Minnesota’s 2023 Class A Preseason All-State Team: Defense/ST

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Let's cut the fluff. We're off and rolling with the acclaimed Minnesota Preseason All-State series, and now that the 9Man Offensive, Defensive, and Special Team squads are published, naturally Class A is up next. We have the best of the best from Class A's defensive and special team ranks all rolled into one for this talent-ridden team for you below, picked with film, stats &amp; production, accolades, and college interest from the freshman up the rising seniors taken into account. Congratulations to the selections. Hard work pays off! </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-- </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Preseason Class A Player of the Year: <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='615328' first='Brycen' last='Lotz']</strong> (<em>Braham</em>) 2024. OL. 6'5, 270 lbs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Preseason Class A Defensive Player of the Year: <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1149984' first='Ashton' last='Toll']</strong> (<em>Springfield</em>) 2024. LB. 6'2, 220 lbs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"large"} --> <p class="has-large-font-size">Defensive Line</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">First Team: <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1582469' first='Talan' last='Helget']</strong> (<em>Sleepy Eye United</em>) 2025. 6'4, 210 lbs. - <strong>Sam Kallevig</strong> (<em>South Ridge</em>) 2024. 6'3, 250 lbs. - <strong>Jack Cassens</strong> (<em>United South Central)</em> 2026. 6'4, 280 lbs. - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1583266' first='Gavin' last='Oelschlager']</strong> (<em>Walker-Hackensack-Akeley</em>) 2025. 6'4, 200 lbs. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Second Team: <strong>Owen Flann</strong> (<em>BOLD</em>) 2025. 5'10, 215 lbs. - <strong>Chris Manders</strong> (<em>Lester Prairie</em>) 2024. 6', 220 lbs. - <strong>Drew Werkman</strong> (<em>Russell-Tyler-Ruthton</em>) 2024. 6'3, 200 lbs. - <strong>Brian Erbes</strong> (<em>Tracy-Milroy-Balaton</em>) 2024. 6'2, 230 lbs. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Third Team: <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='242406' first='Riley' last='Allen']</strong> (<em>Martin County West</em>) 2024. 6', 205 lbs. - <strong>Carson Gilbert</strong> (<em>Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa</em>) 2025. - <strong>Brennan Lee</strong> (<em>Braham</em>) 2024. 6', 225 lbs. - <strong>Zachary Krage</strong> (<em>Fillmore Central</em>) 2024. 6', 295 lbs. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"large"} --> <p class="has-large-font-size">Linebacker </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">First Team: <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='368526' first='Noah' last='Behning']</strong> (<em>Lester Prairie</em>) 2024. 6'2, 225 lbs. - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='452174' first='Mason' last='Neitzel']</strong> (<em>Mayer Lutheran</em>) 2024. 6'3, 220 lbs. - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1149984' first='Ashton' last='Toll']</strong> (<em>Springfield</em>) 2024. 6'2, 220 lbs. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Second Team: <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='234909' first='Alex' last='Lea']</strong> (<em>Blooming Prairie</em>) 2025. 6'1, 190 lbs. - <strong>Sam Rummel</strong> (<em>Springfield</em>) 2024. - <strong>Brady Heiling</strong> (<em>MACCRAY</em>) 2024. 6'3, 200 lbs. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Third Team: <strong>Blake Bullerman</strong> (<em>United South Central</em>) 2024. 6'2, 190 lbs. - <strong>Kyle Daniels</strong> (<em>Fillmore Central</em>) 2024. - <strong>Atlee Hershberger</strong> (<em>Fillmore Central</em>) 2025. 5'11, 200 lbs. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"large"} --> <p class="has-large-font-size">Defensive Back</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">First Team: <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='481531' first='Nathan' last='Hansen']</strong> (<em>Dawson-Boyd</em>) 2026. 6', 180 lbs.- <strong>Brayden Strum</strong> (<em>Springfield</em>) 2025. 6', 170 lbs. - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='551401' first='Oliver' last='Linnemann'] </strong>(<em>Bethlehem Academy</em>) 2024. 5'9, 160 lbs. - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1149973' first='Jayce' last='Kiehne']</strong> (<em>Fillmore Central</em>) 2024. 6'3, 170 lbs. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Second Team: <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='326246' first='Elliott' last='Viland']</strong> (<em>Bethlehem Academy</em>) 2024. 5'9, 175 lbs. - <strong>Chase Christianson</strong> (<em>Fillmore Central</em>) 2024. 6', 170 lbs. - <strong>LaDamien Gatlin-Coellner</strong> (<em>Lester Prairie</em>) 2025. 5'10, 165 lbs. - <strong>Ethan Staab</strong> (<em>Lakeview</em>) 2024. 5'10, 150 lbs. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Third Team: <strong>Jon Martinez</strong> (<em>United South Central</em>) 2024. 5'10, 160 lbs. - <strong>Luke Hellickson</strong> (<em>Fillmore Central</em>) 2024. - <strong>David Revering </strong>(<em>Parkers Prairie</em>) 2024. 5'9, 165 lbs. - <strong>Justin Messner</strong> (<em>Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop</em>) 2025. 5'10, 160 lbs. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"large"} --> <p class="has-large-font-size">Athlete</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">First Team: <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='452873' first='Jake' last='Tepley']</strong> (<em>Braham</em>) 2025. 6', 195 lbs. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Second Team: <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='245648' first='Levi' last='Hahn']</strong> (<em>Mayer Lutheran</em>) 2024. 6'1, 210 lbs. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Third Team: <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='419655' first='Owen' last='Chervestad']</strong> (<em>Red Lake County</em>) 2025. 6'1, 170 lbs. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"large"} --> <p class="has-large-font-size">Specialists</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Returner: <strong>Ethan Staab</strong> (<em>Lakeview</em>) 2024. 5'10, 150 lbs. - <strong>Dylan Houseman</strong> (<em>Canby</em>) 2024. 5'7, 170 lbs. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->