PrepRedzoneMN 2025 Rankings Update: Top Stock Risers Part 1
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The official 2025 PrepRedzoneMN Rankings Update was a massive overhaul of the previous rankings that saw well over 100 names added and a total shake up of the positional groups and the upper echelons of the class and its top…
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Continue ReadingThe official 2025 PrepRedzoneMN Rankings Update was a massive overhaul of the previous rankings that saw well over 100 names added and a total shake up of the positional groups and the upper echelons of the class and its top talent. Yes, it’s exciting to have new names and skillsets added to the most comprehensive rankings in the state, but what is more impressive is a prospect putting their head down, embracing the grind, and taking advantage of their opportunities to rise, climb, and significantly increase their stock and ranking within the state’s top players. This latest update features some stirring ranking jumps all over the 2025 Big Board, and we have all the details on their development, skillset, rankings climb, and recruitment. Hard work pays off, fellas.
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Totino-Grace DL Theo Thomas saw his stock rise from #98 to #7 overall.
We’re kicking things off with a 91-rank climb by 6’4, 260 lb. standout Totino-Grace DL Theo Thomas. His rose into the upper echelons of the state’s 2025 talent has been longer than most, and he’s done almost as good of a job as any 2025 prospect in developing his body, improving his game, and bettering himself over the long offseason and into his junior campaign. It’s a common phrase in football, but the improvement really boils down to Thomas getting bigger, faster, stronger, and more explosive. It looks like he’s grown into his body and looks more comfortable, intentional, and controlled in his movements and play, and his get-off has improved as well as his ability to shed blocks, in large part thanks to his added strength from the countless hours in the weight room.
Now an upperclassmen fully invested in the all-important junior year offseason, Thomas displayed a good get-off and first step and some pass rushing ability that included an effective long arm, a strong initial punch that possesses the strength to execute bull rushes and power moves with success, and the ability to accomplish twists and stunts with success. I also like his length and wingspan, closing speed, and positional versatility and capability to line up as a 5T, 3T, and occasionally head up on the OC as a true NG. Overall, he’s a big, long DE at a position that values athleticism that really holds his 260ish pounds well and shows significant more room to fill in. High ceiling and lots of potential in the massive 2025 MN Rankings Update Stock Riser.
Highlights
Benilde-St. Margaret’s LB Chase Brixius rose his stock from #55 to #15 overall.
Nice little 40-spot jump for the Benilde-St. Margaret’s 6’2, 215 lb. LB Chase Brixius, who is leading one of the most talented packs of graduating classes between their 2025 and 2026 prospects. With good size, P5 bloodlines with his dad and grandpa playing for the Golden Gophers, and a ton of 5A Metro production as a junior (157 tackles [53 solo], 15 TFLs, 5 sacks, 5 FFs), things are already looking good for Brixius on paper, and behind the scenes, this dude had a monster offseason that really contributed to his on-field success and rankings bump.
A couple factors were at play here: 1) he moved from a part-time, hand-in-the-dirt 5T/standup EDGE to an off-ball, inside LB role that really has showcased and highlighted his play speed and range
2) Brixius still was a big hitter, but the work he put in the weight room this past offseason has allowed him to really dominate and excel at the contact point and finish hits and tackles he had a bit more trouble getting to the ground in 2022
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3) the speed has definitely increased.
He still was ranked highly, but a big offseason in the weight room really has put him on the map in the discussion of top linebackers in the Upper Midwest. In the 215 lbers. junior tape, the speed pops out on tape first, as Brixius resembles a heat-seeking missile straight out of his stance and can pursue and close with pace, and I really like his acceleration and ability to go 0-60 right off a dead stop. He’s got the strength to beat interior linemen with power moves on blitzes and put a few well-built OGs on their butts in shocking fashion at the LOS, and he’s a violent and physical form tackler and a thumper at the contact point who puts his hat on the ball, hence the impressive FF numbers from 2023. 6’2, 215 coming at like you like a truck will really do damage and he looks and plays the part of a FBS and potentially P5 linebacker prospect, and Brixius is a real deal sideline-to-sideline kid with his best football in front of him. Miami (OH), UNI, Western Illinois, and South Dakota State have pulled the trigger so far and Brixius has the Minnesota Junior Day coming up, as well as a visit to Ames to see the Cyclones.
Highlights
Maple Grove’s 6’6, 255 lb. OT Michael Wagner saw his ranking rise from #37 to #14 overall.
If you’re one of the best offensive tackles in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, you automatically should be one of the most popular recruits, and Maple Grove’s Michael Wagner fits the bill. The 6’6, 255 lber. already holds offers from San Diego State, Montana, Harvard, South Dakota State, Army-West Point, Air Force, Ohio, Northern Illinois, and NDSU, making for one of the largest and more diverse offer lists in MN. The big reason for his rankings bump is the fact that he played JV football last year, albeit some of the best JV competition in the state, but when doing underclassmen rankings I will also value varsity reps over JV ones. Even still, Wagner was ranked #37 overall, so we did see this coming once he got on varsity for the Crimson.
Having gained nearly 20 pounds since his sophomore season, Wagner is now a 6’6, 250 lb. junior RT who shows some length and a frame that can add significantly more weight, and he owns an intriguing second play of his junior film where he has to haul butt out to the opposite hash to take our the playside CB on a WR screen that spotlights some mobility and comfortability in space. Wagner is quick out of his stance, strong enough to finish opponents on routine down blocks, and he looks quick when pulling and trapping around the LOS and getting out into space. Wagner was the key cog in an offensive line unit that paved a lot of holes for Charles Langama Charles Langama 5’10” | 190 lbs | RB Maple Grove | 2025 State MN and one of the top rushing attacks in Minnesota.
Highlights
Lakeville South’s OL Kaden Bonds saw his stock rise from #121 to #70 overall.
Fresh off a St. Thomas junior day visit, Lakeville South’s 6’4, 285 lb. OT Kaden Bonds sees himself rise 51 spots in our official 2025 PRzMN Rankings Update to come in as #70 overall and as the 12th-ranked OL in the class. The junior is looking to continue an impressive recent trend of Cougar offensive linemen coming in hot to the college scene, and he’s got some good things going for him as he sits in the thick of the all-important junior year offseason.
The 51-rank jump comes from his limited, JV-only sophomore tape, and although he did flash athleticism and strength, and was bigger than almost everyone in his junior tape, there were around 10 plays only to work with, so it just wasn’t enough for me to feel comfortable having him higher. Bonds was definitely on my list of kids to watch coming off the JV ranks, as you know the Lakeville South coaching staff will develop the heck out of their kids and you gotta love the OL tradition they’ve produced as of late.
In 2023, Bonds was a crushing run blocker who kept a nice, square base, owned a powerful initial punch, and played with a good pad level, I enjoy how he fires out of his stance and can find work and eliminate opponents out in space. It looks like he’s flexible for a 6’4, 285 lber., and Bonds owns good balance and works to finish with a powerful leg drive and active motor. There are reps of him overpowering opponents 1-on-1 run blocks against 6A competition, and although there’s very limited pass pro experience, Bonds looks athletic and physical and I could see him potentially climbing even higher on the rankings. I would love to get him to the spring PRzMN Showcase so we can get an in-person eval of the kid.
Highlights
Bloomington Kennedy’s OL William Storm saw his ranking rise from #128 to #103 overall.
There are a couple of position groups I think are particularly deep in the MN 2025 class, one of which is the offensive line. This shouldn’t come as much of a shock, as the Land of 10,000 Lakes is ALWAYS producing high-quality OL, from P5 maulers down to D3 dominators. A particular stock-rising OL that caught my eye during film evaluations was Bloomington Kennedy’s 6’3, 260 lber. William Storm, who saw a healthy 25-spot bump in the latest update that went live on Monday.
With solid size and a frame that looks lean at his reported 260, Storm had a big offseason going into the fall of 2023, as he’s added noticeable strength and has cleaned up his technique. There were not a lot of finishes and pancakes in his sophomore film, but that has changed dramatically and for the better as a junior last fall. The RT is powerful at first contact and aggressive & hard to disengage from when he gets his paws on you and grinds you into the turf. Storm also displays the ability to use opponents’ leverage against them and shows a slingshot as well as a solid pass set that can gain both width and depth while staying square and is experienced in pass protection against bigger school, Metro opponents. I like his balance, quickness when wrapping around the LOS, and comfortability in space, plus a good motor, some lateral agility, and a good anchor to stonewall rushers and DL. Keep an eye on both Storm and the budding talent in Bloomington going forward.
Chanhassen’s 2025 LB Boom Carstens has seen his stock rise from #159 to #93 overall.
Nothing like a good ol’ position change bumping a recruits stock into another level of recruiting, and we have a great example of this in Chanhassen’s 6’3, 215 lber. Boom Carstens. Blessed with great size and a great nickname, Carstens was one of a plethora of QBs on Chan’s roster in 2022, but things were always trending towards a position change for the 2025 big boy. Now on the defensive side of the ball for the Storm, Carstens played a critical role in Chan’s undefeated 2023 season and 5A state championship, totaling 100 total tackles, 12 TFLs, 3.5 sacks, an INT, and a FF and doing so in impressive fashion.
I found myself really impressed by how he can flip his hips to beat blocking attempts and shows some speed, bend, and disruptive ability off the edge as a blitzer, and overall Carstens is noticeably slippery at getting off and beating blocks, thanks to those hips, hand usage, and consistency in attacks blockers while keeping that outside shoulder free. His length allows him to keep blockers at bay, as well as step into passing lanes in pass coverage, and the 215 lber. shows some juice with the ball in hand as well, probably an ode to his QB days. Carstens is also strong, a good tackler, has a lot of room to fill in and can pursue out to the edge while displaying a solid motor as well. I’d keep an eye on this kid, he’s got a high ceiling as a prospect and has a great shot of continuing to climb significantly up the rankings.
Highlights
Norwood Young America’s DE Carter Storms Carter Storms 6’5″ | 215 lbs | DL Norwood Young America | 2025 State MN has risen his stock from #120 to #87 overall.
You’re going to be hearing a lot more about Norwood Young America and their roster the next two seasons. Leading the way in the 2025 class is 6’5, 215 lb. EDGE Carter Storms Carter Storms 6’5″ | 215 lbs | DL Norwood Young America | 2025 State MN , who saw a 33-rank climb upon the latest update and is poised to see that continue to rise. Lean, explosive, 6’5 EDGE defenders are always at a premium in recruiting, and Storms is a good one, posting 47 tackles, 13 TFLs, 2 sacks, 2 FFs, 3 punt blocks, and 2 INTs in 2023.
Back to the cliche, which is once again true in this prospect’s case, Storms offseason made him bigger, faster, & stronger, and and the film is a lot better to show for it. The 215 lber. has really taken the action into the backfield of opponents as opposed to at the LOS or after positive gains, and his defensive plays are more impactful, and he’s really become more personal and individually productive and disruptive. As a junior, the big thing that stands out from his tape is his get-off and the pace he brings to the position. The closing and pursuit speed are exciting for a 6’5, 215+ lb. DE with plus length and a ton of room to fill in. Plus, he can defend the edge, is technically sound when defeating blocks and making plays out in space, and is strong enough to make tackles through contact. Storms has reps of him running down loose ball carriers out to the sideline and far downfield, has reps playing WR and TE, is a hard hitter that can rock the ball loose, and can slip through gaps, shows an effective dip and rip, and get skinny through double teams. Really high ceiling on this kid, I’d expect him to kill it during camp season and keep climbing up the rankings.
Buffalo’s OT and OL1 Ryan Babatz has seen his stock rise from #12 to #4 overall.
Not the biggest rankings jump here, but it’s arguably the most significant. The race for OL1 in Minnesota is always hotly contested, and with the implications it has on the college football scene (see Joe Alt in this year’s draft for evidence), we’re always going to cover the OL position year to year. The 2025 class has seemingly always been headed by Abu Tarawallie Abu Tarawallie 6’4″ | 260 lbs | DL Heritage Christian Academy | 2025 State MN , Emmanuel Karmo Emmanuel Karmo 6’3″ | 205 lbs | LB Robbinsdale Cooper | 2025 State MN , and Meyer Swinney Meyer Swinney 6’4″ | 210 lbs | WR Edina | 2025 State MN , so tracking and trying to get a grasp on who will follow the Big 3 has been an interesting discussion for the rest of the class. In my opinion, Buffalo’s OT Ryan Babatz is the answer to these questions, and not to toot our own horn, but his performance at December’s PrepRedzoneMN Showcase helped solidify that evaluation.
Measuring in at 6’4.75, and 279 pounds, Babatz put up arguably the top testing numbers in the OL group, highlighted by a 5.2 40, 4.9 short-shuttle, and nearly 9′ broad jump, and man was he a beast during 1-on-1s, battling and winning against the best pass rushers in the state from the 2025 and 2026 classes. He was very comfortable in pass pro and owns a strong anchor that can absorb and stonewall high-quality DEs in their tracks, a positive we saw both in person and in his junior tape. Speaking of junior film, left tackle Babatz moves and blocks in space like a TE, and opens his film with a beautiful rep 20-30 yards downfield of him chasing down, corralling, and eliminating a DB. Plays like that, at his size, are what really move the needle for college coaches watching a ton of OL film. He reports a 340 lb. power clean, 305 lb. bench, 425 lb. squat, and a 3.77 GPA to sweeten the pot, and he’s that strength and power show up on film, as he’s bruising and powerful at the point of attack as a run blocker. Babatz is more than able to be effective at the second and third levels of a defense, laterally agile, and understands how to use an opponent’s leverage to his advantage. It’s a dangerous combination at a verified nearly 6’5, 280.
The cliche once again fits here, as Babatz has gotten bigger, stronger, faster, more technically sound, and more physical after his sophomore year offseason, and he’s reaping the rewards of it on the recruiting trail. He showed that comfortability in pass pro as a sophomore and was a full-time varsity starter, so he absolutely earned that Top-15 ranking as a soph., but he’s stepped up the dominance and mobility, and colleges are taking note. North Dakota, South Dakota State, Nebraska, Central Michigan, Army, Ohio, NDSU, Miami (OH), Fordham, and Coastal Carolina have all offered so far. Keep an eye on the Gophers potentially getting involved here too.
Alexandria’s 2025 playmaker Evan Kludt has seen his ranking climb from #71 to #38 overall.
Man, I was excited to break down Kludt, his development, and his junior tape. One of those kids whose tape popped off the screen and really got the recruiting juices fired up in yours truly, Kludt has made some fantastic gains since his sophomore season and propelled himself in to the D1into recruiting discussion in the state thanks to his electrifying play and ensuing film from 2023. The Alexandria Cardinals have one of the deepest rosters in the state regarding their 2025s, and it seemed like every other prospect I was evaluating during the 2025 MN Rankings Update hailed from the 5A state championship contender up 94 and only a couple of hours NW of the Twin Cities. Kludt is leading the pack of junior talent on the recruiting trail, and his glow-up has included a big uptick in speed, quickness, and general playmaking ability. Kludt is significantly and noticeably more explosive in his junior tape compared to the sophomore film, and boy oh boy does this kid have some impressive junior highlights.
You’ve heard me talk ad nauseam about the importance of length in DB recruiting lately, and Kludt is a 6’3, CB with a ton of juice and who is a level-up athletically than his competition in 2023, which included 5A opponents all the way to the AAAAA state semifinals. Kludt posted 570 receiving yards, 11 total TDs, 6 INTs, 2 returns for TDs, and 23 tackles in his superb junior campaign, and I really like what he brings to the gridiron on both sides of the ball. The 6’3, 185 lber. possesses game-breaking speed, good overall balance and body control, and tons of juice with the ball in his hand, He runs great routes, is quick in his releases at the LOS, stacks receivers and gets them to open their hips, and is nasty when creating separation at the top of the route, and his loose hips, which he can drop and breakdown well at the top of the route, help him run a mean corner-post as well as lock people down on defense. I love his footwork, loose hips, change of direction control, and ability to mirror receivers in man coverage, he is instinctive and rangy in coverage and possesses great ball skills, and is impressive in the air. Kludt can high-point the rock and can win 50/50 balls and contested catches with ease. With the ball in hand, the 185 lber. is fast and demonstrates a strong lower body that can bounce off weaker tackle attempts and generate power and force when he sticks his cleat in the ground and cuts.
I can definitely see him in the Missouri Valley in college, and I’ll be eagerly and excitedly following Kludt and the rest of the Alex roster this offseason and all through 2024. What a junior season for the Cardinals CB and WR. Colleges need to get at this kid.
Hopkins‘ own Nathan Dobbs has seen his stock rise from #99 to #64 overall in the PRzMN 2025 Rankings Update.
It has been as unpleasant as it has been surprising to watch Hopkins fall into dark times in their football program, but with a new coaching staff, a young and experienced QB, and a cornerstone OT, there is a ton of hope things can turn back around. That cornerstone OT I mentioned is Nathan Dobbs, a 6’4, 290 lb. bruiser with a track and field background and one 1 sack allowed on 331 pass sets in 2023 who saw a 35-spot rankings jump once the latest update went live on Monday. Also a PRzMN Showcase veteran and standout, Dobbs has filled out and added a ton of mass from this past offseason, switched to the left side of the line, added the strength to really begin to enforce his will on opponents, and got quicker in pass pro, hence the noticeable rankings jump in the latest update.
As a junior LT in 2023, Dobbs showed that he overwhelm opponents at the point of attack, combo block and uses his hands well, and is strong kid who can ragdoll smaller competition and finish 6A DEs and LBs into the turf. Dobbs‘ strong anchor and quick, active feet in pass pro, as well as balance and lateral agility, all helped contribute to that impressive pass-set stat line from last season. Definitely a scholarship OL to some degree, we’ll see how things shake out the rest of the offseason.
Highlights
Rochester John Marshall’s 5’9, 210 lb. RB Ty’Shawn Beane has risen his rank from #132 to #124 overall.
If you know me by now, and I hope most of you do, you’ll know I have a soft spot for running backs of all different sizes. RJM has a good one in 2025 5’9, 210 lb. bruiser Ty’Shawn Beane, who saw nearly a 10-spot ranking increase to become the 124th overall ranked junior in MN. After a fruitful grind of an offseason going into the fall of 2023, Beane produced some exciting production and junior tape that highlights his good burst, pull away speed once he finds space, vision, and suddenness. Beane posted 152 carries for 783 yards and 11 TDs plus 257 receiving yards, and I really like his vision, as he finds holes and seams in traffic and masses off bodies that are hard to see even on film, and I really like how he spies the cutback lanes. I also enjoy the suddenness in his cuts at the tackle point, and he’s valuable in the screen game and possesses soft hand as well. I think Beane would make a great fit in the NSIC, and once again, the Rochester area is stacked with talent in the 2025 class.
Highlights
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