26/27/28 9-Man Film Reviews

It has been a minute since I've been active, and I apologize for that. Today we're here to celebrate these 10 9-man prospects who've all impressed me greatly. We are BACK with film reviews, so enjoy these 10 underrated outstate athletes!    Shimp is an outstate prospect with an impressive frame, and I expect him to garner serious recruiting attention this upcoming off-season. He's got long arms which he uses well to extend on offensive linemen and keep them at bay. While Shimp works primarily in the interior of the trenches right now, his collegiate upside is higher on the edges of the LOS where hopefully we'll be able to see him maximize that length.     A quick riser from Hills-Beaver Creek, Bush has produced several eye-popping performances en route to a state-semis appearance. Boasting an unusually promising frame for a 9-man DB, Bush wastes no time making plays on defense. He's an exceptionally physical safety with phenomenal instincts and a great ability to read QBs. That physicality extends to offense where he gives stunning effort when blocking. He moves well in open space and often breaks the first tackle after he brings down the ball.     The gunslinger for a dangerous HBC team, Metzger has been a key piece of his squad's success this season. Although he wears a prototypical pocket-passer frame, Metzger is far more than that. This dude is a dual threat, and while he doesn't have 4.4 speed, he can make moves in space and run over LBs. He makes high-level reads with the ball in his hands and routinely showcases elite ball placement downfield. I've been exceptionally impressed with Metzger's tape and; whoever snags is getting a gem.     The final member of HBC to make this list today, Wegener is an LB/RB who has seen a lot of success throughout his junior year. Wegener is a physical athlete who punishes ball carriers who cross his path, and he consistently impresses me with his speed. He plays a very "heads-up" brand of football and he capitalizes on offensive mistakes as soon as they're made. Dude is a definite outstate sleeper to keep an eye on.     A sophomore WR prospect with a promising frame that could develop nicely, Driggs is a serious red zone threat who has also shown a defensive upside. With solid ball-tracking ability and a long wingspan, it's often that he's a gigantic mismatch one-on-one in short-yardage situations. If he hits the weight room hard over the next several years, Driggs could become one of the most dangerous wideouts in 9-man football.     A freshman who made a giant splash on varsity this season on both sides of the ball, Thomson possesses an uncommon frame for his age which should already make him a prospect to watch. He's an alert player with surprising speed off the edge, and his film is riddled with him swatting balls out of the air as he closes in on the QB. His effort on the field is insane, and he never gives up on a play. If he could refine his pass rush and continue to bulk up, he could be a special outstate prospect.     Gunnink is fresh off one of the best running back seasons in 9-man football this year. With over 1,700 rushing yards and 24 TDs on the ground, I had high hopes for his tape. Turning on his film, I was immediately impressed with his agility. Gunnink has an uncanny talent to make kids miss in close quarters and hits a nice burst of speed through the line of scrimmage. His film is loaded with giant chunk plays of him ripping off runs for 20+ yards. Keep an eye out for one of the most underrated players in 9-man!     A talented sophomore LB hailing from north central MN, there's a lot to like on Metzger's 2024 tape. He has solid agility and surprising closing speed, and he's a problem for any quarterback looking to throw over the middle of the field. He's a patient athlete, careful not to overextend himself or put himself out of position. On offense, the Rothsay QB can lob balls over defenders' heads, often finding receivers open in the endzone. Keep an eye out for this outstate athlete over the next couple of years.     An uber-physical LB/FB, Evavold will return for his senior season as one of the most underrated linebackers in 9-man football. A menace standing across the middle of the field, Evavold wraps up and frequently tackles below the hip line, either folding the ball carrier or knifing out their legs. He flows exceptionally well to the ball and ransacks the ball carriers when he gets there. As a fullback, Evavold lights up defenders, blowing up holes for his running back. Add Evavold to big boards now because his stock is sure to rise soon.     Some of Evavold's junior tape is absolutely wild. Physically, he's able to do anything you could need from a QB. He's not a scrambler by nature, but he'll gladly extend the play with his legs, and his pocket presence borders on the elite. Evavold gets the ball out under pressure, which would make most quarterbacks crumble, and he often finds someone for a giant gain in the process. With high-level speed and a talented arm, he looks like a high-upside "gem" prospect that needs more hype.

It has been a minute since I've been active, and I apologize for that. Today we're here to celebrate these 10 9-man prospects who've all impressed me greatly. We are BACK with film reviews, so enjoy these 10 underrated outstate athletes!