Preseason Preview: Esko Eskomos
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Call it Outstate prejudice, a lack of attention to detail, or just an ol’ fashioned surprise, I was not expecting the Esko Eskomos to make as deep of a Class AAA playoff run in 2021 as they did. Sadly, I…
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Continue ReadingCall it Outstate prejudice, a lack of attention to detail, or just an ol’ fashioned surprise, I was not expecting the Esko Eskomos to make as deep of a Class AAA playoff run in 2021 as they did. Sadly, I don’t think Esko – an unincorporated community of around 2,200 located between the towns of Cloquet and Duluth and right near the NW tip of Wisconsin – has received much attention from PrepRedzoneMN as their former stud 6’2 CB Jaxson Turner was named a NorthstarFootballNews All-State First Team pick in 2015. Luckily, it’s never too late to change things, and I’m here to give the Eskomos some well-deserved exposure in this PRzMN Preseason Preview. Despite losing some 2022s to graduation, Esko returns most of their talent from their AAA playoff run last season. I’m here to break down and highlight the ’23s, ’24s, and even ’25s set to make an impact for this upcoming fall. Let’s get to know the Esko Eskomos below; thanks for reading!
*as a note, if you were expecting the LeRoy-Ostrander Preseason Preview, it doesn’t look like they are subscribed to Hudl for 2022, so I unfortunately can’t cover the defending 9man state champions.
Team Review
It’s not like Esko came out of nowhere with their 11-1 record and a Class AAA state quarterfinal victory over New London-Spicer last season. In 2019, the team went 8-3, won the Section 7AAA championship (thank you MNFootballHub for the records), and qualified for the 3A tourney before a tough 13-33 loss to a stacked Annandale squad. Prior to that, they produced some impressive prep prospects at the QB, WRs, and DT positions, so the makings of a state championship caliber squad have been culminating for a while. They did lose some talent to the 2022 graduation, with players such as DT Dan Demuth, WR/DB Mason Perich, lineman/LB Cole Engen, lineman Nick Swanson, RB/SB Kade Gonsorowski, and OL Wyatt Wickenheiser all providing on-field production as well as leadership and the foundation that led to a state tourney appearance, a valuable experience for the returning contributors. Class AAA is a little more wide open in terms of state champion contenders, and with the Eskomos 2023 and 2024 class filled with depth and talent, I do think they have what it takes to better the 2021 campaign and potentially win themselves some hardware. Let’s get to know the returning prospects and their potential impact below.
Important games: Friday, 9/30 @ Two Harbors
Whenever they play Aitkin (schedule isn’t posted yet)
Players to Step Up
Nolan Witt Nolan Witt 6'1" | 210 lbs | RB Esko | 2023 MN – LB/RB. C/o 2023. 6′, 205 lbs.
A two-way contributor who rushed 903 yards at an 8.36 YPC average along with 54 tackles, 9 TFLs, and 5 sacks for an impressive junior stat line and a District OPOY award. Thick and powerful, Witt is strong North-South runner with a good open field cut when defenders are expecting contact and the lower body strength to run through arm tackles, and defensively he completely envelops RBs as a tackler and can get out of his stance quickly and before blockers can react. He can generate a lot of velocity in only a couple of steps from either position, and I think LB is in his future at the next level. For now, he’ll be a heckvua two-way prep player and a not fun RB to tackle among the Outstate ranks of ball carriers. If he can level up his impact and production as a senior he’ll be a huge workhorse for Esko and a big key to success for their program.
Ty Christensen – QB. C/o 2023.
QB1 for the Eskomos is already experienced and athletic and is going to be one of – if not thee – x-factor for Esko this season. He shows the ability to get the rock out of his hand quickly when needed, shows good touch on his deep balls – especially in the redzone – and has to be accounted for as a runner at all times. He can extend plays with his legs, fit the ball into tighter windows at the prep level, and run the option for his offense. He’s also the holder for PATs and FGs and if he can step up his game and keep the offense poised and humming week to week, Esko will have a much better chance at winning a state title.
Thomas Pyrlik – OT. C/o 2023
Esko’s RT is effective at staying engaged with opponents and working to finish throughout a play, and I also like how he works to naturally use his body position and footwork to box out defenders. He can also get out of his stance quickly and does well when working to the second level against LBs. Pyrlik also throws a mean cut block! Everything starts at the LOS, and if Pyrlik can set the tone in the trenches and provide leadership and physicality as the top returning OL then Esko is going to really be able to dominate opposing teams in 2022.
Top Dogs
Koi Perich – ATH. C/o 2024. 6’1, 180 lbs.
According to Esko’s Hudl account, rising junior Perich is the most viewed athlete in the past 10 years and his 4k+ views doubles the aforementioned Jaxson Turner, and Perich still has another two years of film to release! There’s a lot to like in his athletic profile, as he was a ’22 Duluth News Tribune First Team All-Area pick on the hardwood who averaged 27, 8, and 3.5 per game, ran a 43.57 400M, 22.77 200M (5th in A), 22’3.5 triple jump (T-5th in A), and placed first in Class A in the long jump! That was all during his first season running track & field as well. Additionally, he’s had a strong summer camp circuit, running a 4.53 40 and jumping 31’11 in the triple at Iowa State and having an excellent 1-on-1 competitive portion of the Minnesota Gophers prospect camp late last month. He also reports a 10’4 broad jump, and you can see that athleticism in his sophomore tape offensively, where he shows off burst, the length to slip through tackle attempts, and speed off the top end. He also has some great defensive highlights where he flies off the edge and explodes through tackle attempts with force. He’s comfortable in space on either side of the ball and a playmaker no matter where he lines up. Perich also has some nice reps in pass coverage and is a three-down, three-phase impact player at the prep level. He does not look or play like an underclassman, so I’m more than excited to see him compete as a now-junior. He’s got the chance to be the Top Dog of Esko’s past decade and potentially ever.
Carter Zezulka – WR/OLB. C/o 2023. 6’2, 200 lbs.
The hero of the state quarterfinal win in 2021, well-built WR/OLB Zezulka posted 22 catches for 368 yards and seven TDs, with some of those being high-pressure, clutch, big game catches that not every wideout can make. It’s a sight to see when he high points the football, and his 50/50 ball completion percentage is much higher than the 50/50 would suggest. DBs simply can’t outjump him, and his body control and soft hands make him a tough matchup for Class AAA and outstate DBs. He’s going to be a matchup nightmare in 2022 and a true receiving threat in a class that mainly relies on the run game. It’s going to be fun to watch, and if he can step up and improve his already impressive playmaking ability then opposing defenses are going to have a ton of trouble stopping the balanced Eskomos offense.
Breakout Candidates
Joey Antonutti – LB. C/o 2024. 5’11, 200 lbs.
Antonutti gained beneficial experience and big game reps as a sophomore last season and has a nice sophomore tape with a particularly impressive second play, where he flies into the backfield up the A gap and explodes through the lead blocker, knocking him off his feet, backwards, and into the ball carrier for a TFL without even touching the RB. I love the energy he plays with, and he looks thicker and bigger on tape than his 5’11, 200 lb. listing would suggest, and he’s instinctive in the turnover department and a violent hitter at the point of contact. Antonutti was a TFL machine last season thanks to his slipperiness at avoiding blocks and speed & timing when shooting gaps, and now that he’s an upperclassman I think he’s going to take a big step forward and really step up his dominance from the MLB spot. He’s a fun one to watch and has the chance to take Class AAA by storm these next two years.
Javontae Gregory Javontae Gregory 5'11" | 170 lbs | RB Esko | 2023 MN – DB. C/o 2023. 6′, 190 lbs.
Gregory is a nice-sized CB prospect with a patient backpedal, ball skills on shorter routes and contested catch situations, and strength & physicality as a tackler and when defeating blocks around the edge. I really like Gregory’s balanced skill set from the cornerback position and with his size and the way he attacks and explodes through blocking attempts is a hard find for prep CBs and really increases his value and positional versatility as a college prospect. He should see his recruitment explode once he gets more film out, especially from NSIC suitors.
Jacion Owens Jacion Owens 5'10" | 175 lbs | DB Esko | 2025 State MN – QB/ATH. C/o 2025. 5’8, 140 lbs.
Quick-footed and nimble with great vision and cutting ability as a ball-carrier, Owens got varsity reps as an option QB and had himself a great game against Mora. I think that elusiveness will help him find his way onto the field in some capacity as a sophomore in 2022.
Team Recruiting News
Somehow, with all of this size, athleticism, and talent, there are not a lot of offers already extended to the Esko prospects. As it goes in high school and JUCO sports though, success puts prospects’ exposure on the main stage and can amplify things on the recruiting trail, so it’s far from too late for these ’23s and ’24s to get some college opportunities going. For the 2023 class, Gregory is very intriguing overall, with a dynamic and athletic skill set with size and physicality. He does have NSIC coaches following him already, but no offers, so his senior year is going to be an important one and if he can move and compete as he does on film, he’ll have the chance to be a very productive DII player. Zezulka is another player whose game could translate well to the next level, as 50/50 contested catch success is huge in the college game and he’s got the size and strength to out-muscle opponents at the catch point. Additionally, I am quite excited to see how Top Dog Perich continues to develop, as he’s already a natural, do-it-all playmaker with real ease and comfortability to his game and the tape that could land him a D1 scholarship. As I mentioned, he’s got the chance to outdo Turner as Esko’s #1 prospect in recent memory, and that is really saying something. Both can legit play. It looks like Esko is going to be worth a stop for D1, DII, and DIII/NAIA programs these next two seasons. To stay on top of all the recent recruiting news with Esko and the rest of the prep programs in our Great State of Minnesota, make sure you keep refreshing PrepRedzoneMN!
Other Players to Know
Dalton Spindler – ATH. C/o 2024
Ryan Sturm – CB/WR. C/o 2024. 5’10, 150 lbs.
Can play both offense and defense and shows off ball skills as a WR and DB.
Isaak Sertich – WR/OLB. C/o 2024. 6’2, 190 lbs.
Had a key TD against Aitkin where he made a catch in the endzone through contact and traffic.
Jace Stewart – WR/CB. C/o 2024. 5’10, 170 lbs.
Also plays hockey.
Cole Sauter – DE/OG. C/o 2024. 6′, 200 lbs.
Reports a 345 squat and 235 bench.
Jack Graddy Jack Graddy WR Esko | 2025 MN – WR/DB. C/o 2025
Braden Lowe – WR. C/o 2023
Can do damage if given open field as a WR and showed some soft hands and tackle breaking ability in his very limited 2021 highlights.
Sam Haugen – RB. C/o 2025. 6′, 165 lbs.
Got varsity minutes on the basketball hardwood last season as a freshman.
Matt Peterson – DL. C/o 2023
Awesome motor and can get off blocks well and at least eat up blocks and create piles of bodies to plug opposing running lanes. Will fight for every inch and yard as a run defender and uses his hands well to boot.
Jackson Schmitz – DL. C/o 2023
Alex Kazel – WR. C/o 2023. 5’10
Owen Wilson – WR. C/o 2023
Dylan Klatte – OL/DL. C/o 2023
Wyatt Stankiewicz – OL/DL. C/o 2023
Alec Peterson – OL/DL. C/o 2023. 6′, 200 lbs.
Brock Montminy – OT/DT. C/o 2025. 6’2, 265 lbs.
Bryce Hipp – QB/LB. C/o 2024. 5’11, 200 lbs.
Nick Borden – OG. C/o 2024
Aiden South – OT. C/o 2024
Aiden Lewis – DE. C/o 2024