MNGoGetIt Film Review: Pass Catchers Part 2

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I wanted to immediately follow up with the article I posted yesterday, which covered the first half of MNGoGetIts pass catchers who are returning to play in the 2024 Minnesota prep football season. Once again I am not limiting this article to receivers, as there are also tight ends and running backs on here. Today we have six athletes from 3 different schools across southern MN!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TE: Ayden Gonzalez 6' 190 lbs Lakeville South 2025</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He may play a tight end for Lakeville South right now, but I could see <strong>Gonzalez</strong> making the transition to receiver even somewhere on the defensive line at the next level. As a route-runner, <strong>Gonzalez</strong> is surprisingly quick and adjusts well when the play breaks down. He gives outstanding effort when thrown to, but also shows a high upside as a run blocker. He gets to the second level often but is best when asked to reach block. When reach blocking, <strong>Gonzalez</strong> is often very physical and frequently plants the defender in the dirt. I'm excited to see what he can do during his senior season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>WR: James Kopfmann 6' 150 lbs Chanhassen 2026</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The returning WR3 for the undefeated AAAAA state champions Chanhassen, <strong>Kopfmann </strong>put up 157 receiving yards on 11 receptions as a sophomore on varsity. On his tape, <strong>Kopfmann</strong> proves that he can compete and have success against some of the best DBs in the state. He's a dynamic route runner who creates a ton of separation early on in his routes. Defensive backs who are pressed upon him often find themselves attempting to recover the yard or two they lost in step with <strong>Kopfmann</strong>. He shows no issues bringing down balls in traffic and does a great job of adjusting to the ball when it's in the air. I liked a lot of what I saw on his tape, and I think <strong>Kopfmann's</strong> evolution this offseason and during his junior year could turn a lot of heads.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>WR: Bennett Cloeter 6' 155 lbs Waconia 2026</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Cloeter </strong>is someone who I'm extremely excited to see compete at the varsity level for his junior season. With two of Waconia's top 4 receivers graduating, <strong>Cloeter </strong>has a great opportunity to find himself in the varsity rotation. Lining up primarily in the slot, <strong>Cloeter</strong> can run various routes across the field. He tracks the ball in the air well and manages to secure the ball even when getting contacted after the catch. He's also not afraid to lower his shoulder and engage a defender one-on-one in open space. Don't be surprised if you see <strong>Cloeter</strong> making an impact at the varsity level next season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>RB: [player_tooltip player_id='945336' first='Jonah' last='Shine'] 5'9" 175 lbs Lakeville South 2025</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Shine </strong>returns after his junior year where he put up 878 rushing yards and 11 TDs while averaging 7.5 YPC for a dominant varsity team. He was the team's second-leading rusher and looks to continue that success in his senior year. Early on in his film, you realize how quick and powerful <strong>Shine</strong> is. He has an uncanny ability to make rapid cutbacks at the line of scrimmage. With his great vision, he always seems to find narrow running lanes, which he hits right before they close. <strong>Shine </strong>would be a bonafide RB1 on another team and deserves a good look this offseason from coaches. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>RB: [player_tooltip player_id='482343' first='Nic' last='Swanson'] 6' 180 lbs Lakeville South 2026</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Swanson</strong> started on the 10th-grade team and saw time at the varsity level last season. The first thing you pick up from his tape is that <strong>Swanson</strong> is both elusive and explosive. He has a knack for slipping through defenders when running between the tackles, and once he hits that line of scrimmage he can turn on the jets and create a ton of separation. He gets north and south almost immediately, which is uncommon in a younger running back. The 2026 RB is a future bellcow for the run-dominant Lakeville South program. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TE: [player_tooltip player_id='924222' first='Henry' last='Hauge'] 6'5" 235 lbs Lakeville South 2026</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Hauge </strong>was the first athlete that caught my eye when I walked into the dome on Sunday. He's every bit 6'5" and fills that frame out well. He saw a lot of varsity time as a sophomore and put together an impressive 7-minute highlight tape that showcased his blocking ability in the trenches at a 6A program. As a blocker, <strong>Hauge</strong> is physical and moves to the second level quickly. While he can play high at times he uses his hands well and always finds someone to hit. Unfortunately, his tape didn't showcase what I was most impressed with, which is his ability to catch in traffic. At the tournament, I was able to see firsthand <strong>Hauge </strong>bringing balls that were contested, sometimes by two defenders. If Hauge can continue to perform like that, I think we see his stock shoot up. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->