PrepRedzoneMN 2023 Rankings Update: Top Newcomers

One of my favorite articles to write year after year comes after the publishing of the rising senior class rankings update and I can finally tell the world about the new additions and top newcomers that have come to my attention since the previous update. It's exhilarating as a scout when a new name catches your eye, especially from the home state, and after turning on the tape and seeing that you have a stud on your hands is one of the best feelings this job brings me. You feel like standing on a mountain and shouting the prospect's name into the recruiting stratosphere and beyond! For this recent Minnesota 2023 update on Monday, over 50 players joined the rankings list while more than 500 (I'm still going through all of them) submitted their information on our Prospect Index and are on the watchlist and available and accessible for contact by college coaches. Of those players, I found 14 particular talents who I couldn't wait to tell our wonderful subscribers about, and below I've given y'all the low-down on these ballers who hail from all around the Land of 10,000 Lakes. Thanks for reading!   [player_tooltip player_id='382840' first='Trevion' last='Mack'] (Irondale) OL. 6'6, 295 lbs. Committed to Northern Illinois   Debut Ranking: #24 overall   The massive Irondale Knight offensive lineman exploded onto the recruiting scene in Minnesota after showing out at the Minnesota Gophers prospect camp in early June and leaving Dinkytown with a Big10 PWO as well as a Winona State offer, his first college opportunities. Things moved quickly after that, as the 6'6, 290+ lb. bruiser made a trip to DeKalb, IL, and after a great visit with the FBS Northern Illinois Huskies, Mack committed to their 2023 class. In his junior tape, it's easy for the OG/OT to dominate in the run game, as he can overpower and exert his will on smaller opponents. He had a couple of reps with big hits that send LBs flying out in space - including a backside pull  from the RG spot - and I like how comfortable he looked in his stance and first step in pass pro. He's still a bit raw and could work to finish and dominate more consistently, but with his size and potential movement skills, it's no surprise he's an FBS commit before his senior season begins. The Giant of New Brighton is going to have fun in 2022!   [player_tooltip player_id='388869' first='Ethan' last='Carrier'] (Detroit Lakes) DB. 6'1, 185 lbs.   Rankings Debut: #29 overall   There are a ton of defensive standouts up in the Detroit Lakes program and the sure-to-be-damaging Lakers defense will be led by DB and Minnesota Gophers PWO commit [player_tooltip player_id='388869' first='Ethan' last='Carrier']. After putting together some skillful junior film and a great showing in early June at the Minnesota Gophers prospect camp, the Gophers weren't ready for the 6'1, 180 pound DB to play anywhere else and gave him and his brother offers that they couldn't refuse. In that aforementioned tape, Carrier looks dynamic, explosive, and physical as a RB and safety and shows a ton of range on run support defensively with impressive contact balance on offense as well. It's a fun tape to watch and his overall athleticism leads me to believe he's going to be a productive addition to the 2023 Gophers commitment class.   [player_tooltip player_id='312909' first='Jaylen' last='Boehm-Peterson'] (Holy Angels) DB. 6'3, 175 lbs.   Debut Ranking: #33 overall   Holy Angels 6'3 DB [player_tooltip player_id='312909' first='Jaylen' last='Boehm-Peterson'] boosted his stock tremendously and was introduced to the recruiting world in force after he balled out at the Minnesota Gophers prospect came in June, catching the eye of 247Sports contributor and former NorthstarFootballNews scout Ryan Burns, as well as his boss Allen Trieu. Length at the CB position is in high demand right now, and Boehm-Peterson's athletic measurables are just what college cornerback coaches are looking for. That's not to say he can't play, as the AHA rising senior can back up the athletic gifts and then some. He's a very physical and impressive tackler out on the edge and in space, and his ball skills and length help him cover a huge catch radius against opposing wideouts. He also looks comfortable in his back pedal and doesn't waste steps when man-turning, locating, and/or breaking on the football. I wish I could get a better look at his hips in-person, but that's what this fall is for. He's earned offers from Bemidji State, UMD, and Northern State since his performance in Dinkytown.   [player_tooltip player_id='383728' first='Caleb' last='McGrath'] (Eastview) P. 6'3, 175 lbs.   Debut Ranking: #45 overall   The Eastview Lightning have themselves the #1 specialist in Minnesota and one of the best punters in the entire nation in 6'3, 175 lb. [player_tooltip player_id='383728' first='Caleb' last='McGrath']. Identified by Minnesota Gophers special teams coach Rob Wenger after the 2021 season and wooed to campus in late January, McGrath earned a PWO offer in May and jumped on the opportunity to #RTB in Maroon u0026amp; Gold. With a massive leg and the ability to pinpoint his punts to the advantage of his coverage team, McGrath was a no-brainer of a specialist offer out of the home state and with a frame he's still growing into, his best days are still coming. I'm pumped to watch this kid boom pigskin in Dinky for 4-5 years.   [player_tooltip player_id='295963' first='Stefano' last='Giovannelli'] (St. Louis Park) WR. 6'2, 180 lbs.   Debut Ranking: #61 overall   St. Louis Park have a good lookin' 2023 class and had more then their fair share of new additions to the '23 rankings update, the highest debuting of which goes to the ultra-productive wideout [player_tooltip player_id='295963' first='Stefano' last='Giovannelli']. The 6'2, 180 lber. also shines on the basketball hardwood and baseball diamond, but on the gridiron he was a big play machine and posted 22 catches for 614 yards and 9 TDs in a very stellar junior campaign for the Orioles. His junior film shows him off as a vertical threat who can stretch the field and burn DBs deep at any point throughout the route. You can see opposing defenders playing off-man and already respecting his speed, but Giovannelli still eats up those cushions like they were a 12 oz. porterhouse. I also like how he works to get open when plays break down and his QB is improvising and buying time. He's earned Augustana and UMD offers since May and is going to put up some monster numbers as a senior pass catcher.   [player_tooltip player_id='382841' first='Magnus' last='Wright'] (Champlin Park) OL. 6'3, 280 lbs.   Debut Ranking: #69 overall   The Champlin Park 6'3, 270 lber. is already a popular NSIC recruit and has earned offers from MSU-Mankato, SMSU, UMD, and Bemidji State so far this summer. The OG is technically sound and mobile for his size with the footwork to successfully pull and seal the edge in run support. He is also especially punishing when doubling an opponent, and my favorite reps of his are when he's noticeably fired up and working to finish when going at it with a particular defensive lineman. He really puts his weight and determination to good use when the competitive juices are flowing. Wright also caught the eye of fellow PRzMN scout [player_tooltip player_id='1292716' first='Nate' last='Wahl'] at NDSU's prospect camp earlier this month and is making some solid noise this summer camp circuit so I'm looking forward to seeing how his recruitment continues to progress.   [player_tooltip player_id='383729' first='Ian' last='Burau'] (Watertown-Mayer) DL. 6'2, 255 lbs.   Debut Ranking: #70 overall   Don't sleep on the Watertown-Mayer Royals this fall, as the AAA contender has size, experience, and physicality pumping in from positions all over the football field. Among their biggest boys is 6'2, 255 lb. DL [player_tooltip player_id='383729' first='Ian' last='Burau'], who just committed to MSU-Mankato this week and transferred in from nearby Becker to finish his prep career out with the Royals. Burau is a very strong 255ish pounds and uses that strength in a variety of effective ways from his DL spot. He made an instinctual forced fumble where he easily tore the ball out of the RBs hands one-handed that looked grown man-esqe, and he can also easily punch opponents off balance and out of his way, where his core strength and overall width make it very hard for guards and tackle to block unless they have him lined up. He's also got a rep about a minute in against Willmar where he beautifully sets up and executes a spin move for an easy and athletic sack. It's a fun tape to watch and I'm very excited about the fit and match with the heavyweight Mavs. Good luck this year, Ian!   [player_tooltip player_id='382842' first='Brycen' last='Christensen'] (New London-Spicer) WR. 6'3, 175 lbs.   Debut Ranking: #75 overall It was pretty hard for me to not get Shane Zylstra vibes when watching the 6'3, 185 lb. NLS pass catcher make plays and catch bombs on the fields of Central Minnesota. It's not just the size and length too, as Christensen was productive (63 receptions, 878 yards, 13 TDs) like his predecessor, could float up and hover in the air to high point the football in dominant fashion like Shane, and is shifty and quick in the open field and slippery with the ball in his hand. I am a huge fan of his body control and after writing this eval, I think I may have him too low! Definite 2023 sleeper out of a small-school program with a rich legacy. Can't wait to keep an eye on this kid! Check his tape if you haven't already.   [player_tooltip player_id='313285' first='Simon' last='Morgan'] (St. Clair/Loyola) TE. 6'3, 205 lbs.   Debut Ranking: #83 overall   A playmaking addition to the already-strong 2023 TE rankings, Morgan measures in at 6'3, 200ish and is somewhat of an inbetweener in terms of projected position, but I stuck him with the TE tag just because he's a bigger-body type wideout and I think his game would translate well to the position at the DIII and potentially DII level. As the X receiver for St. Clair he shows a bit of wiggle and is especially dangerous at double moves, particularly in the red zone. He did it against both press and off-man as well, and even from the TE spot, hence the projection. His big catch radius and and optimistic size made him a strong addition to the Top 100. No offers for Mr. Morgan yet!   [player_tooltip player_id='313231' first='Rudy' last='Lozoya'] (Rochester Mayo) DE/FB. 5'9, 215 lbs.   Debut Ranking: #99 overall   I believe Lozoya weighed in as my #2 ranked hardest hitter in MN's 2023 class in an MN feature from this past year, and if you watch his tape it's hard to deny he's one of the pound-for-pound biggest thumpers in the Land of 10,000 Lakes. He also coincidentally happens to be one of my favorite prospects in the 2023 class, and a prospect I would recruit relentlessly if I was was a DIII coach or even DII FB/HB position coach. He's a devastating and powerful prep FB as both a blocker and runner, and also has no problem rocking you from his DE spot or on special teams. He's just a freight train of physicality and I've watched his tape about as much as anyone's in this rising senior class. Man, I love fullbacks, and the Mayo product is a good one. The city of Rochester is loaded with talent for the foreseeable future.   [player_tooltip player_id='383731' first='Adam' last='Mertens'] (Eden Prairie) LB. 6'4, 205 lbs.   Debut Ranking: #151 overall   How could you not like a 6'4 Eden Prairie varsity LB who totaled 7 sacks and an interception as a junior? Mertens just about cracked the Top 150 and most likely will before things are all said and done, as his potential is higher than most and I love his versatility around the edge of the LOS and into coverage as a standup OLB/DE EDGE hybrid. He can blitz and beat OGs on the interior, fly off the edge and finish the play when given the opportunity, and operate in a curl/flat zone in coverage to solidify his presence throughout a football game. He's got range and a knack for the football, and I also love his motor and length for the position. If you are more interested in the rankings I would keep my eye on EP's #15 as a potential stock-riser come update time in the future.   [player_tooltip player_id='313083' first='Jackson' last='Young'] (Lakeville North) DB. 6'1, 205 lbs.   Debut Ranking: #152 overall   You can always use a safety that puts the "strong" in SS, which is why I'm happy to introduce Lakeville North's [player_tooltip player_id='313083' first='Jackson' last='Young'], who is becoming a popular NSIC recruit as MSU-Mankato and Sioux Falls have already reached out with scholarship offers for the Lakeville product. The 205 lber. will make receivers, TEs, and RBs think twice about coming into the middle of the field, and his tackling technique and strength through contact help him to consistently stop ball carriers dead in their tracks, whether it's in space or in between traffic. It also helps that he plays with good angles and contributes on special teams, and at a sturdy 6'1, 205 lb. as a rising senior I think Young is going to blow up in a college weight room soon. He's the classic aggressive, fluid, and technically-sound Panther defender that Lakeville North has been churning out since my playing backs back in the early 2010s.   [player_tooltip player_id='313243' first='Will' last='Priest'] (Rosemount) RB.   Debut Ranking: #215 overall   In addition to my love of the fullback, it shouldn't come as much of a surprise that I seamlessly transition into loving power backs. Existing between FB and RB, with a lot of oomf behind their should pads, power backs can break down a defense over four quarters of play and generally do their best work in the second half, where their toughness can really shine, Rosemount Irish 2023er [player_tooltip player_id='313243' first='Will' last='Priest'] falls solidly into that category, and his junior tape is filled with broken tackles of all different kinds. The North-South specialist has a strong lower body and uses it decisively to slip through multiple tackle attempts - sometimes at once - and keep churning forward without missing a beat. He's got a fun tape to watch and I'm excited for reps from Priest as a senior.   [player_tooltip player_id='382845' first='Zack' last='Schusted'] (Blaine) TE/OT. 6'6, 225 lbs.   Debut Ranking: #222 overall   A lean, mean 6'6, 225 lbs., Blaine Bengal [player_tooltip player_id='382845' first='Zack' last='Schusted'] saw his rankings debut this past update and offers an attractive frame that a college S&C coach would love to get his hands on, as well as some blocking experience against big boy 6A Minnesota competition. The TE and LT contributor is long, possesses a hard initial punch, and is an effective run blocker who can seal the edge and operate in a zone blocking scheme. With that size and so much room to grow with some already noticeable strength I think he's got the chance to earn himself some scholarship money with a big senior season!

One of my favorite articles to write year after year comes after the publishing of the rising senior class rankings update and I can finally tell the world about the new additions and top newcomers that have come to my attention since the previous update. It's exhilarating as a scout when a new name catches your eye, especially from the home state, and after turning on the tape and seeing that you have a stud on your hands is one of the best feelings this job brings me. You feel like standing on a mountain and shouting the prospect's name into the recruiting stratosphere and beyond! For this recent Minnesota 2023 update on Monday, over 50 players joined the rankings list while more than 500 (I'm still going through all of them) submitted their information on our Prospect Index and are on the watchlist and available and accessible for contact by college coaches. Of those players, I found 14 particular talents who I couldn't wait to tell our wonderful subscribers about, and below I've given y'all the low-down on these ballers who hail from all around the Land of 10,000 Lakes. Thanks for reading!