2024 Preseason Preview: Stillwater Ponies

When discussing teams on the shortlist for a title run this season, the Stillwater Ponies are inevitably brought up. Top to bottom this team is loaded with talent and has several extremely potent offensive weapons that will cause havoc all next season. Meet some of the stars of the 2024 Stillwater Ponies!   OL: [player_tooltip player_id='615516' first='Siwon' last='Youn'] 6'1" 270 lbs 2025   A team captain heading into the 2024 season, Youn is an interior offensive lineman who recently snagged an offer from MIAC member Carleton! On the field, Youn brings a unique blend of quickness and physicality, making him an excellent center. He's got quick feet which gives him a ton of versatility when pulling to the outside or making his way to the second level of a defense, but Youn also has a powerful frame capable of mauling defenders. When in pass-pro Youn stays low and always manages to find work. His veteran presence on the offensive line should be welcome this fall.   QB: [player_tooltip player_id='224134' first='Nick' last='Kinsey'] 6'3" 210 lbs 2026   In my opinion, Nick Kinsey is the best QB prospect I've seen coming out of Minnesota since I started this job in the summer of 2022. Statistically, he's brilliant, as a sophomore Kinsey amassed over 2,200 passing yards and had a 26/4 TD-to-INT ratio. He currently holds 6 D1 offers from various FBS schools, and his tape validates these to the largest extent possible. Whatever you could want from a QB, Kinsey can offer you. Elite touch on the ball, elite ball placement, and a silky-smooth release. Even while the pocket collapses, Kinsey remains calm and almost always seems to find the open man downfield. At this point, it isn't crazy to assume he will be the #1 prospect in his class by his senior year.   RB: [player_tooltip player_id='1256225' first='Emilio' last='Rosario Matias'] 5'7" 195 lbs 2026   Speaking of offensive weapons who are heading into their junior year, Matias rushed for over 700 yards as a sophomore on varsity with 7 rushing TDs on 5.7 YPC. He also had over 280 receiving yards out of the backfield with 2 more TDs. After watching his tape, I think the best part of his game is his vision out of the backfield. Matias always seems to find a cutback lane and does so with great efficiency. He torches gap unsound defenses and with his quickness, he will turn an inch into a mile. Matias isn't the tallest prospect, but he's thick and with his low center of gravity is very capable of running defenders over.   OL: Christian Yangwakue 5'10" 250 lbs 2025   A returning as an All-District Honorable Mention for his senior year, Yangwakue is an interior offensive lineman who hasn't gotten the recruiting love he deserves. He keeps a consistently low pad level while driving defenders off the ball, and can flatten defensive linemen once Yangwakue starts to pull. He never hesitates to find work downfield and blocks well in open space. Metaphorically speaking, Yangwakue does a great job of punching defenders in the mouth when he first engages them. He's aggressive and has a lot of tenacity, and would make a solid addition to a variety of collegiate offensive lines.   LB: [player_tooltip player_id='1206865' first='John' last='Karkula'] 6'1" 195 lbs 2025   Karkula holds two offers, one from WIAC member UW River Falls, and one from NSIC member Minnesota State Moorhead. During his junior year, he tallied 84 TTck, 5 TFLs, 2 sacks, and 2 INTs. On his tape, Karkula is a force to be reckoned with. He's a very effective blitzer, able to sneak through the line quickly, and can often be seen disrupting plays in the backfield. When he drops back to his zone, Karkula plays with his head on a swivel constantly aware of the ever-changing play unfolding in front of him. He's versatile enough to play either on the inside or outside and should be considered a serious defensive threat ahead of next season.   LB: [player_tooltip player_id='945901' first='Cal' last='Nitti'] 6'1" 190 lbs 2025   Nitti was named a team captain ahead of next season and was a member of the All-District team as a junior. Last season he tallied 74 TTck, 8 TFLs, and 1 sack, and he's primed to build on that in 2024. On his tape, Nitti is fast and physical. He flies from alley to alley systematically erasing cutback lanes before lighting up the ball carrier. One of my favorite parts of Nitti's game is how patient he is. He doesn't get caught up in the wash often and does a great job of always placing himself in positions to succeed. I think Nitti is primed for a big senior year with the Ponies and coaches would be smart to add them to their big boards.   Edge/LB: Joe Fredkove 6'5" 205 lbs 2025   While Prep sports fans will commonly recognize Fredkove as a top baseball or basketball prospect, he's also a top-notch football player who was named a Team Captain ahead of his senior year. As a junior Fredkove recorded 45 TTck, 3.0 sacks, 1 FF, and 4 PBUs. The edge rusher makes great use of his length when pass-rushing, and loves to utilize his long wingspan when engaging ball carriers on outside zone rushes. Fredkove can play down the LOS with ease and has proven himself to be a nightmare for QBs attempting to break out of the pocket on his side. Fredkove is going to be a name to know ahead of this season.   DB/WR: Riley Runk 6'1" 185 lbs 2025   Runk has quietly begun to position himself among the most underrated DBs in the state. As a junior Runk tallied 36 TTck, 1 INT, and 13 PBUs. His tape depicts him as a corner who enjoys tough competition and who is never more than a step behind whatever receiver he's covering. When manned up deep downfield, Runk is seemingly attached to the receiver's hip and does a great job of reading the receiver for when he needs to flash his hands for a PBU. Yet he's also flexible and able to adapt on the go. When the ball is released from the QBs hands, Runk breaks quickly towards the receiver. He's a well-built DB who should emerge as a key part of the Ponies' secondary.   WR: [player_tooltip player_id='343080' first='Owen' last='Egge'] 5'10" 155 lbs 2026   Egge is currently ranked as the #3 receiver in his class by Prepredzone, and this offseason brought in his first Division 1 offer from Marshall! He's a recent transfer out of STMA but has Day 1 eligibility heading into this fall so I expect him to make a massive impact off of the bat. Egge is an explosive route runner who is capable of burning a defense deep at a moment's notice. His first few steps off of the line of scrimmage maximize the amount of space between him and the DB across from him. He shows off a lot of versatility as a route runner. Egge has several touchdowns across the middle of the field off of a seam but has also been able to torch defenders deep outside of the hashes, or across the middle with a quick slant. Expect Egge to break out big time in 2024.   DB: [player_tooltip player_id='1277505' first='DK' last='Gora'] 6' 165 lbs 2025   DK Gora holds 6 offers ahead of his senior season, including, Augustana (D2) and Mankato State (D2). On his tape, Gora is a zone-sound corner who fights tooth and nail through blockers to make a tackle. He recognizes screens quickly and flows to disrupt them before they can properly be implemented. Teamed up with fellow returning DB Riley Runk, it's looking like the Ponies' secondary is going to be disruptive next season.

When discussing teams on the shortlist for a title run this season, the Stillwater Ponies are inevitably brought up. Top to bottom this team is loaded with talent and has several extremely potent offensive weapons that will cause havoc all next season. Meet some of the stars of the 2024 Stillwater Ponies!