North Dakota 2026 Fall Rankings Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>NORTH DAKOTA--</strong> With midseason tapes flowing thru our timelines and several live camp evals being notated over the last 3-4 months, we figured what not a better time for a 2026 rankings update than right now going over everything all the ins and outs of several prospects across North Dakota in this preview. This preview will be pretty standard to those of you subscribers that have been with us for a while and to those new subscribers, we will welcome you, to learn our process for rankings updates, our new top five, key points and much more!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"24px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:24px"><strong><em>Our PRZ Prospect Evaluation Process:</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Our <strong>#1 priority</strong> and goal with Prep Redzone Dakotas is to put prospects on the map for college coaches and college programs at all levels to advance their exposure. We evaluate prospects on <strong><em>next-level potential </em></strong>not stats, not on the team's rankings in the state, it's all about prospect upside and how their skillsets fit in and apply at the next level when it comes down to measurables, athleticism and everything else that college football programs measure as far as skillsets within their evaluations. All prospects will need to have tape available or have been referred to us by our anonymous sources throughout the North Dakota or South Dakota. Some prospects will peak with a higher rank searly in their high school careers which is why our rankings change 3-4 times per year at Prep Redzone Dakotas, because we also always factor in several live evaluations year-around thru prospect camps in the spring and summer, games during the fall season, as we have seen several prospects within a 3-month span add 30 pounds of muscle and a couple inches of height, while others stay the same. That is our clear-cut process with every rankings update for those of you that are new to us! <strong>The main goal?</strong> Expose as many prospects state-wide to make sure they get the exposure they deserve in the Dakotas get next-level opportunities thru our network of college programs from Division I FBS, FCS, Division II, NAIA, Division and the JUCO ranks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"24px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:24px"><strong>Our New Top 5:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With our September top five, we added one new additon to our top five at the running back position, a new #1 overall prospect, and had slight movement in a couple spots. Two key points I will add<strong> 1)</strong> As most of you know, their is a high positional value for offensive linemen in the Dakotas as that I would call our bread and butter of what the best of the best is positionally. <strong>2) </strong>Those that are in our top five, are what we consider Division I grades as far as the next level goes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>#5: [player_tooltip player_id='929960' first='Yusuf' last='Jama'], RB, Bismarck Legacy 2026 </strong><a href="https://x.com/yjama2026">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>#4: [player_tooltip player_id='674788' first='Braxton' last='Dahl'], OL, Bismarck Century 2026 </strong><a href="https://x.com/Bdahl34">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>#3: [player_tooltip player_id='1113072' first='Cash' last='Danner'], DB, Thompson 2026</strong> <a href="https://x.com/CashDanner">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>#2: [player_tooltip player_id='1214201' first='Hunter' last='Evans'], OL, Williston 2026</strong> <a href="https://x.com/Hunter_evans67">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>#1 [player_tooltip player_id='1112591' first='Aiden' last='Wunderlich'], Central Cass 2026</strong> <a href="https://x.com/aidenw426">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Key Points from this 2026 September Rankings Update:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Growth from the RBs and DBs </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Amongst the running back group we have two of our first 11 ranked prospects in the state. [player_tooltip player_id='929960' first='Yusuf' last='Jama'] of Bismarck Legacy is our RB1 at #5 and climbing as is LaMoure-Litchville-Marion running back Gunnar Thielges who from last update, is up I believe nine spots from last time.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Defensve backs is even more impressive, as we have two within our top eight, with [player_tooltip player_id='1113072' first='Cash' last='Danner'] of Thompson continuing to lead the pack as DB1. Our DB2 is [player_tooltip player_id='929957' first='Xander' last='Hanson'] of Bismarck Century, who had an impressive spring and summer at our Prep Redzone Dakotas Combine and I saw some continuing skillsets get more polished in the summer months.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This is I believe the first team both position groups have had such a large presence within our top 11 prospects that I can recall since we launched in 2020.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Growth Too from the DLs and WRs</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Defensive line is another spot where I see some growth, as defensive linemen occupy four of our first 17 prospects. The list starts off with DL1 in [player_tooltip player_id='675358' first='Evan' last='Wiersma'] of Central Cass who is starting to catch the D1 eyes in the Missouri Valley as I love the body type, vision, and growing proactive movement he has a defensive tackle. One of our biggest climbers that we will touch more on in the coming week is our DL1 which I have as [player_tooltip player_id='1226999' first='Hunter' last='Tolstad'] of Westhope. I like a lot how much frame you can had to him in the coming years, yet he still has one of the most twitchy first steps amongst defensive ends in the state. And to close it out we have the Giggee twins from Mandan in [player_tooltip player_id='674796' first='Layton' last='Giggee'] at #10 and [player_tooltip player_id='674795' first='Tayton' last='Giggee'] at #17 who both had sound showings at the Minot State Big Man Camp this summer.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>At wide receiver, I was quite impressed to make New Rockford-Sheyenne wide receiver [player_tooltip player_id='1226854' first='Easton' last='Benz'] our new WR1 as the length, balance and excellent hands checked my boxes on tape. [player_tooltip player_id='1226859' first='Hunter' last='Hagler'] of Northstar and [player_tooltip player_id='1226858' first='Jake' last='Hayes'] are another batch of prospects that both have intriguing hands and open field vision and another one that I want a lot more tape on that I love his upside is Fargo South's [player_tooltip player_id='1468528' first='Amari' last='Taylor'] who is at #21 overall at the moment, but man I could certainly see his stock raise quick.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Who Are a Few of my Favorite Probable Stockrisers and Newcomers?</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"16px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:16px">One of the most intriguing 2026 newcomers I have added quickly into our top 10 is Bismarck St. Mary's Central's [player_tooltip player_id='1161045' first='Roman' last='Barnes'], who I loved the early size, but after finally getting his tape in front of me this season, man I believe he is going to be a good one at 6'5 260 pounds. My our stockriser that I like early is 2026 athlete [player_tooltip player_id='1226689' first='Henry' last='Agray'] from Fargo South. This kid super impressive on both sides of the ball and is one of the most physical hitting linebackers in the state and just plays with an edge offensively with the ball his hands.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"16px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:16px">Here is the rest of my shortlist of names to know as probable stockrisers by next update:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"20px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:20px"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='929929' first='Christian' last='Deadmond'], ATH, Minot North 2026 </strong><a href="https://x.com/Christian12here">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"20px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:20px"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1194652' first='Jayvon' last='Anderson'], WR/LB, Fargo South 2026</strong> <a href="https://x.com/Jayvon_A">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"20px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:20px"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1407829' first='Kye' last='Schlichting'], WR, West Fargo Sheyenne 2026</strong> <a href="https://x.com/KyeSchlichting">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"20px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:20px"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1419142' first='Cade' last='Okeson'], OL, Minot Bishop Ryan 2026</strong> <a href="https://x.com/cade_okeson">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"20px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:20px"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1475706' first='Noah' last='Herr'], QB, Bismarck Century 2026</strong> <a href="https://x.com/Noah_Herr14">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"20px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:20px"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1226856' first='Ray' last='Lundstrom'], LB, Beach 2026</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"20px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:20px"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1214228' first='Jason' last='Weinberger'], LB, Flasher 2026</strong> <a href="https://x.com/weinb62227">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"20px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:20px"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1227001' first='Charlie' last='Yon'], ATH, Thompson 2026</strong> <a href="https://x.com/CharlieYon34">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"20px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:20px"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1422841' first='Benjamin' last='Dubois'], WR, Turtle Mountain 2026</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"20px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:20px"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1422654' first='Brooklan' last='Bruce'], ATH, Grand Forks Central 2026</strong> <a href="https://x.com/BrooklanBruce13">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><em>What is On Tap for Content in the Coming Weeks?</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Content will flow consistently from both Dakotas daily over the next week or two from each of these groups of article series:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Newcomers (Multi-Part Series)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-Who was added to our prospect database of 2025 prospects and what do they bring to the table as far as their skillsets?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Stockrisers (Multi-Part Series)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-Which prospects that were already ranked in the 2026 class rose their stock from last fall into this offseason and why did their rank see improvement?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Positional Breakdowns (Multiple Positions)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-We will stack up some of our position groups and evaluate why x prospect was ranked over x prospect due to what their tape shows, live evaluation shows, etc.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Small Town Sleepers</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-One of my favorite article series every ranking update. Which prospects from sleepy small town America made waves on our rankings whether newcomers or stockrisers? We always love to talk the population too showing off these prospects from small town North Dakota. Any prospect from a small town under 5000 will get mentioned.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->