Gridiron Standouts – West Central Minnesota

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Continuing a run through the middle of the state, I head straight west of the Twin Cities to check out the returning talent in the west-central part of the state. With a research assist from the West Central Tribune's all-area team, here are some of the best returning high school football players from that part of the state.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1140796' first='Mason' last='Delzer']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'2u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2408","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"New London-Spicer","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"With nearly 18oo yards last season and over 2500 for his career, it was hard to find much to be critical about when watching Delzer's tape. He has a big frame and will break most arm tackles, but his long-striding style eats up ground quickly, making him faster than he looks. He is not a scat-back but works well in space, making sharp, full-speed cuts. Those quick cuts make him a threat in the kicking game too. I also like Delzer's balance; he bounces off tackles if not wrapped up. Usually an I-back, he will also line up in the slot to take advantage of his speed and one-cut strength.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["438724"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Two words best describe Kallstrom – football player. On offense, he will line up in the backfield, in the traditional tight end position, and flexed off the line of scrimmage. He catches the ball – both by using some solid route running on short routes and good speed on deep routes. He is a powerful runner who isn't going to make a ton of people miss but whose feet make it hard for defenders to get a clean hit on him. He is a punishing blocker in space and when taking on linemen in the box. As a defensive end, he is better in space than taking on double teams, but with nine sacks, he was too athletic for most offensive linemen he faced last season.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["348812"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Trevino doesn't give defenders much to hit when running the ball. He is all knees and shoulder pads – if he can even be hit. He has excellent feet and instincts – especially at the line of scrimmage. His jump cuts and ability to quickly get up to top speed make him a dangerous guy out of the backfield. While his not a big back, he is thick, and combined with his low pad level, he can break arm tackles even against bigger players. Also a threat out of the backfield, the junior doesn't just catch passes in the flat; he can make plays downfield in the passing game too. His sixteen touchdowns last season put him into second place – all-time – in Willmar history.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"Luke Dingmann","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"6'3u0022","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"2409","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_3_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"With still a season to go, Dingmann has already set school records for career touchdown passes and completions. He has a quick release and makes quick decisions – making his release look even quicker. The junior has nice touch on his intermediate throws, but he has the arm strength to push the ball downfield and throw the deep out to the sidelines too. He is primarily a pocket passer, but he can also get outside the pocket and pick up yards on the ground.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"Marshel Johnson","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"2405","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"New London-Spicer","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_4_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Johnson was a one-man wrecking crew on the inside of the Wildcats' offensive line. With a great pad level, the guard gets under most defensive linemen, and when he does, Johnson is one of the better finishers I have seen in a while. The junior plays until the echo of the whistle. He has excellent strength both in his lower half and his upper body. That strength allows him to literally throw defenders to the ground – even if he gets beat. As physical as he is, Johnson gets off the ball quickly and moves well in space. As an interior defensive lineman, that quick first step and strength make him a tough assignment for any interior offensive lineman.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_5_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='242446' first='Francis' last='O'Malley']","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_5_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_5_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_5_player_details_position":"2408","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_5_player_details_school":"Montevideo","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_5_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_5_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"O'Malley set or tied four school rushing records in 2022. He is a great combination of speed, agility, and power. The junior has the speed to get to the corner and outrun people. He will never be confused with a scat back, but he has great footwork and can make people miss in the open field. When avoiding tacklers is not an option, he can lower his shoulder and go through people or, in some cases, literally over people. He is more than just physical carrying the ball. He is a solid pass protector, putting more than one would-be pass rusher on the ground. A two-way player, O'Malley is at his best as an inside linebacker when he can come downhill and attack the line of scrimmage.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_player":["242489"],"_player_evaluations_6_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"Venenga comes off the line of scrimmage with a low pad level and with purpose. He has nice body control – allowing him to get his hips and, most times, the defender - quickly turned away from the running back. He has the awareness to get off blocks when he sees a more immediate threat – affecting more than one defender on some plays. The junior has great footwork, whether to get up the field, slide down the line of scrimmage, or in pass pro. He is a solid finisher, too – credited with 47 pancake blocks.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":7,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-646192bdac050"} /-->