North Dakota 2026 Rankings: Stockrisers, Part II

NORTH DAKOTA-- We waste no time at all in the Roughrider State getting out our Part II Stockrisers that same themselves move up our 2026 North Dakota rankings. Our list has 2 running backs, 2 quarterbacks and a defensive linemen that I all have next-level grades on and even one that I certainly could see as an FCS prospect up the road and another prospect I cannot find on Twitter yet, that has the poise I like as a gunslinger.    Aiden is a 2026 quarterback out of Central McLean that popped out immediately with his poise and the balance he has in either pass or run options shows that quickly. The 6'3 170 pounder shows off his arm strength and timing thru some tight passing windows on muliple levels of the field which is another skillsets that intrigues me with Aiden. His consistent ability to understand the balance between a touch throw and if the ball needs more zip is another addition I liked about his early tape this season and of course, the measurables are what colleges are looking for at the next level. Someone needs to find me this young man on Twitter!     The upside for Fargo Shanley 2026 quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='674786' first='Jax' last='Mattern'] has really grown significantly since I first watched him back in his freshmen season. He has not only grown, but its clear he has spent time in the weight room. Jax is another quarterback that sets himself apart with his arm strength as our QB2 in the 2026 class with the bulk of the balls showing off his precision allowing his Deacons wide receivers to get under it and catch it constantly on the run. Where Jax has more upside even more, is I believe his mechanics although have certainly improved, I believe there is a next step for growing those even deeper with a year and half to go left of high school football coming. The live eval on Jax this summer also was a deciding factor to being a rankings riser on our 2026 recruiting board in North Dakota, as he left me a good impression at the Jamestown Camp from the reps I watched. Jax also gets it done in the classroom with an excellent 3.8 GPA. <a href="https://x.com/JaxMattern">Twitter</a>     I had Colton listed as a defensive back from our last 2026 update, but he certainly has proved how much of a sound athlete he is on the both sides of the ball, especially showing out this year at the running back position for the Squirrels. He has grown a bunch with his elusiveness at tailback showing improved change of direction and sudden lateral movement when he gets to the outside edges of the field. I have also seen growth from Colton in the vision department as you can tell the game has slowed down for him significantly in his senior year with how many big chunk plays he has been able to grab this early in the season. Growing in the weight room even more this offseason should certainly pave this young man a way for a great shot at the next-level like his brother Tyler who plays at Bemidji State. <a href="https://x.com/coltoncruchet">Twitter</a>       A key defensive end nominee of our Preseason All-State Team in 9-man this summer has left sound great impressions on his midseason tape, as Hunter moves into our top 20 as our DL3 in the 2026 class in North Dakota. This kid is quick and fluidity with his hands getting off the blockers and I would add he carries himself much bigger off the snap on tape than what the measurables will show you right now. Not only that, but the vision Hunter shows off and good range outside of the inside box, runs down ball carriers more like a linebacker in my eyes. He also is consistent with his attack angles from left and right as you don't see much favoritism towards either side which I like to see. No doubt he has the position flexibility at the next-level to move back in the box to linebacker but I still love the frame that Hunter can add this off-season as a defensive end, plus his long arms also show off a defensive end in my eyes. <a href="https://x.com/TolstadHunter">Twitter</a>     Another North Dakota 9-man first teamer from our 2024 Preseason All-State Team, hailing from the number #1 team in North Dakota 9-man is LaMoure/Litchville-Marion running back [player_tooltip player_id='1226996' first='Gunner' last='Thielges'] as he moves in as our RB2 and at #11 overall in the state. How Gunnar finishes his runs is why he moved up almost 10 spots in our 2026 rankings as this kid has so much stamina to take it the length of the field, and has significantly improved with his agility from start to finish of those runs. The slippery tailback for the Loboes is an open field nightmare for defenses and scheming for him as a wildcat quarterback has to be a pain in the rear for defensive coordinators. Gunner was also one of my favorite 2026 North Dakota running backs at the UND Flagship Camp this summer which is always why we at PRZ Dakotas are so firm on making sure that live-eval lives up to to what we see on tape. Certainly a running back I would love to see at the FCS level. <a href="https://x.com/Gunnerthielges4">Twitter</a>

NORTH DAKOTA-- We waste no time at all in the Roughrider State getting out our Part II Stockrisers that same themselves move up our 2026 North Dakota rankings. Our list has 2 running backs, 2 quarterbacks and a defensive linemen that I all have next-level grades on and even one that I certainly could see as an FCS prospect up the road and another prospect I cannot find on Twitter yet, that has the poise I like as a gunslinger.