PrepRedzoneMN 2024 Rankings Update: Standout Outstate Prospects
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It’s a good year for MN Outstate football. Led by newly-minted 4star prospect Koi Perich Koi Perich 6'2" | 200 lbs | ATH Esko | 2024 State MN out of Esko, the non-Metro areas of Minnesota have prospects littered throughout…
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Continue ReadingIt’s a good year for MN Outstate football. Led by newly-minted 4star prospect Koi Perich Koi Perich 6'2" | 200 lbs | ATH Esko | 2024 State MN out of Esko, the non-Metro areas of Minnesota have prospects littered throughout both the Top-50 and Top-240 of our newly published PRzMN 2024 rankings update, as well as on the recruiting boards of college coaches at all levels of CFB. In addition to the classic Outstate lineman and LBs with tough and burly makeups, there are some exciting skill players coming from the prairies and Iron Range of our great state, and PrepRedzoneMN is here to round out our rankings coverage by highlighting the standouts of the Outstate’s 2024 class. With a diverse range of positions, classifications of competition, and geographic regions of MN prep football represented, no one is giving you as much depth and detail on prospects around the state than PRzMN. Get to know these 26 standout Outstate prospects below! Thanks for reading.
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The massive Bemidji Lumberjack defensive lineman has been on PRzMN’s radar for a while thanks to his eye-catching measurables and flashes of dominance in his game tape. Lucas Caron comes in with top-tier size at 6’6, 245 pounds, and has visited NDSU, Wyoming, and St. Thomas so far this offseason. The Gophers also reached out with a junior day invite, and with the size/film/production combination he brings to the table it’s easy to see why FCS and FBS are taking a hard look at the DE from The First City on the Mississippi. Caron posted over 30 tackles in 2022, along with 6 sacks, 2 blocked punts, and 2 FFs for the Lumberjack defense. On tape, the combination of strength and quickness is hard for opponents to handle at the point of attack and he keeps blockers on their heels and guessing to what he’s going to hit them with, allowing the long 6’6er to run them into the backfield. I also like Caron’s closing speed once he gets off a block, and he also uses his hands well to disengage from defenders and can hold a gap from the interior of the DL or out on the edge as a 5T or wider. Seeing him run down plays when he’s untouched and given space is a good sign as well. Can’t wait to see who offers up first, it should be coming soon.
Highlights
One of the best players in the Outstate going into next season, 6’4, 210 lb. Hunter Kallstrom out of Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg does not have a condensed highlight film, but in the game tape against central MN competition, you can see a long, athletic, two-way contributor with positional versatility and experience in droves. He can do a ton on the gridiron, and I really like his contested catch ability as a TE, footwork as a RB, strength as a blocking FB, and speed as a pass rusher. He can make plays from a bunch of different spots on the gridiron, and at 6’4, 210 that is a big problem for opposing defenses and DCs. If I had to pick a position he’d best project to right now, I like Kallstrom as a TE. Soft hands, success running a good variety of routes, and a vicious blocker both around the box or out on the perimeter makes him irreplaceable on the field. He visited Augustana earlier this month and a number of programs will be in hot pursuit of his talents before and during his senior season. Keep your eyes out for KMS next season!
Highlights
Year after year, Rocori puts out a variety of exciting athletes who are disciplined, tough, multi-sport, and two-way prospects who put together impressive team campaigns and individual highlights that PRzMN loves watching and following. 6’2, 190 lb. DB/ATH Will Steil is another prime example of this, and the ’22 District DB of the Year had a strong junior season that has paid off in SDSU, Winona State, SMSU, South Dakota, and MSU-Moorhead junior day invites after he posted 72 tackles, 4 TFLs, 2 forced fumbles, 2 INTs, 9 PBUs, and almost 200 yards of total offense. The brother of Rocori grad and current NDSU infielder Jack Steil, younger brother Will has great size for the CB position and shows off a ton of comfortability when tackling and shutting down ball carriers in space, and I also like his ball skills and ability to undercut shorter routes off three-step drops. Steil can start/stop well for his size, but I really like how he stuffs RBs and WRs in their tracks when tackling, as well as attack blocks and hold his ground out on the edge. Steil can effectively impact short balls, deep passes, and the run game, and at 6’2, 190 he provides a physical edge to the position that offenses have to game plan for. I’m very interested to see how his recruitment plays out and if baseball plays a big role like his brother. Go Spartans!
Highlights
One of the 2024s with the highest upside in the state, Kasson-Mantorville’s Easton Suess is one of the most athletic defensive lineman in the state. All of the best parts of the Minnesota-bred football/basketball multi-sport prep standouts, Suess comes in at 6’5 and a long, lean 200-210 pound frame and blew the testing portion of December’s PRzMN Showcase out of the water. Two 4.75 40s, a 4.35 and 4.38 short-shuttle, 9’8″ broad, and 6.9 L-drill made him one of the best testers at the event regardless of position or size, and college programs have taken notice, as Suess is fresh off his second unofficial visit to the Gophers and has also heard from NDSU, SDSU, UST, UNI, South Dakota, UNI, Iowa State, Dartmouth, and WIU since his junior season ended. On tape, I really like his get-off and how quickly he can get into the backfield and close. Suess beats blocks with quickness but can make tackles through contact, and I also like how strongly he tackles in space. His length also allows him to easily get his arms up and into passing lanes, and he’s even got the hands to pluck the ball out of the air as well. The big thing for him is going to be his weight and adding mass/strength, but the athleticism is verified and visible on tape and makes him a must-watch in the MN prep football recruiting scene. Going to be a big summer camp szn for the KM rising senior.
Highlights
I am a big fan of Northfield’s Austin Koep, who has made the transition from a big-bodied WR to a well-built LB at 6’3, 210 pounds. Don’t worry, he still plays wideout, and the highlights from both sides of the ball are solid, leading to a good ranking within the state and a lot more room to rise up the 2024 list. Koep is fresh off an All-Conference nod for the Raider’s basketball squad, and Winona State, Augustana, MSU-Moorhead, and South Dakota have all reached out with junior day invites this offseason. Koep is fast for his size and used that speed to pop off big runs, and long completions downfield, and make huge TFLs deep in the backfields of opponents. Strong when taking on blocks and a big hitter manning the OLB spot, Koep is also able to win contested catches on offense, and I really like how he drops and covers ground to the flats in pass coverage. He can impact a lot of phases of gameplay and is a physical and athletic asset to the Northfield football squad. Can’t wait to see the Raiders in 2023!
Highlights
This fall, when I was writing my weekly Minnesota’s Top Performers features for PRzMN, Braham’s do-it-all extraordinaire Jake Tepley was a perpetual member of the article series and finished his junior season with 30 TDs (21 rushing, 9 passing), 1,420 rushing yards, 723 passing yards, and 29.5 tackles and 2 INTs. A strong kid who posted a 500 lb. squat before the ’22 season kicked off, Tepley was named his district’s MVP once the regular season concluded, and I’m sure his competitors were impressed by his speed, versatility, and high-energy playstyle. I love his gait and how hard he runs, and his speed is impressive on both sides of the ball, burning pursuit angles and creating big offensive plays while running down loose QBs from the backside and making sure he always needs to be accounted for. Also uses his strong lower body to stay upright through weaker tackle attempts and lay powerful hits as a tackler. Tepley also made some nice throws showing off accuracy when he dropped back and passed, and overall he’s a dynamic athlete and very fun to watch. Speed is the name of his game!
Highlights
2022 9man state runner-up Spring Grove is well-represented in our latest 2024 rankings update. With size and athleticism abound in their 2024 graduating class, the Lions are poised to make another deep run into the state playoffs, and once again will be led by 6’1, 185 lb. QB/MLB Elijah Solum. Also a stud hooper, Solum’s speed, quickness, and balance with the ball in hand helped him create some splash offensive plays and exciting runs with multiple broken tackles and opponents grasping at air while he cruised by them. He’s a natural at freezing opponents feet, and Solum also got a big arm when dropping back as a QB and can stretch the field when his wideouts get open. I also love how hard he tackles and sticks RBs when given the chance, but he shines brightest when the ball is in hand and his nose for the endzone is strongest. Only MSU-Moorhead has reached out to the small-schooler so far. Good call by the Dragons.
Highlights
Another high-potential, must-know name out of the 2024 class, Mankato West’s 6’1, 185 lb. WR and CB Jalen Smith is fresh off the invite-only Minnesota Gophers junior day from this past weekend and also saw his recruitment officially kick off earlier this month with MSU-Mankato and Sioux Falls offers. Smith also attended Iowa State’s junior day in early March. Also a standout member of the Scarlet’s track and field squad who competes in the 200, 4×1, and 4×2, Smith posted 49 catches for 729 yards and 8 TDs as a junior and displayed twitch and timing in his excellent releases at the LOS when facing press coverage. He can drop his hips and break off his routes and cuts smoothly and impressively, and shows off soft hands, concentration, and ball skills when reeling in tough catches with DBs bearing down on him. Also put some dirty moves on would-be tacklers after the catch as well. This dude is under-ranked right now (my fault) and will see a significant climb in the rankings in an upcoming micro-update. Keep it up, Jalen!
The muscle of the Spring Grove representation on the 2024 rankings update, 6’4, 215 lb. TE and OLB Ethan Crouch Ethan Crouch 6’4″ | 240 lbs | DL Spring Grove | 2024 State MN opens his junior tape with a BOOM of a hit on an unprepared lead blocker and sets the tone for a physical junior tape out of the ’22 9-man runner-up. Crouch has a truck stick when toting the rock as a TE, works to finish when blocking and laid some menacing blocks, and will easily run down ball carriers in the backfield as a defensive lineman. He’s a big kid who moves well and brings that 9-man versatility and dominance as a recruit, making for an intriguing package as a recruit that the likes of MSU-Moorhead, Jamestown, Winona State, and Minot State have reached out to inquire about. Crouch is set to be one of the most physically dominant presences in all of the 9-man next fall. Also a good basketball player!
Highlights
A three-sport athlete at Rochester Century who measures in at 6’2, 190 lbs., Eli Thompson has some good things going for him as a WR and TE and posted 30 receptions for 494 yards, 2 rushes for 24 yards, 6 TDs, 30 tackles, and an interception in his junior season with the Panthers. He’s been popular this offseason, with the likes of NDSU, Augustana, SMSU, MSU-Mankato, Upper Iowa, Winona State, UWRF, UW-Stout, Drake, and Northern State reaching out with junior day invites and/or recruiting graphics, and he showed he can impress in person during December’s PRzMN Stock-Up Showcase. Thompson posted a 4.35 and 4.22 short-shuttle along with a 9′ and 9’1″ broad jump at a verified 6’2, 190+, and on tape he shows off some of that same quickness and explosiveness while he’s on the field. I really enjoy his vertical game, as Thompson is impressive and natural at high-pointing the ball, showing off great timing, soft hands, strength when reeling in the contested catch, and balance when he lands on his feet and continues forward. Also throws out a mean stop-and-go route that burned a few DBs deep and uses that same lower body strength to break weaker tackle attempts after the catch as well. If the ball is in the air, this dude is going to go get it. I can’t wait to see all of the Rochester talent in 2023. Thompson is near the top of the list of players I’ll be keeping track of.
The latest installment of Hutchinson’s talented trend of well-built TE/ATHs, 6’3, 210 lb. Andrew Lipke has earned junior day invites from Concordia-St. Paul, Crown College, UW-River Falls, Jamestown, Winona State, Northern State, and Sioux Falls for his more-than-stellar performance as a junior in 2022. It was almost another magical season for Hutch in 2022, and the defending 4A state runner-ups, led by captain Lipke in 2023, will be hungry and fired up for revenge and some hardware, and will be excited to utilize Lipke’s skillset of standout blocking ability on the edge of their LOS. Strength, consistent and effective hand placement, and great leg drive help him bowl over opponents like they’re Brunswick pins on a Friday night. He’s easily one of the best blocking TEs in the state, and also has soft hands and was productive on crossing and out-breaking routes to the second level of the field. The blocking alone will net him scholarship offers, though. Can’t go wrong with Hutchinson prospects!
Highlights
After a down year in 2021, the Caledonia Warriors are firmly back on track and posted an 8-3 record with only nearby rival Chatfield having stood in the way of them qualifying for state in what was a thrilling 10-8 section 1AA championship that went the way of the Gophers. With experience and talent returning all over the field, the Warriors will be led by QB Lewis Doyle, who also is a standout hooper and carries a 3.9 GPA. In seven games of 2022 action, Doyle posted a 60% completion rate with 9 TDs, and I also like his game as a defensive back, where he ballhawks from the secondary and can go up and pluck the ball out of the air with ease. Offensively, his balance and vision when buying time and scrambling around the pocket is exciting and a nightmare for defenses to deal with, and he can make something out of nothing and improvise when things break down with comfort and success. I also like his touch on passes downfield, and overall he’s a good athlete at the position who needs to be accounted for at all times. It’s been a good year for Doyle and his senior campaign will be even better. No reported interest or offers on the recruiting front right now.
The latest installment of well-built and talented Caledonia defensive ends, 2024 6’2, 240 lber. Jordan Tornstrom reports a 325 lb. bench and 475 lb. squat to go along with his good size for the prep level. MSU-Mankato and Upper Iowa are definitely interested, but he’s still under-recruited as of right now. Able to beat blocks with power or quickness, Tornstrom stuffs ball carriers in their tracks once he gets ahold of them and tackles well in space for a DE of his size. Also has a bit of a nasty streak in him that I love to see. 2023 is his for the taking. You can bet your butt he’s working hard in the weight room this offseason and most likely, as I write this. Keep it up, Jordan!
Yet another two-sport Rocori standout whose film I enjoy watching, 6′, 230 lb. DT Grady Minnerath is fresh off of a 220AA 3rd place finish with some big wins over fellow multi-sport standouts from small towns around our Great State of Minnesota. The wrestling background shows up well in his football film, and last fall Minnerath posted 81 tackles, 10 TFLs, 2.5 sacks, and an INT while displaying aggressive and successful power rushes that sends lineman backwards and occasionally straight onto their butt. His wrestling background shows up in his hand usage and placement when working off blocks, and he’s got a good arsenal of moves that he uses off the snap and when countering off or working a second move. Minnerath is also a strong tackler when he gets ahold of RBs and QBs.
Highlights
With college-ready size at 6’4, 300 lbs., Duluth East Greyhound offensive lineman David Lundstrom has long been on the radars of NSIC programs, leading to a recent junior day visit to Augustana and attention from UMD, MSUM, Winona State, and MSU-Mankato. SDSU, NDSU, and Western Illinois also reached out with junior day or prospect camp invites, and I like his lateral agility and general mobility when working around the LOS. Good zone blocker, can trap and pull effectively, and does a good job of sealing and cutting off opponents using good body position and his big frame to his advantage. If he continues to add strength and muscle to his frame he’s got a great shot of climbing significantly up the rankings and boosting his stock. Going to be a big year for Lundstrom!
Highlights
Barnum’s 6’2, 180 lb. RB, WR, and LB Caden Sheff had a productive junior season that saw him earn All-District honors after he posted 1,122 AP yards (617 receiving, 505 rushing), and 18 total TDs along with 77 tackles, 3 TFLs, 2 FFs, and a sack to solidify his status as an “athlete” both on the field and in our rankings. Sheff is all over the field in his 2022 junior tape, and he’s got a rep right before the one minute mark of his film where he runs down a loose ball carrier from Braham nearly 60 yards downfield and hawks him down to prevent a TD while also forcing a fumble on a powerful and instinctive punch for a game-changing play full of hustle, intuition, and speed. Those are my favorite kinds of plays, and I think it’s a strong testament to Sheff as a prospect, who is simply a natural, playmaking high school football player with grit showing up all over the place. Sheff’s offensive highlights include highlight-reel catches, strong runs showing off vision and speed, and as a LB I love how he’s physical at the point of attack and closes quickly on the football. Tons to like in the Class A product, and with a good frame that could blow up in a college S&C program I think he’s a must-know out of the Outstate’s crop of 2024 talent. He’s fresh off a Valley City State visit so college coaches need to get at him while they can!
Yet another Rocori Spartan linebacker with good size, 6’1, 220 lb. rising senior Jackson Primus was a monster as a junior and tallied 109 tackles and 3 TFLs from the heart of the Spartans defense during their ’22 Class 4A semifinal run. Winona State, Southwest MN State, and MSU-Moorhead all reached out with junior day invites during February. Primus plays with a hard-charging playstyle and strong motor that shows up when he’s chasing down plays at the edge of the defense or putting his 100% all into a tackle or when attacking a block. He’s also patient when tracking the football and is a strong tackler once he gets ahold of a ball carrier. I love the first play of Primus‘ junior highlights where he makes a huge TFL during the state semifinal in what was a massive, momentum-filled 4th down stop. Size, production, hustle, and playoff experience is an enticing combination!
Another 9-man prospect and competitor, Nicollet WR Conner Martens was one of the most productive WRs in the entire state of Minnesota last fall and a constant presence on our weekly PRzMN feature highlighting the top performances from the latest weekend of action. Also a standout basketball player, Martens doesn’t have a condensed highlight tape, but from the game film it’s still obvious that the rising senior is a big-play WR with game-breaking speed and the ability to turn routine plays into long TD receptions thanks to his exciting COD skills after the catch. Also shows soft hands and a comfortability of catching the rock in traffic and is fearless over the middle. I also like how he sees the field and undercuts routes as a DB. He was one of the best offensive weapons in all of 9-man last fall and will be even better as a senior. No reported interest or offers right now!
Highlights
A top standout from December’s PRzMN Stock-Up Showcase, I was particularly excited about Bethlehem Academy’s 2024 CB Oliver Linnemann after the 1-on-1 competition portion of the event, where the smaller yet feisty corner was tough and sticky in coverage and won a ton of reps over the course of the afternoon. Also a standout WR and returner, not to mention a productive member of the Faribault hockey squad, Linnemann’s quite an athlete, with speed, burst out of his cuts, excellent COD skills and body control, and a playmaking mentality no matter where he lines up at. In his offensive and returner highlights he’s very shifty and hard to get a hand on when running routes or with the ball in hand, and I also like how he defends the edge and tackles low in run support from the CB spot. He can do it all on the gridiron and is an athletic and exciting 5’7, 150 lb. package. Bethlehem Academy has some good-looking prospects returning for this fall.
Highlights
Annandale’s 6′, 180 lb. DB/WR Joe Healy is quiet on the recruiting trail right now, but that should not be taken as an indicator of his talent on the gridiron. He can make the first man miss after the catch when playing WR, plays the ball well in the air as a DB, and can lay some booming tackles when he comes up and lays the wood. Also shows off solid speed and can cut off his breaks well on either side of the ball. He’s poised for a huge senior season with the Cardinals.
Another small-schooler from Class A, Ada-Borup’s 6’2, 170 lb. two-sporter Cameron Spaeth had strong seasons on the gridiron and hardwood during 2022-23 and was a particularly good wideout during this past fall. Spaeth shows off solid length and uses it to slip out of tackle attempts at his lower body, and I also like his balance and how he’s willing and successful at reeling in catches through contact and/or in the middle off the defense. He’s got some juice as a ball carrier and can also hold the edge of his defense and tackle in 1-0n-1 situations. I like him as a WR at the next level and he was more than a handful for opposing DBs and defenses last fall. Big things coming in 2023.
One of many Detroit Lakes Lakers with size and strength in droves, 6’3, 280 lb. offensive & defensive tackle Isaac Cariveau has received a ton of recruiting attention from the NDSU Bison since late November and has also heard from SMSU and Augustana with junior day invites. Cariveau laid some big hits from the OL spot and was impressively dominant and comfortable when blocking in space at the second and third levels of the defense. For a bigger guy, he does a good job of breaking down in space and dropping his hips at speed against smaller & quicker opponents. Also a vicious down blocker, Cariveau is always looking to finish and can dominate at the point of attack with his size and strength. Cariveau is a name I’m keeping a close eye on as we think about stock risers during this upcoming season. DL is bound for big things this fall!
Highlights
Cannon Falls has been putting out plus-sized athletes at all positions on the gridiron recently and have an experienced and imposing Bomber on their offensive line in 6’4, 270 lber. Corbin Schroeder. The 2022 section champion has visited Winona State and Southwest Minnesota State so far this offseason with camp invites from Miami (OH) and Bemidji State to keep his calendar packed throughout the spring and into the summer. As an offensive tackle in their Power-T rushing attack, Schroeder can bend for a big guy and gets low in his and out of his stance, with a consistent pad level and strong base that gets up and under opponents and allows him to easily drive them backwards. Schroeder can also easily wash opponents out of the play and given the fact that he only played 4 games in 2022, I think we have a lot of good football still to see from the rising senior.
Highlights
One of a few returners from Jackson County Central’s Class AA state semifinal run last fall, 5’10, 175 lber. Seth Stai also helped contribute to the Huskies Class A state wrestling championship earlier this month as their 160 lber. He’s earned a ton of DII, DIII, and NAIA recruiting attention so far this offseason and is a strong kid at his weight who recently posted a 245 lb. max bench press at only 170ish pounds. As an OLB and RB, Stai displays a knack for pass coverage and is smooth and sneaky at dropping into passing lanes right under the QBs nose. For his size, Stai also can break tackles with power as a RB, and defensively, he takes good angles to the football in pursuit and can halt ball carriers with good use of momentum and his physical strength. I also like how he works under blocks, which is a tough ask, and if you play a block like that you need to make sure you make the tackle. There’s a strong resume on the JCC rising senior going into the fall. No wonder he’s been popular on the recruiting trail!
Highlights
Up in the Mesabi Range, Cherry High School is a hotbed of basketball talent right now but has a high-quality football prospect in the 2024 class in 6’3, 225 lber. Andrew Staples. A three-sport standout, Staples helped lead Cherry to an 8-2 record in 2022 and shows off a dynamic skillset as a 9-man TE and DE. Good hands, noticeable YAC abililty, and effort in the blocking game with a nose and want for the big hit. I also like how he pursues and closes defensively and he can tackle in space and in high-pressure situations as well. No reported recruiting interest yet!
One of the biggest players in the state going into next fall, Mora’s 6’7, 325 lb. lineman Bennett Pierson has the eye-popping size that catches the attention of college programs, and this offseason the junior has visited Drake and Augustana when he’s had time between his junior basketball season and hard work off the field. For a big guy, he can keep his pad level pretty low, and as an offensive center he gets off the ball well and also looks comfortable in pass pro. Limited highlights but it looks like he moves pretty well for his size and age and could be molded into a monster in a college S&C program. I would not want to line up in front of this dude!