PrepRedzoneMN 2026 Rankings Update: Hardest Hitters

The PrepRedzoneMN 2026 Rankings Update is live and the junior class is officially off and rolling on the recruiting trail. Now that we've dipped into the Top Newcomers, Biggest Stock Risers, and Fastest Prospects, it's time to talk about the hardest hitters the Top 250+ has to offer. LBs, DL, and even some offensive flavor, get to know the biggest thumpers, punishing tacklers, trucksticks, pancake machines, and hardest hitters in Minnesota's 2026 class, in no particular order.   As a reminder, the state rankings are constructed based on a combination of film, size, verified athletic data when available, projection and upside to the college level, production, competition level, multi-sport success and ability, and positional value. Every single athlete's film was watched - unless you didn't update your junior tape - and data was used from our own showcase, as well as during the summer camp circuit. The more I see you in person, padded and unpadded, the better, and the less I know about you the less I feel comfortable ranking you higher than others. I realize that there are a lot of emotions involved, but these rankings are not finalized or concrete, and the range and tier in which a prospect is ranked is more indicative of where they project to than the ranking itself. If anyone has any questions or concerns or knows of someone they think should be ranked, please *respectfully* DM on Twitter (@OJW_Scouting) or email me at: oliver@prepredzone.com.   --    It shouldn't come as much of a surprise that we have some Classic Lake (RIP) representation on this heavy-hitting list. Edina Hornet 6'1, 210 lber. [player_tooltip player_id='1255886' first='Evan' last='Gilder'] is currently holding down the LB3 spot in the Land of 10,000 Lakes and brings a ton of Big School snaps and experience (rising three-year starter, went to state final as a sophomore starter), production (162 career tackles, 6 PBUs, 4 FFs, 2 TFLs), and hard-nosed, run-stuffing ability to the table as an ILB for the heavyweight Hornets.   The thumper and multi-time hard hitter selection rocks #37, which I love, by the way, throws his weight around the gridiron like a heat-seeking missile, especially into contact. The ILB, whose hard-hitting playstyle we've seen in person multiple times in 2024, reads and triggers on the ball quickly and effectively, and he displays sideline-to-sideline speed and pursuit ability. He scrapes across the LOS smoothly and shows off lateral agility and power when he sticks his cleat in the ground and works vertically. Plus, Gilder can gain depth, flip his hips, stick his cleat in the turf, and make impacts in pass coverage, literally. Some of his biggest hits in his junior tape are of Gilder absolutely crushing WRs going over the middle, crumpling them, and sending them into the turf like they just ran into a brick wall. Speaking of brick walls, Gilder can attack, eat, and beat blocks from iOL at the second level and cut off and make plays through contact in run defense, and I particularly love how well he can stand his ground, absorb, and work through blocking attempts from XL OTs, OGs, and OCs at the second level of the defense before stoning RBs in the hole for minimal gains. The 210 lber. also wrecked some defenders as a fullback and lead blocker. Sadly, no confirmed measurables for the Edina Hornet, which I'm hoping we can change this spring/summer, but this kid has some major attention and followers on social media and should be busy on the recruiting trail.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/EvanGilder37/status/1751030977432821768 </div></figure>     One of the most productive and disruptive defensive linemen and pass rushers in Minnesota's 2026 class also happens to be one of the hardest hitters. Marshall's [player_tooltip player_id='615314' first='JR' last='Vierstraete'] is a standout in both padded, on-field competition, as well as the offseason's summer camp circuit, whether he has a helmet and shoulder pads on or not. Vierstraete has some serious production behind his hard-hitting film, as the junior reports 24.5 sacks and 81 TFLs in his prep football career as a rising three-year starter while playing for the 2024 Class 4A state semifinalist Tigers. His weight room weights are eye-catching too, as the Marshall product can bench 335 lbs., squat 490, and clean 275. He also posted two shuttles in the 4.6s and an 8'10" broad this past summer.   The 507 pass-rusher squashes QBs in the backfield and is a menace off the edge whose speed and strength have left a lasting imprint and anxiety in the minds of opposing signal-callers. He goes all out and brings his hips into contact, with good pad height and consistently keeping it clean but also physically dominant and bone-crunching. Vierstraete routinely sends ball carriers backward and even off their feet in his junior tape. Not only does he own pursuit speed, the DE takes good angles to the football, does a good job of cleanly squaring up and dominating at the contact point, and is generally impressive and reliable at tackling 1v1 and in space. The speed and change of direction ability when pursuing and breaking down to corral ball carriers in space is a great plus when talking DL prospects, and effort and pursuit speed resemble that of a police K9 chasing a suspect. The sideline-to-sideline speed and outstanding effort between the whistles is a productive combination as you can see from his career statistics. Vierstraete also possesses instincts, as he has a good rep of him cleanly taking his first step, reading the QBs eyes, and dropping right into the zone pocket between the slanting receiver for a beautifully read pick-six. Also has a rep of him reading and picking off a RB screen later in his tape. Plus, the 220 lber owns impressive closing speed that proves brutal for helpless QBs, great hand usage, especially stabs, rips, chops, or straight-up bull rushes, noticeable bend, and great get-off, natural pad level thanks to his 6'ish build. He's laterally quick and can beat blocking attempts in a variety of ways. Looks like an NSIC prospect to me! Marshall never seems to disappoint in fun-to-watch college recruits.   <a href="https://twitter.com/JrVierstraete/status/1859360994507751712">https://twitter.com/JrVierstraete/status/1859360994507751712</a>     A Minnesotan who recently entered the heralded ranks of the P4 offerees in the region, Triton's Petersohn is arguably the biggest winner of Minnesota's offseason so far, earning offers from Iowa State, North Dakota, and Minnesota this month, the P4 offers coming on the defensive side of the ball. Whether as a LB or rush end, Petersohn's physicality at 6'5, 190+ and near elite-level athleticism - creates the most hard-hitting and bone-crunching junior highlight in the Land of 10,000 Lakes this year. As mentioned in our recent detailed breakdown of the Triton all-time, record-holding hooper, high jumper, and track star:   "The 6'5 athlete's second rep of his tape shows him running the alley and displaying exciting defensive range while coming from the third level of the defense before making contact, lifting, and dumping a RB in WWE-esque fashion. Follows it up a few plays later with a massive hit on a JWP ball carrier that resembled a car crash on the away team's sideline. Petersohn comes downhill and will stick his RBs in the hole in physically dominant fashion, negating extra gains and yardage and sitting the ball carrier down where he stands, and it's safe to say he's one of the harder hitters in the state, as well as one of the most exciting ball carriers."   Petersohn's speed, willingness to sacrifice his body for a big hit, 6'5 frame, and raw athleticism create throwback NFL free safety-type hits, and if he gets up to top speed on the defensive side of the ball he creates collisions with jaw-dropping consequences for ball carriers of all sizes. Watch the tape and it's easy to see why he's both a P4 offeree and an easy pick for one of the state's hardest hitters.   <a href="https://twitter.com/PiercePetersohn/status/1885391094021497112">https://twitter.com/PiercePetersohn/status/1885391094021497112</a>     A long-time name on the Minnesota 2026 Big Board, Prior Lake's 5'11, 210 lb. ILB [player_tooltip player_id='490114' first='Dylan' last='Hawley'] is an experienced thumper with 156 tackles, 8 TFLs, 3 sacks, a FF, and a defensive TD in the two years of starting 6A experience he currently holds under his belt. Hawley opens and continues his junior highlights with nothing but big hits, both when tackling ball carriers as well as attacking blocking attempts around the box. Plus, the 205 lber. displays a fired-up, high-energy, intense playstyle and loves to celebrate his success and big hits. He'd be a fun teammate to battle with and for in the Metro. Hawley opens his tape with an explosive tackler of an Edina ball carrier, careening them both 5 yards into the sideline and nearly onto the track's blacktop from the momentum. His second clip shows the 'backer squaring up, rattling, whiplashing, and dumping a Woodbury RB like he was a tackling dummy for a clean, technically sound, man-on-man dominant tackler. His third clip is the LB sticking his cleat in the ground and wrecking a Wayzata RB from his blindside, and big contact and collisions continue to catch your eye for the next couple minutes. Hawley explodes into contact, attacks blocking attempts with physicality and technique, and can work under blocking attempts, making him slippery around interior OL climbing to the second level. He shoots gaps with pace, showing effectiveness as a blitzer, can mirror and break down in space while tracking a ball carrier, takes good angles to the football, and can run the alley with success. I don't see Hawley giving up his spot as one of MN's hardest hitters anytime soon.   <a href="https://twitter.com/DylanHawley44/status/1858355359225725436">https://twitter.com/DylanHawley44/status/1858355359225725436</a>     Owning a classic small-town LB and thumper physique and athletic resume, Staples-Motley linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1402779' first='Luke' last='Bjerga'] is a three-sport athlete who competes in wrestling and track & field, and to add to the small school skillset, he also doubles as an offensive guard and occasional RB for the Cardinals. Staples-Motley were the 2024 Class AA runner-up, in large part due to Bjerga's utility, toughness, and production, as the 5'9, 210 lber. posted 72.5 tackles, 11.5 TFLs, 5.7 YPC, and 11 total TDs, and he was an obvious eye-catcher when PRzMN watched the state tournament live and in person at The Bank, where he posted his lone INT of the season. That pick was a smooth one too, as Bjerga stepped right in front of a waiting RB's screen against JCC in the state championship for an electric and well-timed pick-six.   Bjerga reports a 315 lb. bench, 405 lb. squat, and 235 lb. clean, and that strength and power translates to on-field physicality and thump, especially at first contact. As both an OG and LB, Bjerga sends opponents flying he puts the pads on them, and he does a good job of running his feet through contact and upends ball carriers. The 210 lber. displays tons of pop, lead in his hands, and good pad level at initial contact, and can easily knock opponent's backward, off their feet, and even onto their backs off the snap or in a tackle. Bjerga attacks blocking attempts and can absorb big collisions himself before working forward for the ensuing tackle or TFL and he really packs a punch if he has a full head of steam and is working laterally across the LOS. Plus, the fullback is a rumblin, bumblin contact balance-heavy ball carrier who can easily step and slip through tackle attempts at his lower body. He's overall a hard-nosed, never takes a play off, living and thriving in the contact department embodiment of small town, two way toughness. DIII, NAIA, and even JUCO programs should be all over this kid.   <a href="https://twitter.com/BjergaLuke/status/1861835127778668885">https://twitter.com/BjergaLuke/status/1861835127778668885</a>     Hill-Murray once again has some intriguing athletes in this upcoming recruiting cycle. Representing the LB/EDGE hybrids, 6'2, 200 lber. [player_tooltip player_id='1249660' first='George' last='Evert'] is one of the 2026 ranking update's Top Newcomers, sliding firmly inside the Top 150 with a ton of room and ability to continue to climb. Not only is Evert tall, long, and one of the state's best pass rushers - posting 6.5 sacks in 11 games of 2024 action - the junior is also one of the state's hardest hitters, using the 9' broad he posted at the PRzMN Showcase to explode through contact out on the edge.   Evert was in the face of QBs all 2024, finishing the season with 21 QB hits along with the 6.5 sacks, and he opens his tape with a blitz off the edge of the St. Anthony Village LOS, where he puts the RB in pass protection flat on his butt after stumbling him backward like a cartoon character post-hammer bonk. Evert owns a long frame with a ton of room to fill in, and uses those long arms to disrupt the passing game by getting his hands into passing lanes and the QB's face. He displays a great get-off, closes quickly, and can beat blocks with either quickness or power. Evert can bend at the top of the arc well, tackle in 1v1 situations, and generally wins at the contact point. The 200 lber. sticks his shoulder pads right under the chin of QBs, knocking them parallel to the turf and surely frightening the poor kid's mother, who is watching helplessly in the stands. The size and frame, production and pass-rushing ability, and physicality have me bullish about the 4A private schooler's college stock.   <a href="https://twitter.com/EvertGeorge5/status/1856833684562665560">https://twitter.com/EvertGeorge5/status/1856833684562665560</a>     Stewartville's linebacker and thumper [player_tooltip player_id='1605829' first='Isaac' last='Spencer'] is on a shortlist of 2026 prospects in contention for a massive rankings bump. If I can confirm both Spencer's reported 6'3, 215 lbs. and 4.71 40, Spencer is going to be a Top 50 kid in no time. Playing with the undisputed Big Dog of Class AAA, Spencer posted 83 tackles and a sack in 2024, and also earned tick during the Tigers' 2023 state championship run as well, posting 10 tackles in his sophomore season.   South Dakota came to check in on Spencer this offseason, and you can see why, as the 6'3, 215 lber. is a menacing figure in the middle of the Tigers defense whose big, 6'3 frame staring over the top of the OL is a can't-miss sight for opposing QBs and RBs. He's a big, strong, physical presence who patrols the box like a shark smelling blood in the water. Spencer owns good range in run support defensively, and is a runaway freight train at the contact point, opening his tape with a bone-shattering hit on a Waseca ball carrier that snaps the young man's head back like he was in a car accident demonstration. He freezes ball carrier's feet when he makes contact, negating extra gains and stonewalling them in the hole, and is physically dominant and thrives in run support. However, he does show some looseness in his hips and speed to aid in coverage. The 215 lbs., strength, and willingness for Spencer to stick his head into contact is a painful combination for opposing ball carriers, and when he makes contact, you're going to know it, as you got a less than favorable chance of getting an extra inch, much less a yard, after Spencer puts the pads on you. If Stewie wants to go for three in a row in 2025, Spencer is going to be a big reason why. Hope to see this kid on the camp trail this offseason.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/isaacspencer07/status/1885897247256088578 </div></figure>     The Byron Bears are at it again with a potential P4 prospect. New RB1 [player_tooltip player_id='1104940' first='Carson' last='Heimer'] is on the most prestigious of shortlists this offseason, having been visited by the Minnesota Golden Gophers' Director of Recruiting John Schaekel at Byron High School this past week. Although he's holding it down as RB1, Heimer will more than likely see his positional classification switch to ATH or even DB, as he's a legitimate two-way prospect whose hard-hitting physicality showed up as a SAF with the Bears' aggressive 2024 defense. With verified speed that we discussed in depth in the recently published "Fastest Prospects" feature on PRzMN, Heimer can generate a ton of momentum and power into contact and pops the ball out thanks to the force he creates at initial contact. He's a strong, technically-sound tackler who can consistently win, and even dominate, 1v1 hits and tackles. Heimer flies out of the secondary like he was shot out of a slingshot, stuffing receivers at initial contact and crumpling, spinning, or tossing them backward for some of the bigger hits created by any Minnesotan in 2024.   Here's what he wrote about his defensive skillset in the latest PRzMN "Fastest Prospects" special:   "As a safety, the 185 lber. opens his defensive reps with a car crash-esque collision against a Faribault RB after coming across the field at full tilt, lowering a shoulder, and running through the RB for a crushing and dominant hit that sends the poor kid's feet over his head like he was a rag doll in a World War 1 trech charge. Heimer is one of the state's hardest hitters who can physically dominate at the contact point and create hair-raising hits that get the crowd on their feet, and his play speed allows him to play with range and cover large swaths of ground in pursuit of the pigskin throughout a rep. He can come downhill and run down QBs behind the LOS as well as get out of his breaks with pace and create massive hits to jar the ball loose in coverage from his safety spot. Heimer is a strong 1v1 tackler who is great at tackling in space, reads the QB eyes and route concepts quickly, and naturally works to undercut routes and make plays on the ball, and runs the alley effectively. Safety is very much in play for Heimer's potential position at the next level, and North Dakota and Wyoming have come in to check on the junior this past month. I'd keep an eye on this kid's recruitment and stock if I were you."   <a href="https://twitter.com/carson_heimer8/status/1885179903689318677">https://twitter.com/carson_heimer8/status/1885179903689318677</a>     There are bigger, more overwhelming offensive linemen in the MN 2026 class, but in terms of sheer, simple, pad-cracking, highlight tape-worthy pop, I don't think anyone is touching Lakeville North's [player_tooltip player_id='1612785' first='Carter' last='Crawford']. There's a reason the 6', 265 lb. LG is already a two-way starter and 2x All-District selection in one of Minnesota's most talent-rich areas of 6A, as this kid is a bowling ball of a puller who treats DL and LBs like pins on a Friday night. Besides the pulling, I find myself most impressed with how physical and strong he is when winning at the initial contact point. Crawford's heavy hands and aggressive punch help the 265 lber. noticeably knock defenders backward and take the air out of their lungs, and if he gets you off-balance it's game over. The bull of a LG runs defenders off their feet tramples and overwhelms when climbing to the second level and even in simple down blocks, leaving LBs and even DL scurrying away and out of the play like a herd of cattle. The mauler freezes, stuns, and knocks opponents off their feet and onto their butts when he squares them with a full head of steam as a puller, leaving defenders flat on their backs and trying to figure out what happened. Would love to see Crawford padded up in person this camp season, and if he can win 1v1 assignments in camps as physically dominantly as he does on tape, he's going to be a popular NSIC iOL target, especially if he's 6'. Big-time potential stock riser here!   <a href="https://twitter.com/CarterC7366/status/1875917604583362866">https://twitter.com/CarterC7366/status/1875917604583362866</a>     Carrying on a long and decorated tradition of Rosemount Irish LBs, 2026 inside 'backer and raging bull of a tackler [player_tooltip player_id='1255895' first='Max' last='Jones'] had a strong junior season in the 6A ranks, undoubtedly solidifying himself as one of Minnesota's hardest hitters as soon as you turn on the junior tape. The 210 lber. aggressively tosses and ragdolls ball carriers into the turf like it's a wrestling match, gets the most out of every hit, and is going to make sure you know it's the All-District selection when he hits you. Jones does a good job of dropping into passing lanes in zone coverage and had a nice INT vs. Blaine to highlight some coverage ability. He also proved himself to be a productive blitzer, displaying both the power and quickness to defeat blocking attempts in whatever way was asked of him at the time. Jones sifts and works through traffic smoothly, finding the ball carrier with pace, and drives his feet after initial contact, forcing RBs and QBs 4-5 yards backward in dominant fashion. He has reps of him knocking RBs off their feet and completely enveloping them before slamming and bouncing them off the turf while carrying his full weight, and the Rosemount product is a brick wall at the contact point who rocks RBs in the hole and doesn't allow extra gains after contact. Plus, he owns strong hands that can shock and shed 6A iOL in the box. I love watching this kid hit people.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/Jonsey_41/status/1883963792553583073 </div></figure>

The PrepRedzoneMN 2026 Rankings Update is live and the junior class is officially off and rolling on the recruiting trail. Now that we've dipped into the Top Newcomers, Biggest Stock Risers, and Fastest Prospects, it's time to talk about the hardest hitters the Top 250+ has to offer. LBs, DL, and even some offensive flavor, get to know the biggest thumpers, punishing tacklers, trucksticks, pancake machines, and hardest hitters in Minnesota's 2026 class, in no particular order.