North Dakota 2026 Rankings: The Newcomers, Part I

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Time to meet the first batch of newcomers to the North Dakota 2026 Rankings that were posted last week. There were nearly 50 prospects ranked on our North Dakota watch list and these are the first seven new names that popped out of our eyes on tape, including our first North Dakota #1 overall prospect. Let's meet em!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["825391"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Gus shows off a sound plethora of route-running ability with the versatility he shows off with his routes. I like his efficiency he has getting the hard-earned yards after the catch especially with his shorter routes as he has good vision for his age. Gus reads as a wide receiver that has a growing football IQ that is only going to show off more smooth skillsets over the next handful of years. I would love to see how much Gus has developed with his agility since I saw him at our Prep Redzone Dakotas Showcase this Spring, as a prospect that shows me one of the best slot receivers in North Dakota in the 2026 class from my early look at this class. I hope to see a growth spurt from this young man over the next few seasons. u003ca href=u0022https://twitter.com/EngelhardGusu0022u003eTwitteru003c/au003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["929966"],"_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":"Beckett is an 2026 athlete out of the West Fargo Packers that shows versatility on both sides of the ball, and I see his best skillsets so far lining up in the secondary. He shows off great field awareness with the release of his trigger to get into the next level of the field and even though he is still growing his frame out, he shows that he is developing getting off contact especially in the exterior of the football field. The deeper I got into Beckett's tape, the more I was impressed with his burst off the snap especially on intermediate/deep routes as this kid shows off a longer catch radius than his measurables will show you. Beckett checks into our rankings within the top 15 2026 prospects in North Dakota. u003ca href=u0022https://twitter.com/BeckettPfauu0022u003eTwitteru003c/au003e","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["929929"],"_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":"Coming from the newest program in North Dakota in Minot North, it's time to meet 6'1 linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='929929' first='Christian' last='Deadmond']. If there is one prospect on this list that I can already assure in this youngest class that will work his tail off downfield to run down a ball carrier, it would be Christian as he shows good consistency with his motor from what he shows out on tape. Not just does Christian play with a motor either, his athletic mobility this early in his high school career shows off fluid bases of instinct once he reaches the backfield. With this young man's length with his strides to the ball, I like the chances of Christian being a stockriser when we review these 2026 class rankings after the season as I like the ceiling he has as he grows into his body. Christian checks in at #22 overall in North Dakota's 2026 class. No Twitter yet.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["675358"],"_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":"Time to meet the #1 overall prospect in this early 2026 North Dakota class in 6'2 280 pound offensive linemen [player_tooltip player_id='675358' first='Evan' last='Wiersma']. The vicious hands that Evan showed off to me on his freshmen tape with solid pad-level showed me early why with already well-built measurables for his age, that he is the top offensive linemen in the class. Evan shows off good depth getting into the second level and consistently shows off steady downhill leverage on every rep I have seen. I will be intrigued to watch Evan in his upcoming sophomore season as I would love to see how he can develop his footwork as a pulling guard. It might be early, but this kid looks like a prospect you will see playing on Saturdays. u003ca href=u0022https://twitter.com/Evanwiersma74u0022u003eTwitteru003c/au003e","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["930006"],"_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":"There is no question that this quarterback class in North Dakota's class of 2026 has some raw skillsets that are brewing, but one of the quarterbacks that intrigued me on tape was Mohall-Lansford-Sherwood quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='930006' first='Drayson' last='Johnson']. He shows off some growing precision with his throwing arm and developing more touch on his intermediate and deep routes is going to enhance Drayson's quarterback skillsets even further. I also like the speed of Drayson's release at his age as with his size he already shows how well he can read over the top of the secondary. No Twitter yet.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["929970"],"_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":"Michael is one of the first prospects we have ever evaluated from Killdeer, and is one that has some catchy skillsets on both sides of the ball. What popped out early with Michael on tape was the pop he had with his physicality when he makes contact with the ball carrier, as regardless of how clean his contact level was he consistently showed off strength in the Cowboys secondary as another prospect on our 2026 class rankings that provides plenty assurance if the defensive line and linebackers miss their tackles. He certainly needs a smoother cut of his tape, as he made his most eye-catching reception coming back to the ball and made a significant catch in a very high traffic area which I see shows off his instincts even further than you see in the first minute of tape. Michael checks in at #10 overall as ATH2 in the 2026 North Dakota rankings and is a prospect with plenty of upside-breeding. No Twitter yet.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_player":["930004"],"_player_evaluations_6_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_6_player_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_6_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"Year after year since we launched in 2020, the Wyndmere-Lidgerwood Warbirds produce fluidly athlete prospects and this 2026 class introduces [player_tooltip player_id='930004' first='Jace' last='Stenson'] to that mix of upcoming Warbirds. The versatility Jace shows off offensively shows off reads best at the wide receiver position in the slot, as he shows off solid agility with his cuts and shows off athletic hands that can catch u0026amp; go. Jace is an athlete that I believe has a sizable ceiling even in the backfield as he can grow in the coming years with his instincts and vision around the edges of the field. In the slim reps I have seen him throw the football, I like the potential he has with the touch of his throws within his release as there are some skillsets certainly to watch in 2023 and beyond especially with his baseball background. u003ca href=u0022https://twitter.com/stenson_jaceu0022u003eTwitteru003c/au003e","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":7,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64dd86580d0fc"} /-->