PrepRedzoneMN Showcase: Oliver’s All-Eye Test Team
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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…
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Continue ReadingIf 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.
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(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!
Ethan Sims Ethan Sims 6'7" | 300 lbs | OL Eden Prairie | 2024 State MN (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.
Josh Wedel Josh Wedel 6'5" | 235 lbs | DL Chaska | 2025 State MN (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.
Wesley Granger Wesley Granger 6'2" | 200 lbs | WR Eastview | 2023 MN (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!
Graysen Schneider Graysen Schneider 6'2" | 240 lbs | DL Stewartville | 2025 State MN (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.
Conner Connell Conner Connell 6'4" | 225 lbs | ATH Luverne | 2024 State MN (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.
James Engle James Engle 5'8" | 175 lbs | RB Maple Grove | 2026 State MN . (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.
Kaaleem Reiland Kaaleem Reiland 5'9" | 180 lbs | RB Kingsland | 2026 State MN (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.
Joseph Sohlstrom Joseph Sohlstrom 5'9" | 180 lbs | RB Eden Prairie | 2025 MN (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.
Ty’Shawn Beane Ty’Shawn Beane 5'9" | 210 lbs | RB John Marshall | 2025 State MN (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.
Taran Blasy Taran Blasy 6'1" | 220 lbs | LB Park Of Cottage Grove | 2024 State MN (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.
Ramero Trevino Ramero Trevino 5'10" | 210 lbs | RB Willmar | 2024 State MN (Willmar) 2024. RB. 5’9, 205 lbs.
Bowling ball of muscle with a thick lower body all built for the RB position.
Sawyer Wilkie Sawyer Wilkie 5'11" | 205 lbs | RB Lakeville North | 2024 State MN (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.
Michael Wagner Michael Wagner 6'6" | 260 lbs | OL Maple Grove | 2025 State MN (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.
Braden Petzel Braden Petzel 6'9" | 240 lbs | OL Mankato East | 2026 State MN (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.
Danny King Danny King 6'4" | 235 lbs | TE Bloomington Jefferson | 2024 State MN (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.