Minnesota Prospect Camp: Nate’s Standouts, Part I

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DINKYTOWN-- Approximately 200 prospects made their way to Minneapolis's Dinkytown neighborhood on Wednesday to show off their talents to college coaches at the University of Minnesota. From the Big Ten down to JUCO, and from Iowa to Wyoming, the prospects in attendance got plenty of looks from college coaches across the Midwest. The coaches were evaluating and as you can imagine, we were too at Prep Redzone trying to find the best talent in the building from across the Midwest, the hidden gems, and much more. This first batch of a handful is a good example of that last sentence, as this first list of our standouts uncovers prospects that will be playing at the Division I level on down. Let's take a look who popped out in Part I of my list of standouts from the Minnesota Gophers second prospect camp of camp season.</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='743264' first='Jacob' last='Stevens']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2405","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Chatfield (MN)","_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":"Jacob was the first OL prospect that popped out to me in the earliest part of the session at the Minnesota Gophers Camp on Wednesday. As a OL prospect with no tape out yet, Jacob started out with an athletic bend that had the depth I like to see out of the hog mollies up front. Throughout the camp, Jacob showed off good bites of leverage especially when I got to watch him in Indy drills and 1v1s later in the session. He has some development coming thru with his technique within his hands, but anytime a prospect can pop onto my notepad multiple times in a session that had over 200+ prospects in attendance, it paves well for his future as a under the radar OL that is just getting started with his recruitment","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["285140"],"_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":"Dillon showed off excellent flexibility in the early reps from watching him warmup into the early testing session and finding out his position later, makes him even more intriguing. Watching Dillon in Indy drills within his progressions, showed off even more how smooth this young man really is mechanically. He has that instinction in his throwing motion in the pocket that just sells how high this young man's football IQ really is. I also loved how much his poise took shape at the Minnesota prospect camp as this young man was as cool as a cucumber from start to finish of his reps. His tape shows off exactly what I saw early with his legs, as he shows off agile change of direction when he leaves the pocket and can take a defender out their shoes with the length he provides in the open field. He walked away from Dinkytown with an offer from the Gophers last night as I would expect to see more Big Ten suitors coming up soon in the coming months with also a recent offer from the Hoosiers as well as some MAC offers.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["362299"],"_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":"Josh is a 2025 prospect out of Chaska that has been on my radar for a while now and from what I saw yesterday at the Minnesota Camp, he keeps developing those skillsets. Even at 6'5, Josh has grown a whole lot since I last saw him with the fluidity in his steps he shows off and that keeps looking more natural in a camp setting like Minnesota. There are not too many prospects in the state with Josh's size that can move like he does and with such a plethora of position flexibility to go with it as Josh showed off some tenacious range in the reps I got to watch out of him yesterday in Dinkytown. Josh also displayed exactly what you see on tape at camp, very instinctive vision within short spacing areas. I have said it before and I will probably keep saying it, Division I schools need to offer this kid sooner rather than later as I also have seen great development in Josh's character as well over the last couple years I have scouted him.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["105408"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Adrian has seen his recruitment take off significantly already this spring and summer, and from his showing yesterday, I thought he even took it off another notch higher. The wiry edginess Adrian played with yesterday with his change of direction and watching him in 1v1s showed off a plethora of drive and excellent hand technique to get off his blocks super quickly. He shows off a excellent sized motor and burst in short space that any Division I coach is going to want on their roster. Adrian has stock-rose heavily since my last fall live evaluation of his skillsets as I will second my colleague [player_tooltip player_id='1257447' first='Oliver' last='West'] in his quote that Adrian u0022bolts off the line of scrimmage like a bat out of hell.u0022 Such a huge summer brewing for this young man for sure as he already picked up another FCS offer yesterday in Dinkytown.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["268943"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"My favorite overall prospect yesterday by far was Lake Mills (WI) [player_tooltip player_id='268943' first='Matthew' last='Stenbroten'] as he was a DE prospect I to be honest, could not stop watching and enjoying his craft show off at the Minnesota Camp. He showed off superb athleticism from his early reps with his fluid base that his lower body showed off. It certainly didn't end there, as he showed off a mega-burst into the backfield and in the cone drills was one of fastest flyers thru the cones I caught out of the defensive ends in attendance at camp.Matthew has absolutely massive motor that treats players in the backfield like they are just little rodents with all the physicality he offers on contact via his junior tape. He also showed off a plethora of length that goes beyond his 6'4 235 pound frame. Although he is a hybrid, he certainly checks my boxes as a FBS level edge rusher that I got my first glimpses of last summer at the NDSU Mega Camp.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["234909"],"_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"Alex was another small-town Southern Minnesota prospect out of Blooming Prairie that caught my eyes yesterday at the Minnesota camp. He showed off his explosion levels that are there with his broad jump and backed it up with a plethora of athletic movement when we got into the later session of the camp. That explosiveness he showed off from camp, certainly passes the eye test when you watch his tape at middle linebacker as Alex is the definition of a smash-mouth linebacker in the backfield. He also showed off agile hips with his change of direction from what I saw yesterday, as that too checks the box on tape when you watch him as a slot-back for the Awesome Blossoms. I wish I got to watch Alex in pass-coverage yesterday, but with what I saw this 2025 LB prospect certainly looks already like one that will be playing on Saturdays for sure.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_6_player_details_player_name":"Linkin Zylstra","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_6_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_6_player_details_height":"6'3u0022","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_6_player_details_position":"2406","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_6_player_details_school":"St. Thomas More (CT)","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_6_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_6_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_6_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"Linkin is a Canadian prospect I caught my first look of yesterday at the Minnesota Camp. I loved how well this young man finished on every rep when I watched him in Indy drills as with his 6'3 280 pound frame, was impressive to watch from start to finish of his reps as you can tell easily that this kid is a workhorse in the trenches. Not to mention, his first step off the snap is super twitchy with his explosion level he showed off in Dinkytown.  I also liked the skillsets Linkin showed off with his hands, as he showed off a excellent amount of power and a great base with his stance. As a two-way linemen on tape, Linkin certainly in my eyes, looks like he has position flexibility on the defensive line, with his ideal position fit for me standing out at defensive tackle at the next level. And yet, Linkin still has three seasons of high school football yet, which I can't wait to see his college football ceiling grow as he heads to St. Thomas More in Connecticut next fall.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_7_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_7_player_details_player_name":"Jonah Thell","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_7_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_7_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_7_player_details_position":"2405","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_7_player_details_school":"Sauk Rapids-Rice","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_7_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_7_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_7_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"Jonah was another way under the radar 2025 prospect that I liked at the Minnesota Camp. He showed off a great burst in my eyes in his 40 yard dash for his size even though I don't put much stock, but I do certainly put stock in ANY prospect that you can tell that have the blue-collar work ethic to strongly finish long in their 40-yard dash like Jonah did yesterday. As a nearby prospect to me, I hope to see some snaps out of Jonah more this fall based on what I saw yesterday in Dinkytown.","_player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_8_player":["445023"],"_player_evaluations_8_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_8_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_8_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_8_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_8_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"Anytime I compile my notepad after a prospect camp, finding my notes where I had some extra emphasis catches my eye as that was the case when I watched Sturgeon Bay's [player_tooltip player_id='445023' first='Patrick' last='Haese'] on Wednesday. Although not the biggest defensive back (5'8.5, 170) Patrick showed out to me with his testing in the early session, as he not only ran with a massive amount of fluidity in his steps throughout, he also had a noticeable finish in his 40-yard dash showing a handful of great depth that he has on his plate for the future. His tape shows off plenty of elusiveness with his skillsets I would expect out of a prospect at his size as he has good bases with his change of direction when into the open field which is why he popped out to me in Dinkytown on Wednesday night. He showed off that same fluidity I witnessed in testing in his 1v1 reps as although not the biggest DB, he showed off some catchy footwork that I watched that would be appealing at a small school at the next-level. He also plays bigger on tape than his measurables show off, as he has some solid lower body length which adds up why he looks like a DB at the next-level with his position versatility. I like the churn he has with his hips from side to side as there is certainly instinct that will continue to grow with his upside. According to my Wisconsin colleague Mark Johnson this kid has grown his athleticism a ton over the last year or so, as Patrick has intriguing upside in my eyes coming out as a prospect to watch out of one of my favorite vacation spots in Wisconsin in Door County.","_player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":9,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-648bc32c80516"} /-->