Winona State Camp Standouts: Part I

<!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"16px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:16px">WINONA, MN- After wrapping up 7v7 content in the Dakotas, we put our primary focus on in my opinion the most wonderful time of the year in HS football scouting which is, college camp season. Why do I as a football scout love camp season? The answer is simple, we get to see the prospects that were in the weight room, on the field, etc. owning and improving their craft throughout the Spring, versus the ones that gossip on Twitter on where they should be ranked and how whoever it was got it wrong. We start our prospect camp season with Prospect Camp #1 which started at Winona State, which is where we ended our camp season in 2022. The Warriors prospect camp had about 75 prospects in attendance while myself and my colleague Mark Johnson did circles around Altra Federal Credit Union Stadium to see who was shining from the 2024 class to the 8th graders in the 2027 class, in which we had a few their that stoodout from our Prep Redzone NEXT group. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We start with Part I of my standouts from Winona State in the first camp of the year from the 2024 class to the 2026 class that has a plethora of rising upside in the coming years. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["368534"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":855467,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Beau is a Prep Redzone Minnesota Showcase alum that started his camp at Winona with a strong base of agile footwork and balance in his early reps which are two skillsets we have seen develop a bunch since last showcase. He also certainly impressed me most in 1v1s at the end of camp, as this young man showed off some burner instincts with his athletic stamina that shows how tough Beau is from start to finish of every rep he is given at camp or in games we have watched on tape. I have been watching Beau for a couple years now, and I have consistently loved how great this kid's work ethic is from wherever he lines up.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["282093"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_player_featured_image":855469,"_player_evaluations_1_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"You always have that urge at every college camp as a football scout, who is going to standout first in my eyes? Which on Saturday in Winona was Red Wing 2025 WR/DB [player_tooltip player_id='282093' first='Keegan' last='Knutson']. Keegan is one I have tracked for over a year plus now, and the significant gains this kid has made from 2022 into 2023 are excellent for the college coaches reading, as Keegan has gathered his football skillsets with a stock-rising agile twitch off the snap. Agility was the first skillset Keegan grew with but I also loved the burst this young man brought to the table when I got to watch him in some Indy drills later at the Winona State prospect camp. He also has gained substantially as a pass-catcher with the depth with his hands he has with his growing skillsets as an incoming junior. Anytime you can catch my notepad not once, twice, but three times in one day, you certainly have either taken your game up a notch since I last watched you or are a prospect that is about to blow up with their upside, which I believe Keegan Kntuson is a good mix of both, who should have an excellent campaign in 2023 for the Wingers.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["104996"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_player_featured_image":855471,"_player_evaluations_2_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Out of all the prospects I got to evaluate live at the Winona State prospect camp, I thought Stanley Boyd (WI) linebacker Chase Sturm had the highest fluidity rate amongst his early drills in testing if I had to grade the linebacker group from camp on Saturday. Chase showed off very catchy instincts to the ball from what I engaged with on Saturday, and that shows off bulks of consistency of what you will see on Chase's junior tape as this young man has a blue-collar work ethic that brews with his physicality. I also liked watching Chase with his pad-level on Saturday, as he has solid technique with the reps I caught that just heavily sell this 6'0 210 pound linebacker for his main position fit at the next-level. With some development coming with his senior season with his stamina, look for this NW Wisconsin linebacker to be playing on Saturdays in the coming year or so.","_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":855512,"_player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"Ellis Banks","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"2496","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"Lake City","_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":"Ellis was a 2026 prospect from right up the road in Lake City, Minn that impressed me with the probable upside this kid will have brewing in his football future. When I watched him in his broad jump, he showed off a 8'8 as which to me was a raw testing number for what is coming, but based on watching Ellis and his lower body thru that rep, you can certainly tell their is more juice left in the tank in the coming years to develop his explosiveness based on what my eyes could see. There is not much tape to see on Ellis yet, but as a football scout that has been evaluating Minnesota for now five years I love what I see out this kid even though he is a significantly under the radar SE Minnesota underclassmen prospect, he passed my eye test for sure in Winona.","_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":855513,"_player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"Joey Antonutti","_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":"5'11\u0022","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"2496","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"Esko","_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":"I could tell from the reps I caught from Joey early at the Winona prospect camp that this kid had some fluidity but after doing a quick gaze at this 5'11 210 pound linebacker's tape it paints a steady picture with his athleticism Joey brought to the table in Winona on Saturday. This young man had an explosion level that was outstanding from what I heard from his broad jump testing number which I overheard 10 feet which looking at Joey's first step throughout the day and on tape, he certainly passes the eye test as a middle linebacker that has a massive range with great change of direction to pop in anywhere at anytime especially stopping the run as his first step on clip #2 of his tape up the A-gap is just nasty to watch unload from start to finish. Joey also showed off some great vision instincts from what I watched on Saturday, as you can tell that his football IQ has grown and the game looks like it has slowed down for him from the 2022 season up until now. You can expect in my eyes that Joey has my vote for one of the hardest hitting linebackers in Minnesota's 2024 class as one that is very much one you go for as a recruiter just outside the measurables stick for linebackers.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["431418"],"_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":"Kannon came away as my favorite tight end from the Winona State prospect camp last Saturday as he would be my choice for TE MVP if I handed out one in Winona. This may sound slightly repetitive if you follow us on Twitter, but even as a slightly undersized tight end at 6'2 just over 200+ pounds, Kannon certainly plays way bigger than his measureables will show off on the field has this kid looks to be a workhorse in the weight room and plays the tight end position with great athleticism yet you feel like he plays 15-20 pounds bigger and you can certainly can add that to him with the frame he showed off on Saturday in Winona. I also love watching Kannon on Saturday with the physical nature he plays with on his routes, as he shows off a hybrid between WR and TE that has a catchy first step off the snap and will fight for every ball thrown his way which I saw on tape and it matched what I saw on Saturday. As a tight end prospect, anytime you can fluidly run a 4.3 short shuttle on three straight days of  college camps with lots of travel in between, you should certainly be a prospect to watch for any level college program out there, because Kannon showed off excellent stamina that is built to last on any level of football on Saturdays.","_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":"Brandon Kropuenske","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_6_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_6_player_details_height":"6'6\u0022","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_6_player_details_position":"2405","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_6_player_details_school":"Simley","_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":"The upcoming 2023 Simley Spartans captain, showed off to my eyes on Saturday in Winona that his best football is well-ahead of him developing his verified 6'6 290 pound frame I saw on Saturday. For that size, I liked the footwork and good speed Brandon carried himself with on Saturday as you can tell there is a ceiling that still has some growth coming with this young man. I also like the versatility Brandon shows off with his punch, as he clearly has a plethora of strength to use early or can crash his lower body into the second level with some increasing development with his drive blocking skillsets. Brandon is impressively smart with his football IQ, as on tape you see consistent pad-level but based on what I gauged outside of reps on Saturday, Brandon certainly shows off in my eyes the willingness to keep developing his skillsets. This kid would be a steal at the Division II level and would be a solid project offensive linemen for the FCS level that Missouri Valley coaches love to groom with his size.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_7_player":["853507"],"_player_evaluations_7_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_7_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_7_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"If I had to give out a running back MVP to the running back group on Saturday in Winona, my vote would be for Rushford-Peterson's [player_tooltip player_id='853507' first='Jaxson' last='Meldahl']. For his age, Jaxson showed off exceptional change of direction that blossomed smoothly in Indy drills and later into 1v1s, which I love to see the consistency between start and finish with Jaxson showed off. This young man also caught me with his swiftly growing football IQ he already has at his age as Jaxson' showed off some vision on his routes that I have seen upperclassmen struggle with in camps, as Jaxson worked getting separation with his route-running significantly well.","_player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":8,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","fullHeight":false,"anchor":"acf-block-6481260c75230"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Beau</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->