PrepRedzoneMN 2025 Rankings Updates: Top Newcomers
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PrepRedzoneMN was thrilled to officially publish the updated 2025 rankings in the Great State of Minnesota yesterday, which culminated months of gathering names and information and a week straight of adding, adjusting, and refining the list to what you can…
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Continue ReadingPrepRedzoneMN was thrilled to officially publish the updated 2025 rankings in the Great State of Minnesota yesterday, which culminated months of gathering names and information and a week straight of adding, adjusting, and refining the list to what you can now see on our homepage. Don’t worry, it’s a fluid process and more names will be added after we get done finishing the ’24s and ’25s, but for now the rankings have leveled up from a Top-40 to a Top-105, not to mention the almost 200-strong watchlist, and are particularly deep on the defensive side of the ball well represented with size and dynamic ability. There’s a ton of content coming the next week as we review the new rankings, including Metro/Outstate features, position group breakdowns, team highlights, and as always, headlined by the Top Newcomers and Stock Risers. To kick things off, we’re starting with a bang and are highlighting the best and most talented new additions to the 2025 rankings, and boy are there some heavyweight recruits featured below. Starting off with the only sophomore to hold a Golden Gophers offer, we got offensive, defensive, and special team standouts, Outstate and Twin City Metro representatives, and nothing but must-know names from the sophomores. Get to know the 2025 Ranking Update’s Top Newcomers below, and make sure you keep checking the site this weekend and next week for more details on the 2025 class. Thanks for reading and congrats, fellas!
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Minnesota’s new #1 ranked 2025er comes out of the private school ranks and will continue a tradition-rich line of defensive line produced by the Land of 10,000 Lakes. Abu Tarawallie, a 6’4, 260 lb. sophomore out of Heritage Christian Academy and the Providence Academy football program, is one of the only two ’25s to hold a P5 offer and the first underclassmen to earn an offer from the home state Gophers, who reached out to Tarawallie less than a week ago. It was a strong and definite move by the U, who rarely offer a sophomore from the home state and should definitely be taken as a testament to Tarawallie’s talent and upside. Dominant at the point of attack, Tarawallie can overwhelm weaker blockers with his bullrush, easily freeze and shed single blocks to hold a gap, and/or split doubles while still making the tackle. The big play on his tape comes in at around 50 seconds, where he uses his hands to beat a block, bounce off another, and then burst downfield where he pursues and cuts off a loose RB 30+ yards downfield in an elite show of athleticism and movement skills at 6’4, 260. He then does it the following two plays as well. The strength, mobility, athleticism, and body control are fantastic, especially for a sophomore, and I think he’s got a good chance of becoming a blue-chipper and a national recruit from MN’s 2025 class. What a sophomore season for the DL.
Highlights
The son of Minnesota Vikings DL coach Chris Rumph and brother of Chris Rumph II, a current OLB for the LA Chargers, the Eden Prairie Eagles have another potential superstar on their hands in 6′, 195 lb. RB Elijah Rumph. On a fun and small-world note, Chris Rumph II graduated from Gainesville Buchholz High School before playing college ball at Duke, and Buchholz is my current hometown team while my fiancé and I live in Gainesville. Elijah makes for a wonderful new addition to the MN 2025 class, and is one of only four current sophomores to hold a college football offer in MN, with Central Michigan offering a FBS scholarship on February 1st. This is more impressive given the fact that he did not play varsity for the Eagles in 2022. However, the JV RB highlights are legit, as Rumph runs the rock like a man amongst boys against non-varsity competition and shows off vision, contact balance, and the speed to finish big runs when given daylight. He also shows a great get-off and closing speed as a DE/EDGE, and was naturally disruptive and able to make tough tackles in space. He’ll be a big-time varsity contributor next season and should be adding to his list of offers this camp season.
We’ve already mentioned the Russell family from Waseca, as 2026 freshman DB Deron Russell Deron Russell 6’1″ | 165 lbs | DB Waseca | 2026 State MN was one of only a handful of varsity freshman starters in Minnesota in 2022 and debuted high on the 2026 introductory rankings. Older brother Damarius has also made his initial rankings appearance this cycle, and comes in at #4 overall and the #1 DB in the state for 2025. At 6′, 160 lbs., Damarius has made a ton of noise on the gridiron and on the recruiting scene as a sophomore and is a big name to watch when talking “next MN prospects to earn a P5 offer.” A three-phase contributor as a CB, WR, and kick returner, the elder Russell is comfortable and a playmaker in both man and zone coverage, shows off clean breaks and smooth footwork, and is comfortable and aggressive when the ball is in the air. He can impact the deep ball as well as shorter and intermediate passes, and he also shows off his speed and overall athleticism with the ball in hand, blowing by DBs and breaking tackles as a wideout and torching defenders in the return game. There’s a ton to like in his diverse and balanced skillset and he’s got a great shot of becoming the first P5 DB from Minnesota since Craig McDonald of SMB and Iowa State fame.
Highlights
The younger brother of Gopher basketball center Treyton Thompson, 2025 high school graduate Chase already measures in at 6’7 and 200 pounds and is a heckuva athlete at the QB position for the Alexandria Cardinals. That’s not to say he doesn’t project to QB in college though, as Thompson has arm talent for days and possesses a cannon of an arm hooked up to that right shoulder and can stretch the field vertically better than every other QB in the 2025 class. He can also put an impressive amount of velocity on his deeper, out-breaking passes, and is a very intriguing package at the QB position with athletic tools, talent, and genealogy all in his corner. There are a ton of exciting quarterbacks in the rankings and I’m particularly excited to see how the top-end prospects continue to grow and develop. Thompson and Grossman (Lakeville North) in particular.
Highlights
Linebacker is a positional group the Land of 10,000 Lakes has historically produced well at, and the 2025 class is shaping up to be a good one, with depth and top-end talent galore. Heading the pack is 6’2, 215 lb. ILB Dylan Hudgens, who comes out of Minnetonka High School, a program known for developing big, strong, and aggressive second-level defenders. Hudgens has the chance to be one of the best LBs to ever put on the Skippers uniform, and had a formidable sophomore campaign that significantly shot his stock up and onto P5 recruiting boards and radars. A hammer at the point of contact who flattened, crumpled, and cracked RBs and QBs all season long in 2022, Hudgens shows off good speed and pursuit angles that help him minimize runs, erase screens, and impact the pass game. I also like how he can consistently slip under and around blocks, a tough task that can really hurt a defense if you don’t make the play, and he’s also more than strong enough to take on blocks with force as well. Also instinctive and does a good job of staying home, trusting his reads and his keys, and making plays sideline to sideline. I can’t wait to watch him continue to lay the wood the next two seasons and Hudgens is another big name to watch when tracking potential P5 Minnesota prospects.
Highlights
Stewartville’s 2022 roster was stacked to the brim with physically impressive and dynamic contributors on both sides of the ball and in every graduating class, and the 2025s have some particularly eye-popping prospects. The sophomores are spearheaded by DE Graysen Schneider, who was a hot topic in the 2025 class long before he came and tore up December’s PRzMN Stock-Up Showcase. At 6’3, 220+ pounds, Schneider clocked a fantastic 4.65 and 4.66 on the 40, a 4.41 on the short-shuttle, and two 9’1″ broad jumps along with a 7.22 on the L-drill. That’s one of the best overall testing performances we’ve seen at any PRzMN Showcase, and in addition to the athletic numbers Schneider has great film and an impressive 8 sacks as a sophomore pass rusher in 2022. From the edge of the DL, his burst and ability to start/stop, as well as close space, are obvious and notable on film. He also does a good job of using his hands to disengage from blocking attempts, and as a TE he laid some devastating blocks and even snagged a couple TDs as a pass catcher. It’s not easy running down loose ball carriers from the backside of a defense and Schneider makes it look like a walk in the park. Stewartville is going to be a popular destination for college programs the next couple years and you’ll be hearing about another Tiger prospect later in this article.
I often am asked the question: “do you need to attend a PRzMN Showcase to get ranked?” Although the answer is an unequivocal no, the fact of the matter is that getting eyes and an in-person evaluation on a recruit can be a gamechanger in a recruitment, and St. Francis sophomore offensive lineman Sam Ruid is a good example of the positives of attending one of our events. Coming into PRzMN’s Stock-Up Showcase, Ruid was an All-District HM pick with good things going for him on tape as a young buck, but did an awesome job of putting his skillset and athleticism into context and broadening his recruitment profile with an excellent showing during testing and eventually 1-on-1s. At a legit 6’4, 280+, Ruid clocked a 5.1 in the 40 and a fantastic 4.69 short-shuttle, not to mention an 8’2″ broad jump, and still has a ton of room to fill in and add muscle and potentially inches on an already strong and compact frame. Those are great numbers at his size and age, to say the least, and he rocketed up our 2025 board and debuted as OL1 and #7 overall in Minnesota coming out of our state’s premium position group. As a LT, the film shows great body control, the athleticism to gain a ton of depth in his pass set to counter speed rushes upfield, and natural strength and finishing ability that he doesn’t have to work hard for. Also played OG and was a fantastic puller who could change direction and start and stop smoothly at his size. If he continues to work to clean up his technique and level up in the weight room there won’t be anything he can’t do on the gridiron as an OL. P5 prospect with more room to climb up these rankings.
Highlights
The Benilde-St. Margaret’s Red Knights already possess one of the deepest and most talented 2025 classes in the state and with so much potential in the group of young bucks, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that they manufactured a Top Newcomer out of the 2025 class. Meet 6’4, 180 lb. WR Luke Guggenberger, who brings great size to the table for a young pass catcher and knows how to use it. In his first season of varsity action, Guggenberger posted a strong stat line of 57 catches for 817 yards and 6 TDs, and on tape the sophomore presents an already-balanced skillset that includes good speed, not just for his size but overall, the ability to breakdown and find soft spots in zone coverage, fearlessness and concentration when going over the middle, and an impressive knack for reeling in contested catches. I also like how he cleanly breaks off his routes and never rounds it out, and he’s also got some juice after the catch. His huge catch radius and proficiency at both the deep ball and routes to the first and second level of the field is a huge asset for a high school passing game. He’s going to be tough to stop these next two seasons and brings an impressive skillset to the table going into his upperclassman campaign. Don’t sleep on the Red Knights or their prospects the next two seasons.
A product of the 651 and St. Paul Central High School, who has seen NFL talent developed in the halls of the Minutemen since I’ve been around the MN high school game and has seen no shortage of athletes ball out on their football and basketball squads. The latest edition of this trend is dual-sport standout Allan Lankfard, who rounds out our Top-30 and has a ton of room to continue climbing in the rankings. A do-it-all utility player on the gridiron, I think Lankfard projects best to DB in college, but you can’t talk about him as a sophomore without mentioning his offensive propensity for the Minutemen. A lethal rusher as a read-option QB, Lankfard is shifty, mobile, and sees the field well, and does a great job of buying time and improvising when things break down. Defensively, he lined up all over the place, from the edge of the DL out to the perimeter of the secondary, and his physicality as a tackler and when disengaging from blocks really standouts out on film. I’d love to see him at safety in the future at the college ranks but love his versatility right now as a prep. He’s a prospect I’ll be making sure to keep a close eye on for the next two seasons. Lankfard is also having a strong sophomore season on the hardcourt as well. Kid is an athlete.
Highlights
I’m stoked to get some more Outstate blood into the top end of the rankings, particularly from Pine Island, whose population of 3,500 should be very excited about the potential future of sophomore LB Blake Schiltz. At 6’3, 210 lbs., Schiltz played all over the field in 2022 and played it all well, which strengthens his game as a LB and really aids in his collegiate projection. A big play machine offensively as a QB, FB, and WR, Schiltz is a load and a half to bring down and proved himself to be a deep threat in the passing game or a destructive blocker and ball carrier when called upon, but his defensive highlights are what really gets me juiced. Sideline-to-sideline range, strength and technique as a tackler, the ability to shed blocks in multiple fashions, vision and patience when reading and diagnosing runs, and a non-stop motor and high-energy play style make him look fun as heck to play with and a nightmare to compete against. The movement skills and range are impressive at his size and age and if he can play in a camp setting like he does on film he’ll be a popular recruit on the trail before he knows it. Keep hitting the weight room hard, Blake. Good things are coming!
One of the most interesting and high-upside prospects on the entire 2025 rankings and possibly the state of Minnesota, 6’7, 245 lb. Gavin Wang is another Annandale prospect with eye-popping size, but has the highest ceiling of any sophomore in the state and presents a unique challenge and eval as a scout and recruiting fanatic. Wang only has one game of film from 2022, but boy is it an enticing one, as the sophomore DE went off against Watertown-Mayer to the tune of 3 sacks, and man, did he look good doing it. From a standup two-point stance or with his hand in the dirt, Wang’s strength and length helped him annihilate double teams all game long, and he was able to stay in the opponents backfield all game long to impact both the run and pass games. It looked very easy for him, and his physical gifts and how well he seems to move at 6’7, 250+ are rare at that size and age, and with how he took over that Watertown-Mayer game against a very strong Royals squad just couldn’t be overlooked in regards to these rankings. Look how Jide Abasiri Jide Abasiri 6’6″ | 290 lbs | DL Prior Lake | 2024 State MN has blown up the last calendar year if you want a comparable example. You’ll want to keep your eyes and ears open for this name going forward.
The Totino-Grace sophomore DB makes a big-time debut on the 2025 rankings and comes in at #14 overall and as the #2 DB in the state of Minnesota. It’s about time the Eagles have another major football recruit, if you ask me! Young is a good one, with legit 6’2 size, a strong multi-sport background competing for TG’s outstanding basketball team, and a good head on his shoulders, not to mention his on-field exploits as well. As a CB, Young’s ball skills, loose hips, and proficiency in zone coverage, as well as off-man, are very impressive for his size and age and helped him snag a bunch of INTs and break up a ton of passes in 2022. With the speed to stay on top of deeper routes with ease, consistent eye discipline depending on the coverage, and the quickness out of his breaks to undercut and beautifully play shorter routes, Young is a stud in pass coverage, no two ways about it. Don’t worry, he also understands holding the edge and playing with leverage, and has no qualms with inserting himself in run support and beating blocks with physicality. The footwork and hips lead me to believe he can remain at CB for the duration of his prep career and into college, and at 6’2 and as athletic as he is there’s just no way college DB coaches aren’t going to come to Fridley to throw their names into the mix with this young man. I’m very excited about this young buck’s future.
Highlights
I told you we’d be discussing more Stewartville Tigers! Yet another 2025 with outrageous upside and eye-popping size, I will NEVER not get pumped about a 6’4 safety and man oh man, Wangen has some good things going for him on film. In 2022, Wangen posted 16 catches for 211 yards and 6 TDs and added 17 tackles, 3 INTs, and 2 TFLs from his safety spot, not to mention his 52 PATs, 3-5 FG percentage, and 9 touchbacks as a kicker. Talk about a football player! Watching him come downhill from the back of the defensive secondary and close on ball carriers deep in the backfield is something I could watch for days on end, and he also shows some range in coverage from the MOF and the deep safety spot, with the ability to start/stop and adjust to the path of the football. Also a deep threat as a WR with YAC potential, Wangen can run and change direction in rare fashion for a 6’4 athlete, and the ability to play safety at that size at the high school level is a very good indication that his movement skills would positively translate to a collegiate defensive room, whether in a FS, SS, or OLB role. It’s always good to have options, and Wangen offers too many for a college recruiter to pass up. The Stewartville product has a big fan in yours truly.
Yet another DB with great size, Alexandria sophomore Evan Kludt measures in at 6’3, 165 lbs. post-sophomore football season and posted 34 tackles, 2 INTs, and 5 receptions for 47 yards and a TD in his final year as an underclassman. Kludt possesses some shiftiness as a route runner and soft hands to help him separate on a variety of different routes as a WR. I also like his man coverage skills as a CB, who can stay on top of deep balls, contest three-step routes, and tackle in space. All with a long 6’3 frame that is still growing an developing. With a year of varsity action and experience under his belt in 2022 he’s going to come back into 2023 with a ton to prove and a lot of room to better his current ranking. I can’t get over how exciting this DB class is and Kludt is very much a part of my excitement. Go Cards!