Meet the North Dakota 2026 Newcomers: Part I

NORTH DAKOTA-- We get the ball rolling with the 2026 newcomers we introduce to our 2026 North Dakota rankings in Part I. With this group of 12, we found what we feel are prospects that you will want on your recruiting board now, not later.    Liam is one that is really light on tape, but man the upside pops up quickly to be a offensive line prospect to watch for in his senior season for Minot. He shows off great speed with his first step and also is one that provides the lower body length to close off the incoming defender with his steps quickly. With the bulk of the line for the Magicians graduating, he will be one to watch for in his senior season in my eyes. <a href="https://x.com/LiamNeff60">Twitter</a>     He might not be the biggest 2026 linebacker out there, but Fargo North's [player_tooltip player_id='1590652' first='Jace' last='Varriano'] is one that I like out of this 2026 class. He brings a consistent nose to the ball mentality, as a linebacker that has a huge motor and for his size is quite rangey with his presence he brings into the backfield. I love watching how locked in he shows off to be with his vision as this kid seems to be just about everywhere on tape. <a href="https://x.com/JaceVarriano32">Twitter</a>     The 6'2 225 pounder shows off his skillsets on both sides of the trenches as one that intrigues me with his balanced pad-level he shows off. His footwork also shows off the fluidity as a right tackle that I like to see and the upside Landon has to grow with his footwork shows off promise to be a stockriser in this 2026 class in the future. He also shows off the bend I like to see in a next-level prospect and shows off the short area vision as a defensive linemen. Surely looks like a young man that has position flexibility at the next level. <a href="https://x.com/landonralph42">Twitter</a>     Jacob is a newcomer to our North Dakota rankings that although undersize, he showed off versatility with the use of his athleticism. He is a 2026 quarterback that certainly has a good football IQ that if the play breaks down, he knows how to use his legs or use his arm talent which shows off some solid touch especially on intermediate routes to throw on the run. He surely has more upside to show off that arm talent which I hope to see at camps further this summer. <a href="https://x.com/Jacobnov5">Twitter</a>     Thaydan you can tell is an offensive linemen that is a workhorse on every reps he shows off on tape. What intrigues me most about Thaydan is his angle blocking from the reps I watched on tape and even though he needs to develop on his pad-level with his angle blocking, at 6'3 285 pounds you can tell even being slightly off base with his pad-level he still can drive leverage. I can't find Thaydan on Twitter yet, but to me he surely could be a riser in this 2026 class upcoming. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2QfsUM">Tape</a>     Easton was a 2026 hidden gem that I learned about from watching the 9-man state championship game as our new QB4 in our North Dakota rankings. The 6'0 175 pounder showed off excellent poise for the entirety of the game I watched and was one of the once balanced ball-throwers I witnessed in general amongst all the quarterbacks in the FargoDome at the state championships several weeks back. His efficency on tape throwing in tight windows also is intriguing as a QB prospect that could make a splash at camps this summer. <a href="https://x.com/EastonSimon_2">Twitter</a>     Josia is a 2026 wide receiver out of Minot North that intrigues me with the ceiling he shows to have in the light tape that is out there at the moment. His first look shows off a wide receiver that is not afraid to utilze his skills further as a blocker. He also shows off a eye-catching release off the snap for his 6'1 190 pound frame as he shows off as a WR that can get into the open field quickly when the ball comes his way. I will be intrigued to see how he looks further as a pass-catcher at camps this summer. <a href="https://x.com/JaquinetJo1">Twitter</a>     Tristan is a 2026 athlete that surely defines the term to a core. His instincts pop on both sides of the ball as you can gauge that this young man has great vision and shows off a suddenness with his release as one that constantly is found in the backfield and carries that sideline to sideline presence you want out of your hybrid DB/LB. His projection at the next-level to me appears as as a free safety as a 5'10 175 pounder that plays way bigger than his measurables will show you. <a href="https://x.com/TristanPope07">Twitter</a>     A 2026 newcomer that crashed high up into our rankings as our new LB1 is [player_tooltip player_id='1590961' first='Carson' last='Quam'] out of Shiloh Christian. The amount of finesse that Carson plays with on every rep was super intirguing to evaluate as linebacker that you can find just about anywhere on the field with his rangey and his wirey body type that plays with a great physical presence when he makes contact. He alsos shows off an instinctive release that surely to me is a linebacker prospect you will see on Saturdays. <a href="https://x.com/CarsonQuam31302">Twitter</a>     Let's just say the 2026 wide receiver talent in North Dakota runs deep as [player_tooltip player_id='1590577' first='Zavion' last='Harilstad'] checks in as our WR5 in the class and within our top 25. The fluidity as a route-runner of this 6'3 185 pounder certainly catches our attention, as Zavion shows it off from start to finish with his routes. He also has the pull-away sepeartion with his long strides to be a huge problem for secondaries in the open field. Zavion also comes with a very long catch radius and vertical as one that I will project could be a probable stockriser by our next 2026 update. <a href="https://x.com/zharildstad07">Twitter</a>     Easily the biggest newcomer coming out of this North Dakota 2026 class is 6'5 275 pounder [player_tooltip player_id='1568598' first='Seth' last='Holder'] out of West Fargo Sheyenne who enters our rankings at #6 overall. He shows off excellent pad-level and balance and also possesses the excellent physicality in his punch. He also shows off a fluid & quick release as a pull-blocker that shows off finessive traits as a second level mauler. He surely looks like a D1 grade in my eyes out of this 2026 class. <a href="https://x.com/SethHolder1030">Twitter</a>

NORTH DAKOTA-- We get the ball rolling with the 2026 newcomers we introduce to our 2026 North Dakota rankings in Part I. With this group of 12, we found what we feel are prospects that you will want on your recruiting board now, not later.