More southeastern Minnesota ballers

Like the central part of the state, there were just too many good football players. I had to do another story on southeastern Minnesota high school football. Here, is a second look at some of the top talent in the Class of 25 who will be roaming a football field in southeastern Minnesota one more season.    Stendel throws what looks to be an effortless deep ball. He can push the ball downfield – with accuracy – as well as anyone in the state. Like many past Warriors' quarterbacks, Stendel is just as good an athlete as a quarterback. When he tucks the ball away to run, he has good instincts and speed in the open field. He can use his legs to get out of trouble and buy time to use his big arm on the move, where he still can push the ball down the field. Stendel can play in the shotgun and under center – a skill becoming increasingly scarce. He is not afraid to take a hit as a runner or passer. That arm strength allows him to get the ball down the field accurately, even when a defender hits him in the chest.     Up until two years ago, Bancroft's athletic future looked to be in basketball. Two years into a late start football career, Bancroft accepted an offer to play football for Minnesota-Duluth. The tight end is a physical presence in both the run and pass game. He is a big target who has a knack for finding open space against a zone defense. In the running game, he has the power to move people and the athletic ability to stay with smaller defenders in the open field. At defensive end, he uses good hands and his upper body strength to keep separation and get off blocks.     Usually coming out of the slot, Ginskey is a crisp route runner who excels at losing defenders on short routes. He gets his head around and hands up quickly to handle those throws just yards off the line of scrimmage. Once he gets the ball in his hands, he has good speed. He is able to harness that speed in the open field. The Huskies coaching staff loves to get Ginskey the ball in the flat. Therefore, allowing him to use his athletic ability to make people miss and break tackles. Defenses can't sleep on him. He is not just a possession receiver; he will blow by a defender when he needs to. On defense, he recorded four interceptions at the safety position.     Thome is a big defensive back with good range. His length allows him to make fifty/fifty balls slanted towards the defensive side of the ball. He has good anticipation and knows when to attack the ball. Thome is a complete defensive back. He doesn't make ‘business decisions' like Deion Sanders likes to say when a defensive back makes a lame attempt at a tackle. Thome will put a hit on guys and uses his hands well to get off blockers. Defense is his calling card, but his athletic ability makes him a threat out wide on the offensive side of the ball and as a kick returner, too.     Kittelson is a tall, big-armed quarterback. His arm is the obvious attribute to highlight here, but I was just as impressed with his footwork. He uses his lower body well when making throws. His ability to drive off his lower half gives him some extra power that just arm strength wouldn't get. He doesn't just use his legs as the base for his passing. The quarterback is a threat to run – especially with the designed runs in the Awesome Blossoms' playbook. He has great balance in the open field, shaking off tacklers in the pocket or throwing on the move. Kittelson rarely comes off the field as he plays defensive backs and returns punts as well.     Johnson's explosiveness of the edge – on both defense and offense is impressive. His initial step and punch put his opponents on their heels right off the snap. Defensively, he uses his hands well to keep blockers off his body and get them off balance so he can find the ball. Offensively, when he gets a smaller defender lined up, he can put that guy on the ground. His speed when getting to the second level or pulling across the formation stands out. That explosive speed is a big reason his collisions are so violent – usually in his favor. Johnson is one of those guys who I think is legitimately disappointed if he doesn't hit anyone on a play.

Like the central part of the state, there were just too many good football players. I had to do another story on southeastern Minnesota high school football. Here, is a second look at some of the top talent in the Class of 25 who will be roaming a football field in southeastern Minnesota one more season.