10 Minnesotans Making Waves in the MIAC as Freshmen

If our readers know anything about me by now, I hope they've picked up on the fact that I am a #1 fan and subscriber of the college football conferences and divisions that recruit and respect Minnesota prep football readers. I subscribe to ESPN+ solely so I can watch Missouri Valley games, and the bulk of my Saturday mornings and afternoon are honestly spent more switching between as many MIAC, WIAC, NISC, and occasionally CCIW games on my computer as I can while watching the Gophers, Iowa State, or any team I can find that has an MN native on their roster on my big screen TV. I would be doing this whether I worked for PRzMN or not, so I am very much blessed to be able to utilize all of this football watching for work, and I'm especially excited to update our readers on some freshman Minnesotans making waves in the MIAC, a conference I played in and love. It's been a heckuva season in the MIAC so far, with Bethel highlighting this weekend's games with an upset of then #2 ranked St. John's, and with seven weekends of ball left in MN's premier DIII conference, there is still a lot more action and excitement to be had. With the 2022 graduating class still somewhat in the rearview and fresh on our minds, I wanted to notify our subscribers of 10 Minnesotans Making Waves in the MIAC as Freshman, brought to you as always by PrepRedzoneMN. I can't wait to see how these young bucks develop over the next four years.   --   1) David Geebli (Coon Rapids -> Bethel University) RB. 5'7, 180 lbs.   High School: The Coon Rapids product and graduate caught my eye a few years back when he was a sophomore ball carrier with great pad level and balance and zero qualms with running behind his pads. The RB also wrestled and played lacrosse, and had heard from St. Scholastica and I'm sure a number of other MIAC competitors but ultimately chose to stay around 15 minutes from home at Arden Hill's Bethel University. His senior highlight tape also showed off that he had some game breaking speed when needed, but I just couldn't keep noticing how he'd drag opponents after first contact and continue to get second-effort yardage. He's got some strong legs.   College: It looks like Bethel got themselves a good one, and Geebli opened his college career with a bang against Pacific Lutheran and finished his afternoon with 8 carries for 66 yards and 2 TDs in Bethel's 41-9 victory. Excitedly, he also got reps against #2 SJU and carried the ball 12 times for 54 yards, a catch for 18 yards, and 2 tackles. Keep your eye out for #28!   2) Logan Orvedahl (Moose Lake-Willow River -> St. Scholastica) RB. 6'1, 195 lbs.   High School: I am a big fan of RBs that come out of the MLWR program and its proximity makes it a must-stop for the CSS coaching and recruiting staff. The Saints landed what's looking like a potential major contributor to their RB room in Logan Orvedahl, who was named 2021 Duluth News Tribune POY, First Team All-Area, District MVP, and Conference MVP. He rushed for over 1,500 yards and 22 TDs as a senior and also participated in basketball, baseball, and track & field during his prep career for the Rebels. On tape, he was a tantalizing blend of strength, quickness, and speed, and with how well he could run through weaker tackle attempts I believe he kept defenders on their toes and catch them flat footed with some nicely-timed cuts.   College: Orvedahl is seeing time at both RB and on kick returns, and has also recorded one tackle on what I'm assuming is punt or kickoff coverage. He opened the season against Sewanee with two carries for 23 yards and a kick return for 12 yards. He followed it up against Crown with 4 rushes for 41 yards and a TD to go along with a kick return for 9 yards. Yesterday against Augsburg he returned two kicks for 40 yards. Let's see how he keeps things rolling.   3) Tyrone Wilson (New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva -> Augsburg University) WR. 6'3, 190 lbs.   High School: An athletic and well-built wideout from the small school co-op NRHEG who played QB and OLB last year for the Panthers and showed a skill set that included throwing, running, tackling, getting off blocks, and rushing the passer. His long strides and lean frame make him an intriguing physical specimen for the Augsburg S&C staff to work with, and he's already put it to new use at his new position for the Auggies at WR.   College: The freshman posted 3 catches for 77 yards and a TD against Martin Luther and 2 catches for 39 yards against St. Scholastica.   4) Nathan Wangensteen (Chisholm -> Augsburg University) K. 5'11, 170 lbs.   High School: Wangensteen ended his career with the fourth longest MN in Minnesota prep history with a successful 51-yarder against North Woods last September. The Auggies were his only reported offer and it looks like they are going to be very happy with that extra heavy boot of his.   College: Is 5/6 on the season with a long of 42 yards and is 9/12 on PATs and has also handled kickoff duties with 23 for 1266 yards and two touchbacks.   5) Ashton Hain (St. Francis -> St. Scholastica) RB. 5'8, 185 lbs.   High School: Sadly, Hain is lacking in high school film, but in his CSS bio it says he was named All-Conference in soccer and also competed in track and field.   College: Through three games, Hain has 28 carries for 120 yards and 3 TDs and has added 3 receptions for 12 yards. He also returned two kicks for 35 yards in the opening game of the season at Sewanee. His season has been highlighted by his 10 carry, 92 yard, and 3 TD performance at Crown College. He got carries yesterday too so let's hope he can keep that going.   6) Miles Townsend (Rosemount -> St. Olaf) LB. 5'11, 205 lbs.   High School: I was quite excited when my St. Olaf Oles nabbed the two-sport standout at Rosemount High School and kept the pipeline with the Irish nice and strong. Townsend was a member of a stud crop of LBs around his 2022 class and was named team captain, All-District twice, and All-Conference once. His track and field accolades are also impressive, with two All-State and three All-Conference selections and was a member of the school's record-holding 4x100, 4x200, and 4x400 teams. That same 4x100 squad also set the conference record in the event as well. Townsend also played RB for Rosemount, and his senior tape shows off an instinctive, physical, do-it-all football player who plays without regard for his body and with solid speed for his size.   College: Is sitting at 7 tackles, 2 TFLs, and a sack between the Oles two contests with Macalester and Luther College. He's going to be a big time player for St. Olaf the next few seasons.   7) Braden Peterson (Maple Lake -> St. Scholastica) LB. 6', 210 lbs.   High School: St. Scholastica put their nose to the ground and really hit the recruiting trail hard this past offseason, which paid dividends in their 2022 crop of talent, particularly at the LB position. One of the standouts so far through 2022 comes from Maple Lake's five-sport athlete Braden Peterson, who played football, basketball, and baseball and also participated in wrestling and track and field. On the gridiron, he was named his team's Defensive MVP, Honorable Mention All-Section, and awarded Minnesota All-Star game selection honors.   College: With the size to help him compete in the box as a first year, Peterson has tallied 5 tackles, a TFL, a sack, and an interception through three games, with that INT coming yesterday against Augsburg. More plays are coming!   8) Devin Williams (Fridley -> Bethel University) DB. 6'1, 220 lbs.   High School: The Fridley Tigers have been an outstanding pool of talent for the Bethel Royals, with 2021 graduate Micah Niewald earning my pick for '21 MIAC Newcomer of the Year. Tigers can ball, and the Bethel Royals made sure to head back to Fridley for their 2022 class, landing the eye-poppingly built 6'1, 220 lb. DB Devin Williams. An MN All-Star game selection, Williams also held offers from Southwest Minnesota State, UW-River Falls, and Augsburg but officially announced his commitment in late May. As a senior, he caught 42 passes for 577 yards and 7 TDs and also rushed 32 times for 170 yards and 4 TDs, and on defense posted 37 tackles, 4 INTs (two of which he returned for TDs), and a punt return for a touchdown as well. He's an obviously big kid on tape and run by as well as over defenders as a senior in 2021, and was a dynamic playmaker wherever you line him up at. Bethel landed a beast in Mr. Williams.   College: In two heavyweight games for the Royals against UW-Platteville and SJU, Williams has recorded seven tackles and two PBUs. More are coming.   9) Ian Strusz (St. Michael-Albertville -> St. Scholastica) DB. 5'10, 170 lbs.   High School: DBs from STMA traditionally have found success in the MIAC and first year Strusz is showing signs of keeping the tradition alive the next four. A three-sport athlete as a prep who also participated in baseball and track and field, Strusz is lacking in film from his prep career but it's looking like that shouldn't be an issue in his college career.   College: The 5'10 DB has recorded 13 tackles and 2 PBUs in three games of DIII action. Keep it up, Ian!   10) Dylan Wheeler (Mounds View -> St. John's) WR. 6'3, 200 lbs.   High School: Boy oh boy am I excited about this one. Wheeler was a major grab for SJU's football team as he was a scholarship basketball recruit in high school and only played football as a senior, making him late to the recruiting process as a football player. However, he put some really good things on tape from that senior season, with the ability to track and play the football well, shiftiness after the catch, and overall a ton of juice for a big-bodied wideout. He totaled 32 catches for 490 yards and 5 TDs as a high school senior and ended up committing to SJU with fellow Mounds View standout and LB Andrew Molenaar. SJU carries a ridiculous amount of depth on their team, so seeing him get some action already is a good sign, even if the stats aren't the craziest on this list.   College: Posted a catch yesterday for three yards in the heavyweight matchup with Bethel University.

If our readers know anything about me by now, I hope they've picked up on the fact that I am a #1 fan and subscriber of the college football conferences and divisions that recruit and respect Minnesota prep football readers. I subscribe to ESPN+ solely so I can watch Missouri Valley games, and the bulk of my Saturday mornings and afternoon are honestly spent more switching between as many MIAC, WIAC, NISC, and occasionally CCIW games on my computer as I can while watching the Gophers, Iowa State, or any team I can find that has an MN native on their roster on my big screen TV. I would be doing this whether I worked for PRzMN or not, so I am very much blessed to be able to utilize all of this football watching for work, and I'm especially excited to update our readers on some freshman Minnesotans making waves in the MIAC, a conference I played in and love. It's been a heckuva season in the MIAC so far, with Bethel highlighting this weekend's games with an upset of then #2 ranked St. John's, and with seven weekends of ball left in MN's premier DIII conference, there is still a lot more action and excitement to be had. With the 2022 graduating class still somewhat in the rearview and fresh on our minds, I wanted to notify our subscribers of 10 Minnesotans Making Waves in the MIAC as Freshman, brought to you as always by PrepRedzoneMN. I can't wait to see how these young bucks develop over the next four years.