Upper Midwest Football Standouts Tearing it up on the Track

When you think of the Upper Midwest and its football prospects, the majority of folks will imagine corn-fed behemoths in the trenches and tough & physical linebackers who excel between the tackles, and speed is far from everyone's radar. I've mentioned it before but verified athletic numbers are a valuable form of currency in the recruiting world, and above all, verified speed times are as good as gold and can elevate a prospect's recruiting status from under-the-radar/off-the-grid to swimming in P5 offers in a single track & field event. In 2022, we saw Kansas native and Hays High School athlete Jaren Kanak explode onto the national recruiting scene after running a blazing 10.37 100M at over 210 lbs., and shortly after he received 16 major P5 offers from heavyweights like Clemson, Georgia, Alabama, Michigan, Florida, and USC among a bunch of other heavy hitters who rarely venture into the Sunflower State. This year, Idaho product and Burley High School 2024er Gatlin Bair is on a similar trajectory and has recorded some ridiculous sprint times like his recent 10.15 & 10.18 100M and 6.77 & 6.69 60M, which helped Florida, Arkansas, Georgia, TCU, and the Alabama Crimson Tide get in the mix for his recruitment. Nothing beats speed on the gridiron, and to my excitement, we've seen some explosive and blazing track times posted this spring in the Upper Midwest, which has helped prospects of all graduating classes raise their stock, enter the P5 recruiting scene, and catch the eyes of college programs all over the country. Let's get to know some of the speediest below!   --   [player_tooltip player_id='368532' first='Jalen' last='Smith'] (Mankato West, MN) 2024. WR. 6'1, 180 lbs.   Track Times: 10.87 100M, 22.40 200M in 2023   Recruitment: Committed to Minnesota on May 12th   Synopsis: The Land of 10,000 Lakes' biggest stock riser of a recruit from the spring, Smith is another testament to the power of verified track speed and saw his recruitment explode after posting that aforementioned 10.87 100M time in April. Kent State was the first to offer up only five days after the official time was posted, and after that Iowa State, North Dakota State, and Minnesota all reached out, the latter of which was too good to pass up as Smith committed to the home state Gophers shortly after receiving his B1G Gophers offer. In addition to his top-end speed, Smith's a refined route runner who is a natural at creating separation at many points throughout his route and adds YAC ability and ball skills on top of his already impressive and nuanced game as a WR. It is very exciting seeing a prep WR of his caliber and production come out of the Upper Midwest and state of Minnesota and the Gophers did a great job of locking his talent down before his recruitment got too hot.   [player_tooltip player_id='331226' first='Cayden' last='Brandenburg'] (Janesville Parker, WI) 2024. WR/ATH. 5'11, 175 lbs.   Track Times: 10.8 100, 21.95 200M, 48.24 400M (3rd place in Wisconsin state finals)   Recruitment: No reported interest or offers.   Synopsis: Also a stud wrestler who finished fourth in the D1 160 lb. bracket with a 51-5 record as a junior, Brandenburg can do it all as a high school athlete and also puts in work in the weight room, posting a 405 x6 squat a couple months ago in the Vikings weight room. On the gridiron, the WR/ATH posted 33 receptions for 448 yards and 7 TDs + 17 rushes for 140 yards and a TD for some solid offensive production as a junior, and the tape shows off an athlete whose track speed translates to the football field. Burst and top end speed with the ball in his hand, a strong lower body that can bounce tackle attempts off his lower body and drop his hips to create separation during his routes, vision as a ball carrier, and ball skills, Brandenburg is a dangerous weapon to match up against and is poised for an ultra-dangerous senior season with one of the deeper receiving crops in the state of Wisconsin for 2023.   Jaiduan Cranford (Metamora, IL) 2026. RB/ATH. 5'10, 180 lbs.   Track Times: 11.0 100M   Recruitment: No reported interest or offers.   Synopsis: It's not a bad thing to have limited recruited attention as a freshman, but a 11.0 flat 100M time as a rising sophomore is an excellent foundation of speed and track accomplishment for a young buck. Especially at 180 lbs., Metamora's Jaiduan Cranford has laid an impressive early structure of verified track times that future college suitors are sure to make note of as his football recruitment continues to grow and develop. Also a varsity contributor on the gridiron in 2022, Cranford's vision, burst, quick feet, and shake made him more than an apt varsity RB as a freshman who, if given daylight, was as good as gone in the running game. His future is very bright and 2023 is poised to be a big year for the Land of Lincoln ball carrier.   [player_tooltip player_id='388869' first='Ethan' last='Carrier'] (Detroit Lakes, MN) 2023. ATH. 6', 185 lbs.   Track Times: 10.82 100M, 22.51 200M, 19'7" long jump in 2023 outdoor season   Recruitment: Committed to Minnesota (PWO)   Synopsis: The Gophers may have landed a sleeping giant from their '23 PWO ranks in Detroit Lakes DB [player_tooltip player_id='388869' first='Ethan' last='Carrier']. His track times as a senior have made waves throughout the state and the Golden Gopher fanbase and have affirmed his talent and projection to the P5 ranks. Carrier posted 100 rushes for 883 yards and 12 total TDs + 59 tackles and a 61.0 average kickoff return clip for some dynamic production as a senior, and the tape displays that 10.8 speed, as well as balance, shake, physicality, and a general playmaking ability that showed up in all three phases of the game. He'll be joined by his younger brother Mason (2024 Gopher LB commit) in Dinkytown in a year, and I can't wait to watch the Carrier boys tear it up in Maroon & Gold the next few years. Ethan is an excellent testament to the athleticism that family possesses.   [player_tooltip player_id='368599' first='Juriad' last='Hughes'] II (Irondale, MN) 2024. WR/ATH. 6'1, 180 lbs.   Track Times: 10.82 100M, 6.8 60M, 21.67 200M, 24'11" long jump that broke a 41-year-old Minnesota long jump record   Recruitment: Holds offers from Northern Iowa, Colorado State, Kent State   Synopsis: One of the top dual-sporters in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, Hughes II has been tearing it up on both the track as well as the offseason camp circuit, earning attention from industry scouts and collegiate programs that kicked off his recruitment with multiple FBS offers and a ton more room to keep adding collegiate attention. Additionally, he's one of the most accomplished Minnesotan track & field athletes of the past decade, shattering the MN long jump record and posting impressive sprinting times on top of his top-tier jumping reputation. Hughes II has excellent potential in both sports, and his gridiron skillset also includes ball skills, burst out of his breaks, YAC ability, and solid route running skills, not to mention the obvious speed that can take the top off the defense. Must-watch name out of the Land of 10,000 Lakes recruiting scene.   [player_tooltip player_id='438724' first='Hunter' last='Kallstrom'] (Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg, MN) 2024. DE/TE. 6'4, 220 lbs.   Track Times: 11.16 100M, 22.81 200M, 49'4.5" shot put, 18'3" long jump   Recruitment: Offers from Wyoming, St. Thomas, Sioux Falls   Synopsis: A standout athlete at his size, Kallstrom has had a tear of a 2023 outdoor T&F season this spring and has posted solid numbers across the board as a sprinter, thrower, and jumper. Additionally, he just performed well at the inaugural UW-River Falls Minnesconsin Mega Camp, posting a 4.58 40, 9'10" broad jump, 36" vert, and 4.57 pro-agility. None of these times has surprised us, as he posted similarly impressive numbers at our PrepRedzoneMN spring showcase while measuring in at a legit 6'4, 220+. The small-school MN product kicked off his recruitment in April with a FBS offer from Wyoming, and he should be a popular name on the summer camp circuit going into his senior season on the gridiron. Dynamic, playmaking mentality & ability, length, speed, physicality, and raw athleticism are some other good things Kallstrom has going for him, both on tape and in-person. It's going to be a fun summer for the Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg stud!   [player_tooltip player_id='402518' first='Jase' last='Thiesse'] (O'Gorman, SD) 2026. RB/WR. 5'10, 160 lbs.   Track Times: 11.09 100M, 21'4.5" long jump, 41'5" triple jump, 22.94 200M   Recruitment: No reported interest or offers right now   Synopsis: These are some very promising times for a young freshman like Thiesse. The Sioux Falls area has some serious speed during this 2023 spring season, and the O'Gorman rising sophomore is the fastest freshman in the state of South Dakota right now. He also reported a 10.9 100, but I couldn't find any evidence to back up that claim, so I figured I'd go with the verified 11.09 at this point in time. Thiesse is a must-know name in both football and track & field from the Mount Rushmore State.   Trent Nitek (Lake Holcombe, WI) 2024. 6', 160 lbs.   Track Times: 10.74 100M, 21.74 200M, 30'8" triple jump   Recruitment: Visited Minnesota-Duluth in May   Synopsis: The breakout superstar of Wisconsin's 2023 outdoor T&F season, and arguably in the Upper Midwest, Trent Nitek recently won WI state championships in the 100 and 200M and consistently put up blazing times all season long this spring, particularly in the 100M. Four 10.8s, a couple 10.9s, and an excellent 10.74 at the Dave Landgraf Invitational in early May highlighted his 100M times this spring, and he saved his best 200M time for last, winning the state title with a 21.74 a few days ago. To solidify his speed, the Lake Holcombe rising senior also recorded the fastest 40 at the inaugural Minnesconsin Mega Camp with a 4.38 timed by collegiate coaches themselves. I'm pretty surprised college programs have taken notice, as Nitek remains offerless at this point in time, but whoever reaches out first is going to look very smart. On the gridiron, Nitek's speed shows up on film, and I also like his shiftiness in the open field, ability to high-point the football, physicality on the defensive side of the ball, and overall dynamic ability you find from non-11-man prospects. College coaches: get at him!   Jacob Siner (Arrowhead, WI) 2026. RB.   Track Times: 10.81 100M, 22.90 200M, 6.77 55M, 7.27 60M   Recruitment: Holds an offer from Central Michigan   Synopsis: Coming out of big-school Wisconsin powerhouse Arrowhead, RB Jacob Siner has been smashing T&F records all winter/spring and holds school records in the 100, 200, 10M, and 30M fly after getting significant and impressive varsity reps on the gridiron last fall. FBS Central Michigan smartly got involved in his football recruitment first, as they offered a scholarship in late April, and Siner has the chance to be one of the most popular recruits in the state's 2026 class when it's all said and done. His elusiveness is also already advanced and impressive, especially for a freshman, and his burst, vision, and overall COD ability is fun to watch and a real handful for opposing defenses, especially in the open field and/or 1-on-1 tackling situations. Siner is a no-doubt P5 kid who will continue a strong historic legacy of Wisconsin-bred RBs bound for big things at the next level and beyond. You'll be hearing a lot more of his name these next three years!   [player_tooltip player_id='383721' first='Nolan' last='Anderson'] (Menomonee Falls, WI) 2025. OLB/DB. 5'10, 180 lbs.   Track Times: 10.88 100M, 21.94 200M, 6.75 55M   Recruitment: No offers yet!   Synopsis: Speedy rising junior defensive prospect [player_tooltip player_id='383721' first='Nolan' last='Anderson'] set Menomonee Falls track & field records this spring and continued to best his times throughout the outdoor season while adding to his prowess in the weight room, where he benches 265 pounds and squats 335. On the gridiron, Anderson displays pop & strength at the contact point as a tackler, closing speed, comfortability tackling in space, and a ton of burst off the edge. In six games of action last fall, he posted 31 tackles, 9 TFLs, 4 sacks, and two blocked kicks, numbers he will surely best in 2023 as an upperclassman. PRzWI is very excited to see Anderson's stock continue to rise in both sports as a recruit.   [player_tooltip player_id='104984' first='Langdon' last='Nordgaard'] (West De Pere, WI) 2024. WR. 6'4, 195 lbs.   Track Times: 14.50 110M high hurdles, 39.36 300M high hurdles   Recruitment: Holds offers from Sioux Falls, Valparaiso, Southwest MN State   Synopsis: Great size and production for a high school pass catcher, West De Pere's [player_tooltip player_id='104984' first='Langdon' last='Nordgaard'] posted 68 receptions for 1,054 yards and 8 TDs in WDP's 2022 state runner-up campaign and continued the successful momentum into the spring's track & field season. It takes quite a controlled athlete to find success as a hurdler, and Nordgaard possesses the length, speed, and balance to solidify himself as one of the best hurdlers in the Badger State. Additionally, his junior tape shows a wideout with noteworthy ball skills and body control that helped him pull off eye-popping receptions and display a huge catch radius to go along with his strong hands. Also good in contested catch situations, nifty in creating separation as a route runner, and can stay upright through contact at the catch point. Lots to like in his size, film, production, and athletic profile.   Izaiah Loveless (Iowa City West, IA) 2024. ATH. 6', 160 lbs.   Track Times: 10.8 100M, 21.52 200M, 49.42 400M   Recruitment: No reported interest or offers   Synopsis: Judging from Loveless' Twitter account and lack of updated film on Hudl, it's easy to gauge that Loveless is more focused on the track & field side of things. However, you can never discount a young athletes interest in football, so he was an easy choice to add to this multi-sport feature. Those track times are legit, and I'm sure the speed shows up on the gridiron in droves.   [player_tooltip player_id='105206' first='Miles' last='Thompson'] (Cedar Rapids Washington, IA) 2023. DB 6', 165 lbs.   Track Times: 10.37 100M (second-fastest 100M run in Iowa state history), 21.02 200M, 6.80 60M   Recruitment: Committed to Texas Tech for both football (PWO) and track & field   Synopsis: Elite, blazing track times highlight Cedar Rapids product [player_tooltip player_id='105206' first='Miles' last='Thompson']'s skillset, who did nothing but break Iowa state records this spring and will take his talents to Texas Tech and the Big12 for the next 4-5 years. He flipped from Northern Illinois (scholarship) during the fall and is easily one of the most physically talented and athletic DBs the state has produced in recent memory. Absolute steal of a PWO for the Red Raiders football team.   Jaylin Townsend (Beecher, MI) 2023. WR. 6'1, 160 lbs.   Track Times: 10.59 100M, 21.45 200M   Recruitment: Committed to Ferris State, one of the best DII programs in the nation.   Synopsis: Fresh off winning the Michigan state finals in the 100M and 200M, which also happened to be his third-straight 100M dash win, Flint product Jaylin Townsend also won a Division 3 boys basketball state championship with Beecher and will play his college ball at DII heavyweight Ferris State the next 4-5 years. Explosive, sure-handed, shifty as a route runner, and balanced after the catch, Townsend was a walking big play and will continue to be a nightmare for opposing DBs in college. The GLIAC gets better once again!   [player_tooltip player_id='475640' first='Kamren' last='Flowers'] (West Bloomfield, MI) 2025. WR. 6', 170 lbs.   Track Times: 10.6 100M, 21.72 200M, 6.91 60M   Recruitment: Offers from Arizona State, Wisconsin (new staff), UMass, Central Michigan, Western Michigan, Toledo, Penn State, Miami (FL), Michigan State, Eastern Kentucky   Synopsis: The most prolific prospect on this list, Flowers transferred from Ann Arbor Huron to West Bloomfield in March and continued his track success with the Lakers, winning Oakland County championships in the 100 and 200M dashes in late May. His sophomore highlights show off the 10.6 speed and then some, as Flowers was deadly in the return game and as a WR. Quick-footed, full of burst and can get to top speed in a blink, Flowers can turn simple receptions into splash plays off a few steps and was a nightmare against 10+ yard cushions as well as press-man. Also showed off ball skills and was able to take advantage and utilize space better than just about any prospect in the Upper Midwest. I can't say it enough, that speed is LEGIT.   [player_tooltip player_id='253303' first='Destin' last='Piggee'] (Muskegon, MI) 2024. ATH. 5'7, 165 lbs.   Track Times: 10.62 100M, 22.18 200M   Recruitment: Offers from Ferris State, Saginaw Valley State, Alabama State   Synopsis: Fresh off his first D1 offer three days ago from Alabama State, Muskegon offensive weapon [player_tooltip player_id='253303' first='Destin' last='Piggee'] had a successful junior year track season and will continue to see his offer list grow throughout the all-important rising senior summer camp circuit that is currently underway. Piggee already has a solid list of accomplishments under his belt, including twice being named All-Conference and All-Region + All-Dream Team selections, and is poised for a monster senior season in the fall for the Big Reds. He was lightning in a bottle as a slotback last season, possessing top-end, breakaway, big play speed, as well as contact balance, vision, and the ability to turn routine plays into monster TD runs while making things look easy. Very fluid and explosive. Get the ball in Piggee's hands and good things will happen.   Sean Blaser (H.H. Dow, MI) 2025. WR/DB. 6', 165 lbs.   Track Times: 10.81 100M, 22.97 200M   Recruitment: No reported interest or offers   Synopsis: Still budding as both a football and T&F athlete, Blaser had a successful sophomore track & field season which should help get him on collegiate recruiting boards and big-time watchlists.   Austin Gobel (Yankton, SD) 2024.   Track Times: 10.78 100M, 22.21 200M, 7.10 60M, 22'1.25" long jump   Recruitment: No reported interest or offers   Synopsis: No football tape   [player_tooltip player_id='351508' first='Landon' last='Dulaney'] (Brandon Valley, SD) 2025. ATH. 6'1, 175 lbs.   Track Times: 10.76 100M, 21.83 200M, 50.68 400M. 4x200 state champs & school record/all-time time in SD. Also won the 200M state title and triple jump state title as well   Recruitment: Camp invites from Wyoming, Yale. South Dakota came to Brandon Valley to recruit as well   Synopsis: The three-sport standout had a decorated sophomore track & field campaign but does not have updated film from this past season, something I hope changes soon.   [player_tooltip player_id='246740' first='Abu' last='Sama'] (Southeast Polk, IA) 2023. RB. 5'11, 185 lbs.   Track Times: 7.02 60M, 10.84 100M, 21.76 200M, 24'10" long jump (also Iowa's all-time long jump record holder)   Recruitment: Committed to Iowa State   Synopsis: In a state filled with multi-sport standouts, Southeast Polk's [player_tooltip player_id='246740' first='Abu' last='Sama'] was near the top of the list in terms of football/track athletes, and graduates SEP holding the state of Iowa's all-time long jump record to go along with state titles in both football and track. He also won Gatorade POY and Des Moines Register POY honors, First Team All-State, and saw his football recruitment pick up late with football offers from MAC and Missouri Valley suitors along with Arkansas State and P5 offers from Iowa State and Kansas State, with the Cyclones ultimately winning out in the RB's recruitment. A slasher of a ball carrier with vision, a vicious stiff arm, a mean one-cut ability in the hole, balance, hands out of the backfield, and speed at the top end, Sama is yet another high-profile prospect out of the heavyweight SEP program in suburban Des Moines.   Spencer Kessel (Louisa-Muscatine, IA) 2023. OL/DL. 6', 230 lbs.   Track times: 64' 1.25" shot put, 179'7" discus. Iowa state champ in the shot put and second place in the discus   Recruitment: Northern Iowa track & field commit   Synopsis: Also placed fourth in the Iowa Class 1A-220 lb. wrestling meet, Kessel was a classic Hawkeye State multi-sport standout who found success on the gridiron, wrestling mat, and T&F stadiums all around the state and leaves his high school athletic career decorated and accomplished. He recorded some of the best shot put throws in America this spring and is a big commitment for the UNI Panthers out of their homestate.   Ben Smith (Hortonville, WI) 2024. LB. 6'1, 220 lbs.   Track times: Massive 68'10.5' shot put for the best throw all-time in Wisconsin state history,also won the D1 Wisconsin state title in the shot put 209'11" discus   Recruitment: No offers yet!   Synopsis: Recorded the top shot put throw in America this spring and the top shot put toss in the indoor season as well. Also an All-Conference and All-Region ILB and All-Conference wrestler. Also won 2022 state T&F titles in the shot put and discus + holds a 3.9 GPA. Has also recorded a 4.7 40, 10' broad jump, 4.37 short-shuttle, and 7.04 L-drill. The kid is ATHLETIC! Finished his 2022 junior football season with 126 tackles, 9 TFLs, 4.5 sacks, and 2 forced fumbles. Displayed an affinity for a big hit, both when taking on blocks and when meeting ball carriers forcibly, as well as closing speed, good pursuit angles, and a ton of strength in all facets of his game. Reads and diagnoses plays well and is one of the hardest hitters in the state of Wisconsin, no doubt.   Hayden Bills (Rosemount, MN) 2023. DL. 6'4, 260 lbs.   Track Times: 66' 8.75 shot put for the MN all-time state record, also threw 66'7.5" at the state meet to win and defend his state title + set a new MN state meet record, 198' 11" discus and looking to defend his 2022 discus title in the coming days   Recruitment: Committed to Arizona State for T&F   Synopsis: The top returning thrower in America going into the 2023 season, Bills has more than lived up to the hype and has smashed state records and personal PRs all season along in both throws for the Rosemount T&F team. Also was a stalwart presence along the DL and OL for 2022 big-school runner-ups Rosemount. He'll put football behind him, but leaves a lasting legacy in both sports in the Land of 10,000 Lakes.

When you think of the Upper Midwest and its football prospects, the majority of folks will imagine corn-fed behemoths in the trenches and tough & physical linebackers who excel between the tackles, and speed is far from everyone's radar. I've mentioned it before but verified athletic numbers are a valuable form of currency in the recruiting world, and above all, verified speed times are as good as gold and can elevate a prospect's recruiting status from under-the-radar/off-the-grid to swimming in P5 offers in a single track & field event. In 2022, we saw Kansas native and Hays High School athlete Jaren Kanak explode onto the national recruiting scene after running a blazing 10.37 100M at over 210 lbs., and shortly after he received 16 major P5 offers from heavyweights like Clemson, Georgia, Alabama, Michigan, Florida, and USC among a bunch of other heavy hitters who rarely venture into the Sunflower State. This year, Idaho product and Burley High School 2024er Gatlin Bair is on a similar trajectory and has recorded some ridiculous sprint times like his recent 10.15 & 10.18 100M and 6.77 & 6.69 60M, which helped Florida, Arkansas, Georgia, TCU, and the Alabama Crimson Tide get in the mix for his recruitment. Nothing beats speed on the gridiron, and to my excitement, we've seen some explosive and blazing track times posted this spring in the Upper Midwest, which has helped prospects of all graduating classes raise their stock, enter the P5 recruiting scene, and catch the eyes of college programs all over the country. Let's get to know some of the speediest below!