Success on the field and the track – Part 1
In this article:
Continuing to highlight multi-sport athletes, I move from the mat to the court and now to the track. Speed kills in all sports, and football is no exception. These ten athletes used that speed to dominate on the field this…
Access all of Prep Redzone
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingContinuing to highlight multi-sport athletes, I move from the mat to the court and now to the track. Speed kills in all sports, and football is no exception. These ten athletes used that speed to dominate on the field this season and used it to dominate on the track and – in some cases – the field. Later this month, I will feature ten more athletes whose success on the football field translated nicely to the track.
Sam Backer Sam Backer 5'11" | 190 lbs | RB Chatfield | 2023 State MN Chatfield ATH
Class A 3rd 4X100, 4th 4X200
Being a member of two state-place-winning relay teams only led to more success in the football season. Backer is a do-it-all, never comes off-the-field athlete who obviously has the straight-line speed to outrun any angles the defense might think they have on him. His ability to break tackles and make people miss in the open field separates Backer from other fast guys. Oh, yeah, and although he is mainly a running back playing quarterback, he can spin it and find open receivers when asked to. On defense, he is just as physical a tackler as he is a tackle breaker.
Nathan Fenske Nathan Fenske 6'2" | 185 lbs | WR Lakeview | 2023 State MN Lakeview WR
Class A 20th high jump
Fenske also made an appearance in one of my hardwood stories. Obviously one of the better all-around athletes in the class; his length and – based on his success in the high jump – leaping ability make him a tough cover for even the most experienced defensive backs in the state. For more on this three-sport standout, check out part three of my multi-sport athlete series.
Jackson Thompson Jackson Thompson 5'8" | 190 lbs | ATH Moose Lake-Willow River | 2023 State MN Moose Lake-Willow River RB/LB
Class A 7th4X100
Thompson can do a little bit of everything from the linebacker position. His obvious speed quickly gets him through the hole and allows him to meet the ball carrier going downhill. He is primarily a between-the-tackles player, but his quickness gives him great range on plays to the outside. Thompson is a sure tackler who sticks his shoulder pads into the ball carrier and wraps up. He is also a threat on offense as a runner and a pass catcher.
Simon Morgan Simon Morgan 6'4" | 215 lbs | TE St. Clair/Loyola | 2023 State MN St. Clair/Loyola WR
Class A 2nd 110M hurdles
Morgan’s length makes him a nightmare to cover one on one. He can create separation with just his reach and height – even if he doesn’t beat defenders clean. This skill is beneficial in the red zone, where space is at a premium. His long striding style is deceiving, and he can beat defenders with his straight-line speed to get that traditional separation. Morgan uses his hands well and doesn’t let the ball get into his body – again taking advantage of his length.
Greg Schafer Greg Schafer 5'10" | 155 lbs | RB Lakeview | 2023 State MN Lakeview ATH
Class A 3rd 100M
On tape – Schafer makes everyone else look like they are moving in slow motion. The senior has another gear that he hits when he gets a lane. It is obvious – right away – that the senior is the best athlete on the field. He is not just a speed guy, however. Schafer does a nice job bouncing off tacklers – so much so that he occasionally – and effectively – lines up in the backfield to take handoffs. He lines up all over the field – including as a wing or flexed tight end right off the offensive tackle. He is also a threat to take a punt back to the house at any time.
Sawyer Seidl Sawyer Seidl 5'10" | 165 lbs | RB Hill-Murray | 2023 State MN Hill-Murray RB
Class AA 7th 100M, 9th 200M, 1st 4X100
Seidl has all the tools of a pure running back. His speed is evident from the start – he would not have made the finals in three of the four sprint events at the state track tournament if it wasn’t – but what separates Seidl is his combination of speed, power, and elusiveness in the open field. He has an upright running style that would lead you to believe he wouldn’t be as physical, but when the time comes, he lowers his pads and ensures he is the one falling forward. If the opportunity is there, he will make defenders miss and give himself room to showcase his straight-line speed.
Sawyer Tordsen Sawyer Tordsen 6'6" | 265 lbs | DL Fairmont | 2023 State MN Fairmont DL
Class AA 1st Discus
Discus takes excellent footwork, and so does the offensive line. Tordsen’s footwork is great when he has a discus in his hand, but it is so good on the football field that the offensive tackle caught a touchdown pass last season. The play was not just a goal-line two-yard pass. The touchdown catch was a throw into the flat where Tordsen had to get on his horse and sprint down the sidelines. As a blocker, the senior moves well, pulling and getting to the second level. He has a lot of power in his frame if the defender is off-balance at all – Tordsen will put him on the ground.
Mark Rogalski Mark Rogalski 6'1" | 190 lbs | LB Saint Thomas Academy | 2023 State MN St. Thomas Academy DB
Class AA 6th 200M, 6th 4X100, 4th 4X200
While his speed is evident based on being a three-time state place winner in sprint events, what jumps off the screen with Rogalski on the football field is his physicality at the corner position—being that he transitioned from linebacker, that came as no surprise. He is an in-your-face press corner who is not afraid to beat up a wide receiver at the line of scrimmage. Even if he does get beat, that speed allows him to get back into the play. He is physical with receivers and is just a physical in the run game. The senior is a great tackler who is not shy about coming up and supporting the run.
Jonah Hviding Jonah Hviding 5'10" | 155 lbs | WR Princeton | 2023 State MN Princeton WR
Class AA 8th 400M
Hviding straight-line speed is impressive. His speed against one-on-one coverage stands out, but his speed allows him – for example – to outrun safeties trying to get to him on a seam route or when he outruns a defender who thinks he has a bead on the Tigers’ receiver is even more impressive. He is not just a speed guy, either. He has a little wiggle in the open field and coming off the line of scrimmage. His length and hands make him challenging to defend in the red zone and make 50/50 balls swing in his favor.
Ethan Carrier Ethan Carrier 6'1" | 185 lbs | DB Detroit Lakes | 2023 State MN Detroit Lakes ATH
Class AA 8th 4X100
Carrier was one of the stars at a Prepredzone showcase last year and started on the track later that year. In one-on-one drills, he looked awesome, and those skills translated to the field for the Minnesota commit. He has the speed and power to run by or through tacklers as a running back. He has the quickness and sure tackling technique to eat up ball carriers on defense. The senior has all that going for him, but what most impressed me is how smooth Carrier looks on the football field. Some guys just look like football players. Carrier is one of those guys.