North Dakota 2025 Rankings Update: Newcomers, Part I

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>NORTH DAKOTA--</strong> Now that we have also put our wraps on the Small School Sleepers for North Dakota and South Dakota, it is time to move over to some of our top newcomers that joined our 2025 rankings from North Dakota. What can I say about this group of eight prospects from the 2025 class? Three words, upside, grit, and motors which is something each of these prospects show off. Time to meet the newcomers!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Julian Leichtenberg, QB, Northern Cass (2025)</strong> <a href="https://twitter.com/Julianlei07">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Julian enters our top 20 overall for North Dakota 2025 prospects entering at #19 overall and QB5 on our recruiting big board.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>The 6'3 205 pound quarterback shows off good poise in the pocket, and a persistent mix of arm strength that can make all the throws on all three levels with his quick release. He also shows solid athleticism on his deep and intermediate routes making it look effortless from what I saw on tape.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>His best skillset is his ball placement on intermediate routes as he has locked in vision with his fitting ability by placing the ball only where his wide receiver can get it. Also shows off consistent touch on his throws that show off a high level of precison to allow his wide receivers to catch &amp; go. Julian is a quarterback prospect I would project as a stockriser the next time this update comes out around the start of the 2023 season.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='720277' first='Gunnar' last='Majerus'], Long Snapper, Fargo Davies (2025)</strong> <a href="https://twitter.com/gunnar_majerus">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Gunnar is the first long snapper we have evaluated from our 2025 class in North Dakota, as on tape there is a plethora of consistent traits you see coming thru for him off the snap as the #1 ranked long snapper in North Dakota.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Gunnar shows off great placement for his punter on his snaps, and you can tell has a consistent base of good touch when the snap comes out of his hands right into the sweet spot for his punter to get his punt off quickly.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>The biggest skillset I look for when evaluating long snappers, is do they get the snap off with enough time for their punter to get the ball in the air with plenty of space? Gunnar certainly passes that test on tape as his Eagles punter has plenty of room to get the snap off with his clean-touched snap. The biggest development I could see from Gunnar in the coming years is improving on the speed of his release, as that will only continue to get better for him with the more reps he gets for the Eagles. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='720291' first='Pearce' last='Parks'], QB, Grand Forks Red River (2025)</strong> <a href="https://twitter.com/PearceParks_">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":812853,"width":217,"height":142,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/05/IMG_8015-crop-1170x769-1683212194.jpeg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-812853" width="217" height="142" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Pearce checks in as QB2 on our 2025 rankings, and the #6 overall prospect in North Dakota and one that I could see climbing up a handful of spots over the next couple of rankings updates.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>I love watching Pearce's release when he gets out of the pocket with his mobility as he shows off a well-balanced throwing arm with added precision to lead his wide receiver in stride on deep and intermediate routes.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Pearce plays with a high-football IQ as his progressions I got to watch with his eyes have great distinction of where he wants to go with the football and has quick reaction time with his throwing release. Certainly another Parks brother from the Roughriders you will see playing on Saturdays.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='725868' first='Wyatt' last='Kuhn'], WR/TE, New Salem-Almont (2025)</strong> <a href="https://twitter.com/gunnar_majerus">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Wyatt is what I would consider a flex between a WR/TE at 6'3 175 pounds and comes into our rankings at #16 overall and we list him as WR3 in our 2025 North Dakota rankings.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>He shows off "man amongst boys" with the size he brings to the table with his route-running ability as he's still developing from a speed and agility perspective, but certainly the upside for growth has a high ceiling in my eyes.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Wyatt shows off very long strides when he gets into the open field, and although not the most agility on his cuts, he wins with the instincts he has with his cuts to get separation especially on the second level. I will be intrigued to see if this kid can create some waves with the Dakotas schools this summer because I love how much upside I see in Wyatt over the next several years.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='720279' first='Griffin' last='Broderick'], RB, Minot (2025)</strong> <a href="https://twitter.com/GriffinBrod23">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Checking in as RB1 in North Dakota's 2025 class is the Minot High's [player_tooltip player_id='720279' first='Griffin' last='Broderick'], who really caught my eyes with his 6'0 200 pound body and the durability this kid has after contact with his running ability.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Off his first look at his tape, Griffin takes multiple defenders to the turf and is a running back prospect that can be described as a rumbler that runs with a ton of power, but has the burst to accelerate highly once he gets into the second level of the field. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>The amount shed off contact ability Griffin has as a mostly East-West runner shows off a lot of upside when he gets his chance at the next-level as that durability and strength he shows off with his 34'3 vertical and 495 pounds on the squat rack shows to me that the strength and power of this kid is only going to get stronger thru the tackles in the coming years as another Minot Magic prospect you will see on Saturdays in the coming years. Also, has a self-verified 0.98 10 yard dash to watch for with that speed.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='720283' first='Douglas' last='Sheldon'], LB, Mandan (2025)</strong> <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2Jd7Wn">Tape</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Douglas might have just over 40 seconds worth of available tape from his 2022 season, but it's what he did with that 40+ seconds on tape is what made him a fan out of me as a linebacker prospect that checks inside our top 50 as a newcomer and LB7 for his positional ranking, which I expect to rise by the end of the 2023 season or before.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>When you turn on the tape on Douglas, you see the athletic stance this kid has in his plethora, and the required physicality as a middle linebacker you want attacking instinctively in the backfield like Douglas shows off on tape.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>He also shows off twitchy read steps that sweep into the A-gap with the huge motor Douglas shows off. Certainly a prospect I hope to track more in depth this summer at prospect camps</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='669323' first='JB' last='Walters'], OL, Grand Forks Red River (2025)</strong> <a href="https://twitter.com/JBWalters6">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>I clearly should have drank more water when I went to Grand Forks this winter, as whatever is in that water at Grand Forks Red River High School's offensive line room just consistently shoves out Division I prospects nearly every year, and excellent offensive line play such just like [player_tooltip player_id='669323' first='JB' last='Walters'] in this 2025 class, who at 6'4 250 pounds checks into the #8 overall spot and OL2 in North Dakota's 2025 class.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>JB has an extremely instinctive first step as a pulling left guard and has a significant twitch with his first step off the snap. I also love watching JB's excellent pad-level and the leverage he generates with his extremely physical punch that rings out on every rep I caught on tape.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>JB is an example of a right guard that just wants to hit someone silly, even when there is not a defender that wants to line up against him. I also like his technique with his pulls, as you can certainly tell the football IQ levels JB has in his plethora of skills and great technique. I wouldn't be surprised if JB is one of the early Division I offers in this 2025 class at all over the next several months.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='720542' first='Tate' last='Miller'], DL, Kindred (2025)</strong> <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2Jnq5S">Tape</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Similar to our 2024 class, the city of Kindred, North Dakota continues to produce high-quality defensive linemen as [player_tooltip player_id='720542' first='Tate' last='Miller'] checks into our rankings as a newcomer that I listed as our #1 ranked defensive linemen in the class of 2025.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Tate was my DL1 in the 2025 class due to his extremely soft hands off his shed blocks as he is a defensive end that plays with a significant first step to the ball like a downhill freight train you will not want to meet up with in the backfield. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>He shows off such consistent vision as a run-stuffer on tape that it is almost a guaranteed tackle with an added bump of physicality on every rep. Even though he still needs to grow into his body at the next-level (5'11, 205) I certainly love the overall upside Tate shows off in this 2025 class as the top defensive end in the 2025 class in North Dakota.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->