Hayden’s Hotshots: My Top 100 WRs Next Season (100-75) + HMs!
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Following my QB rankings, I started breaking down wide receiver film. I looked at a TON of kids and I struggled to narrow it down to just 100 so I included 10 Honorable Mentions. I cut the rankings into three…
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Continue ReadingFollowing my QB rankings, I started breaking down wide receiver film. I looked at a TON of kids and I struggled to narrow it down to just 100 so I included 10 Honorable Mentions. I cut the rankings into three pieces, this one, 74-26, and the top 25. Enjoy the first piece in the series!
HM: Ayden Shaw Ayden Shaw 6'3" | 205 lbs | WR Andover | 2024 MN 6’3″ 205 lbs Andover 2024
2022 Stats: 3 Receptions, 21 Yards 1 TD
The big-body Huskies wideout may not have produced many numbers, but he’s ripe with breakout potential. Shaw is a big physical wideout who looks to be included far more in the passing game his senior year. He also can lay a mean block. He has interests from Crown, Concordia Moorhead, and UND.
HM: Jordan Johnson Jordan Johnson 6'1" | 180 lbs | WR Blaine | 2024 MN 6’1″ 175 lbs Mounds View 2024
2022 Stats: 2 Receptions, 11 Yards
Johnson is a lean three-sport athlete (football, wrestling, track) whose role was limited last season due to injury. He’s hit the camp circuit hard and is a talented route runner who has no problems going up and getting jump balls. He has junior day visits from a variety of schools ranging from D3-D1.
HM: Evan Klundt 6’3″ 170 lbs Alexandria 2025
2022 Stats: 5 Receptions, 47 Yards, 1 TD
Klundt may not have posted crazy numbers last year, but opponents and teammates alike rave about his freakish athletic ability. He was a productive starter last season for the Cardinals on defense but could see a lot more action on offense his junior year. An opposing QB said he “moves like butter” and is rapidly developing as a wideout. The Cardinals WR core is going to be nuts next season.
HM: Jaden Blanck Jaden Blanck 5'10" | 185 lbs | ATH Winona | 2025 State MN 5’10” 185 lbs Winona 2025
2022 Stats: 25 Returns, 642 Yards, 1 TD
I like to show love to specialists when I can, and Blanck is one of the best kick returners in the state. He’s got great vision and is incredibly quick on his feet. He routinely makes crazy jump cuts and can turn a broken return into a good field position. Blanck is the kind of kid you have to scheme kickoffs around.
HM: Semaj Young Semaj Young ATH Robbinsdale Cooper | 2026 MN 5’6″ 130 lbs Cooper 2026
2022 Stats: N/A
Semaj is just another one of the many 2026’s who have impressed me this offseason. He saw some varsity time on both sides of the ball as a freshman and looks to contend for a starting role next year. He’s hit the 7v7 circuit hard and there’s a lot to like about his game. He’s got a quick release and a tough double move. He’s one 2026 whose stock is about to take off!
HM: Keelan Konkler Keelan Konkler 6'2" | 180 lbs | DB Spring Lake Park | 2024 State MN 6’2″ 180 lbs Spring Lake Park 2024
2022 Stats: 5 Receptions, 49 Yards
Konkler plays a crucial role as WR on a very run-heavy offense. The lanky wideout has been used primarily in a blocking role to great effect but has shown he can stretch the field for the Panther’s offense if need be. He gives great effort on every play regardless if he is getting the ball. He’s received some NSIC interest from Mankato and Augustana.
HM: Mitchell Long Mitchell Long 5'11" | 180 lbs | WR Forest Lake | 2024 State MN : 5’11” 185 lbs Forest Lake 2024
2022 Stats: 2 Receptions, 54 Yards
Long is a versatile wideout who looks to step into an elevated position within the team in his senior year. He has a high motor and does a great job of blocking DBs, especially when he’s picking them up on the fly. He’s got a good release and has been putting in the work this offseason, so don’t be surprised if he has a breakout senior year. He has interests from St Johns, UW-La Crosse, and Augustana.
HM: Talan Williams Talan Williams 6'3" | 170 lbs | WR Cooper | 2024 State MN 6’3″ 165 lbs Cooper 2024
2022 Stats: 3 Receptions, 49 Yards, 1 TD
Williams has a lot of things that coaches should love. The lanky wideout may not have put up crazy numbers, but he is quick and dangerous in open space. He can weave through defenders with ease and fights hard for every yard. Williams is already a dangerous DB for the Hawks, but expect him to break through on the other side of the ball his senior year.
HM: Vince Zurek Vince Zurek 6'3" | 170 lbs | WR Totino Grace | 2025 MN 6’3″ 170 lbs Totino Grace 2024
2022 Stats: 5 Receptions, 32 Yards
The Totino-Grace sophomore has a lot of things going his way next season. The Totino-Grace Eagles dropped two classes into AAAA, and several of the Eagle’s top pass catchers graduated. Zurek has good speed and does a great job of tracking the ball while it’s in the air. Don’t be shocked if Zurek has a big junior year.
HM: Vinny May Vinny May 5'8" | 150 lbs | WR Minnetonka | 2025 MN 5’8″ 160 lbs Minnetonka 2025
2022 Stats: N/A
May is the first kid here who didn’t post any varsity stats, but I loved his film. He can play either running back or wide receiver and is among the most nimble guys on this list. He has an incredible sense of balance and despite his 5’8″ frame has no issues going up to get jump balls. He can stop and start incredibly quickly as well. Expect the Skippers to find some way to get the ball into May’s hands next year.
#100: Logan Chappell 6’4″ 195 lbs Orono 2024
2022 Stats: 10 Receptions, 100 yards, 1 TD
I love Orono’s wide receiver room next year, and it starts with Chappell. He does a great job of high-pointing the ball and has shown off great body control in his film. He can bully corners at the point of attack and can be tough to bring down. MSUM has shown interest in the big Spartan, so don’t be surprised if he drops big numbers next season.
#99: Karson LaCanne Karson LaCanne 6'0" | 165 lbs | WR Windom | 2024 MN : 6′ 165 lbs Windom 2024
2022 Stats: 12 Receptions, 114 Yards, 1 TD
Prospect Tour standout Karson LaCanne Karson LaCanne 6'0" | 165 lbs | WR Windom | 2024 MN lands himself at 99 on the list. He tracks the ball well and is consistently able to win tight contested catches. He shows off some astounding body control when catching fades down the sideline. LaCanne has seen his recruiting stock skyrocket this offseason, and the accomplished two-way athlete could easily see a breakout senior year.
#98: Jabari Strader Jabari Strader 6'0" | 185 lbs | WR Edina | 2026 State MN : 6’1″ 185 lbs BSM 2026
2022 Stats: 9 Receptions, 74 Yards
Strader is a young player with an incredibly high ceiling. The freshman is a great athlete and an incredible route runner. He got his first start late in the season, but I expect him to come in as a Day 1 starter this year and start putting up numbers in Bendile’s high-flying offense. He’s quick and has the potential to be the next great Minnesota wideout.
#97: Justice Moody Justice Moody 5'8" | 160 lbs | WR St. Paul Johnson | 2026 State MN : 5’8″ 150 lbs St. Paul Johnson 2026
2022 Stats: N/A
Moody started last season for the Governors, I just was unable to find his stats online. The freshman saw work on both sides of the ball but was primarily an offensive player during his first year on varsity. Moody is a crafty route runner, who can line up in the slot, outside, or return kicks. Expect Moody to be a staple of Johnson’s program for years to come.
#96: Owen Beyer Owen Beyer 6'1" | 175 lbs | DB Owatonna | 2024 State MN : 5’11” 170 lbs Owatonna 2024
2022 Stats: 11 Receptions, 163 Yards, 1 TD
Beyer was the WR3 last year but returns looking to battle for the WR1 spot next season. He’s got good top-end speed and is willing to risk it all for the catch. He does an excellent job of tracking the ball in the air and has a good release off the line. Expect him and Owatonna QB Jacob Ginskey to pair up for some big games next season.
#95: Sean Lucas Brace: 5’10” 155 lbs Hopkins 2024
2022 Stats: 20 Receptions 180 Yards
Brace had a productive junior year while sliding under a lot of radars. The Royal’s wideout is a crafty route runner with quick feet who often leaves opposing DBs looking the other way. He’s a short-route specialist whose footwork and great hands make for a consistent receiver who makes the most of every ball thrown his way. He currently has interest from Mankato.
#94: Peter Nguyen: 5’8″ 155 lbs Mounds View 2024
2022 Stats: 21 Receptions, 189 Yards, 1 TD
Nguyen is a two-way player who despite his smaller stature, is a consistent producer for the Mustangs. Nguyen is an excellent route runner who has incredibly quick feet and is very elusive. He’s great at slipping through defenders and fights hard for every yard after contact. He can route up experienced defenders with ease, and should not be slept on as a slot wide receiver.
#93: Andrew Stokes Andrew Stokes 6'0" | 185 lbs | WR Wayzata | 2025 State MN : 6′ 185 lbs Wayzata 2025
2022 Stats: N/A
Stokes is one of a couple of wideouts who I expect to have breakout years in what I believe is going to be a very high-powered Wayzata offense. He saw time on the defensive side of the ball last year but will emerge as a high-end wideout for the Trojans next season. He’s a stellar deep threat who does a great job of creating separation imminently off of the line of scrimmage. He’s also a talented return man.
#92: Tony Ley Tony Ley 5'10" | 175 lbs | WR Wayzata | 2025 State MN : 5’10” 170 lbs Wayzata 2025
2022 Stats: 1 Reception, 5 Yards
Ley put up crazy numbers on JV last year and has all the makings of a breakout player. He’s dangerously shifty and someone who I would call an extreme YAC threat. When the ball is in his hands the play is never truly over. On a team that graduated its top 2 wideouts, Ley is going to step in as an instant impact player.
#91: TyJohn Brooks TyJohn Brooks 5'6" | 150 lbs | WR Park Center | 2025 State MN : 5’6″ 145 lbs Park Center 2025
2022 Stats: 11 Receptions, 110 Yards
At #91 we have TyJohn Brooks TyJohn Brooks 5'6" | 150 lbs | WR Park Center | 2025 State MN , another elusive slot receiver, who looks to take over the brunt of the Pirate’s receiving workload. Only a sophomore, Brooks has plenty of time to develop, but he’s already showing flashes of greatness. Brooks is incredibly agile and nimble and he creates great separation from DBs on medium to deep routes. He’s also shown off some good vision as a returner and looks to pair up with returning QB Elyjah Sweet for big numbers next year.
#90: Cameron Begalle Cameron Begalle 6'0" | 180 lbs | WR Andover | 2025 State MN : 6’1″ 180 lbs Andover 2025
2022 Stats: 4 Receptions, 116 Yards, 2 TDs
Begalle had a stellar sophomore year on JV, and put up some impressive stats on varsity, despite only seeing action in 2 games. He’s got a great frame and boasts surprising agility and speed for a bigger and younger receiver. One thing that pops out in his film is the amount of effort Begalle gives every time the ball is in his hands. He gives 110% and doesn’t stop moving his feet upon contact. Watch out for a deadly Pemberton-Begalle connection this year.
#89: Owen Egge Owen Egge 5'10" | 165 lbs | WR St. Michael - Albertville | 2026 State MN : 5’10” 155 lbs STMA 2026
2022 Stats: N/A
Egge is one of my favorites from the 2026 receivers class. The kid has a great work ethic and he put up insane numbers on his freshman team as a two-way player. I think we may see Egge skip the JV level his sophomore year and head straight to varsity. He’s a strong wideout who is a crafty route runner who has great vision and solid top-end speed. Egge is ready for the next level and the hype train starts here.
#88: Joran Thomsen Joran Thomsen 6'2" | 190 lbs | WR Minnetonka | 2024 MN : 6’2″ 190 lbs Minnetonka 2024
2022 Stats: 15 Receptions, 111 Yards, 3 TDs
Thomsen has solidified himself as one of the top red zone threats in 6A. 1/5th of all his catches last season were TDs and all of those were within 25 yards of the goalposts. This is because of how versatile and explosive the Skippers junior is. He can line up anywhere on the field and seems to lose his defenders very easily, especially on shorter routes. He has a good frame at 6’2″ 190 and should see a lot of work this upcoming year.
#87: Derrick McWane 6’2″ 185 lbs Academy Force 2024
2022 Stats: 19 Receptions, 272 Yards, 4 TDs
Two-way standout Derrick McWane is one of two Academy Force wideouts on this list. Their program recently got bumped up into 5A, which means a tougher class and a tougher section for the Force. McWane is a dangerous WR/MLB who looks to continue to make a splash after a good junior campaign which saw him earn All-District HM. McWane is an explosive receiver who can stretch the field with ease and consistently breaks tackles. He should be an integral part of the team next year on both sides of the ball.
#86: James Mankaka James Mankaka 5'11" | 175 lbs | DB Rochester Mayo | 2024 State MN : 5’11” 175 lbs Rochester Mayo 2024
2022 Stats: 7 Receptions, 156 Yards, 1 TD
Mankaka looks to step into the WR2 role in an offense that consistently put up crazy points last season. Mayo may be a 6A team now, but I expect that their offense won’t skip a beat. Mankaka is a crisp route runner who easily makes teams pay for lining a LB up over him. He’s a dangerous two-way player with great speed who isn’t afraid to hit or get hit. Mankaka is an aggressive kid who makes plays all over the field, and I’m all for the hype. He has interest from Colorado State.
#85: Dylan Vokal Dylan Vokal 6'2" | 200 lbs | ATH Maple Grove | 2025 State MN : 6’2″ 185 lbs Maple Grove 2025
2022 Stats: 11 Receptions, 171 Yards, 2 TDs
Well-built Maple Grove sophomore returns as the Crimson’s WR1 after a season as a key return man and a rotational wideout. The well-built sophomore shows off surprising balance when returning punts as well as the vision that you would expect from a multi-year varsity starter. He can compete at the highest level and is far more agile than you would expect someone of his size to be. Look for Vokal to be the Crimson’s favorite target next season.
#84: Brody Koberoski Brody Koberoski 6'0" | 180 lbs | DB Mankato West | 2024 State MN : 6′ 180 lbs Mankato West 2024
2022 Stats: 16 Receptions, 215 Yards, 2 TDs
It’s no secret how highly I think of Mankato West’s program, especially this 2023 team. Koberoski is a three-sport athlete and a standout player on both sides of the ball who is a key contributor to the Scarlets. He’s quick and tenacious, he breaks all kinds of tackles and fights tooth and nail for every yard. He has interest from a wide variety of NSIC schools.
#83: Andrew Tavale: 5’11” 210 lbs Sartell 2025
2022 Stats: 28 Receptions, 317 Yards, 3 TDs
Tavale was one of only a few Sartell starters who returns for next season. Rumors circulate about a potential position change to running back, but his stats impressed me enough to include him just in case. Tavale is a short route specialist, able to quickly create separation at the line of scrimmage. He boasts a solid frame which makes him tough to bring down. Don’t be surprised if Tavale evolves into another stud Sartell player.
#82: Owen Hall: 6’3″ 170 lbs Hopkins 2024
2022 Stats: 22 Receptions, 305 Yards, 1 TD
The second Hopkins player on this list, Hall put up some solid numbers his junior year. He effectively uses his big frame to come down with tightly contested catches and does a great job of improvising routes when the play breaks down. He can high-point difficult passes with ease and does not make concentration drops that you would see from other wideouts. Hall is the projected Royal’s WR1 heading into next season and he has interest from MSUM.
#81: Tyler Connelly Tyler Connelly 6'1" | 180 lbs | WR Byron | 2024 State MN : 6’1″ 185 lbs Byron 2024
2022 Stats: N/A (Injuries)
The Byron wideout, unfortunately, broke his collarbone in Week 1 of the regular season, but the basketball standout looks to rebound for a strong senior season. He’s already been named as a standout at one off-season camp, and I expect that his stock will only continue to rise. He’s a good route runner who makes tough catches look effortless. Watch as Connelly adds another layer to a potent Byron offense.
#80: Oliver Linnemann Oliver Linnemann 5'9" | 160 lbs | ATH Bethlehem Academy | 2024 State MN : 5’8″ 155 lbs Bethlehem Academy 2024
2022 Stats: 44 Receptions, 478 Yards, 6 TDs
Bethlehem Academy has an extremely unique opportunity next season. The Cardinals return a lot of offensive weapons fresh off an (8-3) season that saw them come up short in the section championship, Linnemann is one of those weapons. He is the definition of an athlete. Last season he saw reps at QB and RB but was primarily a WR. He also started on defense and was an efficient return man. Expect Linnemann and the Cardinals to be a serious threat next season.
#79: Skyler Morgan 5’6″ 125 lbs Park 2024
2022 Stats: 21 Receptions, 315 Yards, 4 TDs
Morgan is a shifty slot receiver who utilizes his great top-end speed and agility to create separation from DBs. He has phenomenal body control and can tiptoe down the sideline with ease. Morgan breaks all kinds of tackles and can stop and start on a dime. Morgan is an ultra-talented wideout who needs far more hype.
#78: Hudson Omoke Hudson Omoke 6'2" | 185 lbs | WR Sauk Rapids-Rice | 2025 State MN : 6’2″ 160 lbs Sauk Rapids-Rice 2025
2022 Stats: 23 Receptions, 305 Yards, 3 TDs
I first got to see Omoke play last season against St. Francis, a game where the sophomore recorded two INTs and an offensive TD. Omoke is a phenomenal athlete who I fully expect to evolve into one of the most complete football/basketball players in the state. He’s got great speed and a fantastic vertical and will be a key piece of the Storm’s team for the next couple of years.
#77: Declan Dosse Declan Dosse 6'2" | 175 lbs | WR Washburn | 2024 MN : 6’2″ 180 lbs Washburn 2024
2022 Stats: 26 Receptions, 411 Yards, 7 TDs
Dosse is a two-sport athlete who will be entering his senior year far too under the radar. He’s got a solid frame on him and has even shown use as a tight end occasionally. Dosse has a good release and is excellent at going up and getting tough jump balls. He’s got a lot of physical gifts and always seems to come down with tough catches. Dosse has interest from St. Olaf and UND.
#76: Charles Renner: 6’3″ 200 lbs Hutchinson 2024
2022 Stats: 14 Receptions, 454 Yards, 2 TDs
The Hutchinson prospect has garnered interest from all sorts of schools this offseason. The big man is a surprisingly elusive route runner who does a great job of stretching the field for the Tigers. One thing that popped out on film was how well he sells blocks on plays where he later goes out for a pass. He gets a senior season with Hutchinson QB Logan Butler Logan Butler 6'4" | 200 lbs | QB Hutchinson | 2024 State MN , so expect the two to produce sparks on the gridiron.
#75: Maurice Brown Maurice Brown 5'10" | 170 lbs | WR St. Cloud Apollo | 2025 State MN : 5’10” 150 lbs St. Cloud Apollo 2025
2022 Stats: 55 Receptions, 598 Yards, 4 TDS
Brown was the heart and soul of the Apollo offense last season. He’s an accomplished route-runner who boasts elite breakaway speed. He saw reps last year at both RB and WR where he effectively utilized both his previously mentioned speed and fantastic vision of the field. He put up some crazy numbers for a sophomore. With another year to develop expect the Apollo product to take a big leap next season.