PrepRedzoneMN 2024 Rankings Update: RB Breakdown
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Power backs, scat backs, fullbacks, receiving backs, AP backs, oh my! The recent PRzMN 2024 rankings update is 240 strong and comprised of every kind of running back your heart could ever want. With big runs, exciting production, and fun-to-watch…
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Continue ReadingPower backs, scat backs, fullbacks, receiving backs, AP backs, oh my! The recent PRzMN 2024 rankings update is 240 strong and comprised of every kind of running back your heart could ever want. With big runs, exciting production, and fun-to-watch highlight tapes, we’re digging in deep to break down the diverse crop of rising senior RBs for our wonderful subscribers in our ongoing rankings update coverage. Get to know the top ball carriers in Minnesota here and only here. Enjoy!
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Even before you dig into the tape, Mountain Iron-Buhl RB Damian Tapio brings a strong resume to the table as a prospect. 9man state champ, 9man All-State, Duluth News Tribune All-Area, a 4th place finish in the 170AA bracket of the MSHSL state wrestling tournament, and a junior season in which he finished with 192 carries for 1,809 yards and 31 TDs, 23 receptions for 283 receiving yards and a TD, and 76 tackles, 8 TFLs, a sack, a FF, and an INT. That’s a heckuva junior year on the athletic front, no ifs, ands, or buts about it, and in the state championship game he had an excellent individual showing that included 18 rushes for 80 yards and 2 TDs with 4 catches, 29 yards, and 2 tackles. The tape is also electric, and Tapio looks naturally elusive and can break tackles in a variety of different ways. My two favorites are with standout footwork and a strong & balanced lower body that can slip and run through multiple tackle attempts in a single carry. He’s got great shake and is excellent at setting up defenders to make a big-time cut that shoots past defenders and creates a ton of space that Tapio uses to stiff arm and run over. It’s a very exciting style of running to watch and you don’t see RBs with such a diverse skillset to break tackles to use on the gridiron. Watch your ankles when you get around this dude! North Dakota got a gameday visit from Tapio back in the fall but since then, things have been a little quiet. That’ll change soon!
Highlights
A powerful and athletic package at 5’6, 170 lbs., Monte Gillman has been on our radar since he was an 8th grader starting and contributing on the varsity of the Dassel-Cokato Chargers in what seems like just yesterday. The younger brother of Montana Grizz RB Eli, who was our PrepRedzoneMN Player of the Year as a senior, younger brother Monte is a standout athlete just like his older bro but brings a different expertise and game to the gridiron as a rusher. A monster in the weight room who records a 415 lb. squat, 270 lb. bench, and 245 lb. power clean, Gillman’s junior tape displays the toughness and strength to excel between the tackles, as well as the speed to stretch the edge, and is a powerful cutter who does a good job of not indicating where he’s cutting to before he sticks his foot in the ground and punches upfield with force. He’s got some nifty and useful footwork in traffic and the open field, and those weight room numbers help him use his stiff arm forcefully and effectively, as well as some solid contact balance and a fight and scratch-and-crawl mentality to get the most out of every carry. Gillman has visited South Dakota and South Dakota State on junior day visits and has also heard from Sioux Falls and Brown recently.
Apple Valley’s Eastview High School has been putting out some high quality RBs the last few cycles and my favorite of the bunch goes to 2024 5’11, 190 lb. Damon Green, already a 2x All-District pick going into his senior season. With a host of Missouri Valley and Northern Sun institutions having already contacted the junior, PRzMN isn’t the only one to take notice of his talents. Last fall, Green showed some off impressively shifty hips and cuts, using great timing and last-second breaks to keep would-be tacklers guessing and on their heels when trying to corral him at the contact point. Green does a good job of getting skinny and presenting a small and limited area going into contact, sees the field well, and is dangerously quick in space and 1-on-1 tackling situations. I’d like to see some longer runs from the Eastview Lightning standout as a senior, but I love the junior tape and he made some defenders look very silly in 2022.
Highlights
One of the most exciting backs in the entire class, Fridley’s energizer bunny of a rising senior RB in Lex Korti has some very entertaining film and has received recruiting graphics from more than a dozen different college programs representing almost every level of college football. My Oles have reached out, and frankly, I’d be thrilled if he landed in Northfield, but he absolutely has scholarship potential and I’m hoping his offer sheet is long and diverse by this time next year. Last week, he took his first junior day visit to Winona State, and like me I’m sure the Warriors enjoy Korti’s blend of vision, shiftiness, and speed. In 10 games last fall, Korti totaled 1,137 rushing yards at an 8.3 YPC average and also ran in 14 TDs for some solid production as a junior. Armed with a lethal jump cut, Korti makes defenders look silly with last-second misdirection and well-timed cuts, completely freezing the feet of defenders and allowing him to skirt by untouched. He can also slip through small creases and cracks in the defense and has the homerun speed to finish long runs when he finds daylight. I’ve seen RBs with his size (5’7, 160ish) and skillset find a ton of success in the college ranks and give high-quality defenses fits, so I’m confident in his ability to transfer his game to the next level. Now, someone just has to take a chance!
Highlights
Champlin Park was well represented in the 2024 PRzMN rankings and in a great position to improve on their 4-5 2022 campaign. With a ton of experience, size, and talent returning, 5’10, 180 lb. RB Arthur Russell Jr. is poised to be the Rebel’s featured back in 2023 and will be a focal point of the offense and will carry a lot of responsibility of the Champlin Park scoring next fall. Ivy League, NSIC, Missouri Valley, Pioneer League, and WIAC programs are just some of the college conferences that have reached out to Russell Jr. so far this offseason, and I love his strong lower body and efficient cuts that look powerful when he drops his hips, bounces off weaker tackle attempts, and/or carries a dog pile of defenders. He’s a patient back who will follow his blocks and allow a play to develop before bursting upfield and into space. Russell Jr. has some good reps against strong 6A competition in 2022 and is a contender for a big-time breakout season in 2023. Also carries a 3.6 GPA!
Highlights
Although he’s categorized as an ATH right now, Eden Prairie’s Terae Dunn got significant carries for the Eagles in 2022 and has the potential to play RB in college, so when you also add in the exciting playstyle and Dunn more than qualifies for this PrepRedzoneMN feature. A product of MN who spent some time in Nevada while in high school, Dunn is also a very accomplished wrestler and placed in the MN state tournament in 2019 at 113 lbs., in Nevada at 138 lbs. during the ’21 season, and this month with an impressive 2nd place finish in 145AAA, losing in the championship to St. Thomas football commit Eli Paulson. On the gridiron, Dunn’s a long strider with solid speed who sneakily outpaces defenders while continuing downfield. Also has a mean stiff-arm, burst, and is an effective one-cutter who can also drop his pads and bring physicality to tacklers. Also laid some giant hits as a DB and is comfortable tackling in space. Tons to like in the EP backfield next season.
Highlights
One of best Outstate RBs in the state going into 2023, Willmar’s 5’10, 210 lber. Ramero Trevino caught my eye and stood out during December’s PRzMN Stock-Up Showcase for a bunch of good reasons. Being able to impressive in both a camp/showcase setting and on the gridiron isn’t an easy ask, and Trevino looks and plays even better in pads, showing off balance, burst lateral agility, and good hands out of the backfield. He also sees the field well, and can beat down defenses going North-South or burn them with finesse with surprising git-up and effective cuts for a back of his size. He’s got one of the most balanced skillsets in the state and is a three-down RB who keeps tacklers guessing for four quarters of competition. Can’t wait to see him as a senior. No reported recruiting interest or offers as of right now!
It’s great to have more 9-man representation on this list, and Renville County West’s Jasen Jansen is a good one at 6’1, 205 lbs. and still growing. In 2022, Jansen posted 196 carries for 1,122 yards and 11 TDs and added 8 receptions for 127 yards and two more scores. I love this dude’s contact balance, and he’ll throw a mean truck stick out into a tackler and bounce them off him like a 220 lber. Jansen is very effective between the tackles and going N-S who has a nose for the endzone. He works hard to get the most out of every run and is a strong kid who sees his work ethic pay off on the gridiron and through contact. 9man competition wanted to no part of this kid last fall. Jansen doesn’t have a Twitter so I hope he sees this!
Highlights
My lord do I love Moose Lake-Willow River running backs! Starting with Jake Disterhaupt back in the early 2010s when I was a young buck, the Rebels have put out some electric ball carriers with all different kinds of builds, strengths, and playstyles. Last year’s RB room was stacked, and leading the pack was 5’8, 170 lb. junior Jaxsyn Schmidt, who posted 1,535 yards and 19 TDs at a 9.5 YPC clip. Excellent vision, solid speed, and plays with timing and good angles when making that first man miss. With good balance, Schmidt has this rep where he feints towards the sideline and then drops his hips almost to the ground and back inside for a dirty move that got him easily past a defender and right in the hole. He popped off some big runs in 2022 and will be the featured back for the Rebels in 2023. PRzMN can’t wait to see it.
Another ball carrier on this list that is positioned to take over as RB1 and in the featured back role at their high school, Winona’s Ronnie Lemon is stepping into the cleats of some productive prep RBs before him and is ready to make 2023 the year of the Lemon. At 5’11, 185 lbs., Lemon’s combination of balance + stiff arm may be the deadliest on the list, and in-line with his physical run style, the 185 lber. has no problem lead blocking and doing the dirty work for his offense and fellow RBs. He’s more than capable of blocking LBs and second level defenders between the tackles or out in space, and brings a physical edge and playstyle to the Winhawks offense. 2023 is his for the taking!
The Litchfield Dragons have some exciting prospects on the rise and 2024 RB Lukas Kuehl certainly caught my eye while I revamped the 2024 rankings for our latest update. Solid vision and can generate noticeable burst out of his cuts, Kuehl can also drop his hips and create some shifty cuts back play side when he’s got some space. Compared to a lot of other RBs on this list, he brings a lot more length to the table and has a frame that could really develop and grow in a college S&C program. No Twitter so I hope he sees this!
Elk River’s 6’1, 205 lber. Logan Bunker came onto my radar during the fall and man, was I happy he did. I was eagerly devouring his week-to-week game tape and growing to like him more and more as the leaves changed and winter approached. A two-way contributor who excelled on both sides of the ball, Bunker posted 90 carries for 1,092 yards and 17 TDs, and 30 tackles with 9 TFLs and 5 PBUs for the 2022 5A state champion Elks. St. Thomas and Winona State have received junior day visits from the rising senior, and he’ll stay busy through the spring and summer as there’s a ton to like in Bunker’s game and the way Elk River has developed and readied RBs and LBs for the college game the past few cycles and beyond. As a RB, Bunker is a beast in the Elk’s Power-T rushing attack and popped off some huge runs untouched thanks to their effective scheme and execution, but this dude is also balanced, patient when finding and seeing the hole, and fast at the top end. He’s also a hammer at the contact point as a LB, and although I think he’s bound for the defensive side of the ball in college I’m going to watch and appreciate his offensive game while he’s a prep.
Twitterless Jack Wertish is the second Renville County West and third 9-man RB to make the 2024 PRzMN rankings update’s talented RB position group. At 5’11, 170 lbs. Wertish played both RB and WR as a junior and possesses a balanced skillset to the table as a recruit. Speed, quickness, balance, physicality, and soft hands all show up on his 2022 tape, and I like how he utilizes and takes advantage of space, which led to some exciting reps in the fall that surely fired up his teammates, sideline, and fans. RCW needs to once again be considered in the upcoming 9man playoff picture. Go Jags!
Sadly, Big Lake’s Trent Josewski broke his collarbone one game into his junior season, but came into December’s PRzMN Stock-Up Showcase and blew things out of the water as he posted a 4.44 and 4.57 40, 4.31 and 4.37 short-shuttle, and 9’4″ and 9’5″ broad jump for some impressive testing numbers at 5’10, 180 lbs. It was really hard to accurately rank him with the athletic numbers but without film, so take his current ranking with a big grain of salt, but from his sophomore/one game of junior tape there is some speed evident, as well as a strong lower body that churns through contact well. I cannot wait to see this dude tote the rock in 2023.
Highlights
5’11, 175 lb. Byron running back, safety, and kick returner Adam Glynn had a strong junior campaign and has seen the fruits of his labor pay off this offseason with recruiting graphics and contact from Wayne State, Augustana, Winona State, SMSU, MSUM, Concordia-St. Paul, Crown College, UMD, MSU-Mankato, Harvard, NDSU, St. Olaf, Sioux Falls, Valpo, and Carroll. Glynn’s speed was a game-changer to the Bear’s offense last fall, and he easily & consistently took the edge and the corner on opposing defenses in 2022. With good vision to boot, Glynn created some big runs and splash plays without having to deal with a lot of contact, leading to some of those huge runs finishing with Glynn more than 5-10 yards from the nearest defender. Also possesses a strong lower body that can bounce weaker tackle attempts off his legs when Glynn positions his body and pad level correctly.
Highlights
A standout RB and LB for Kingsland, who have one of the most promising and talented offensive backfields in Southern MN and small-school football, 5’10, 195 lb. Beau Wiersma has big play speed and stabbed defenses for splash runs both between the tackles and out on the edge of the defense. He’s also got solid balance and vision, and I love when he throws the stiff arm out effectively and propels himself forward and off contact. Also owns some solid LB highlights and a balanced skillset from the RB spot that created a ton of production in 2022. The junior tape also created a solid amount of recruiting attention, and Wiersma is six days out of a Winona State Warriors visit on their junior day. WSU is on the ball with the 2024 recruiting class.
The football, hockey, and track standout for the Prior Lake Lakers puts up good numbers in the weight room with a 235 lb. bench, 225 lb. clean, and 405 lb. squat at 5’10, 175 lbs. Hunter MacGillivray has a bunch of Northern Sun visits lined up for this spring and has currently checked out Winona State and Sioux Falls, and is also set to visit Southwest MN State, Minnesota State University-Moorhead, and Upper Iowa. Jamestown and Valpo have also reached out. MacGillivray posted 325 rushing yards and 5 TDs in 2022 and is set to see a ton more carries come his way this upcoming fall with the graduation of two standout senior offensive weapons. A tough, between-the-tackles, North-South runner who can also bounce it out to the edge on occasion, HMac is a physical kid who can get tough yards and bowl you over if you don’t come into contact prepared. Also a solid blocker who will open things up for his fellow RBs and never has an issue running his face through an opponent.
Highlights
A PrepRedzoneMN Showcase standout and eye-catcher at a cut up 5’11, 205, Lakeville North’s Sawyer Wilkie is a tough tackling assignment 1-on-1 or in groups and posted 180 carries for 784 yards and 6 TDs at a 4.4 YPC average. With some excellent athletic numbers that included two 4.59 40s, a 4.41 short-shuttle, 6.95 L-drill, and a 9’3″ broad jump at the PRzMN Showcase, along with a 315 lb. bench press, 35-inch vertical, and 3.3 GPA, although that last one isn’t an athletic number. I also loves that this dude rocks #41 on the gridiron. On tape, Wilkie is powerful, and can run over and slip through tackle attempts without losing momentum, as well as stay upright and bounce off contact and filled gaps in goal line and short-yardage situations. I also like his one-cut ability and how much space he can create when he sticks his cleat in the ground and works laterally. Wilkie’s game and toughness can breakdown defenses and tacklers throughout a four quarter ball game. You better come ready when you’re playing against LNHS.
Highlights
St. Thomas Academy’s rushing attack is going to be one of the best in Minnesota in 2023. Along with all 5 starters returning along the offensive line, the Cadets return the most explosive RB in the state in 5’10, 190 lb. Savion Hart. The junior just saw his recruitment take off a few days ago with his first offer rolling in from the MSU-Mankato Mavericks, and he also visited UNI’s junior day and received invites from Minnesota, South Dakota, and NDSU’s junior days as well. While helping STA to a 10-1 record in 2022 and 5A state quarterfinal appearance, Hart posted 1,356 rushing yards and 26 TDs on a 8.75 YPC average, and his 11.1 100-meter speed shows up on tape, as he’s a legit homerun threat and at or very near the top of the list when talking which MN running back is the fastest. Hart possesses another gear when he sees daylight and burns pursuit angles at every level of the defense, and I also enjoy his quick feet and how he keep defenders on their heels when approaching them in space. The start/stop, burst, and top end speed help him take a mile when a defense gives him an inch and the stats and production also back up Hart being one of, if not thee, most explosive RB in MN’s 2024 class. More offers coming!
Highlights
Our current RB1’s ranking was solidified recently when FBS Air Force became the first D1 offer to a Minnesota 2024 RB when they offered Chanhassen’s Maxwell Woods a day ago. The Falcons, who run a triple-option/flexbone style of offense, have to be very sound in their evaluations of prep RBs, so this is an exciting first offer for Woods, a football + basketball standout for the Storm. MSU-Mankato also reached out a few days beforehand, and Woods has also visited UST and NIU this offseason. A variety of P5, FBS, and FCS programs also stopped by Chan to have an in-person word with Woods, so I hope things really start to explode on the trail for the rising senior. Arguably the most elusive ball carrier in the state, Woods posted 192 carries for 1,414 yards and 18 TDs with 47 carries of over 10 yards. Patient, twitchy, balanced, Woods has excellent COD skills and the speed/vision combo to excitedly cut back across the field for electric runs that deflate a defensive effort. Woods does a great job of taking what the defense gives him and making them pay for it, plus, you don’t know what kind of juke move or tackle breaking attempt he’s going to pull out when a defender bears down on him. He broke some ankles and had defenders looking silly last fall. Keep an eye on this recruitment going forward!