PRzMN 2026 Rankings Release: Top Outstate Players
I apologize for the brief delay in Minnesota 2026 coverage, I would be a fool to not take advantage of seeing live events while we live in Florida and it’s important to get those articles out closely to the event.…
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Continue ReadingI apologize for the brief delay in Minnesota 2026 coverage, I would be a fool to not take advantage of seeing live events while we live in Florida and it’s important to get those articles out closely to the event. However, we’re back on the home state, and with a ton more to talk about regarding the current freshmen I’m super excited to dig back into things and continue to break down the introductory 2026 rankings. No better place to start than with the Outstate prospects, who are well represented in the inaugural Top-50 and possess notable size, varsity experience, and versatility that the corn fields and Iron Range of MN are known to produce. Let’s get to know some of the best-looking freshman prospects the Outstate has to offer so far. Happy Friday, everybody!
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#1 Roman Voss Roman Voss 6'4" | 210 lbs | ATH Jackson County Central | 2026 State MN (Jackson County Central) QB/ATH. 6’3, 195 lbs.
I just wrote about these first four athletes in my Top-10 detailed breakdown on Monday, so I’ll keep these shorter and get to the point quickly, especially with #1 prospect Roman Voss Roman Voss 6'4" | 210 lbs | ATH Jackson County Central | 2026 State MN , who already has received a ton of attention from us at PrepRedzoneMN and PrepRedzoneNEXT. In his second year as the varsity QB for JCC, Voss led the Huskies deep into the state playoffs and comes from great bloodlines, as his brother plays QB at SDSU. Voss was productive, versatile, physically impressive in his 2022 tape, showing he can hit just about every throw on the route tree and holding great size with more room to grow. His QB tape is impressive, yes, but with how well he moves and with how many different things he can do on the gridiron, I can’t help but think about the possibility of him playing TE or LB, especially depending on how he keeps growing. The future is very bright for Voss and if he can show his athleticism and dynamic ability off during camp season he should be one of the first ’26s offered in the MN class.
#3 Noah Asuma Noah Asuma 6'0" | 190 lbs | RB Cherry | 2026 State MN (Cherry) RB. 5’11, 165 lbs.
A terrific combination of burst, top-end speed, and contact balance for his age and size, Asuma also carries D1 bloodlines and was a consistent playmaker through the air and on the ground for Cherry during the 2022 season. Not only can he run by you, Asuma also showed he can lower his pads and throw a mean truckstick for 165 pounds. If he saw daylight he was gone, and I’m very interested to see what his verified speed numbers look like. He’s got as much promise and potential as we’ve seen in an Outstate RB in some time.
#4 Deron Russell Deron Russell 6'1" | 160 lbs | DB Waseca | 2026 State MN (Waseca) DB.
A fluid DB with the hips, speed, and feet to play lockdown man coverage, Russell was excellent in both his athletic traits and his technique as a freshman DB on Waseca’s varsity and was naturally sticky against both three-step routes and the deep ball. Quick out of his breaks, he could also stick his cleat in the ground and get downhill to close on ball carriers before they could react. Natural and impressive against both the pass and run. He already looks like a heckuva college CB prospect and we still have a ways of prep football left to go.
#8 Nathan Hansen Nathan Hansen 6'0" | 170 lbs | DB Dawson-Boyd | 2026 State MN (Dawson-Boyd) DB. 5’11, 165 lbs.
Another already-discussed freshman Top-10er on the top tier of a very promising 2026 DB class, Hansen is another early 2026 standout defensive back who is more than capable against both the run and the pass. Patient in his backpedal and able to undercut and take advantage of poorly thrown passes, my favorite trait of his is how he can come downhill from the backend of the defense and lay the wood like a prototypical safety 40 pounds heavier. Great angles, goes low and utilizes cut tackles, and beat blocks with speed, he can close and finish like a larger and more experienced upperclassman and if I had to guess, I’d say safety is very much in his future.
#12 Jeremiah Peterson Jeremiah Peterson 5'11" | 180 lbs | DB Kasson-Mantorville | 2026 State MN (Kasson-Mantorville) DB. 5’9, 170 lbs.
Nearly cracking the Top-10, KM Komet DB and four-sport athlete Jeremiah Peterson Jeremiah Peterson 5'11" | 180 lbs | DB Kasson-Mantorville | 2026 State MN was a varsity contributor in 2022 and is on the top end of a loaded initial 2026 DB group. As a CB, Peterson is comfortable playing off-man coverage and very capable of supporting the run. Slippery past blocking attempts and impressive tackling in space, he can already play in the box despite his age and still-growing size as well as out on the perimeter. Offensively, his vision, burst, and footwork to easily weave and evade tackle attempts all look great for his age, and he’s also got the top end speed to finish big plays and burn pursuit angles, and the skillset also translates to special teams as a returner. It’s a dynamic skillset with obvious athleticism and playmaking ability well above his age class. KM is going to continue to be a big-time stop for college coaches on the recruiting trail this next three years.
#18 Kaaleem Reiland Kaaleem Reiland 5'9" | 180 lbs | RB Kingsland | 2026 State MN (Kingsland) RB. 5’9, 175 lbs.
I just eyes on Reiland during December’s PrepRedzoneMN Showcase and boy, does he pass the eye test. Cut up physically and powerful when he sticks his foot in the ground, Reiland has no problem competing and beating varsity competition at the Stock-Up Showcase and also showed off some soft hands that were an asset out of the backfield as a pass catcher. On tape, and in his second year of varsity starting experience as a young freshman, the 5’9, 175 lber. starts his tape off with a kick return, QB, and RB rep that all resulted in a big play, and when he tucks the ball and runs he’s got a diverse skillset in the open field and packs a punch when he lowers the shoulder. One of the most dynamic players in the entire 2026 rankings. Kingsland is really coming up with some impressive prospects as of late.
#24 Kayden Oakland Kayden Oakland 6'4" | 205 lbs | WR Northfield | 2026 State MN (Northfield) WR. 6’3, 180 lbs.
Great size and knew how to use it, Oakland was dominant against non-varsity competition in 2022 and helped Northfield’s freshman squad to a 7-1 record in 2022. The athleticism he showed on tape on the gridiron is getting backed up on the hardcourt this weekend as well, as Oakland just earned his first varsity start for the Raiders basketball team and put up 18 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals. A consistent deep threat who could burn DBs outright or reel in catches through contact, Oakland also has solid speed for his size that can take the edge of a defense and has some juice with the ball in his hand. I’d be very surprised if he wasn’t playing varsity football next season for Northfield. High potential as a wideout.
#29 Noah Dietel Noah Dietel 6'6" | 295 lbs | OL Litchfield | 2026 State MN (Litchfield) OL. 6’6, 275 lbs.
The younger brother of Litchfield’s 2022 standout offensive lineman Dom Dietel, who is competing in both football and track & field for Minnesota State-Mankato, Noah Dietel Noah Dietel 6'6" | 295 lbs | OL Litchfield | 2026 State MN is already larger than his brother and shows early signs of the same talent as big bro. A legit 6’6, 275 lbs. who came and competed at our most recent PRzMN Showcase, Dietel is still growing into his body but is strong and can start/stop quickly for a youngin’ of his age and size. All signs are pointing in the right direction and with his early college-ready size and strong genetics I shouldn’t be the only one eagerly following his development.
#30 Braden Petzel Braden Petzel 6'9" | 240 lbs | OL Mankato East | 2026 State MN (Mankato East) OL. 6’9, 240 lbs.
A 6’9 freshman offensive tackle? That’s enough to catch the attention of just about any college recruiter, and Mankato product Braden Petzel Braden Petzel 6'9" | 240 lbs | OL Mankato East | 2026 State MN has the size and length to earn a spot in the initial Top-50 and 2026 rankings. That isn’t to mention his multi-sport background and balance at his height and young age, and Petzel also no problems getting physical and using his hands. Still a ways to go but he’s got about as much potential as any prospect and player in the state.
#31 David Erlandson David Erlandson 5'9" | 170 lbs | RB Breckenridge | 2026 State MN (Breckenridge) RB. 5’9, 170 lbs.
There’s another Erlandson in Breckenridge and just like older brother Daniel – now playing football at the University of Jamestown – younger brother David has some juice as a ball carrier. Older bro was more power, but at this stage of the game younger brother is more finesse, even though the 5’9, 170 lber. shows the same toughness and aggressiveness at the point of attack and has no problem lead blocking or toting the rock himself. He fights like heck when he’s got the ball in his hand, throwing defending off him and using his strong contact balance to run through and over tackle attempts, and also shows off burst and quick feet when he needs it. Also shows a nose for the ball and that same toughness on defense as a linebacker. We’ll see if RB remains his primary projected position to the college ranks as time goes on, but he’s showing good stuff on both sides of the ball as a young buck.
#37 Zakari Epps Zakari Epps 5'10" | 155 lbs | ATH Winona | 2026 State MN (Winona) ATH. 5’10, 155 lbs.
The Winona Winhawks have been putting out a ton of high-quality and athletic prospects during the past decade and I like what I’m seeing from freshman Zakari Epps Zakari Epps 5'10" | 155 lbs | ATH Winona | 2026 State MN out of the non-varsity ranks. Homerun speed, vision, and long legs that can step through tackle attempts and remain upright, he was a big-play machine vs. competition his age and too athletic to not put at the QB position just so he can get the ball in his hands every play. With solid size and length already, I’m excited to see what position he plays on varsity and how that transition to better competition goes. It certainly looks like he has the speed and knack for finding the endzone. Go Winhawks!
#38 Noah Heppner Noah Heppner 6'1" | 190 lbs | DL Spring Grove | 2026 State MN (Spring Grove) DL. 6’1, 190 lbs.
Opens his freshman tape with the biggest hit I saw when watching tape on the 2026s, as the 190 lber. absolutely demolished a punter on an over snap that sent the poor kid in a full 360 degree rotation and into the grass impolitely, to say the least. Spring Grove was a hotbed of talent in 2022 and have a good-lookin’ young buck in Heppner, who uses a quick and well-timed first step to quickly get into the backfield and past blocking attempts. Also a strong tackler who can make the play when given the opportunity.
#39 Ryan McIntosh Ryan McIntosh 6'1" | 200 lbs | LB Owatonna | 2026 State MN (Owatonna) LB. 6′, 190 lbs.
Always home to tough, dependable linebackers, Owatonna High School freshman Ryan McIntosh Ryan McIntosh 6'1" | 200 lbs | LB Owatonna | 2026 State MN possesses some of the better size in the ’26 defensive class for his position and was a playmaker in both run and pass support in the non-varsity ranks of the Huskies. Able to read the QB and drop into passing lanes for INTs as well as shoot gaps upfield to make TFLs in the backfield, his combination of size, speed, and strength was too much for non-varsity competition to handle. He does a good job of using pursuit leverage as an ILB.
#42 Andrew Trout Andrew Trout 6'6" | 270 lbs | OL Rocori | 2026 State MN (Rocori) OL. 6’6, 260 lbs.
With Rocori’s recent history of D1-caliber offensive lineman, Trout’s size and remaining room to grow, and his body control, leg drive, and ability to finish and dominate smaller opponents as a freshman make for an exciting combination. Trout was limited in film but from what he does have available there is some noticeable mobility that bodes well given how MN produces offensive line recruits.
#43 Parker Samarzia Parker Samarzia 5'10" | 155 lbs | RB Moose Lake-Willow River | 2026 State MN (Moose Lake-Willow River) RB. 5’10, 150 lbs.
Earning varsity reps in a deep & talented RB room at the Moose Lake-Willow River program is no easy task and first-year Samarzia made his reps count in 2022, popping off big runs against a variety of opponents and showing a strong ability to read his blocks and hit the hole with force. Also showed burst through the first and second levels of the defense.
#45 Trevor Sheldrup Trevor Sheldrup ATH Mankato West | 2026 State MN (Mankato West) RB/LB.
Sheldrup made for a more than tough 1-on-1 tackling matchup for non-varsity defenders in 2022 and looks and played like one the biggest, fastest, and strongest kids on the field in every rep of his highlights. Long, fluid athlete with good speed who can get up to his top gear quickly and easily run by and slip through tackle attempts at his lower body as a ball carrier. Also flies into the backfield as a LB/DL and was disruptive and productive against the run. With how Mankato West is playing as a program and producing college football recruits I have to feel good about Sheldrup’s future.
#46 Royce Jax Royce Jax 5'9" | 160 lbs | ATH Southland | 2026 State MN (Southland) ATH. 5’9, 160 lbs.
Repping for the 9man freshmen, Southland’s Jax opens his freshman tape with a hard stick and goes onto show off range as a defender and athleticism that helped him take a kickoff return back to the house and pop off some solid runs as a RB and WR. Good play strength for his age and size did a lot of different things on the gridiron as a freshman.
#47 Christian Whiteman Christian Whiteman 5'8" | 160 lbs | ATH Northfield | 2026 State MN (Northfield) QB/ATH. 5’7, 150 lbs.
I just wrote about Whiteman for the QB positional breakdown on Monday, so I’ll keep this one shorter in order to not repeat myself. With as much juice as Whiteman showed as a ball carrier on the 7-1 Northfield freshman squad, I’d be surprised if he doesn’t move to WR or even RB in the future. Quick and dangerous cutter, homerun speed at the non-varsity level, and great vision, he was liable to cut back against the grain or stretch the edge as far as it would go anytime he tucked and ran. I can’t wait to see him make plays at the varsity level.