PrepRedzoneMN Showcase: Oliver's All-Eye Test Team

If you've been reading my stuff for a while then I hope you remember me talking about the Eye Test. An always-important aspect of recruiting and especially in-person visits, the Eye Test is when a prospective college coach or recruiter gets to examine, evaluate, and sometimes admire a recruit's height, weight, length, and general build with their own eyes, allowing them to imagine how they'd look in the pads and school colors of their program. It can be a make-or-break quick little impression for prospects, and a famous example I remember reading about regarding the Eye Test comes from professional QB Baker Mayfield. I'm summarizing here, but his dad took him on a visit to an SEC program or a college in Texas (can't remember exactly), and Mr. Mayfield, a former high-level football player himself, saw his son receive and fail the Eye Test from the prospective big-time program they were visiting. This created the chip on Baker's shoulder that allowed him to rise about the initial impression, but it goes to show how even special talents can see a scholarship go awry thanks to a quick glace or scan from someone you're looking to impress.   Although PrepRedzoneMN offers zero athletic scholarships a year, our scouts do practice the Eye Test themselves, and with football being a sport centered around being big, fast, and strong, you can't help but notice and admire the biggest, baddest looking athletes on the gridiron, at a workout, or at something like our PrepRedzoneMN Showcase this past Sunday. Of the 250+ athletes who competed in Minnetonka a few days ago, only a few caught my eye, grabbed my attention, and passed my personal Eye Test with flying colors, and I'm pumped to present our All-Eye Test Team for your eyes today. You're going to want these guys coming off the bus first, that's forsure.   --   [player_tooltip player_id='348767' first='Francis' last='O'Malley'] (Montevideo) 2024. RB. 6', 234 lbs.   Verified 6',230+ pounds. Cut up like a bodybuilder and was a frightening sight when he got a full head of steam, even without pads!   [player_tooltip player_id='236482' first='Ethan' last='Sims'] (Eden Prairie) 2024. OL. 6'7, 287 lbs.   The biggest and most imposing athlete at the entire Showcase, you couldn't miss Sims even among the big boys in the OL group. Build like a vending machine and would strike an even bigger impression with pads on. Should be the first player off the bus in this hypothetical scenario.   [player_tooltip player_id='362299' first='Josh' last='Wedel'] (Chaska) 2025. TE/LB. 6'5, 235 lbs.   Just a massive human being. Everything about him was massive, down to his fingers. Still growing into the already giant frame he possesses.   [player_tooltip player_id='300736' first='Wesley' last='Granger'] (Eastview) 2023. WR. 6'2, 216 lbs.   Big-bodied wideout with broad shoulders, bug hands, and an impressive frame for a LB, much less a WR!   [player_tooltip player_id='234882' first='Graysen' last='Schneider'] (Stewartville) 2025. DE. 6'2, 218 lbs.   Strapping and shredded 218 lbs. that looks like it's already been through a ton of work in the weight room for a sophomore. Definitely an eye-catcher.   [player_tooltip player_id='105413' first='Conner' last='Connell'] (Luverne) 2024. TE. 6'4, 220 lbs.   Big feet, big hands, long arms, and thick in his upper and lower body, Connell looks and moves like a D1 athlete.   [player_tooltip player_id='402073' first='James' last='Engle Jr']. (Maple Grove) 2026. 5'8, 156 lbs.   For a freshman with a still growing frame, Engle Jr. had noticeable muscle that looked more like an upperclassman than a first year.   [player_tooltip player_id='402074' first='Kaaleem' last='Reiland'] (Kingsland) 2026. RB. 5'6, 174 lbs.   Rock solid, muscular build more reminiscent of a body builder than a freshman football player. Great to meet Kaaleem in person.   [player_tooltip player_id='551375' first='Joseph' last='Sohlstrom'] (Eden Prairie) 2025. RB. 5'8, 180 lbs.   Carries the height that holds and shows off muscle well, and Sohlstrom was loaded in the muscle department. Definitely put in work in the weight room.   [player_tooltip player_id='245152' first='Tyshawn' last='Beane'] (Rochester John Marshall) 2025. 5'9, 173 lbs.   Has already been grinding in the weight room and his body reflects that. Cut up, obviously strong, and only a sophomore to boot.   [player_tooltip player_id='368596' first='Taran' last='Blasy'] (Park of Cottage Grove) 2024. LB. 6', 207 lbs.   Thick, powerful build that looks ready-made for contact and can handle four quarters of contact.   [player_tooltip player_id='348812' first='Ramero' last='Trevino'] (Willmar) 2024. RB. 5'9, 205 lbs.   Bowling ball of muscle with a thick lower body all built for the RB position.   [player_tooltip player_id='383119' first='Sawyer' last='Wilkie'] (Lakeville North) 2024. RB. 5'11, 198 lbs.   Ropey muscle, powerful, broad shoulders, and obviously explosive with the noticeable work he's put in on the squat rack and bench press, among others.   [player_tooltip player_id='362276' first='Michael' last='Wagner'] (Maple Grove) 2025. 6'6, 232 lbs.   Eye-catching height and length kept you continuing to find Wagner among a crowd of also large peers.   [player_tooltip player_id='212360' first='Braden' last='Petzel'] (Mankato East) 2026. 6'8, 238 lbs.   The tallest player at the PrepRedzoneMN Showcase, Petzel clocked in at 6'8 and a lean 238 pounds that you simply could not notice, even if you tried.   [player_tooltip player_id='348735' first='Danny' last='King'] (Bloomington Jefferson) 2024. TE. 6'4, 219 lbs.   Strikes a towering presence, especially up close, and is strapped with upper body muscles, long, thick arms, and big, strong hands. Just a big kid and all of his verified 6'4, 219 pounds.

If you've been reading my stuff for a while then I hope you remember me talking about the Eye Test. An always-important aspect of recruiting and especially in-person visits, the Eye Test is when a prospective college coach or recruiter gets to examine, evaluate, and sometimes admire a recruit's height, weight, length, and general build with their own eyes, allowing them to imagine how they'd look in the pads and school colors of their program. It can be a make-or-break quick little impression for prospects, and a famous example I remember reading about regarding the Eye Test comes from professional QB Baker Mayfield. I'm summarizing here, but his dad took him on a visit to an SEC program or a college in Texas (can't remember exactly), and Mr. Mayfield, a former high-level football player himself, saw his son receive and fail the Eye Test from the prospective big-time program they were visiting. This created the chip on Baker's shoulder that allowed him to rise about the initial impression, but it goes to show how even special talents can see a scholarship go awry thanks to a quick glace or scan from someone you're looking to impress.