Metro East Prospect Analysis Pt. 2

A menacing edge rusher who has seen time carrying the rock on offense, Bern looks to step into a prominent role on that East Ridge Raptors defense during his senior year. Totaling just shy of 100 rushing yards on 23 rushes on offense, and 22 total tackles with 1 TFL on defense, Bern had a bunch of encouraging tendencies on tape that make me think he could take a big leap in 2025. Bern blows up run plays by displacing the lead blocker with a tough collision, creating chaos once he's in the backfield. Keep a look out for this Raptors edge rusher in 2025!     A thick interior offensive lineman who brings some varsity starting experience to the Raptors front five next year, Galvan is a two-sport athlete who recently hit an impressive 300-pound bench press max. He does some of his best work in the run game, where he does a great job of displacing DTs by crashing down hard and utilizing his leverage by getting under the defender's pads. When in pass-pro, Galvan plays with his head on a swivel and looks for work when left without an immediate threat. He also boasts an attractive 3.87 unweighted GPA, which should draw some serious looks from competitive MIAC and WIAC schools.     Brennan had an insanely productive junior year with the Raptors, tallying 71 total tackles, 4 TFLs, and 2 interceptions in just 9 games played. His tape is about as impressive as you would expect. Brennan functions as an extra linebacker in the run game, and he can be consistently seen blowing up run plays. He's especially effective outside of the tackles, where he can force the ball carrier to the sideline before hawking him down for a loss. He can blow up screens with his physicality when engaged by blockers and has a solid sense of where the QB will throw the ball. Keep an eye out for Brennan in 2025.     A sophomore who made an instant impact on varsity last season, Rekowski is quite literally a jack of all trades. He saw time as a safety, wide receiver, and runningback last year where he put forth several impressive performances that look to be key building blocks for him ahead of next season. Having said all that, Rekowski is about as athletic as you would expect a positionless player to be. He's the kind of player you want to get in the open field because he'll make people miss and cause plenty of trouble for defenses. Don't be surprised if he breaks out during his junior year.     An all-conference TE as a sophomore, Freymiller is sitting in a prime position for his recruiting to take off both this offseason and throughout his junior year. Boasting one of the most impressive get-offs in 6A football, Freymiller presents a legitimate receiving threat to defenses. He moves like a receiver in open space and will cook a vast majority of LBs one-on-one. He does a great job of adjusting to the ball while it's in the air and can perfectly compensate for underthrown balls. Freymiller is a vastly underrated tight end who needs more attention after a baller sophomore season.     A sophomore wideout with a promising future, Ali tore up JV last season putting forth some remarkable midseason tape. Touting impressive speed and a surprising amount of elusiveness in his route-running, Ali can do it all. He does an excellent job of creating space from DBs and frequently impresses me with his quickness, especially with the rock in his hands. He has a knack for repeatedly making defenders miss and it looks like he could seamlessly make the transition to varsity next season and have a solid impact.     Despite only playing in 5 games last season, Wennerberg showed out when he touched the field, recording 22 total tackles, 4 interceptions, and a pass-breakup during his time with the Raptors varsity squad. On his tape, Wennerberg showcases phenomenal anticipation. He mirrors receivers excellently and capitalizes on underthrown balls. He's constantly lurking at the top of his zone, ready to pick off QBs who are brave enough to test him. He's a talented under-the-radar prospect who needs more hype ahead of his senior year.     Knaup is a terrifying defensive lineman who had an insane junior season with the Raptors. He earned all-conference honors after recording 51 total tackles, 7 TFLs, 1 sack, and 1 fumble recovery. Knaup quite literally has a jaw-dropping get-off. He fires off of the LOS like a receiver sprinting downfield and frequently showcases explosiveness you would never expect from a prospect of his size. Knaup can line up anywhere on the defensive line, and his speed is a problem at every position. When he rushes off the edge a simple speed rush and a rip move is enough to cook a slower tackle on the outside. When he's deeper in the trenches, he fires off the ball faster than the offensive linemen and can knife his way into the backfield. NSIC and FCS teams should start to pay serious attention to Knaup.     Tomes was one of the most underrated dual-threat QBs in the state last season. Although he's primarily known as a basketball prospect, Tomes threw for over 1,100 yards and 10 TDs on a 63.9% completion percentage and also stacked up over 560 rushing yards and 10 TDs on the ground. On his tape, there are a bunch of bright spots that could be developed at the next level. Tomes is quick and adapts well to pressure when the pocket collapses around him. He's also got a big arm, and he's shown that he has the ability to hit tight windows far downfield even when throwing off platform. Tomes is a baller and I'm excited to watch his growth during his senior year with the Raptors.     Edstrom, a do-it-all fullback/runningback for the Stillwater Ponies, had 131 rushing yards, 86 receiving yards, and three TDs along with some impressive tape to boot from his junior campaign. He shows off a receiving upside, usually finding about one pass thrown his way on average a game. But Edstrom really stands out doing the nitty-gritty work down in the trenches. When lined up in the "I" Edstrom has shown that he can light up linebackers and at the bare minimum successfully displace big defensive linemen. Stillwaters class of 2026 is a talented one and Edstrom is an underrated piece of that.     Within the last year, Rosario has successfully elevated himself to among the top RBs in the state. As a junior, he rushed for over 1,200 yards with 14 TDs, and he stacked an additional 205 receiving yards on top of that as well. Where Rosario really shines though is on his tape. You would never be able to tell he's almost 200 lbs by the way he moves. He excels at breaking through contested running lanes and showcases high-end speed that allows him to break off chunk plays of 20+ yards reliably. He is a PROBLEM running between the tackles because the moment he reaches the second level, he's liable to rip one off.     Zollar was perhaps one of the biggest and most welcome surprises stemming from the 2024 season. The 2027 prospect burst onto the scene where he was a Day 1 starter who recorded over 380 receiving yards and 2 TDs. On his tape, Zollar is a big and physical possession catch wideout with a penchant for head-topping DBs. Manning up on him is typically a bad idea because Zollar uses his frame appropriately and maximizes his giant catch radius. He's a prospect who I could see rapidly gaining clout over this offseason.