Preseason Preview: Lakeville North
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By their standards, the Lakeville North Panthers have not had seasons they are accustomed to the last two seasons. Although they only return four starters on both offense and defense, the program has a lot of potential. “We have great…
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Continue ReadingBy their standards, the Lakeville North Panthers have not had seasons they are accustomed to the last two seasons. Although they only return four starters on both offense and defense, the program has a lot of potential.
“We have great running backs, and a talented young quarterback in Riley Grossman Riley Grossman 6'1" | 185 lbs | QB Lakeville North | 2025 State MN (Class of ’25),” head coach Brian Vossen said. “Defensively, we will be fast. Our entire team will be young but talented.” Knowing what I know about Coach Vossen, he will have plenty of tricks up his sleeve – especially on the defensive side of the ball.
Players to watch
Nelson is a physical corner in both the run and pass games. He comes up aggressively versus the run and is a great tackler. He is able to use his physical ability to get off blockers and get to the ball. He is also physical with receivers at the line of scrimmage and tackles well in the open field. Nelson is not just a big hitter. His speed allows him to break quickly on the ball – especially in zone coverage, run down plays from the other side of the field, and occasionally contribute as a deep threat as a wide receiver.
Young seems just as comfortable playing a deep safety as he is playing near the line of scrimmage. He has good range and instincts defending the pass but is at his best near the line of scrimmage, causing havoc in the running game or attacking quarterbacks off the edge. He is physical enough to not only set the edge in the running game but to fight off blocks when coming on a pass rush. With the physical style of game he plays, it came as no surprise to see he is a solid tackler to go along with his coverage skills.
As an outside linebacker, Albrecht’s greatest attributes are his speed and athletic ability. He is agile enough to work through the trash, allowing him to find his way into the backfield and cover the pass. He uses his quickness and hands to keep blockers from squaring him up, but he has no problem squaring up ball carriers, dropping his hips, and making tackles. His closing speed makes him hard to stay with on an outside pass rush, and his speed allows him to make plays on the opposite side of the field.
Antonio Menard
Antonio Menard
Menard is extremely explosive coming off the ball. He can play with his hand on the ground and standing up. Either way, he comes out of his stance with purpose – blowing by offensive linemen. Although his quickness and speed initially stand out, Menard is an exceptionally well-put-together athlete who – as a 2024 graduate – will only get stronger. He was physical as a sophomore and used leverage and work with his hands to keep blockers off his body. One of my favorite ’24 highlight packages I have seen this year – I can only imagine how many problems he will cause opposing offenses in the next two years.
Anderberg can play both right and left tackle. He has straight-line power to blow defenders off the line of scrimmage but also has excellent hips and can get his hips flipped toward the hole to keep defenders away from the runner. He gets off the ball quickly, and even with his height, he keeps his hips low and gets underneath defensive ends, straighten them up and drive them off the ball. The ’24 graduate is already athletic enough to reach the second level and work effectively in space. Even when he gets out of position, his upper body strength is at a level that can bail him out of bad situations.
Wilkie is an excellent one-cut-and-go runner. He sees his blocking develop, and when he sees an opening is decisive into the hole. He has the speed to get to the corner and can outrun defenders who think they have an angle on him. His cutting ability at the line of scrimmage translates into the open field as he has enough movement to make guys miss who don’t get him squared up. With his build, Wilkie’s physicalness should become more evident as his body matures and he gets more opportunities in the starting lineup