42 MN Midseason Highlight Film Evals
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This one is about as straight forward as it gets. Now that we are around 4-5 weeks into the regular season of 2022 we are beginning to see MN preps – as they should be – updating and condensing their…
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Continue ReadingThis one is about as straight forward as it gets. Now that we are around 4-5 weeks into the regular season of 2022 we are beginning to see MN preps – as they should be – updating and condensing their game highlights into a clean and nifty Midseason Highlight tape fresh for the eyes of college coaches, recruiters, friends, opponents, and scouts like me. I’m always up to grind some tape, so I thought it’d be interesting to quickly eval as many midseason highlights as I came across on PrepRedzoneMN. Freshman, sophomores, juniors, seniors, and all positions on the gridiron, no one was off limits for an eval. Let’s see how some Minnesota standouts are performing so far this fall. Thanks for reading!
Sandstrom’s junior highlights were comprised mainly of TE highlights, so I was very excited to see LB reps all over his midseason tape. He’s also up to an impressive 230 pounds now, which makes him a heckuva force shooting gaps and penetrating the backfield on well-timed blitzes. It also looks like he’s improved upon his speed, which showed up in a nice burst after a catch as a TE against Cambridge-Isanti. He also made a heckuva play running down a Coon Rapids QB from the backside, and at 230 lbs. as mentioned he’s got some impressive speed and burst. I really like what I see and I believe college programs will as well.
Getting reps at both WR and TE, Thomsen is a patient route-runner and can work and find space in zone coverage. Also has good concentration at the catch point and soft hands from what I can see.
Highlights
Robby House
Robby House
An upcoming addition to the ’24 rankings, 6’1, 215 lb Minnetonka LB Robby House has good size and despite thinking that he’d be a classic downhill ILB, I was pumped to see him make an impact in pass coverage. He can start and stop and change direction well, and does a good job of diagnosing, finding, and freezing ball carriers where they stand. This includes on screens and in space. He also has a good amount of pop in him and is strong at the point of contact. Get to know him!
The signal caller and QB1 of 6A contender Eden Prairie, Nick Fazi Nick Fazi 6’1″ | 180 lbs | QB Eden Prairie | 2023 State MN ‘s arm strength, touch, and accuracy all look improved, which is not to say they were lacking before. Back-shoulder fades, out-and-ups, posts through double coverage, and out-breaking routes while rolling out have all been completed so far this season. He’s also passing at a 71% completion clip and has only thrown 1 INT through four games. Don’t be surprised when that consistency and efficiency continued as well.
Highlights
The Princeton QB has completed 38 passes for 517 yards and 7 TDs through the air with two more on the ground. His midseason tape shows him getting through his reads and showing patience at allowing his wideouts to get open while using his lower body to buy time behind the LOS. Drews is also showing some nice ball placement and is putting the rock only where his WR can make a play on it. Him and WR Jonah Hviding Jonah Hviding 5’10” | 155 lbs | WR Princeton | 2023 State MN have been one of the most productive duos in the state through the first half of 2022.
Highlights
Preston Thielke
Preston Thielke
The sophomore gunslinger is getting varsity minutes and is looking efficient and mobile through four games of the regular season. The righty is able to roll out and hit accurate throws on the run as well as take off and gain yardage when the situation calls for it. He’ll be a new addition to the 2025 class soon!
At 6’5, 205 lbs., Suess made a heckuva INT from his DE spot against Byron when he got up into the air and into a passing lane, snagging the ball out of the air and maintaining his balance to earn an extra 10+ yards in the return. He’s looking fast off the edge from the 5T or standup wide-9 spot, and his length and get-off help him slip by bigger OTs in the run and pass game. He’s also showing a little bit of quickness when working to gaps inside. Suess is looking like another strong athlete out of KM.
Highlights
I love the recruits coming out of Rochester lately and Brumm, RJM’s QB1, is doing some good things in-terms of getting the ball out of his hand quickly, touch on his downfield fade routes, and hitting shorter routes into the flats, hook/curls, and over the middle. That’s only off two games of tape too.
Highlights
The Burnsville CB has only allowed 2 catches through four games and hasn’t given up a TD in 2022. He’s got quick feet that he does a good job of keeping active, closes on the football rapidly, and is aggressive at the contact point both as a tackler and when breaking up the football. Hunter is a strong cut tackler as well and is having a good ’22 so far.
Highlights
Emmanuel Olagbaju
Emmanuel Olagbaju
The senior DT has been a strong run stuffer against 1-on-1 blocking attempts and is violent and efficient with his hands. I also spy some quickness in that 6’2, 280 lb. frame, both in his get-off and laterally. DTs are always at a premium; coaches get at his guy!
The must-know Eastview 2024 RB is averaging 115 rushing YPG and is sitting at 4 TDs at the midway point of the regular szn. I like what I see, to say the least. Green is dangerous in the open field and has thrown out some nasty cuts at attempted tacklers in 2022. His ease at getting defenders off balance allows him to use his stiff-arm efficiently and I like his soft hands in the pass game as well. I can’t wait to watch him keep making people miss!
Highlights
Kayshawn Green
Kayshawn Green
The Spring Lake Panther junior RB has the physical build and running style to excel between the tackles and in SLP’s run-heavy offensive attack. His strong lower body helps him gain extra yardage after contact, and he generally looks like a tougher RB to handle thanks to his low center of gravity. He also laid some big hits on kickoff coverage and in pass-pro from the RB spot. SLP makes them tough and they make them strong, and Green is no exception.
The aforementioned speedster Hviding is a scoring machine through four games and is sitting at 15 receptions for 200 yards, 45 rushing yards, 6 receiving TDs and a kick return for a TD as well. He’s solid at dropping his hips and creating separation at the top of the route as well as when he’s cutting past defenders in the open field. Hviding has also made some tough and impressive catches with little room to work with through only three games. Him and Drews are going to continue their one-two punch combination the rest of 2022.
Highlights
Eden Prairie’s WR1 and PrepRedzoneMN veteran Gross has caught 17 balls for 276 yards and 2 TDs plus 30 yards rushing and another TD. He’s popped off some big plays through the midseason point and is a downfield threat who can make catches in traffic as well as hurt DBs after the catch. His long frame will really benefit from a college weight room, and his soft hands make him a great and consistent target for Nick Fazi Nick Fazi 6’1″ | 180 lbs | QB Eden Prairie | 2023 State MN . Keep it up, Michael!
Highlights
The Preseason All-State second team TE Dahl has solidified that award through the midseason point of ’22 and has done a great job of high-pointing football and making tough catches in tighter coverage. It looks like he hit the weight room hard this summer and has also leveled up his run blocking game as well, and is a key target in the pass game for LCWM. Atta boy, Drew!
Highlights
A 2024 Concordia Academy defensive specialist, Haug has continued to show his penchant for hitting hard, which was evident in his sophomore highlights last year, and he takes on blocks with aggression as well as showing off solid pursuit angles. Haug fights like heck to defend the CA defensive edge and has given blockers fits trying to prevent him from finding the rock so far.
Highlights
A 2023 potential stock riser who is balling out as a senior and has posted 58 rushes for 452 yards and 3 TDs through the midseason point of 2022. Naimah opened his tape with an impressive TD run against Armstrong where he cleanly ran through a couple of solid tackle attempts and finished it 65 yards for six. I really like his body control and balance through contact and he’s got a fun senior tape to watch thus far.
Jayden Gbayisomore
Jayden Gbayisomore
A JV WR who made some great 50/50 contested catches in 2022, Gbayisomore will also do the dirty work expected as a WR and has no problem blocking out on the perimeter. Another 2024 name to know!
The 6’1, RJM athlete has shown his metal as a fearless and effective kick returner and opens his midseason tape with three kick returns past the 50 and a punt return good for 20ish yards. He’s also been successful as a RB thanks to his solid burst.
Highlights
Colin Ellingson
Colin Ellingson
The 6’4, 275-pounder is doing some good things as a blocker and shows off a strong base, active feet that can seal the edge and work to the second level, and a decent initial punch. I really like how quickly he gets out of his stance, though, and it’s always good to add another lineman-to-know out of our great state. Especially in the junior class.
Michael Bruggers
Michael Bruggers
As a sophomore getting varsity DE action, Bruggers has great length, good technique, and slipperiness at getting through the LOS in the run game. I’m a big fan of how he gets off blocks for his size and age. Another Champlin Park Rebel to know!
The junior SMB safety does a good job of staying around the football no matter if it’s run and pass, and has posted two INTs and a blocked punt along with some beautiful tackles around the LOS. I’m a big fan of how he diagnoses the play and gets downhill quickly while keeping his body in a good position. I also like how he attacks blocks with great leverage and how smoothly he runs a j-path when chasing ball carriers to the edge. Rannow is also a strong tackler and a physical force from the safety spot.
A 6’4, 255 lb. OT and OG, Princeton Tiger Bryce Ternes Bryce Ternes 6’4″ | 235 lbs | DL Princeton | 2023 MN has a lean frame with a lot more room to fill in, and he looks really good running downfield and in space when he’s lead blocking. He runs like a deer, can shut down and stop quickly in space, and lays a heckuva hit, especially when he’s got a full head of steam. I also like what I saw in terms of pass-pro, as Tejosh quirnes has a heavy punch he times well, keeps his hands active, and has a good drop in his pass set. He’s a good athlete at his size with a lot more room to grow and add strength. Princeton is stacked this year.
Highlights
The 6’1, 235 lb. former TE now OT Quirk is strong, nasty, and has a heckuva will to finish blocks. His compact build helps him bring a ton of power into his punch and pads, and when he gets a full head of steam and is coming downhill he’s a runaway freight train barreling towards opponents. I also like his pass set, and going against the Metro’s top DL week-to-week is a definite plus. I’d love to have this guy on my team and would hate to go against him. HornIsets never die!
Highlights
Isaac Whicker
Isaac Whicker
The 6’3, 175 lb. wideout is averaging 29.9 receiving yards per catch on his 7 receptions so far in 2022, with a TD as well. He’s been making plays downhill as the X receiver and uses that height to his advantage when plucking the ball out of the air in tight coverage. Posts, fades, and deep comebacks have all been successful for him this season, and I also like what I see from him as a blocker.
The stud heavyweight wrestler and bruising Eden Prairie lineman has been very destructive from his DT spot thanks to his excellent get off and first step, lateral agility, pad level, and overall athleticism. He fires off the ball like a rocket, is strong enough to bounce off big blocking attempts, and is relentless in pursuit of the ball. He also has great hand placement and leverage when blocking an iOL. I am a huge fan of this dude and think he’d make for a beast of a collegiate lineman.
Highlights
Miguel Arandia
Miguel Arandia
Arandia is a good tackler from his DB spot or on special teams and especially kickoff coverage or in space. I also like how he plays through the receiver and attempts to break up passes with physicality. Keep it up, Miguel.
The 6’1, 200 pound LB/TE mix is a strong defender who has also made some solid plays in the passing game as a TE/FB hybrid. He does a good job of finding and flowing to the football, and I like how he comes downhill when a QB rolls out. Loesch is also a good tackler from what I can see on film.
Lee, a 6′ Park of Cottage Grove safety and corner, threw a heckuva stiff-arm on the first play of his midseason tape and also made a very impressive 1-on-1 goal line tackle against Lakeville South. He also has a good rep of sticking his foot in the ground, flipping his hips open on the snap to zone-turn and play the WR, and picking the ball off downfield. He also doesn’t mind a high-speed tackle, which bodes well for his future as a potential safety.
Highlights
The Preseason All-State TE and very impressive 6’5, 235 lb. prospect is one of the more underrated seniors in MN as of right now. He’s looking like a beast through the midseason point of 2022, and looks smooth and athletic running routes as a pass catcher. He’s also a massive 1-on-1 tackling assignment, especially for DBs, and is a beast as a run blocker who can dominate and punish smaller opponents. He also doesn’t mind making catches through contact and can be a huge asset in the red zone. He’s a definite scholarship player with FCS potential. Get at this kid, man.
Charlie Zok
Charlie Zok
The Detroit Lakes 200 lb. linebacker laid one of the harder hits I saw while watching tape for this feature as he leveled an East Grand Forks RB in the open field and slammed the kid horizontal into the turf. He explodes through contact, flies around like his hair is on fire, and overall brings a ton of speed to the ILB position. DL has one of the best LB rooms in the state this season.
The 6′, 220 lber. Whitehawk lineman does a good job of popping his hips outside to create space when getting around blockers and is a threat to beat OTs to either gap on either shoulder. He can also line up all over the DL and has a good first step. Dioszeghy has a strong motor as well.
Delaney blocked an XP off the edge with impressive speed and burst, and brings that same speed when blitzing or triggering on the football. He’s a good-sized safety who stays around the football and is a patient tackler when pursuing in space. The 6’2, 205 lber. looks good on film and has posted 17 tackles, 4 TFLs, 3 FFs, 2 INT, 2 FR, and a sack in 2022. I gotta get this kid ranked, and soon too!
The Chan senior OC does a good job of keeping his hands on the breastplate of his opponent and using their momentum against them, whether that’s flinging them to the ground or running them out of the play. I like his leg drive as well.
Highlights
Cam Hannah
Cam Hannah
The 6’6, 275 lb. Apple Valley senior has great size and impressive athletic traits on top of the 6’7 wingspan. He possesses a smooth arm-over, quickness and lateral agility, and good strength at the tackling point. Overall, I like his body control for his age and size and I’m surprised he’s without an offer at this point in time.
Peyton Rogers
Peyton Rogers
The 225 lber. is a member of SMB’s monster defensive line for this 2022 season and can get in the backfield in a jiffy from his NT/DL spot. He wins off absorbing and working through that initial contact point, and in general he’s too much of a combo of speed/strength for prep offensive centers to deal with.
Nate Hansen
Nate Hansen
The 5’11, 160 lb. freshman OLB can play off the edge with speed and make plays when given the opportunity or work in zone coverage to break up passes. Hansen is also a good tackler for his age and size. The future is bright for this one!
The senior Edina Hornet is sitting at 27 tackles and 7 TFLs at the midseason point of 2022 and flies out of his stance from his DE spot. He’s got a strong lower body that helps him eat up cut blocks and I really like how he works and beats blocks to their inside gap as well as how he’ll freeze a 1-on-1 block, keep them at bay with his arms extended, and then shed the block to make the tackle. He’s a strong kid and it shows up on tape. Go Hornets!
Highlights
The massive Eden Prairie OT has solidified himself as a ’24 MN lineman to watch at the D1 level and is in the middle of his first season starting on varsity for the Eagles. The LT and RG is a dominant run blocker and can crumple opponents at the point of initial contact. For his height, he plays with a low pad level, and is consistent with his hand placement and strength. When he engages with an opponent he can easily move them out of the play, and he’s also got some pass pro reps on tape and is only getting better the more varsity experience he gets under his belt.
Highlights
Sabastine Weaver
Sabastine Weaver
The 210 lb. LB is a solid form tackler who can freeze ball carriers in their tracks once he gets ahold of them. He’s a classic MLB product with the downhill game to back up the position.
Ollie Englund
Ollie Englund
The JV contributor has great height and length and is a physical presence from his OLB spot. The standup EDGE presence doesn’t mind mind the physical aspect of football and does a good job of working off blocks. I’m excited to see how he continues to grow and develop.
The Mounds View senior has 28 tackles, 4 TFLs, 2 sacks, and 2 TFLs through four games of 2022 and triggers/closes on the football with noticeable speed. I love how he flies around and puts everything into each and every tackle he gets an opportunity at. He gets on ball carriers in the blink of an eye.