Minnesota Gophers 6/17 Prospect Camp: Nate's Standouts, Part I

DINKYTOWN-- We had double coverage in attendance at Minnesota prospect camp #2. This first group has a great variety for college coaches to look at. From the prospects that need more P4 offers in the 2025 class, down to the 2026 new names, and plenty of prospects in between, this list uncovers plenty of talent from five different states across the Midwest and even Texas.   Pierce McCrary, WR/DB, Cedar Rapids Kennedy, IA 2025<a href="https://x.com/piercemccrary"> Twitter</a>   One of the first prospects that caught my eyes in Dinkytown was Cedar Rapids Kennedy 2025 wide receiver Pierce McCary. He showed off a WR prospect that showed off nimble flexibility from our early eye test and pressed deeper with his change of direction I caught later into camp. He showed off smooth instincts with his cuts (which shows clear on tape too) and showed off good explosion with his broad jump. At 6'2 185 pounds, Pierce showed off great hands when contested in 1v1s which on tape shows off a prospect on either side of the ball that wins with his football IQ. He certainly should have some more D2 attention coming his way in my eyes.   Brett Johnson, LB, Lakeville South, MN 2025 <a href="https://x.com/Brett_John43">Twitter</a>   An under the radar new name that caught my eyes at the Minnesota camp was 2025 linebacker Brett Johnson of Lakeville South. Brett showed off great pep in his first steps that I caught from early warmups and later into the testing session in which he graded well during his pro agility with his numbers for his 5'10 200 pound frame. Brett also impressed with his vision watching him in Indy drills. On tape, Brett's instincts to the ball carrier amp up just like I saw in Dinkytown as a undersized linebacker that plays with quick reads steps to the ball and I believe there is more trigger to accelerate those steps further. One that I like the upside he can grow at the next-level as he should get some looks for sure to play at the next-level.   [player_tooltip player_id='1583302' first='Jeffrey' last='Akwuba'], OL, Stillwater, MN 2025 <a href="https://x.com/JeffreyAkwuba">Twitter</a>   The draw to Jeffrey's 6'4.5 335 pound frame was quickly seen at the Gopher prospect camp as the OL out of Stillwater appeared with good athleticism to go along with his frame. He had me in impressed with his fluidity while watching his footwork and showed off much smoother change of direction than I was expecting and has EXTREMELY long arm. Didn't get to watch Jeffrey as much in 1v1s, but the tape shows off nasty strength within his punch as one that is a constant angle blocker that maintains good pad-level. He certainly has some raw skillsets, but there is not a doubt that a college program won't pull the trigger with a offensive tackle of his size to develop.   [player_tooltip player_id='592117' first='Howie' last='Johnson'], DL, Forest Lake, MN 2026 <a href="https://x.com/Howie_Johnson92">Twitter</a>   Howie without any doubt was my MVP of the Minnesota Gophers camp, as he walked in without an offer and walked out a Minnesota Gophers commit as his offer was certainly well-earned based on everything [player_tooltip player_id='1292679' first='Oliver' last='West'] and I watched on every rep of 1v1s. He showed off superb athleticism with his hands, movement to the ball, and has such impressive read instincts rep after rep as his excellent attention to detail was evident and you could feel how ecstatic the Gophers staff was just about every rep. Through it all, Howie showed off great composure and as I love the elevated fluidity in his hands grow since covering him since he was a freshmen. The Gophers got a great one, that should be a menace in the Big Ten.   Jaxon Shackle, DL/OL, Elk River, MN 2025 <a href="https://x.com/jaxon_shackle">Twitter</a>   Jaxon was an undersized defensive linemen from just up the road in Elk River that showed off some intriguing skillsets at Minnesota prospects camp last Monday. At 5'11 220 pounds, I thought Jaxon showed to be longer with his length than I expected to see and also showed off impressive change of direction and downhill burst to the ball. I love watching the accelerated stamina that Jaxon plays on every rep on either of the ball on tape and especially his hands show off great instincts with his release as a defensive tackle. I certainly believe at the next-level Jaxon could have success on either side of the ball as one that a college weight room program could pay him off some dividends as a prospect that intrigued me with his upside in the coming years.   [player_tooltip player_id='1120536' first='Garrett' last='Honnoll'], OL, Rogers, MN 2026<a href="https://x.com/GarrettLhonnoll"> Twitter</a>   One offensive linemen that intrigued me in Dinkytown was Rogers 2026 offensive linemen [player_tooltip player_id='1120536' first='Garrett' last='Honnoll']. The upside that Garrett shows is evident to watch in the coming years for the Royals, as I thought his constantly seen length with good hand placement and pad-level on the reps I watched showed off quick growth from start to finish of camp which was great to see. Ill wait until Garrett gets some tape to further evaluate him, but I got a glimpse of his shotput and discus numbers and he too there showed the quick development I look for in an under the radar prospect.   [player_tooltip player_id='348733' first='Brecken' last='Keoraj'], WR, Elk River, MN 2025 <a href="https://x.com/BreckenKeoraj3">Twitter</a>   The Northwest Metro has been flying on all cylinders in the first list of standouts from the Minnesota Camp, as you can add [player_tooltip player_id='348733' first='Brecken' last='Keoraj'] of Elk River to the mix as well. The springy athlete has camped at a couple positions during this camp season, and I felt the reps at wide receiver did him the justice as Brecken is so twitchy with his change of direction and that was not only seen in testing but in 1v1 reps too. He would be a great WR prospect you go outside the measurables for, as I love the fit as a slot receiver at the next-level in an offense that can get Brecken in motion inside to wreak some havoc too in the run game as I love this kid's versatility. There certainly is a home at the next-level for this young man in my eyes as you can see his change of direction from a mile away and it has only gotten better for Brecken over the years.   [player_tooltip player_id='1582456' first='Emmanuel' last='Taye'], RB, Shakopee, MN 2025 <a href="https://x.com/BreckenKeoraj3">Twitter</a>   Sitting next to a couple of college coaches that I know, I heard some great feedback in early testing from 2025 running back [player_tooltip player_id='1582456' first='Emmanuel' last='Taye'] of Shakopee. Emmanuel showed off a ton of explosiveness jumping a few inches over 10 feet back times right in front of me and also had a coach pull me aside when he watched Emmanuel in his pro agility. I could tell right away the track background Emmanuel has, as he ran an 10.97 as his top time this Spring. I was in the other dome for 1v1s so I didn't catch him there, but the elusiveness on tape this kid has around the edges of the field shows off plenty of sound burst. He cafn develop on his durability on first contact by growing his lower body frame but man, I think small schools would be foolish not to take a look at this young man.   Joseph Kramlich, DB, Edgeley-Ellendale-Kulm, ND 2025 <a href="https://x.com/joseph_k25">Twitter</a>   I am always intrigued when one of my Dakotas prospects makes the trip to the Minnesota prospect camp, as I certainly had my eyes on our DB1 in North Dakota in Dinkytown. Joseph has always impressed me with his change of direction and he showed that off at Minnesota as one of the best defensive backs with his pro agility and I liked the fluidity he has grown with his change of direction for his size. Later in reps, I felt Joseph showed off what he showed at our Prep Redzone Dakotas combines as our DB MVP appeared longer with his reach than his measurables showed off and was glued highly to some of the wide receivers he went up against especially on short routes. I will be intrigued to follow where Joseph ends up in the coming months for sure as he has a plethora of offers around FBS and FCS.   Grayson Boeker, LB, The Woodlands Christian, TX 2025 <a href="https://x.com/BoekerGrayson">Twitter</a>   It is always a great sign for a prospect when you catch multiple eyes from our PRZ scouts which was the case with The Woodlands Christian 2025 linebacker Grayson Boeker. Watching Grayson during testing almost showed off a LB prospect that had some robotic athleticism as at his size he was moving like a man amongst boys in what I watched. Grayson amped that theory up even further once we got into Indy drills with the linebackers, as Grayson finished every rep with massive physicality and in my eyes was one of the most physical and technique sound linebacker that I watched at the Minnesota camp. I loved Grayson's football IQ as he brought the full with it in every rep I watched from him in Dinkytown. Grayson certainly needs Power Four attention in my eyes as this kid is a spicemen of a linebacker.   Cole Hanson, DB, Blaine, MN 2027   A first look defensive back that I thought popped out from an upside perspective was Blaine Bengals defensive back Cole Hanson. Despite not having any tape yet, Cole flashed to me during Indy, with the fluidity with his change of direction and good attention to detail from coaching. I'll have to be on the watch for this kid in the coming years, as another NW Metro prospect that popped out in Dinkytown.   Luke Tetzlaff, DB, Kaukauna, WI 2026 <a href="https://x.com/Luketetzlaff06">Twitter</a>   During last week's college camp blitz, I certainly felt there were a few Kaukauna Galloping Ghosts that made a name for themselves during camp season, which in Dinkytown on Monday was 2026 defensive back Luke Tetzlaff. Luke was impressive with his footwork I caught during Indy drills in which that eye test was on point with rewatching him during his pro-agility earlier in the session. Luke plays with long strides for his 6'0 190 pound frame and has great downhill vision to the ball with plenty of range. Even as a new name for me amongst 2026 prospects, I certainly see Luke as a scholarship-level safety.   [player_tooltip player_id='1255144' first='Jaxon' last='Bartkowicz'], DE/QB, Holdingford, MN 2026   One of my Central Minnesota somewhat new names from the Minnesota camp was [player_tooltip player_id='1255144' first='Jaxon' last='Bartkowicz'] of Holdingford. Man, did this kid impress me with his frame from my early look, as he not only passed the eye test, but was a prospect that I loved the fluidity he brought on every rep I watched from testing to Indy. He certainly checks the box as a defensive end, as I can briefly recall last season during my trip to Holdingford that there was a defensive end that had lots of length coming off the edge which appears to be Jaxon, and I love even more now that he is just a junior to be. He also shows off lots of length with his arms as a constant disruptor on tape last year for quarterbacks throwing in his direction. He is a DE prospect from my neck of the woods that really intrigues me with his upside he can grow. Someone's got to get this young man on Twitter!   [player_tooltip player_id='1256220' first='Semaj' last='Young'], WR, Robbinsdale Cooper, MN 2026 <a href="https://x.com/SemajYoung15">Twitter</a>   Another undersized wide receiver but this time in the 2026 class that intrigued me was Robbinsdale Cooper [player_tooltip player_id='1256220' first='Semaj' last='Young']. Holy cow, can this young buck make some cuts with his routes, as in Indy drills Semaj enlightened me with his twitch. He also showed off good poise from what I watched with his hands and had good forward vision to get upfield quickly. I can certainly tell the Semaj has put in the work since the 2023 season, as he certainly has developed nicely and should continue that growth for the Hawks offense with the incoming 2024 season.   [player_tooltip player_id='1120570' first='Parker' last='Burckhardt'], WR, Orono, MN 2026 <a href="https://x.com/ParkBurckhardt">Twitter</a>   Golly, with the good size that Parker showed off at the Minnesota prospect camp, I already believe we might have found a sleeper in the 2026 class in Minnesota. He not only plays way bigger than his size at wide receiver, he just has a presence with his change of direction that he showed during Indy drills that just caught my attention and circling back on my notes it shows consistency on my notepad. He also shows off a good sized catch radius that is only going to improve. If he can develop his burst further this offseason, he shows off a WR prospect that some will be surpised with where his junior season could take him.

DINKYTOWN-- We had double coverage in attendance at Minnesota prospect camp #2. This first group has a great variety for college coaches to look at. From the prospects that need more P4 offers in the 2025 class, down to the 2026 new names, and plenty of prospects in between, this list uncovers plenty of talent from five different states across the Midwest and even Texas.