9-Man 26s/27s Film Review

As the 2024 season comes to an end, it's time to start looking forward to the athletes who will be returning to make an impact over the next several years. No class of Minnesota football shows off talent from underclassmen better than 9-man, and I've found 8 athletes from our state's smallest class who are primed to return in 2025, and will likely have breakout seasons!    One of the most effective rushers on a 10-0 MIB team, Rossi has tallied just shy of 450 rushing yards throughout his junior season and 17 tackles. Often showcasing positional versatility on film, Rossi is a plug-and-play athlete who does his best work outside of the tackles in open space. He's capable of making multiple defenders miss during a play, and Rossi is quick to close the ball toward ball carriers on defense. His general athleticism carries him far, and could likely be molded into a variety of different things at the next level. With a graduating senior in front of him this season, it is seemingly inevitable that his workload will increase drastically and his body of work will only grow in stature.     Although he has limited sophomore tape out so far, I think there are a lot of encouraging tendencies in Knapper's film. With just over 215 receiving yards throughout 2024 this season and 3 TDs, as well as 47 tackles on defense, he's been successful on both sides of the ball. Knapper flows well to the ball on defense and is careful not to over-pursue. He's exceptionally physical when meeting offensive linemen in the hole, and has even blown up plays by stonewalling them at the point of contact. Knapper is definitely a name to keep an eye out for heading forward.     Asuma looks leaps and bounds more athletic than any other player on the field throughout his tape. He's a man amongst boys playing on the field. Bigger, faster, stronger, quicker, you name it Asuma is leaps and bounds above his counterparts. Giving him the ball in open space is a clear-cut recipe for success, and he moves incredibly well with the rock in his hands. He's primarily a running back, but he also has an abundance of tape of him lined up wide and burning DBs deep over their heads. Ahead of his senior year, he looks like one of the most promising prospects in northern MN and I expect to see offers start to roll in for him any time.     Hailing from one of the northernmost schools in the state, Fairbanks is a WR/DB whose stock I see rising significantly over the next few years. With quick hips and solid hands, he's a standout possession receiver who can bring down the ball despite being rocked, and Fairbanks has shown the ability to make men miss in space. As a DB he's quick and adjusts to the nature of the play well. He tackles low and will knife out the ball carrier's legs from under him in the run game. Fairbanks looks like a shifty two-way threat who can make a difference at the next level.     One of the better corners in 9-man football, Kimmes's junior tape shows some encouraging tendencies. He capitalizes on opportunities when they come his way and consistently wraps up low. His work against Cook County was particularly impressive, as Kimmes showed off an impressive mirror technique and high-level recovery towards the end of the play. Kimmes is an under-the-radar out-state DB who should get more attention ahead of his senior season.     A prospect whose positional versatility has impressed me as of late, Lucca is an RB/DB hailing from the far north. He can slip through tackles at the line of scrimmage, and despite being on the smaller side, can lay the wood on defense. The effort he gives when hawking down ball carriers is admirable, and I think that Lucca is a fun prospect to keep an eye out for going forward.     A sophomore starter who should start to garner recruiting attention is Cook County's Rude. He's got a solid frame on him, especially for a 9-man LB. Rude flows well to the ball carrier and can often be seen tackling at the hip and effectively folding ball carriers. When he's closing in on a ball carrier in the open field, I frequently find myself impressed by both his speed and physicality. I hope we're able to see Rude on the camp circuit ahead of his junior year to further track his development.     Boasting a promising frame for a sophomore, Noyes is a 9-man prospect that I could see rising quickly during his junior and senior years. While he admittedly doesn't have a lot of tape out right now, what he does have showcases a bigger prospect that moves well laterally, has a quick first step, and makes good use of his hands. Noyes is a diamond in the rough prospect to keep an eye out for.

As the 2024 season comes to an end, it's time to start looking forward to the athletes who will be returning to make an impact over the next several years. No class of Minnesota football shows off talent from underclassmen better than 9-man, and I've found 8 athletes from our state's smallest class who are primed to return in 2025, and will likely have breakout seasons!