PRzMN 2026 Rankings Release: Top-10 Breakdown

After more than a year of gathering names, notes, and information on Minnesota 2026 athletes while tracking the middle school, freshman, JV, and varsity ranks, things all came together in last week's creation of the inaugural Minnesota Class of 2026 Rankings. It's an already exciting group, with an initial Top-50 rankings list and an 100-player watchlist with a ton of varsity experienced already intertwined in the young freshman ballers. Before we get into the positional breakdowns, regional analysis, and more exciting content examining the class and the rankings, let's take a look at the initial top dogs and the Top-10 of the 2026 rankings introduction. A talented and diverse group of standouts, the top 10 is filled with varsity experience, P5 offers, and talented bloodlines that get my heart racing and excitement through the roof! There is lots to be excited about, both in the 2026 initial Top-10 and in all of the content coming this week at PRzMN. Thanks for reading!   --   1) [player_tooltip player_id='212362' first='Roman' last='Voss'] (Jackson County Central) QB/ATH. 6'3, 190 lbs.   The younger brother of current South Dakota State QB and former JCC gunslinger Rudy Voss, freshman [player_tooltip player_id='212362' first='Roman' last='Voss'] has put together a fantastic case for the #1 spot and ultimately retained the ranking as Top Dog in this initial 2026 rankings release. Also a starter at QB as an eighth grader in the fall of 2021, Voss led the Huskies to a Class AA semifinal appearance this past season and was excellent as a QB, DB, WR, and any other place JCC wanted to play him. Right now, he's listed as an athlete, which shouldn't be mistaken as a slight against his game as a QB. He's QB1 in the 2026 rankings as well, and with his brother's experience and production at the position there's a lot to be excited about there, but with so much time left in his young prep career and some terrific film as a DB and WR, I just think it's a little early to categorize him into one position. It's a testament to how dynamic he is, and with his combination of athleticism and size, he's particularly dangerous with the ball in hand as a runner. As a passer, Voss got solid arm strength, accuracy, and timing, and the speed, contact balance, and overall elusiveness as a ball carrier made him one of the most dangerous dual-threat QBs in the state in 2022. I still haven't even gotten into his skills as a WR and DB! The young buck is straight-up talented and a must-know name out of the class. I can't wait to see how he continues to grow and develop and am also excited to see an Outstate product hold down the state's #1 spot. Keep it up, Roman!   2) [player_tooltip player_id='592117' first='Howie' last='Johnson'] (Forest Lake) DL. 6'3, 225 lbs.   What a talent the Forest Lake Rangers have on their hands! One of the state's, and especially the Metro's, best storylines of the 2022 season, Forest Lake was aided in their success by a standout first-year along the defensive line. Meet 6'3, 225 lber. [player_tooltip player_id='592117' first='Howie' last='Johnson'], who reports a 4.72 40, can squat over 400 pounds and bench more than 230 at the ripe old age of 15. Playing against high-quality Metro opponents, Johnson showed off a good first step, a high motor and the hustle and speed to run down loose ball carriers far downfield, and the strength and hand usage to work off single blocks and even doubles without getting blocked out of the play. He can also bend flat down the LOS or the top of the arc and displayed the ability to impact the run and pass game. There's a ton to like in his build, athletic gifts, and early experience against varsity competition and if he keeps working on his game on the field and in the weight room he's going to be a heckuva force in the Metro and a nightmare for opposing OTs and OGs. The need for talented pass-rushers at the top echelon of college football never goes away and Johnson has the chance to be a good one! Go Rangers!   3) [player_tooltip player_id='592118' first='Noah' last='Asuma'] (Cherry) RB. 5'11, 165   Mountain Iron, a town of a little under 3,000 residents, has an exciting portion of its population playing high school sports at a very high level, particularly the Asuma boys. Isaac, a 6'2, high-major basketball talent out of the 2024 class with offers from Butler, Xavier, Nebraska, Iowa, Iowa State, and Minnesota, has a younger brother Noah with college potential in three sports, and Noah makes his debut as a gridiron recruit as the #3 overall prospect and RB1 of the 2026 class. With solid size for his age and position, Noah shows some of the same top-tier athleticism his brother possesses, with the burst to explode through the first two levels of the defense, the top-end speed to finish runs without even getting touched, and the contact balance and lower body strength to run through tackle attempts when needed. That same speed also aids him as a standout deep threat as a WR and overall playmaker who can take advantage of small holes of daylight and bust out big plays with or without contact. There are hundreds of big plays left in front of him and he offers one of the more exciting skillsets of an Outstate offensive weapon that I've seen in a while. Cherry High School is and is going to continue to see a ton of college coaches come their way in the next few years.   4) [player_tooltip player_id='592119' first='Deron' last='Russell'] (Waseca) DB.   There are some very exciting defensive backs making up the 2026 rankings and I am particularly excited about some of the Outstate prospects that were patrolling defensive secondaries in 2022. The top ranked of the bunch once again sports some strong bloodlines, as Waseca [player_tooltip player_id='592119' first='Deron' last='Russell'] has an older brother in the 2025 class (Damarius Russell) who MN recruiting fans should keep an eye on as a next-up potential P5 in the state for the '25s, and the younger bro is showing a lot of the same impressive qualities as 2025 Damarius. Playing against varsity competition in talent-rich Southern MN, freshman [player_tooltip player_id='592119' first='Deron' last='Russell'] looks comfortable and smooth in his backpedal, can flip his hips and is quick out of his breaks, is comfortable with the ball in the air and can impressively high point and compete with 50/50 balls, and naturally sticky in coverage thanks to his speed and overall athleticism. For his size, age, and the position he's playing, he's also a fantastic tackler. Fearless when coming downhill and tackling in space and elusive against WR blocks on the perimeter, he understands leverage and holding the edge while showing off a ton of skill as an open field tackler. He's also long, and has a ton of room to keep growing and adding weight & strength. The Russell boys both have very bright futures from the defensive backfield, a position I know and love and hasn't produced a P5 DB since 2020.   5) [player_tooltip player_id='224134' first='Nick' last='Kinsey'] (Benilde-St. Margaret's) QB. 6'2, 185 lbs.   The most high-profile freshman in Minnesota's 2026 class is one of only two Top-10 selections to not see varsity action in 2022, but when Lane Kiffin offers you as a QB, even if it's early, you have to pay attention. BSM freshman gunslinger [player_tooltip player_id='224134' first='Nick' last='Kinsey'] is a part of a potentially loaded 2026 crop of QBs and as the brother of 6'5, 240 lb. University of St. Thomas freshman TE Jack, still has a ton of potential room to grow in an already-solid 6'2, 185 lb. frame. With that Ole Miss offer more than likely not committable at this point, the offer itself shouldn't be taken as the end-all-be-all, but a testament to the arm talent and potential the young buck is showing off early in his career. A fluid throwing motion, the ability to hit accurate throws from the pocket or while on the run, timing, touch on his deep balls, and zip on his shorter and intermediate passes all standout on film, and Kinsey did a great job of putting the ball only where his wideout could get it and out of harm's way. Now, he just needs to do the same thing at the varsity level. There's talent there, and Kinsey makes for the first 2026er to earn a college offer, regardless of level, so he's must-watch going forward and needs to have a big sophomore season to retain this ranking. However, I love the crop of QBs the 2026 and their potential and Kinsey is near the head of the pack in that department.   6) [player_tooltip player_id='592223' first='John' last='McCartan'] (Holy Angels) OL. 6'3, 260 lbs.   It shouldn't come as breaking news to our readers that the Great State of Minnesota produces P5 OL and DL more than any other position on the gridiron, and Holy Angels freshman blocker [player_tooltip player_id='592223' first='John' last='McCartan'] comes in as the early OL #1 for the class of 2026. With six games of varsity action under his belt from the 2022 season, the 6'3, 260 lber. manned the RG position and was an especially effective run blocker from the interior OL. With the strength to run smaller opponents out of the play or finish them into the turf, McCartan also displayed the quick feet and balance to pull and trap across the ball and LOS to open up big holes for his RBs and fellow ball carriers. McCartan also could eat double teams as a 3T on the defensive side of the ball and possesses strength and body control at his size much further developed than his peers. If he can continue to add functional strength and develop his lateral agility and overall mobility he's going to be a tank of a prep OG for the Stars. It never hurts to know the names of the trench warfare specialists early, especially in the Land of 10,000 Lakes. Holy Angels with another potential stud on their hands? No surprise there. Hit that weight room hard, John!   7) [player_tooltip player_id='445957' first='Hans' last='Pederson'] (Buffalo) DL. 6'4, 220 lbs.   Buffalo has some massively built prospects on their roster, particularly on defense, and has a huge freshman among the list of big boys that saw varsity action in 2022. 6'4, 220 pound 3T [player_tooltip player_id='445957' first='Hans' last='Pederson'] put some great things on tape in his first year of high school, including his quick get-off, the strength to hold his ground and fight off double teams as well as impressively shed single-blocks, and how well and easily he gets into the backfield and makes the play when given an opportunity. The combination of his first step and strength makes him very hard for opposing OL to deal with, and he fights like heck to not give up ground, even through multiple blocking attempts. He's so strong he's able to backpedal OGs back into their own RBs and closes on ball carriers like a LB compared to a 6'4, 220 lb. defensive lineman. An easy choice for a Top-10 selection, Pederson has the chance to climb even further in the 2026 rankings if he keeps this up. His dominance at the point of contact for his age is more than impressive right now.   8) [player_tooltip player_id='481531' first='Nathan' last='Hansen'] (Dawson-Boyd) DB. 5'11, 160 lbs.   Another one of the sensational freshman DBs from Outstate Minnesota, Dawson-Boyd's [player_tooltip player_id='481531' first='Nathan' last='Hansen'] was a total ballhawk in 2022 and carries size, instincts, and man coverage ability more indicative of an upperclassman than a first-year high schooler. Fluid and speedy in his back pedal or when operating out of an off-man, hips-open alignment, Hansen does a great job of triggering on routes by reading the QB's drops and WRs' route combinations, and can mirror and undercut WRs on a variety of different routes all over the field. The man coverage looks good out on the perimeter, and Hansen can also play safety thanks to his standout tackling ability. He takes excellent pursuit angles coming downhill with great leverage to consistently disallow ball carriers to work outside of him, Hansen also has the strength to operate successfully in the box and at the edge of the LOS in run support. It's overall a very balanced skillset for a freshman defensive back with good size and production on top of everything else. If he can keep growing and adding strength and speed while maintaining the hips and quickness to play man coverage on the outside and he'll be a steadfast presence in the top of the 2026 rankings. Go Blackjacks!   9) [player_tooltip player_id='212361' first='Jabari' last='Strader'] (Benilde-St. Margaret's) WR. 6', 170 lbs.   There are some outstanding young pass catchers coming up in the Benilde-St. Margaret's ranks and 6', 175 lber. [player_tooltip player_id='212361' first='Jabari' last='Strader'] is leading the charge of the 2026s both for the Red Knights and in the state of Minnesota. Coming in at #9 overall and the #1 WR for '26, Strader saw meaningful varsity action towards the end of the 2022 season and made his first career varsity start in Benilde's most important game, the section championship. Strader was outright dominant against non-varsity competition, no doubt helping lead to his call up, and translated that success against varsity competition impressively. Especially elusive after the catch, Strader possesses speed, contact balance, and vision, and is able to turn a simple WR step-back screen into a first down and potentially more. He also is a strong route runner able to see space and separate, and can reel in catches through contact. Strader should be a force on varsity next season and for the next three seasons. WR coaches and recruiters should be making BSM a must-stop in the near future!   <figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-large"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2021/10/IMG_3687-rotated.jpg?w=480" alt="" class="wp-image-223715" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Strader</figcaption></figure>   10) [player_tooltip player_id='592120' first='Ethan' last='Sather'] (Eden Prairie) DL/OL. 6'3, 225 lbs.   The second non-varsity contributor from 2022 who made the Top-10, Eden Prairie's 2026 class is stuffed with eye-popping talent and is spearheaded by 6'3, 225 lb. two-way lineman [player_tooltip player_id='592120' first='Ethan' last='Sather']. The younger brother of Eden Prairie's starting OC and state AAA heavyweight wrestling champion Will, the younger Sather also has a strong wrestling background but is already taller and on the way to being larger than his older brother. A beast in the non-varsity ranks of the Eagles this past season, Ethan was particularly dominant as a defensive lineman, exploding into the backfield and wreaking havoc, as his get-off was too fast, his body too strong, and his effort too high for single, doubles, and sometimes triple teams to handle. I am also a big fan of his balance and body control, as he can make blocks and plays far downfield and in space. The tools all seem to be there, now he just needs to perform at the varsity level. He'll be there sooner rather than later luckily, and with how talented and how hard working the Sather family is I'd bet my bottom dollar he'll be ready when his name is called. Never count out Eden Prairie studs, even if it's against non-varsity competition.

After more than a year of gathering names, notes, and information on Minnesota 2026 athletes while tracking the middle school, freshman, JV, and varsity ranks, things all came together in last week's creation of the inaugural Minnesota Class of 2026 Rankings. It's an already exciting group, with an initial Top-50 rankings list and an 100-player watchlist with a ton of varsity experienced already intertwined in the young freshman ballers. Before we get into the positional breakdowns, regional analysis, and more exciting content examining the class and the rankings, let's take a look at the initial top dogs and the Top-10 of the 2026 rankings introduction. A talented and diverse group of standouts, the top 10 is filled with varsity experience, P5 offers, and talented bloodlines that get my heart racing and excitement through the roof! There is lots to be excited about, both in the 2026 initial Top-10 and in all of the content coming this week at PRzMN. Thanks for reading!