Minnesota Elite Seven Practice: Nate’s Top Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>BROOKLYN PARK--</strong> It might have a quieter scouting week for me than usual, with my boots on the ground locally at the Park Center Dome, but just like the prospects we watched, work had to be done to put more Minnesota prospects on the map. On Friday night we attended the <a href="https://twitter.com/FITELITESEVEN">Minnesota Elite Seven</a> practice to see who were some of the NW metros prospects to watch as we glaze into 7v7 season across the Midwest. These were the six standouts that caught my eyes!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='551299' first='Aaron' last='Briggs'], DB, Brooklyn Center (2025)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":627544,"width":350,"height":230,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/01/Aaron-Briggs-rotated-crop-456x300-1675208645.jpg?w=455" alt="" class="wp-image-627544" width="350" height="230" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Our Prep Redzone Minnesota subscribers might remember Aaron's name from our recent winter Prep Redzone Showcase as one of my few favorite DBs at our showcase that saw over 200+ prospects in attendance. Aaron yet again caught my eyes last Friday night at the Park Center Dome.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Aaron showed, even since December, how much range he has grown as far as his coverage area goes, as his quick twitch of agility to get to the ball quickly was on full display on Friday night.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>It's easy to gauge by watching Aaron that he plays the role of a sideline-to-sideline defensive back in the secondary for Brooklyn Center. He's not the biggest defensive back you will see out there (5'8 150), but his physicality and vision certainly pay off dividends in developing his attention to detail skillset in the future. Excited to see how much more this young man can develop as we get into camp season in the coming months.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Reggie Jordan, WR, Champlin Park (2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":627546,"width":352,"height":231,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/01/Reggie-Jordan-rotated-crop-456x300-1675208708.jpg?w=455" alt="" class="wp-image-627546" width="352" height="231" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Reggie was one of the first wide receivers to catch my eye from Friday night's practice as I loved watching this young man's dexterity from the start of practice to the end of it.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>He showed off some well-developed change of direction within his route running, and I also liked how appealing his vision looked to be even on throws that were slightly offline; Reggie found a way to reel the bulk of the reps I watched in smoothly with good athletic balance which is a key skillset I look for with WRs with the agility in their DNA like Reggie.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>From what I could find, there is no tape yet on this young man, but I believe this under-the-radar WR prospect could have a growing summer getting his name on the map of college radars at prospect camps.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='313241' first='Anthony' last='Powell'], RB, Rogers (2023</strong>)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":627548,"width":355,"height":233,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/01/Anthony-Powell-2-rotated-crop-456x300-1675208761.jpg?w=455" alt="" class="wp-image-627548" width="355" height="233" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>This wasn't my first rodeo scouting the Winona State commit, but I did certainly come away knowing more about the skillsets that he offers, especially in the passing game.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Anthony showed off some incredible hands that the Warriors should enjoy utilizing in the backfield over the next 4-5 years as Anthony showed off a ton of crispy skillsets with his solid route running ability, which showed off a high plethora of visionary traits which also had high levels of athleticism on intermediate and deep routes also in high-traffic areas.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>With the 7v7 season brewing, this is NOT a kid you are going to want to catch in the open field has he continued to show off that sizeable burst ability with his game time speed levels he showed off at practice on Friday night.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='438689' first='KhiJohnn' last='Cummings-Coleman'], WR, Coon Rapids (2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":627550,"width":346,"height":227,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/01/Khijohn-Cummings-Coleman-rotated-crop-456x300-1675208817.jpg?w=455" alt="" class="wp-image-627550" width="346" height="227" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>I have watched my fair share of tape on Khijohn in the last several months, but golly, did this young man put on quite the show in a short practice setting on Friday night at the Park Center Dome.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>His route running shows exactly why he's already got a plethora of Division I FBS offers, as Khijohn showed off a WR prospect that is an artist and how he churns with his swift agility within his routes. Khijohn made the most difficult reps look way too easy with his significantly widened catch radius. I love watching prospects in person versus tape because you can dive in full circle with their skill sets like Khijohn did on Friday night.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>I LOVE this kid's character too, and college coaches will find him a joy when he gets on campus in the coming year or so, as Khijohn is a WR prospect that owns his craft to a T and keeps making play after play with his superb hands. He's certainly not done yet with growing his recruiting trail, as I would expect nothing less than more Power 5 offers to come his way all summer long.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='551428' first='Sawyer' last='Sanders'], RB/ATH/LS, Osseo (2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":627553,"width":359,"height":236,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/01/Sawyer-Sanders-rotated-crop-456x300-1675208867.jpg?w=455" alt="" class="wp-image-627553" width="359" height="236" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Based on my first look of watching Sawyer in person, this kid certainly would pass a college coach's "eye test" as he enters the facility, as he has a well-balanced and chiseled frame from top to bottom.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Sawyer was another running back that impressed me with how efficient he was with his route-running ability, as he showed off a smooth demeanor for the duration of reps I watched on Friday night at the Park Center Dome.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Sawyer also unloaded his skillsets with a solid football IQ. Despite not having the reps yet on tape, I will be intrigued to see how this young man does from the RB spot this 7v7 season as he is also a well-polished long snapper that has a smooth release, and his placement on the tape I have is spot on and allows for a quick turnaround when it comes to getting the kick-off due to his speed.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Etienne Isuk, LB, Park Center (2025)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":627555,"width":341,"height":224,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/01/Etienne--rotated-crop-456x300-1675208937.jpg?w=455" alt="" class="wp-image-627555" width="341" height="224" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Etienne was by far my favorite linebacker I got to scout on Friday night, as I couldn't stop evaluating just how much of a coach-on-the-field mentality this young man brought on every rep I saw at the Park Center Dome.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>He showed off some well-developed footwork and vision as a MIKE linebacker in the middle of the field that closed off that middle spot of the field with his quick instincts I got to watch from him in pass coverage.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Etienne is an LB prospect; if I were an HS coach, I would feel very comfortable with being my leader of the defense, looking ahead with two more seasons under his belt, based on his coach-on-the-field mentality I mentioned, his character, and his overall physicality on tape which is something I see year after year from the Park Center Pirates linebacking core, and it certainly looks to me that Etienne is next man up in their linebacking core to play at the next level. Bright future for this young man that also has a 3.8 GPA.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list -->