Minnesota Summer Stock Risers & Notable Commitments
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After a crazy month+, we have coasted into the dead period in D1 college football recruiting. With face-to-face, in-person communication prohibited by the NCAA, Division 1 coaches are taking well-earn vacations and relaxing after what is arguably the biggest time…
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Continue ReadingAfter a crazy month+, we have coasted into the dead period in D1 college football recruiting. With face-to-face, in-person communication prohibited by the NCAA, Division 1 coaches are taking well-earn vacations and relaxing after what is arguably the biggest time in CFB recruiting: the summer camp szn. There has been a TON of significant and noteworthy offers, visits, commitments, and recruiting movement from the past month-ish, and with this brief interval between the chaos that is the summer camp circuit, PRzMN wanted to take some time to highlight some of the Land of 10,000 Lakes prospects who have raised their stock and seen exciting recruiting attention come their way during June. However, recruiting never truly stops, as even during the dead period recruits and coaches are allowed to communicate via phone, email, letters, and social media, and the dead period doesn’t apply to programs below the D1 level, so DII, DIII, NAIA, and JUCO coaches still very much have their nose to the grindstone and are working the recruiting trail hard. Luckily, PRzMN is here to give you the latest and most comprehensive news from all levels of recruiting. For now, let’s dig into some summer stock risers and notable commitments. Enjoy!
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Summer Stock Risers
Ray James Jr. (Delasalle) 2024. LB. 6’3, 185 lbs.
North Dakota State is absolutely tearing up the recruiting trail right now, and amongst the future Bison in their 2024 class are a couple of Minnesotans who will receive some deserving attention in this PRzMN feature. It all began at their second prospect camp of the month from June 23rd to 25th, where Delasalle’s 6’3, 185 lb. athlete Ray James showed up and showed out and earned a coveted offer from the perennial FCS contender Bison. It was second D1 offer, as fellow Missouri Valley Football Conference competitor Northern Iowa offered James after their junior day in late March, but James only needed two days to contemplate and jumped on his NDSU offer on June 26th and committed to the Bison. He’ll follow in the footsteps of fellow Delasalle graduate Marquise Bridges, who had a heckuva career in Fargo as a CB, and although James plays all over the field in high school he projects to linebacker at the next level. Also a stud hooper for the powerhouse Islanders, James‘ gridiron skillset includes positional versatility, length, elusiveness and speed with the ball in his hand, speed, and burst & strength off the edge. Offensively, he can break tackles in a variety of fashions, and defensively he’s dynamic and can blitz, beat blocks and impact the run game, and play with range and closing speed out of his breaks as a safety. Being able to play both in the box and as a MOF defender is a big plus, and no matter where he’s lined up at, James brings physicality and toughness to the field as well. With his size and intriguing frame, which will no doubt blow up in the awesome Bison S&C room, James is going to turn into a monster in the NDSU LB room. Heckuva pickup for NDSU, who once again land a stud out of Minnesota. Tell me if you’ve heard that before!
William Washington William Washington 5'11" | 175 lbs | DB Apple Valley | 2024 State MN (Apple Valley) 2024. DB. 5’11, 185 lbs.
The second big-time MN stock riser from the North Dakota State prospect camp towards the end of the month, Apple Valley’s William Washington William Washington 5'11" | 175 lbs | DB Apple Valley | 2024 State MN earned his first collegiate offer from the heavyweight Bison from his in-person performance in Fargo and committed three days later. That’s a quick yet unforgettable ride for the Apple Valley Eagle defensive back, who reports an 11.1 100M time and 4.48 40-yard-dash (unverified) and has been on the radar of the likes of Northern Illinois and Minnesota, who reached out with junior day and/or gameday invites during the past fall and spring. Washington is comfortable and proficient in both press and off-man coverage, can work on the perimeter or out of the slot, is technically sound and consistent in coverage, has some loose hips, and most excitedly for yours truly, is more than willing to come up and tackle and bring a physical edge from the CB position. Washington can operate on an island and tackle out in space, and is impactful in special teams. Lots of news out of Fargo from the Bison’s latest prospect camp! More coming.
Noah Stommes (Eden Valley-Watkins) 2024. OL. 6’8, 230 lbs.
A continuation of raw, lighter, multi-sport, Outstate MN giants finding success as an offensive tackle prospect, Eden Valley-Watkins’ Noah Stommes is an interesting and attractive stock riser from this summer with eye-catching size and a high ceiling as a college football prospect. OL recruitments have seen a newer trend of college coaches not being concerned with a prospect being on the lighter or rawer side, as they can be looked at as a ball of clay that can be specially molded into what the OL coach wants out of the young man, and Stommes fits the bill. Although he’s only 230 lbs., good weight can be added in a collegiate S&C program, and with his accomplished multi-sport background (45 that includes basketball and track, it’s a good indication that there’s translatable athleticism that can come in hand when manning a college OL spot, especially OT. As a junior on the gridiron, Stommes manned both the OT and DE spots for the Eagles, and displayed long arms, flexibility in his stance, the ability to shed blocks and pursue ball carriers down to the edge as a DE, and good leg drive once he’s engaged with an opponent. He’s definitely raw, but there’s noticeable mobility, balance, and body control in an extremely long and lean frame that no doubt makes a collegiate S&C coordinator drool. Starting with a Sioux Falls offer on June 13th, Stommes received DII offers from Southwest Minnesota State, Minnesota-Duluth, and Northern State, which preceded an impressive performance at the NDSU prospect camp towards the end of June in which he walked away with a PWO offer. A preferred walk-on from the Bison is a big deal, and NDSU has a long & proud tradition of walk-on success, especially from the state of Minnesota. The likes of Joe Haeg (Brainerd), Cole Jacobs (Benilde), Aaron Steidl (Alexandria), Matt Biegler (Underwood), and Garrett Malstrom (Frazee-Vergas) are just a few of the Minnesota-bred PWOs who have gone on to find success under the bright lights of the Fargo Dome, and I’m sure Stommes is keeping that in mind as he moves closer to a decision. Hard to beat a 6’8 stock riser!
Dennis Rahouski Dennis Rahouski 6'6" | 260 lbs | DL Eden Prairie | 2024 State MN (Eden Prairie) 2024. DL. 6’6, 265 lbs.
The massive Eden Prairie DL/OL/TE Dennis Rahouski Dennis Rahouski 6'6" | 260 lbs | DL Eden Prairie | 2024 State MN carries Division 1 size and has been receiving a massive uptick in college attention since the summer camp circuit kicked off in June. Coming out of the Minnesota big-school powerhouse Eden Prairie, Rahouski has been impressive and eye-catching at college camps such as Iowa State and Northwestern’s prospect camps, and since June 11th, has added offers from Bemidji State, St. Thomas, Southwest Minnesota State, Cornell, MSU-Mankato, Sioux Falls, and most noteworthy, from the defending FCS national champs South Dakota State on June 22nd. From zero offers to the defending FCS champs in less than a month is a heckuva rise, and a lot of it is due to live, in-person evaluations, where Rahouski uses that massive size to his advantage in the trenches. In his junior tape, you can see the big boy win at the point of attack along either the OL or DL, get off the ball well and win reps from the snap, withstand double teams/combos and execute stunts with success, and make plays in the run game while occasionally stepping into a passing lane and snagging an INT. Rahouski is going to have a huge fall and PRzMN is pumped to see how his recruitment continues to develop.
Tyler Nystrom Tyler Nystrom 6'2" | 180 lbs | WR Mounds View | 2024 State MN (Mounds View) 2024. WR. 6’2, 180 lbs.
One of Minnesota’s top wide receivers going into the fall, we’ve been very curious to see how Mounds View’s Tyler Nystrom Tyler Nystrom 6'2" | 180 lbs | WR Mounds View | 2024 State MN ‘s recruitment was going to play out, and he kicked things off in high style this June with his first offer coming from St. Thomas on June 8th and followed up by a major FBS offer from Wyoming on the 21st. The Wyoming Cowboys have been recruiting the Land of 10,000 Lakes in impressive fashion this cycle, something they’ve done before, and made a strong move in offering the Mustangs‘ WR1, who attended a Minnesota Gophers game day in the fall and spring practice earlier this offseason. Nystrom posted 70 receptions for 691 yards and 6 TDs in 2022, and has two All-Conference nods and an upcoming captain nomination under his belt going into the fall. He displayed a crafty route running capability that included strong cuts at the top of the route and sharp breaks that don’t waste steps or round things out, strong hands that can reel in receptions through contact, and elusiveness after the catch, both with his quick feet & strong lower body that can power through weaker tackle attempts. Nystrom is a big, strong WR prospect who is confident and proficient as a route runner and after the catch. It’s an exciting combination of skillset, and one that Wyoming has found success in with MN signees before, so I hope Nystrom is seriously considering the ‘Pokes before their signing class fills up. He’s about to tear it up this fall.
Anton Kadlec Anton Kadlec 6'3" | 315 lbs | OL Hutchinson | 2024 State MN (Hutchinson) 2024. OL. 6’2, 300 lbs.
A trademark of Hutchinson prospects is their physicality and strength, and 2024 mauler Anton Kadlec Anton Kadlec 6'3" | 315 lbs | OL Hutchinson | 2024 State MN possesses it in droves, as well as many other pluses in his resume as a prospect. An All-District, District OL MVP, team captain, multi-year starter, and three-sport athlete, Kadlec opened gaps and led the way for the Tigers Section 2AAAA championship and state 4A runner-up finish last fall, and has seen the fruits of his labor pay off on the recruiting trail. He came into the summer with five DII scholarship offers out of the NSIC, and has seen his stock rise this June with a FCS roster spot from St. Thomas and a MVFC PWO from North Dakota, not to mention two more offers from MSU-Moorhead and UW-River Falls. Kadlec has one of the larger offer sheets of any 2024 in the state, and earned that deserving FCS PWO from North Dakota after balling out and throwing some weight around at the UND flagship camp in mid-June. The RT is a bruiser at the point of attack, showing off strength, pop, and heavy hands, and routinely sends opponents flying when he fully extends and locks his arms. He also plays with a low pad level, uses body positioning to his advantage to cut off defenders, and uses consistent and interior hand placement as a blocker as well. Additionally, Kadlec is a force from the defensive interior and an especially dominant run stuffer who could play on either side of the ball in college. I’d like him at OG, but the fact that he plays tackle for Hutch is a good sign as well. This has been, and will be continue to be, a fun recruitment to follow.
Hayden Venenga Hayden Venenga 6'6" | 265 lbs | OL Willmar | 2024 State MN (Willmar) 2024. OT. 6’6, 270 lbs.
Another stock riser whose come-up and commitment in a short period of time, Willmar’s Hayden Venenga Hayden Venenga 6'6" | 265 lbs | OL Willmar | 2024 State MN has long been a notable name in the MN 2024 OL crop of prospects and finally saw his hard work pay off this summer on the recruiting trail. The 6’6, 270 lber. came into June with two NSIC offers and quickly added a third when Winona State offered up on June 9th, but things really picked up a couple days after that. On June 11th, FCS mainstay and competitor Western Illinois came in an offered a D1 scholarship, which was followed by Sioux Falls, another MVFC competitor in Indiana State, UW-River Falls, and finally, South Dakota State. This was all in the matter of five days, and a few weeks later on June 30th Venenga shut things down and committed to the defending FCS national champs SDSU. What a ride and what a landing spot for the Outstater, who brings a strong work ethic on the gridiron and in the classroom, and shows off a promising and strong skillset as a blocker from the LT position. He opens his tape with a deafening and explosive pop on a Chisago Lakes LB, and continues on by manhandling opponents in the run game and stonewalling rushers in pass pro. Solid strength, active hands, leg drive, does a good job of reengaging and staying attached to opponents once he gets hands on, and capable of working to the second level and blocking efficiently in space. Still some things to clean up in terms of pad level and his pass set, but he’s flexible and controlled and has a balanced skillset and a lot of good things going for him before his senior year & before he heads to Brookings. Heckuva pickup for SDSU at the OT position who they are going to develop and get the best out of. Go Jacks!
Hunter Kallstrom Hunter Kallstrom 6'4" | 220 lbs | ATH Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg | 2024 State MN (Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg) 2024. 6’4, 220 lbs.
It’s been a steady climb in terms of stock and recruiting status for KMS two-way contributor Hunter Kallstrom Hunter Kallstrom 6'4" | 220 lbs | ATH Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg | 2024 State MN , whose 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. Following up a junior track season where he posted some impressive numbers in a variety of different events, Kallstrom earned a Wyoming offer in early April, but since June has kicked off he’s added St. Thomas, Sioux Falls, South Dakota State, North Dakota, and Minnesota (PWO) offers to solidify himself as a D1 prospect and one of the best DL in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, especially in Outstate MN. Things have been busy for Kallstrom and I don’t see it slowing down until he commits somewhere. Someone is going to land a stud!
Kyan Rauk Kyan Rauk 6'7" | 270 lbs | OL Northfield | 2024 State MN (Northfield) 2024. OT. 6’7, 270 lbs.
I watched my fair share of Northfield Raider games while I was playing my college ball at St. Olaf, and was psyched to see one of their own burst onto the recruiting scene as a D1 prospect three days ago. Without reporting any college interest or offers, Rauk announced on Twitter three days ago that he was committing to the South Dakota State Jackrabbits on a FCS scholarship to the defending natty champs. We covered Rauk a few months ago in a PRzMN feature covering the best kids I missed on the 2024 rankings, and Rauk was certainly at the top of the list as a 6’7, 270 lbs. with the game to match. Now, the Jacks have landed another monster in the trenches from the Great State of Minnesota, and did so in a confident evaluation process. What a stock rise! On tape, Rauk is a lean 270ish with a ton more room to fill in, and does a good job of getting his hands in and up into the chest plate of opponents, where he length and height make it very hard for defenders to stay upright. I really like the reps where he pulls or gets out into space, as he’s a balanced athlete on the move and brings some interesting versatility to the OT position. Has to work on keeping his butt down and cleaning up his pass pro technique, but a year or two in a collegiate S&C and nutritional program is going to do wonders for the XL athlete whose best football is in front of him. You don’t find kids of his size who move like that very often, and his athleticism, physical attributes, and hard work and culminated and paid off in a big-time commitment to the defending national champs. Once again, go Jacks!
Gavin Layton Gavin Layton 6'4" | OL Coon Rapids | 2021 State MN (Coon Rapids/RCTC) OL. 6’6, 320 lbs.
In the most rousing and recent development of Minnesota’s summer stock risers, #JUCOPRODUCT Gavin Layton Gavin Layton 6'4" | OL Coon Rapids | 2021 State MN has seen an absurd rise on the football recruiting trail that has happened quickly but has seen a lot go into the journey. A hammer of a prep wrestler and OT for Coon Rapids, Layton committed to wrestle & play OL for the Auggies, but the 2021 high school grad transferred to resume playing football and landed at MN JUCO heavyweight Rochester Community & Technical College, where he played his freshman season last fall in the 507. As a first year JUCO lineman, Layton was a behemoth at the LT spot, and could back it up with impressive movement skills, particularly laterally and when changing direction. Also strong, his wrestling background shows up in his understanding of leverage and when working to finish opponents, and he has a couple solid reps of pass pro as well. There’s reps and flashes of physical dominance as a blocker, and everything came to a head when he visited the University of Colorado for their post-high school prospect camp on May 30th. In downright thrilling fashion, he heard from the Buffs three days and shortly thereafter committed to the PAC12 competitor coached by the one-and-only Deion Sanders. He’s CU’s fifth JUCO OL commit, and as a MN homer through and through, as well as a former wrestler myself, I could not be more excited to see a kid bet on himself, follow his gridiron dreams, and jump from DIII to P5 football in the span of a year or two. What a stock jump, Layton is the perfect way to finish off this PRzMN heavyweight feature naming Minnesota’s biggest stock risers from the past couple of weeks. Boy do I love recruiting. Can’t wait to watch you in the PAC12, Gavin!
Stock Risers to Keep an Eye on
Wyatt Bell Wyatt Bell 6'4" | 295 lbs | OL Rogers | 2024 State MN (Rogers) 2024. OL.
Earned a PWO from Oklahoma. Also had a great showing at the Minnesota prospect camp on June 14th. Mauler from the interior with excellent strength and impressive body control. Shows off pop, an impressive pulling ability and understanding of leverage. Also holds offers from UMD, Winona State, Sioux Falls, St. Thomas, and MSU-Moorhead.
Tyson Schilling (Cretin-Derham Hall/East LA Community College) WR. 5’11, 190 lbs.
Earned a PWO from USC. Also holds a Western Kentucky offer. Posted 60 receptions for 782 yards and 9 TDs with ELAC last fall. 3 years to play 2 and also has a 3.5 GPA. Big play speed, strong, crafty route runner who can change tempos and adjust to what the defense is giving him, burst out of his breaks, and can track the ball very well from the WR position. Bet on himself and went the JUCO route out of high school and it seems to finally pay off after having to sit back and stay patient. We’ve loved watching him the whole way through.
Hans Pederson Hans Pederson 6'4" | 240 lbs | DL Buffalo | 2026 State MN (Buffalo) 2026. DL. 6’4, 230 lb.
Earned his first offer from Central Michigan on June 13th after camping at the Wisconsin Badgers. Also caught PRzWI Lead Scout Mark Johnson’s eye at the inaugural Minnesconsin Mega Camp at UW-River Falls, where he noted Pederson’s speed & burst, ability to disengage from blocks or power rush them into the backfield, and lateral agility. Already a legit 6’4, 230 lbs., Pederson’s freshman season finished at the varsity level for Buffalo, where he demonstrated that same impressive get off, a strong lower body that eats cut blocks, heavy hands that crumple OL, and a quick ability to diagnose, find the ball, and change direction if necessary. He’s strong enough to eat and absorb multiple blocking attempts in a rep and freeze ball carriers once he makes contact. He’s one of the top 2026s to know going into the fall.
More Notable Commitments
Wyatt Gilmore Wyatt Gilmore 6'4" | 250 lbs | DL Rogers | 2024 State MN (Rogers) 2024. DE. 6’4, 240 lbs.
Committed to Oklahoma. Also held offers from Minnesota, Miami (FL), Oregon, Iowa, Wisconsin, Purdue, Nebraska, North Dakota State, North Dakota, Missouri, Kansas, Kansas State, Iowa State, Central Michigan, Akron. The number 1 player in the state has NFL potential and combines power, twitch, technique, and explosiveness to be a beast on the Rogers defensive line and cement himself on the national recruiting scene as a DE/EDGE defender. Also put up some eye-catching and impressive athletic numbers for his size to reinforce the NFL potential and could potentially play a number of different positions along Oklahoma’s defensive line. Came out as a young buck to a PRzMN Showcase and put up excellent testing numbers, which he’s only improved upon as he’s added 25 pounds of good weight. Excellent get for the Sooners. Minnesota was down to the wire for his recruitment but he’ll be heading to Norman to play SEC ball. Can’t wait to see it.
Adrian Onyiego Adrian Onyiego 6'2" | 205 lbs | LB Rogers | 2024 State MN (Rogers) 2024. EDGE. 6’2, 200 lbs.
Committed to the University of Wyoming. Also held offers from St. Thomas. Possesses one of the best get-offs in the state of MN and is a playmaker, disruptor, and must-be-accounted-for defender for the Rogers Royals, who are going to have one of the scariest defensive lines in the state this fall.
Brycen Lotz Brycen Lotz 6'5" | 270 lbs | OL Braham Area | 2024 State MN (Braham) 2024. OT. 6’5, 260 lbs.
Committed to Wyoming. Also held offers from Northern Illinois, Army, Central Michigan, North Dakota State, South Dakota State, South Dakota. All-District as a junior. Athletic and mobile, Lotz adds to a legacy of Minnesota-born lineman to head to Laramie for their college ball. Wyoming is recruiting the Land of 10,000 Lakes very well in 2024 and their efforts are paying off in the commitment class.
Kene Anene Kene Anene 6'5" | 265 lbs | OL East Ridge | 2024 State MN (East Ridge) 2024. OT. 6’5, 265 lbs.
Committed to Kansas. Verbaled shortly after receiving the Big12 offer, which was his first P5 offer after receiving offers from South Dakota State, Illinois State, Columbia, Air Force, Colgate, Fordham, North Dakota, Army, North Dakota State, South Dakota, Colorado State, and Northern Iowa. Athletic, balanced, and laterally agile, Anene is just beginning to scratch the surface of his potential. East Ridge is loaded in 2023 and has the chance to make some serious waves in Class 6A.
Max Mogelson Max Mogelson 6'3" | 260 lbs | DL Two Rivers | 2024 State MN (Two Rivers) 2024. DL. 6’3, 260 lbs.
Committed to UNLV. Also held offers from Wyoming, Northern Illinois, Ohio, Miami (OH), Colorado State, Central Michigan. A hard-charging, twitchy, and explosive defensive lineman, Mogelson looks like a P5 defensive lineman on tape and made for a major get for the Running Rebels of UNLV. He’s got one of my favorite tapes in the entire MN 2024 class and is easily one of the least-fun DL to line up against in the state. Great motor, strong, and can beat blocks in a variety of fashions. Don’t be surprised when we hear about him tearing it up in Las Vegas after his career at Two Rivers comes to a conclusion.
Will Steil Will Steil 6'2" | 190 lbs | DB Rocori | 2024 State MN (Rocori) 2024. DB. 6’2, 195 lbs.
Committed to North Dakota State. Also held offers from Minnesota (PWO), Northern Illinois, South Dakota, North Dakota, Northern Iowa. Things really got going for Steil after his attended our PRzMN spring showcase, where he blew the testing and 1-on-1 portion of the event out of the water and showcased his speed, athleticism, and COD skills at 6’2, 195 lbs. A host of suitors leapt into the recruitment, and he continued the in-person performances into the Gophers prospect camp, where he left with a B1G PWO. Steil will join his brother in Fargo, who plays baseball for the Bison, and is a big piece to what is becoming a loaded NDSU 2024 commitment class.
Maxwell Woods Maxwell Woods 5'11" | 180 lbs | RB Chanhassen | 2024 State MN (Chanhassen) 2024. RB. 5’10, 180 lbs.
Committed to North Dakota State. Also held offers from South Dakota State, Navy, Army, Air Force. RB1 in Minnesota is a shifty & sudden ball carrier who is electric with the ball in his hands and can make defenders miss in a variety of different ways. Also one of the top basketball players in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, he’s undoubtedly athletic and joins a growing list of MN-born RBs to come into Fargo ready to work. Easy kid to work for and an exciting ball carrier to watch, unless you’re the tackler trying to wrap him up. He’ll put up monster numbers this fall.
Zach Vanderpool Zach Vanderpool 6'5" | 230 lbs | DL Byron | 2024 State MN (Byron) 2024. DE. 6’5, 230 lbs.
Committed to North Dakota State. Also held offers from Minnesota (PWO), Air Force, Wisconsin (PWO), Illinois State, Northern Iowa, South Dakota State, MSU-Mankato, Augustana, North Dakota, Winona State, UMD. One of the hottest stock-risers and winners from the summer camp szn, Vanderpool is another awesome land of the Bison, who brings length, bend, physicality, and a high motor to the table and can line up and create production from a number of different spots on the DL as well as maul opponents as an OL/TE. High ceiling and a helluva rise that shouldn’t come as much of a surprise when you flip on the tape. Go Bison!
Antonio Menard Antonio Menard 6'3" | 230 lbs | DL Lakeville North | 2024 State MN (Lakeville North) 2024. EDGE. 6’3, 220 lbs.
Committed to Air Force. Held offers from Illinois State, Colorado State, Fordham, North Dakota, Army, South Dakota State, North Dakota State, Yale, Northern Iowa, Wyoming. The younger brother of former NDSU All-American Greg, younger bro Antonio will head to Colorado Springs to play his college ball in the FBS for the prestigious military academy. Also a stud wrestler, Menard possesses a good first step, quickness, closing speed, strength at the contact point, and a proficiency at tackling and making plays in space. The bloodlines, size, physical prowess, and production at the big school level all point to a heckuva land for the Falcons. Congrats, Antonio!