North Dakota 2026 Pos. Breakdowns: Top 5 QB Edition

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>NORTH DAKOTA--</strong> We keep going back to our position breakdowns across the Dakotas, this time looking at our top five quarterbacks in the 2026 North Dakota class and breaking down the why on each next-level target in our tape evaluations. This 2026 class shows off an excellent list of 9-man quarterbacks, standouts in 11AAA, and more.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>QB5: [player_tooltip player_id='1222777' first='Brayden' last='Blikre'], Minot North </strong><a href="https://x.com/BlikreBrayden">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image --> <figure class="wp-block-image"><img alt="" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>What a first year splash the Minot North Sentinels made in year one of varsity football, as we meet their QB1 that set the tone for their offense in [player_tooltip player_id='1222777' first='Brayden' last='Blikre']. Brayden intrigues me with his poised timing he has on deeper routes even when under pressure as one that you can tell doesn't get flustered easily. The more I watch, the more I felt the timing get better rep after rep which shows plenty of consistency across the board. Brayden has a great opportunity in the coming months to move up some spots in this top five class in my eyes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>QB4: [player_tooltip player_id='1568610' first='Easton' last='Simon'], New Rockford-Sheyenne-Maddock </strong><a href="https://x.com/EastonSimon_2">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1602306,"width":"313px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/01/Easton-Simon-crop-340x224-1736956285.jpg?w=339" alt="" class="wp-image-1602306" style="width:313px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Talk about a quarterback in this top five that has flourished as a newcomer to our 2026 rankings, we are talking about our 9-man State Championship QB MVP [player_tooltip player_id='1568610' first='Easton' last='Simon'] of New Rockford-Sheyenne-Maddock. Easton had a 13 to 1 touchdown to interception ratio in the 2024 season logging 52 passing touchdowns to just four interceptions with an absurd 74% completion percentage. Outside of the stats, on tape Easton shows off instinctiveness with switching his reads as you see a plethora of balance when you watch him go thru his motions. He also can fit the ball within tight windows showing off the proper arm strength it feels like on almost every rep I watched on tape. With one of the top 2026 wide receivers in the class returning to the Rockets in [player_tooltip player_id='1226854' first='Easton' last='Benz'], look for the Easton connection to be alive and well in 2025. Easton is surely a 9-man quarterback that is well-deserving of more next-level attention.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>QB3: [player_tooltip player_id='674786' first='Jax' last='Mattern'], Fargo Shanley</strong> <a href="https://x.com/JaxMattern">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1347560,"width":"310px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/12/6-Jax-Mattern-crop-4378x2875-1711599934-crop-640x421-1721870680.jpg?w=639" alt="" class="wp-image-1347560" style="width:310px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jax comes in as our QB3 in the 2026 class out of Fargo Shanley, as one that I will repeat I have enjoyed the development he has made since I first watched him as a freshmen. His tape shows off plenty of reps of him showing great ball fits in tight windows and mostly are ones that only his wide receivers can get and progress upfield with his sound precision. Jax surely has the most intriguing pump fakes in this top 5 grouping, as I like how he doesn't oversell any of those reads and shows a confident poise on all three levels. Jax surely looks like another quarterback from the Mattern family that you will surely see at the next-level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>QB2: [player_tooltip player_id='1475706' first='Noah' last='Herr'], Bismarck Century </strong><a href="https://x.com/Noah_Herr14">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1602303,"width":"302px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/12/IMG_1866-rotated-crop-481x316-1736956091.jpg?w=480" alt="" class="wp-image-1602303" style="width:302px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Noah was rated by me as one of the top quarterbacks that attended our Prep Redzone Dakotas Showcase in December and when you watch his tape, you should be able to see why that is. Noah shows off in my eyes the highest difficulty of throws you can make amongst this group, constantly having to evade pass rushers with utilizing his excellent athleticism and still shows off the great arm strength and small area ball fits on intermediate routes. His tape also shows off little hestiation with his quickness getting out of the pocket as Noah has the sudden instinct to show off his speed and finish along the edges of the field when needed. He shows off the most efficency in the pass game on tape on the second and third level and is a quarterback that I feel plays bigger than his 6'0 175 pound frame shows off.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>QB1: [player_tooltip player_id='1226857' first='Berkley' last='Frantz'], South Border </strong><a href="https://x.com/BerserkBex">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1602321,"width":"303px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/01/Berkley-crop-641x421-1736956879-crop-512x337-1736957030.jpg?w=511" alt="" class="wp-image-1602321" style="width:303px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We save the best for last, taking a look at our QB1 in the North Dakota 2026 class in South Border's [player_tooltip player_id='1226857' first='Berkley' last='Frantz']. Berkley might be one of the most instinctive and agile quarterbacks in this grouping with his legs and the stat line shows it, logging over 1100 rushing yards as a junior. He also shows off a quick fluid release with great mechanics on intermediate routes. He also shows off some of the best precision to get his wide receivers a lane into the open field quickly as there are several reps that show off that off. Every single release you see from Berkley also shows off the arm strength that is there from an upside perspective on all levels of the field. This young man is constantly getting pressure, but you wouldn't know it based on his poise and balance that is constantly shown off rep after rep. Yet another 9-man quarterback making noise in our quarterback rankings that looks like a scholarship talent.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->