North Dakota 2026 Spring Update: Highest Debuts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>NORTH DAKOTA</strong>-- We continue our new 2026 rankings coverage across the Dakotas by looking at our highest debuts in the Roughrider State, which this group showed off plenty of high debuting newcomers that cracked our top 15. If you haven't found out already, the 2026 ND class within the offensive trenches, is stacked to say the least. However, RBs, WRs, and our new ATH1 also debut with our new 2026 rankings.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1226996"],"_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":"Talk about a young man that does not lack durability from the 2026 North Dakota class, as that would be Lamoure/Litchville Marion's [player_tooltip player_id='1226996' first='Gunner' last='Thielges'] who makes his check in at #15 overall and RB2 in the 2026 class. I certainly like the long lower-body length Gunner posseses as it stretches out his strides to the core, which allows him to stretch the field as a east-west runner to to a north-south runner by the time he reaches the second level or beyond. The ability to finish is a big skillset I frequently talk about with RBs and there is no doubt that Gunner has that at his disposal. At 6'1 185 pounds, Gunner plays way longer than the measurables will show you as this could become target up the road in Bison or Fighting Hawks country in my eyes.rnrnu003ca href=u0022https://twitter.com/Gunnerthielges4u0022u003eTwitteru003c/au003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["1226855"],"_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":"Our top athlete in the North Dakota 2026 class debuts at #14 overall, and is 6'4 220 pound [player_tooltip player_id='1226855' first='Larry' last='Umber'] hailing from Linton/Hazelton-Moffit-Braddock, as one of a couple new additions for highest debates from LHMB. Larry is athletic spicemen of a swiss-army knife on both sides of the ball. He shows off a prospect that does the little things right that the common evaluator might not see. I am encouraged by his instincts as a safety, as he seems to persistenctly position himself right on the mark to make a play on the ball in either slowing down the run or in pass coverage. Larry might be under the radar because I have not found him on X yet, but he is our #1 athlete in 2026 as I am intrigued with his high upside.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["1224585"],"_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":"One of our late and great last second finds to add to our 2026 North Dakota rankings is 6'2 270 pound [player_tooltip player_id='1224585' first='Kayden' last='Williams'] hailing from Northern Cass, who ends up at #12 overall and OL5 in what is a stacked 2026 class of offensive linemen. What shows up immediately on Kayden's tape is his agile first step which sure as heck sets the tone for early leverage to drive block into the second level. From my eyes, Kayden also shows of some OL positional flexibility between left guard and left tackle, as I see the efficency that is out there for Kayden as a pulling guard, yet speaking again on the first step shows plenty of drive and finish if he ended up at left tackle in college. I am stoked to see this young man at our Prep Redzone Dakotas Combine in a couple weeks.rnrnu003ca href=u0022https://twitter.com/kwilliams7771u0022u003eTwitteru003c/au003e","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["1226858"],"_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":"Remember how I stated earlier how Linton/Hazelton-Moffit-Braddock had muliple ND prospects in our top 15? 6'0 160 pound wide receiver [player_tooltip player_id='1226858' first='Jake' last='Hayes'] is WR2 and checks into our top 10 at #10 overall. Jake had nearly double-digit receiving touchdowns as a sophomore, as he pops out on his sophomore tape shows off well-versed hands, quick durability for his size, and great open field vision which is the most efficent skillset that is an early draw to his tape for the college coaches out there. He is a wide receiver that can turn a nothing play into something as his long field efficency is excellent. He is another long-strider for his size on this list and is one I hope to get a live evaluation this summer at a North Dakota camp somwhere as he sure looks to have a football future, but another athlete from LHMB without a Twitter yet.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":"","_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":"The 6'3 270 pound OT target from Mandan is super light on the tape, but holy heck is the upside all there within those couple minutes he has. Coming in as our #8 overall and OL4 in the 2026 class, the rapidly fast hands Nathan has draws us to his tape very quickly. I am impressed with how athletic his bend is and he certainly with his pad-level persistently has that finish ability I like from the my dudes in the trenches. The highly adaptive positional flexibility is one of the best in this ND 2026 class, as I believe whoever is Nathan's future college offensive line coach can rest easy because of his versatility between left tackle and left guard. I could see Nathan as a potential early offer target that will show out at camps soon I am sure.rnrnu003ca href=u0022https://twitter.com/NathanVolk56u0022u003eTwitteru003c/au003e","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["1226859"],"_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":"I have to admit I am very intrigued with this 2026 North Dakota class, and there is a plethora of small school gems including North Star [player_tooltip player_id='1226859' first='Hunter' last='Hagler'], who is our WR1 and checks in at #7 overall.  With the first look of Hunter on tape, you see the splash college coaches will want to see off the snap as he shows off an elusive first step which triggers excellent seperation early. He also shows off athletic balance around the edges of the field at 6'2 170 pounds too, which further shows off his athleticism. Hunter is another North Dakotan with flexibility, as if I were a recruiter I would love what he shows off in the slot. Hunter is one I would continously press for a screen pass, as his speed is excellent for his size along with great-sized strides. You will see this young man on Saturdays, for sure. He also is a four-sport athlete.rnrnu003ca href=u0022https://twitter.com/hagler_hunteru0022u003eTwitteru003c/au003ern","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_player":["1113072"],"_player_evaluations_6_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"Cash is a prime example of why live evaluations matter, as the #5 overall and DB1 in our 2026 class balled out at our Prep Redzone Dakotas Combine at the University of Jamestown last winter. Cash was a first-team tight end, but man does his free safety tape flash out his skillsets even further. The instinctive athletic movement he shows off just clings downhill to the football. You have to understand the 6'4 205 pound length that Cash has, as the sideline to sideline presence in my eyes should flash further on tape with his development. His football IQ is outstanding, and is one that has position flexibility too as we mentioned, as a probable early offer target in North Dakota.rnrnu003ca href=u0022https://twitter.com/CashDanneru0022u003eTwitteru003c/au003e","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_7_player":["1112591"],"_player_evaluations_7_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_7_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_7_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"Last but not least, is another big time debut coming from another Prep Redzone Dakotas Combine alum from this winter which was 6'6 270 pounder [player_tooltip player_id='1112591' first='Aiden' last='Wunderlich'] who is our #2 overall and OL2 in the North Dakota 2026 class. I am sure we are getting close to wearing out adjectives to describe Aiden on tape, but I hope it does the justice to earn an early Division I offer as his pad-level is outstanding and he shows off a pure-finisher constantly in the trenches. He also is intriguing with how athletic his bend shows to be for his size, and posted Power Four level testing numbers for his size at our December Combine in Jamestown. He also shows off smooth footwork that take off like a deer during hunting season with his first step. Since he was named one of our top offensive linemen, the Division I schools have started pressing the gas to get him to camp this summer which includes interest coming from the Big Ten, Big 12, and of course right up I-94 east to Fargo and more.rnrnu003ca href=u0022https://twitter.com/aidenw426u0022u003eTwitteru003c/au003ernrnTwitter","_player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":8,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6620a86720f09"} /-->