Post-State Tourney Special: MN's Top '25 Football/Wrestlers

With the MN high school state wrestling tournament and the NCAA national championships now concluded, I figured now was as good of a time as any to highlight some of the state's best multi-sport athletes, this time in a wrestling edition of the potential series. There's always debate around this subject as players - mainly due to their parent's influence - specialize and begin to focus on only one sport early and often, under the belief that this will help their child get a scholarship to the next level and become The Next Big Thing. It actually does the exact opposite, and I promise our readers that coaches, scouts, and evaluators at the highest levels of college football value and look for prospects with a multi-sport background. One of the best sports to participate in for your football recruiting resume is wrestling, where your tackling technique, hand placement, understanding of leverage and body positioning, and general toughness are all hardened and improved. There are tons of examples of players from the upper echelons of P5 football down to the D3 level where good wrestlers have equaled good football players, and vice versa. Below, I've highlighted the best 2025 football/wrestling athletes in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, with records, evaluations, and recruiting notes all included. Congrats on the season(s), fellas!   --   107   Tucker Gould (Braham) 2025.   24-4 this past wrestling season and was a state qualifier. Does have some film from 2023 as RB and did a good job of sneaking behind his OL and popping out into holes and gaps in a defense. Little bit of quickness in his game as well.   114   Chase Vargo (Faribault) 2025.   27-15 this past season and was a state qualifier. Does have a Hudl profile with the Falcons, but no film available and his roster was last set in 2021, so there's a chance he isn't playing anymore. Always hard to find lightweight dual-sporters in football and wrestling once they become upperclassmen.   121   Moe Erdman (Adrian) 2025.   Was the 121A 6th place wrestler in 2023-24. Went 37-9 this past season on the mat. Played fullback and running back for Adrian this past fall, and although there's no film, he does have an updated profile photo from this fall, so I'm somewhat confident he plays football still.   Mason McNabb (Paynesville) 2025.   The junior went 27-7 as a junior and was a state qualifier. Does have a Hudl profile, but his roster was last updated in 2021 and he doesn't have any film available.   127   Gavin Osborn (Bemidji) 2025. RB.   Went 17-14 and was a state qualifier in 2023-24. Does have some football game tape against Alexandria from 2023 (JV) and went airborne in the updated rep while displaying a fearless attitude while running the rock.   [player_tooltip player_id='1226669' first='Cole' last='Munsterteiger'] (Mound Westonka) 2025. LB. 5'8, 150 lbs.   The 127AA 6th place winner also had a good season on the gridiron, posting 33 tackles, a TFL, a sack, a FF, and two INTs for the 7-2 Whitehawks varsity. From the limited 2023 film, Munsterteiger shows good instincts, can do a lot of things well on the defensive side of the ball, and physicality is not an issue.   133   Kaysen Harms (Wabasso) 2025. WR/FS.   As a junior, Harms went 30-13 and was a state qualifier. Looked like a dependable receiver who could do some things in the open field with the ball in-hand as well.   Kyler Jubinal (Park of Cottage Grove) 2025. DB. 5'7, 150 lbs.   The junior athlete went 33-12 and was a state qualifier at 133AAA in the 2023-24 wrestling season. Also posted 12 tackles with the 6A Wolfpack as a defensive back. On the gridiron, Jubinal showed off patient read steps, a good form tackling ability and was physical on special teams and effective in kickoff return coverage as a blocker.   139   Conlan Carlson (Willmar) 2025. 5'7, 150 lbs.   A familiar last name in Willmar with a rich tradition of wrestling accomplishments behind him. Carlson went 47-6 and was a state qualifier in 2023-24. Rushed 36 times for 136 yards and 4 TDs, 5 catches for 35 yards, and 35 tackles and a TFL on the gridiron in 2023. No game tape, but I would love to get my hands on some if possible.   Kaden Nicolas (Becker) 2025. 5'9, 150 lbs. SS/QB.   The 139AA state champ went 50-4 in 2023-24 and had a heckuva junior season on the mat. Nicolas also had quite a junior season on the gridiron for the 9-1 Bulldogs, tallying 76 tackles, 2 TFLs, a sack, and 2 FFs as a strong safety/outside linebacker. He showed he was a form tackler who could come downhill and make 1-on-1 tackles in space as the high safety, defend the edge, and naturally rip out the rock when a ball carrier is held up, as well as put his hat on the ball when tackling. Triggers on the ball with pace too.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/KadenNicolas1/status/1764369738291974622 </div></figure>   145   [player_tooltip player_id='945347' first='Calder' last='Sheehan'] (Mayo) 2025. SS/LB. 5'7, 175 lbs.   One of my favorite dual-sporters on this list, [player_tooltip player_id='945347' first='Calder' last='Sheehan']'s older brother Cade was an All-MIAC pick at Augsburg with a similar background to Calder, although the younger Sheehan is must more inclined to the defensive side of the ball and is also a much better wrestler. Calder was the 145AAA 3rd-place wrestler in 2023-24 and tallied a 33-2 record throughout the season. As a junior with the newly-minted 6A Spartans football team, Sheehan thrives in the physical aspects of football, is a strong tackler for his size, and was great at mirroring, playing with good angles, tracking the hip, and running down ball carriers in space and 1-on-1 situations. He posted 59 tackles against some great competition last fall and is a legit college prospect for both football and wrestling.   Landen Kujawa (Becker) 2025. LB. 5'9, 160 lbs.   Yet another standout Becker Bulldog multi-sport standout to make this list, Kujawa held a 25-1 record from the 2023-24 wrestling season and was the 145AA 3rd place winner at the recent state tournament. On the gridiron, he was a strong tackler who was comfortable and effective at tackling in space and showed notable closing speed. He also displayed good hips in coverage and some ability to read and disrupt an opponent's passing game, and he could beat blocks with his pace as well. Just like his 145 lb. peer Sheehan, Kujawa is a legit college prospect in two sports and is having a heckuva junior season in both sports.   152   Alec Newby (Bemidji) 2025. WR/DB. 5'9, 170 lbs.   The Lumberjacks standout junior went 39-12 on the mat and was a state qualifier to boot. Newby had a good season on the gridiron for Bemidji and is in possession of some game-changing speed, which showed up when he'd go deep and take the top off the defense as a receiver, bolting through the first two levels of the defense as a RB, breaking up passes in coverage, wrecking QBs unblocked off the edge as a blitzer, and when chasing down loose ball carriers far downfield. He was all over the field for the Lumberjacks and made plays and helped his team in a ton of different ways last fall. Would be a great pickup for a college football program.   Brett DeRoo (Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa) 2025. WR/OLB. 6', 160 lbs.   Ton of good athletes coming out of BBE lately, including Brett DeRoo. As a junior 152 lber., DeRoo went 39-8 and was a state qualifier to set up what will certainly be a big-time senior year for the small-schooler. He was also a playmaker of a wide receiver for the Jaguars who was productive, dependable, and dangerous after the catch. Shows some shiftiness, strength, and speed with the ball in his hands, and I liked his concentration, ball-tracking skills, strong hands, and contested catch ability. Great multi-sport background from the small school ranks.   Carson Rowland (Chatfield) 2025. 5'10, 165 lbs. QB/CB.   Not much better than a state champ. Chatfield has some dominant and dynamic wrestlers, football players, and overall multi-sport athletes and has an alpha dog in 152A state champ Carson Rowland. Just like alphas do, Rowland played QB for the Gophers and was an effective dual-threat QB who could move the chains and break down defenses with both his arm and his legs. Solid speed, is quick and shifty with the ball in hand, and is accurate on his shorter and intermediate throws. Defensively, patient and physical when playing man coverage was able to compete on three-step routes, and was a physical tackler from his CB spot.   160   Callen Whitney (Walker-Hackensack-Akeley) 2025. LB.   The Cass County product was 36-5 and a state qualifier on the wrestling mat. Not a lot of football tape or stats to work with, unfortunately.   [player_tooltip player_id='1194604' first='Jett' last=''] Olson (Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg) 2025. LB/RB. 5'10, 180 lbs.   I recently broke down Olson's tape extensively for a PRzMN 2025 Rankings Update feature so I'll keep this one a little shorter. The standout two-way player on the gridiron was the 160A 4th place winner in the 2023-24 state tournament to post back-to-back impressive campaigns in his fall and winter sports. As a RB, his speed is game-breaking, and I like his quickness, contact balance, and stiff arm, and defensively, he's all around the football and like many prospects on this list, is a great tackler. The wrinkle of offensive splash he added to his game in 2023 was very impressive and he's going to make a college coach at the next level very happy.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/JettOlson995800/status/1765367022861291535 </div></figure>   172   [player_tooltip player_id='429419' first='Bo' last='Bokman'] (Lakeville South) 2025. DB. 5'8, 175 lbs.   The Bethlehem Academy transfer had a great first year at big school Lakeville South on both the gridiron and wrestling mat. Bokman was the 172AAA 4th place winner in 2023-24 with a 21-2 record. On the gridiron, he posted 253 all-purpose yards and 3 TDs along with 60 tackles, 8 PBUs, and 3 TFLs. Plus, he was explosive as a returner and added 15 punt returns for 190 yards and another TD. I just saw this kid live during a 7v7 event, and he was fast and visible backed up his impressive weight room numbers (330 bench, 455 squat) with a cut-up upper body. Offensively, I like Bokman's speed, suddenness, and balance after the catch, and can break off his routes well and will go up and win contested catches. Defensively, he's a great tackler in space, recognizes and triggers on the ball well, is physical, displays good range in run support who can come downhill quickly and lay the wood at the contact point. The wrestling background only sweetens the pot in terms of how strong he is in run support from the safety position. Another high-quality multi-sport prospect.   [player_tooltip player_id='603454' first='Owen' last='Murphy'] (Northfield) 2025. LB. 6', 190 lbs.   Northfield had a heckuva wrestling team this past season, and the Raiders' 172 lber. [player_tooltip player_id='603454' first='Owen' last='Murphy'] was a big part of that, posting a 23-7 record and qualifying for state, his third time heading to the X. A LB on the Raiders football team, Murphy earned All-District honors as a linebacker and showed in his junior tape that he gets off blocks well by using his hands or flipping his hips, understand how to hold the edge and blitz as an OLB, and is a solid tackler who can be productive and disruptive as a box defender. Had some decent reps as a RB as well. Make sure you stop by Northfield if you need multi-sport standouts!   [player_tooltip player_id='1204086' first='Dominic' last='Morton'] (Washburn) 2025. WR/OLB. 6'4, 185 lbs.   A 6'4 junior, Morton was one of a few impressive Minneapolis Washburn wrestlers in 2023, and that program is beginning to build some momentum in the MPLS City wrestling scene. With his hard-to-manage height and length in the 172 lb. weight class, Morton finished 28-10 and was a state qualifier in 2023-24. On the gridiron, I like his game as a WR, where he displays great length, good hands, and contested catch ability. Morton bounced off tackle attempts and showed some juice after the catch, got open on a variety of routes and lined up all over the field, and was a motivated, physical, and effective blocker out on the perimeter. As a LB, Morton uses his length and awesome frame to hold would-be blockers at bay, is solid in pass coverage, and has some good reps of him pursuing out to the edge and closing well. If he focuses on football at the next level, that frame could blow up in a college S&C program. Don't sleep on the 612's multi-sporters and wrestlers!   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/MortonDomi17/status/1761892943302971494 </div></figure>   Owen Angell (Becker) 2025. RB/OLB. 6', 175 lbs.   Yet another Becker Bulldog multi-sport standout, Owen Angell competes in football, wrestling, and track, and as the Bulldogs 172 lber. in 2023-24 he placed 6th at 172AA and held a 34-9 record. Although there is limited tape of his gridiron exploits and skillset, Angell still showed that he possessed vision, contact balance, and big play ability as a RB, as well as out of the backfield as a pass catching threat. Lots to like in all of these Bulldog middleweight wrestlers.   Bryan Weston (Fridley) 2025. QB/ATH.   The Fridley Tigers junior saw a ton of wins on the wrestling mat in 2023-24 and was 30-9 and a state qualifier. On the gridiron, Weston played QB for Fridley and showed that he could move the chains with his arm and his legs. Can see and find space when he tucks and runs and could complete throws with accuracy from both inside and outside the pocket. He's not scared to try and stretch the field either.   [player_tooltip player_id='1204096' first='CJ' last='Mikely'] (Big Lake) 2025. CB. 6', 180 lbs.   Big Lake's athletic 6', 180 lb. CB [player_tooltip player_id='1204096' first='CJ' last='Mikely'] has the ability to help turn around, the Hornets on the gridiron and kicked his offseason off to a hot start as he went 34-17 and was a state qualifier for Big Lake's wrestling team. In my opinion the gridiron is where he really excels, as he totaled 70 tackles, 10 PBUs, 4 FF, and 1 INT and brought a lot of length and physicality on both sides of the ball. I like how turnover-inclined he was in 2023, as Mikely rips at the ball and is always thinking about the turnover and putting pressure on ball carriers, and as both a WR and DB he can win 50/50 balls can go up and high-point the rock. The 180 lber. is also a physical blocker, gets out of his breaks well, shows some juice after the catch as a receiver, and can tackle in space. He'll make for a great get for someone's 2025 recruiting class.   Luke Bieniek (Holdingford) 2025. RB/CB. 5'11, 180 lbs.   We got another standout 172 lb. multi-sporter who placed at state! Holdingford's Luke Bieniek placed 4th in the 172A state bracket and also had a strong season on the gridiron for the Huskers. #31 on the gridiron for Holdingford, Bieniek was elusive with the ball in hand and a fun-to-watch RB who was a problem for defenses to corral and bring down last fall. He displayed solid speed, can beat tackle attempts with quickness in the open field, sees the cutback well, and shows big play potential as a WR as well. The contact balance stands out, and he can step through, slip through, and break tackle attempts at his lower body and even has some reps where he keeps those feet churning through dogpiles and squirts outside for a big gain. I'll be adding him to the 2025 Rankings Big Board before we get fully underway for the 2026s. What a junior athletic campaign so far!   [player_tooltip player_id='1120628' first='Aaron' last='Jones'] (Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg) 2025. DE. 6'3, 200 lbs.   The 172A 6th place wrestler in 2023-24, Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg's [player_tooltip player_id='1120628' first='Aaron' last='Jones'] was a force on the wrestling mat and along the DL of the Fighting Saints. A 4i/5T who can rush the passer and create disruption with his hand in the ground or from a two-point stance, Jones wins with his get-off and first step, gets in the backfield quickly and closed on QBs in 2023 before they could react, is strong enough to make tackles through contact, and displays a good motor. Jones also doubled as a physical OL who fires off the ball well and is quick laterally. Long, lean frame that can hold a ton more weight as well.   [player_tooltip player_id='1581544' first='Ben' last='Carrier'] (Chatfield) 2025. WR/SS. 5'10, 170 lbs.   Back to Chatfield, we go! The Gophers 172 lber. went 31-14 and was a state qualifier as a junior and brought a hair-on-fire playstyle to the defensive side of the ball for Chatfield's 2023 season. The speed he brings when tracking and pursuing the ball is impressive and helped create a ton of positive plays for his defense last fall. Carrier triggers on the ball with pace, both when breaking up passes or flying downhill in run support, does a great job of seeing and exploiting holes in an offense when shooting gaps, and is effective when rushing the passer and accelerating out of his stance with hard-to-manage speed as a blitzer. I like watching him run the alley, which he does quite effectively I may add, and he comes into contact so fast that ball carriers don't have time to react. Carrier also contributed on offense and made some big plays as a WR and was an asset of a blocker who thrived in eliminating his assignments from the play. Good tape from the junior!   189   [player_tooltip player_id='1204482' first='Joey' last='Muhlstein'] (Mounds View) 2025. LB. 5'10, 190 lbs.   A key piece and contributor to the Mustang's fantastic 2023-24 wrestling team that unfortunately fell short in the AAA team state final, Muhlstein is one of my favorite LBs in the 2025 class, mostly due to that wrestling background and how he transfers it to the gridiron. He was a very productive, tough, and hard-to-block ILB when I saw Mounds View take on St. Michael-Albertville in some 6A action this past fall, and was also a top performer from the Mounds View vs. Simley wrestling duel I checked out this winter. The 189AAA 6th place winner from the 2023-24 state tourney, I would love to have Muhlstein on my college football roster, as a LB this past fall he was a strong tackler who double-legged and shut down RBs and WRs with physicality, an effective blitzer who utilizes gaps in the OL and can make the play when given the opportunity and can work laterally to a gap to cut off ball carriers and wade through traffic smoothly. I also like that he was a nuisance at the catch point, both with his pads and hands, and he broke up quite a few passes for a LB last fall, and has the speed to pursue out to the edge, but is strong enough to work through and off blocks and make tackles through contact inside the box and at the LOS. Senior year is poised to be even better.   Shane Carlson (Brainerd) 2025. DL. 5'10, 200 lbs.   Brainerd Warrior DL Shane Carlson was 37-4 and a state qualifier on the wrestling mat this past season for a strong junior wrestling campaign, and on the gridiron he was able to contribute as a pass rusher from the interior of Brainerd's DL, showed he could slip through and work off double team attempts, and has a motor that shows up in both run and pass defense.   [player_tooltip player_id='1204355' first='Carson' last='Gellerman'] (Big Lake) 2025. QB. 6'3, 200 lbs.   Another must-know Big Lake multi-sport junior, Gellerman was a really fun addition to the PRzMN 2025 Rankings Big Board and brings good size to both the gridiron and wrestling mat at 6'3, 200 lbs. The height and length must be very hard to deal with on the wrestling mat in particular, as Gellerman was the 189AA 3rd place wrestler this past season and was an exciting and athletic QB/ATH for the Hornets this past fall as well. Possessing a great frame and legit athleticism that I think would do very well at the collegiate level as WR, LB, or safety, Gellerman was a powerful ball carrier who generated noticeable force when he planted and cut to avoid tacklers, and he has a mean truck stick that he utilized often and effectively in 2023. Gellerman was shifty and slippery when avoiding pressure and scrambling around the pocket, showed great balance as a ball carrier, threw to the first level of the field with accuracy and timing, and could pass on the move as well. I think he brings some impressive dynamic ability as a college prospect whose best football is in front of him. Gotta love the high-level wrestling accomplishments as well.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/carsongeller17/status/1766610386751492484 </div></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='641225' first='Casey' last='Macziewski'] (Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton) 2025. LB. 5'11, 195 lbs.   One of the impressively physical and dynamic DGF 2025 duo to grace this PRzMN multi-sport special, LB [player_tooltip player_id='641225' first='Casey' last='Macziewski'] was 39-8 and a state qualifier in 2023-24 and also posted 96 total tackles (52 solo), 6 rushing TDs, and an INT as a junior LB/RB. Do you need something physical done on the gridiron? Ask Macziewski and he's got you. This dude thrives in the contact aspects of the game and is dynamic in the dirty work department. The junior shut down ball carriers in space as a tackler eats blocking attempts for breakfast, even big ones, and stays upright and onward to finish tackles and create multiple missed assignments on a single rep. Macziewski plays through the whistle on both sides of the ball and doubles as a physical fullback who keeps his feet pumping through contact and does a good job of identifying and eliminating the most dangerous defender. He's a powerful tackler and violent blocker, displays great balance as a ball carrier, throws in some quickness to beat tackle attempts as well, and is excellent in pass pro as a RB, something you don't see at the prep level very often. It's a hard-to-find skill set that can be utilized very well at the next level. As mentioned, he's dynamic in the dirty work department.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/CaseyMacziewski/status/1771644398247305325 </div></figure>   Owen Nelson (Kasson-Mantorville) 2025. LB.   Of course the wrestling powerhouse that is Kasson-Mantorville makes an appearance on this list. Owen Nelson was the Komets 189 lber. in 2023-24 and finished 25-12 and as a state qualifier for his efforts. This fall, he played off-ball OLB and standup EDGE and productive off the edge of his defense. Nelson exceled as a box defender who can beat blocks, make tackles through contact, and defend the edge, and he gets off the snap well, laid some big hits in 2023, and did a great job of slipping into passing lanes around the flats, hook/curls, and up the seam and recorded his fair share of PBUs as a junior. Good skillset that can really develop and excel in a college level S&C program.   [player_tooltip player_id='1581538' first='Hank' last='Meyer'] (Kimball) 2025. DT. 6'2, 205 lbs.   Repping Class A, Kimball's [player_tooltip player_id='1581538' first='Hank' last='Meyer'] went 18-5, qualified for state, and placed 5th at 189A for a strong junior campaign on the wrestling mat. As a classically tough, undersized, but physical small school linemen who goes both ways for his squad, Meyer posted 91 tackles, 6.5 sacks, and two blocked kicks as a defensive lineman but also has some good reps as an offensive lineman in 2023. A strong finisher for size as a blocker who took down and planted some larger DL who weren't expecting as much strength from the junior as he brought, Meyer understands leverage and body positioning and can take advantage of an opponent when they get off-balance and was able to corral and eliminate defenders in space as well. Defensively, Meyer is strong for his size, goes all-out in contact, keeps his feet driving until his opponent is in the dirt, and can bounce off blocks and work through contact well as a DE. Pound for pound I like what he brings to the table and this could be utilized well at the college level once you get some weight on him. That wrestling background is far from being able to scoff at as well.   Charlie Witzel (St. Agnes) 2025. 6', 200 lbs.   One of many underrated names from the St. Agnes 2025 class which helped manufacture the Aggies eye-catching 2023 campaign, Charlie Witzel followed up the fall's success with a 36-8, state qualifying wrestling season that saw a ton of victories come his way on the mat. Witzel stays very active as a DL and lined up at multiple positions along the Aggies defensive line in 2023. He could beat blocking attempts with quickness, will pursue out to the sideline and has a great motor that doesn't quit, shows a solid initial punch, utilized some technique to beat blockers, and gets skinny through gaps and double teams. He'll be a big piece to St. Agnes' 2024 season that looks to replicate the success they earned last fall.   215   [player_tooltip player_id='1204492' first='Tramaine' last='Davis'] (Andover) 2025. DT. 6', 240 lbs.   The Andover 2023 roster was LOADED. That's not up for debate, and among the boatload of talent, an under-the-radar name who made a big impact was DT [player_tooltip player_id='1204492' first='Tramaine' last='Davis']. The 6', 240 lber. caught my eye and made some big plays when I watched the Huskies take on Mankato West early in the 2023 season, he carried the momentum into the winter/spring and went 24-10 and qualified for state in the 215AAA bracket, his third time making it to the X with Andover's wrestling team. As an iDL, Davis is positionally versatile along the DL and displays a particularly great base and anchor that can hold a gap and not give up a yard. He sheds blocking attempts from XL OL thanks to his sheer strength and even has a couple reps of him folding OL at the contact point as well, as a bonus, brings good speed to the position, as he will pursue and run down ball carriers out to the sideline and can move when he gets his legs pumping. Davis demonstrates a good get-off, uses quickness to beat blocks to their inside shoulder, and some reps of him cutting OL and winning reps by getting underneath and upending OGs. I like his lower body and his anchor when eating and defeating blocks along the LOS. Davis is a bowling ball through contact and can hold his own and then some in 1-on-1 battles along the OL and in the trenches against 5A Metro competition. Great addition to the 2025 Rankings Big Board.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/TramaineDavis97/status/1766248227400011801 </div></figure>   Cooper Jahnke (Waconia) 2025. LB/TE. 6'3, 215 lbs.   A captain for Waconia's football and wrestling teams, Jahnke had a monster junior wrestling season and finished the year with a 44-9 record while qualifying for state. He brings great size to the table as a LB and put his hand in the dirt throughout 2023 too, showing a good get-off and first step, and I particularly enjoy his tackling ability. Jahnke can make dominant tacklers that send ball carriers off their feet and backward, can tackle in space and uses good angles and start/stop skills, and can make tackles through contact as well. I also like how he shoots gaps along the LOS and can beat blocking attempts with speed effectively. The size, physical impact, and wrestling background create an exciting blend of plusses on his recruiting resume that a college program could take advantage of.   [player_tooltip player_id='1581595' first='Blake' last='Fitcher'] (Owatonna) 2025. LB. 6'1, 215 lbs.   A standout three-sport athlete who also competes in shot put and discus for the Huskies track team, Fitcher was a big part of perennial contender Owatonna's wrestling team and went 31-10 while qualifying for state as a junior. On the football field, he posted 58 tackles (42 solo), 3 blocked kicks, 2 PBUs, 2 sacks, and an INT, and the MLB struck a large and looming presence in the middle of the Husky's defense. I am pumped to get this kid on the 2025 Rankings Big Board ASAP and will do so in a quick micro-update before we dig into 2026s tomorrow, but Fitcher's junior football film was impressive in a variety of different ways. The 6'1, 215 lber. can cover, blitz, and impact the run game, and I like his coverage ability for his size. He demonstrated that he could flip his hips to stay in the pocket of TEs and WRs downfield, plays the ball well in the air, and has the speed to carry pass catchers down the seam. Fitcher is also a consistent and physical tackler in 1-on-1 situations, can bend well at the top of the arch, especially for a LB, shows good pursuit speed for his size and takes good angles to the football, and smothers ball carriers as a tackler and laid some massive hits throughout the fall. Absolutely a scholarship linebacker and is going to make a big debut on the rankings soon.   [player_tooltip player_id='362306' first='Caleb' last='Johnson'] (Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton) 2025. QB/LB/S. 6'1, 205 lbs.   Can't say enough about DGF's standout junior [player_tooltip player_id='362306' first='Caleb' last='Johnson']. As is often the case with a team's best athlete, they get moved to quarterback, which is exactly the case for Johnson, and to make things even more impressive, he wrestled UP to the 215 lb. weight class despite reporting a 205 lb. weight. That's some serious cajones, toughness, and athleticism, and for Johnson's efforts on the wrestling mat, he finished his junior season with a 41-8 record and as the 215AA runner-up at the state tournament. He was both the QB and DB District MVP in 2023, led DGF to a state semifinal appearance and was an All-District & All-Section pick on the gridiron. He displayed an easy, quick release and throwing motion, and the ball looked good as it whipped out of him, and he showed good touch and accuracy when throwing vertically and into tight windows downfield. He was also a shifty scrambler whose athleticism shows up well when he's improvising, buying time, and making defenders miss around the pocket, and he's quick, powerful, and elusive when he tucks and takes off as well. Defensively, Johnson showed himself to be a ballhawk who was always around the football in coverage, was dangerous after an INT, of which there were many, is physical and comfortable at the catch point and reads the field well, gets out of his breaks well, and packs a punch when he drops his pads. He's one of those kids who is a natural athlete and overall just good at sports, which makes a good bet he'll be good at college football OR wrestling.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/CJohns_18/status/1764436434826510779 </div></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='422176' first='Tristan' last='Holbrook'] (Belle Plaine) 2025. LB. 6'2, 205 lbs.   A kid we've had on our radar for a while now, Belle Plaine's District LB of the Year [player_tooltip player_id='422176' first='Tristan' last='Holbrook'] had a good year on the wrestling mat and finished 2023-24 with a 38-7 record who qualified for state. Holbrook had a monster year as a junior linebacker for the Tigers and finished 2023 with 106 tackles (76 solo), 16 TFLs, 2 FFs, and 1.5 sacks, as well as 822 rushing yards (4.5 YPC) and 5 TDs + eight receptions for 108 yards and a TD. He owns a long, lean 205 lb. build with a good frame to add 20-30 pounds and had good things going for him on both sides of the ball. As a RB, Holbrook displayed burst and contact balance whose long gait covers noticeable ground step to step, and he also brought impressive speed to the defensive side of the ball. He fires out of his stance, shows off closing speed, and shoots gaps with pace, which accounts for his 16 TFLs. He was also an effective blitzer and a hammer of a tackler. The Belle Plaine native is a heckuva multi-sport athlete who is about to be a beast of a senior.   Carson Gilbert (Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa) 2025. LB/DE/OC. 6', 200 lbs.   Carson Gilbert, the 2024 215A 3rd place winner, holds an eye-catching 43-4 record as a junior and is yet another BBE multi-sporter who would kill it at the college level in either sport. Not a ton of film to work with football-wise, but from what I can gather he's a heat-seeking missile to the ball who will sniff out and run down ball carriers all over the gridiron, has that quintessential small school toughness that helps him excel as an undersized lineman and played a ton of different positions well. Gilbert created some big-time collisions in 2023 and loves contact and distributing it.   Caleb Kurtti (Goodhue) 2025. DE/OL. 6'2, 220 lbs.   Accomplished wrestling background for the Goodhue multi-sport standout who was the 215A 4th place winner this past season and brings some good size to the table to boot. A strong kid who owns a good first step and generally fires off the snap well on both sides of the ball, Kurtti is effective and fluid at lead blocking and taking out second and third level defenders in space and is very quick and comfortable with pulling, wrapping, and blocking all around the LOS. I like him at DE at the next level and that wrestling background really sweetens the pot on his recruiting resume.   285   [player_tooltip player_id='918768' first='Ryan' last='Babatz'] (Buffalo) 2025. OT. 6'4, 285 lbs.   The #1 OL in the MN 2025 class is also a good wrestler, posting a 28-14 record while qualifying for state at the 285AAA bracket, one of the most loaded for high-end, multi-sport football/wrestlers in Minnesota. This is always a very good trait for P5 OL prospects and a ton of successful high-level iOL and OT prospects at the upper echelons of college football have strong wrestling backgrounds, which will soon include Buffalo's [player_tooltip player_id='918768' first='Ryan' last='Babatz']. Great athletic testing numbers for his size, is fluid and impressive in space, comfortable and strong in pass pro, and is a bruising run blocker to boot. His understanding of leverage and ability to capitalize on and take advantage of defensive linemen when they reach or get off-balance is aided by his wrestling background, and I'm pumped to see him make a run at the state title next winter.   Prentiss Derrick (Chaska) 2025. OL. 6'3, 270 lbs.   Chaska Hawks OL/DL Prentiss Derrick Jr. went 29-9 and was a state qualifier this past wrestling season as a big school heavyweight. The LG is a good athlete at the position and crushed some kids in 2023, as you can see him fire those pistons and drive his feet once he puts his paws on an opponent. From the OL, he displays a good initial punch, can pull, block on the move, and win reps in pass pro, and sends opponents flying when he locks out and extends his arms. Derrick Jr. also shows some twitch and power on the DL and was a menace in run defense. As mentioned, he's a good athlete at the position with good size, his notable wrestling background, and two-way ability. Someone is going to look good landing the Chaska product.   [player_tooltip player_id='234847' first='Avaugn' last='Dorvil'] (St. Thomas Academy) 2025. DL. 6'1, 285 lbs.   St. Thomas Academy has had its fair share of standout heavyweight wrestlers since the team's inception, and a big-time name to know in both football and wrestling is [player_tooltip player_id='234847' first='Avaugn' last='Dorvil']. A name I am stoked to get on the 2025 Rankings Big Board TODAY, Dorvil blew into the 2025 recruiting scene after earning an MSU-Mankato offer in the Mavs initial offer wave to their top recruits in MN, WI, Iowa, and Illinois. Dorvil, who sports a familiar last name that I would love some familial context on, came back strong at the tail end of his junior wrestling season and finished 2023-24 with an 8-4 record and state qualification under his belt as a 285AAA competitor. On the gridiron, in the trenches, is where he shines, as the 6'1, 285 lb. DT is a scary combo of twitch, quickness, and power, just what you want from an interior DL. Dorvil is twitchy and fires off the snap with scary explosiveness for a big guy, can flip his hips and force OL to play half a man, and possesses power rushes to knock linemen off their feet and backward onto their butt. Dorvil is quick enough to beat cut blocks but has a strong enough lower body to eat them and continue forward as well, possesses strong, active hands, utilizes an arm-over and other rushing moves effectively, does very well at holding his gap against double teams, and goes all-out into tackling and overwhelms ball carriers with his sheer size and strength. He's going to make a big debut on the 2025 rankings. Dorvil is a stud!   [player_tooltip player_id='245767' first='Logan' last='Bender'] (Chisago Lakes) 2025. LB. 6'2, 230 lbs.   We got a state champ alert! Chisago Lakes' massive linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='245767' first='Logan' last='Bender'] had a tremendous junior wrestling campaign, walking away as the 285AA state champ with an impressive 41-1 record as a junior. An excellent bounceback from his sophomore season that saw him finish 6th in the state, Bender is now a state champ in one of the top wrestling states in the nation at one of its most competitive weight classes year to year. A crushing blocker and tackler, closes with pace, can tackle in space, and uses his long arms and noticeable strength to help him complete tackles most LBs physically can't. Big, strong kid whose wrestling background is one of the best in the state.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/LoganBender2025/status/1764325821164953825 </div></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='641140' first='Samuel' last='Winkels'] (Austin) 2025. LB. 6', 210 lbs.   Austin Packer multi-sport stud [player_tooltip player_id='641140' first='Samuel' last='Winkels'] has been a long-time multi-sport standout who has been on our rankings nearly since the jump. A Preseason All-State pick for Class 4A, Winkels lived up to the preseason hype and posted 107 total tackles (81 solo), 6 TFLs, and 4 FFs and brought the productivity into the winter/spring for what became a monster junior wrestling season. The undersized heavyweight went 49-3 and captured 285AA 4th place honors in his second trip to the X and is going to be locked into the preseason grind in hopes of winning that elusive state championship as a senior. The 210 lber. finds and flows to the ball well, can defeat blocking attempts thanks to his quickness, physicality, and strong hands, and is a strong tackler in 1-on-1 situations who met more than a few RBs at or behind the LOS for series-changing losses. Winkels can long snap and lay some mean blocks as a FB/HB as well.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/Packer_Str_Cond/status/1764145606379913505 </div></figure>   Keegan Kuball (Waterville-Elysian-Morristown) 2025. OL/DL. 6'2, 225 lbs.   The 285A state champion doesn't have any football tape, but he was rostered on the WEM roster and played OL and DL in 2023. Class A state championship is quite the accomplishment as well, especially if he was really around his reported 225 pounds.

With the MN high school state wrestling tournament and the NCAA national championships now concluded, I figured now was as good of a time as any to highlight some of the state's best multi-sport athletes, this time in a wrestling edition of the potential series. There's always debate around this subject as players - mainly due to their parent's influence - specialize and begin to focus on only one sport early and often, under the belief that this will help their child get a scholarship to the next level and become The Next Big Thing. It actually does the exact opposite, and I promise our readers that coaches, scouts, and evaluators at the highest levels of college football value and look for prospects with a multi-sport background. One of the best sports to participate in for your football recruiting resume is wrestling, where your tackling technique, hand placement, understanding of leverage and body positioning, and general toughness are all hardened and improved. There are tons of examples of players from the upper echelons of P5 football down to the D3 level where good wrestlers have equaled good football players, and vice versa. Below, I've highlighted the best 2025 football/wrestling athletes in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, with records, evaluations, and recruiting notes all included. Congrats on the season(s), fellas!