change after senior year!

I'll never miss a chance to repeat PrepNetwork and PrepRedzone's mission: to bring exposure to the under-recruited and under-exposed prep football players of all levels. As a Minnesota-based company that was founded and built on shedding light on Minnesota sleepers, we've always understood the importance of identifying and highlighting the small town players from Outstate Minnesota who can straight-up play. This mission is especially relevant after we publish our rankings updates, when momentum is building and as many prospects as possible should be covered, and today I'm very excited to break down and evaluate some of my favorite Small-Town Sleepers from the PrepRedzoneMN 2023 Rankings Update earlier this week. Small schools, big game, and bright lights, we got it all for you below. Thanks for reading!