PrepRedzoneMN 2027 Rankings Update: Most Versatile

Chugging along with the PrepRedzoneMN 2027 Rankings Update, and after covering some of the initial headliners and the always trusty Top Newcomers and Stock Risers, we're starting to dig into the meat of the rankings. When scouting, evaluating, and ranking prospects, versatility is a trait that should never be overlooked. Generally, being a multi-phase contributor and positionally versatile prospect means that you're a smart football, tough, have the endurance to withstand and succeed with a high volume of game reps, and have the functional athleticism and wherewithal to do a lot of things well on the football field. Having the skillset to project to multiple positions at the next level, including as a special teams contributor, brings you rare and valuable utility and athleticism to a college program, and we hope that we've made it clear that Versatility as a prospect is a big deal. The 2027 rankings have a talented batch of versatile prep football players, with Big School from 9Man represented and a whole lot of INTs, kickoff returns for six, positions played, and touchdowns scored by these 10 sophomores. Dig in!   If you have any questions on the rankings, of if you know of someone we missed, please feel free to email: oliver@prepredzone.com   --    The first 2027 Minnesotan I think of when I hear the word "versatile", Mankato West's [player_tooltip player_id='1306596' first='Hudson' last='Clarksean'] has been making waves and keeping his presence known since he was a freshman, and especially during last summer's camp circuit. Clarksean, with his lean, filled-out, and still-developing frame, was an eye-catcher on the camp circuit who posted some solid athletic numbers for his age, leading to some serious hype surrounding the Scarlets' young buck going into his sophomore season. A varsity starter in 2024, Clarksean showed why there's so much hype surrounding the young man, as he proved to be more than capable of moving mass and opening up seams as a TE/HB hybrid.   Clarksean can dominate at the contact point and win 1v1 blocks against bigger and older DEs with authority, driving them onto their backs for aggressive finishes and using his nonstop leg drive post-contact to run defenders 20+ yards downfield. The Mankato West sophomore is a powerful kid who plays with an aggressive edge and shows a rare ability to beat opponents up physically as a 200-ish pound underclassman. The words "strong" and "physical" echoed through my head while I watched his sophomore tape, and he threw some huge blocks on kickoff return duty for good measure. To highlight the versatility, Clarksean got reps at DL, where his get-off and lateral agility helped him run down ball carriers in the backfield for TFLs, as well as at RB, where he proved himself to be a nimble ball carrier with solid vision, effective cuts, and some contact balance to boot. Clarksean will lower the pads and run your butt over if you don't come prepared, shows noticeable fight and determination with the rock in hand, and has good overall lateral agility and balance. Not sure where he projects best, it's hard not to think LB, but he's got a lot of runway left to find out.     Size and length are harder to find than usual in the 2027 class, as are experienced trench warfare specialists along the LOS, so PrepRedzoneMN is going to be keeping a close eye on Mahtomedi's [player_tooltip player_id='1633456' first='Jacob' last='Sokoll'] the rest of the offseason and beyond. Additionally, Sokoll possesses valuable utility as a three-phase contributor who can play TE, FB, and long snap, and to sweeten the pot, he's a multi-sport athlete who is also a good baseball player with the Zephyrs.   As a DE, Sokoll does a good job of sniffing out the football and working up and under pullers and mobile OL around the LOS. You can visibly see him read, stay home and hold his gap, and accelerate from a dead stop to close and make tackles on QBs and RBs out on the edge and in space, and he shows good initial pop and can create separation from blockers when he locks out and extends his arms. Sokoll possesses the long speed to pursue and run down ball carriers to the sideline and overall does a good job of not getting tied up around the LOS and not letting OL get their hands on. As a FB/TE, Sokoll is a bruising blocker who can lay some serious wood, as well as demonstrates good burst and body control as a ball carrier who can get you hard yards between the tackles and run through arm tackles at his lower body. Plus, Sokoll can catch the rock out of the backfield, both as a route runner and in the screen game, and displays some real juice and YAC ability after the catch. Really like the versatility, production, and dynamic ability from the young DE.     Easily one of the most electric playmakers in the 2027 class, Wayzata's Jaxon Brown also falls into a few additional categories such as "most likely to raise his ranking", "fastest sophomores", "most likely to break out in 2024", and of course: "most versatile." Brown posted 850 all-purpose yards and 3 TDs with the Trojans varsity in 2024, a nice foundation of varsity reps, splash plays, and experience as an underclassman in the 6A ranks. The 2027 standout has been clocked as fast as 11.54 and 11.6 in the 100M, as well as 24.85 in the 200M as a freshman, in addition to a 9' pole vault, as we had him clocked as a flying 4.71 in the 40 as a freshman, to mention eye-popping times such as his 4.43 and 4.3 shuttle, 8'9 broad, and 6.84 and 6.81 L-drill. Already possessing verified track and gridiron times is a HUGE plus in his projection to the college level, and that quickness and twitch was on full display as an underclassman, as Brown shows homerun speed with the ball in his hand and the explosiveness to help him take routine jet sweeps to the crib with ease. Brown can win vertically and is easily able to take the top off the defense, tracks and plays the deep ball well, and is a willing and effective blocker out on the perimeter. His versatility is highlighted as a kick returner, with showing a particularly electric return against Minnetonka where he pinballs off two Skipper tackle attempts, slips through another, and bolts up the sideline for a return near the 50 yard line. Also had a good return against Edina that saw him break a few tackles with some quick feet and sudden footwork. Brown is lightning in a bottle, and I can't wait to see how his role expands now that he's an upperclassman. Keep an eye out for Wayzata in 2025!     It shouldn't come as a surprise that a #15 ranked overall prospect, and #2 athlete, qualifies as one of the most versatile athletes. Elk River's do-it-all two-way starter has one of the most decorated athletic resumes in the state, even regardless of class. Already a two-way, two-year starter with the now-5A state champion Elks, Kleffman already has totaled 1,266 rushing yards (981 in 2024) and 15 TDs (13 in 2024) and 205 tackles (111 in 2024), 19 TFLs (15 in 2024), a sack, a FF, a blocked kick, and three PBUs in his high school football career, showing more than enough juice to make plays and make an impact on every game since the Week 1 of his freshman season.   Also a center fielder on the baseball team, Kleffman has that "it" factor, and #0 shows great vision, jittery and quick-twitch footwork, as well as his burst and acceleration from a dead stop, make him a threat to take the ball to the house on any given carry. Kleffman is an elite playmaker, with twitch, contact balance, sudden and effective footwork in space, and the ability to go from 0-60 in a blink, which help consistently make that free defender miss. Additionally, Kleffman is a OLB/nickel hybrid with a quick trigger to the football with impressive closing speed that can split double teams and make tackles at or behind the LOS with effectiveness. He can blitz off the edge, has a great rep in the state semifinals as a standup EDGE where he bolts into the backfield, gets into the QB's face to force a pitch, then changes direction and sticks onto the RB for a double read that not a lot of defenders can even dream about making, and also blocked a punt from the edge of the LOS, coming out of his stance like a sprinter, which a teammate picked up and returned for a TD and a sweet special teams splash play. Kleffman also demonstrates great range and is a thunderous tackler with impressive strength at the contact point, especially for his size. The kid can do everything and do everything well. I'm very interested to see how Kleffman continues to develop and sharpen his already ultra-dynamic game.     Not sure what's in the water of Minnesota's various 9Man programs as of late, but we've been seeing top-tier prospects come out of Minnesota's 9Man division at an exciting and potentially historic clip as of late. Following in the footsteps of his soon-to-be-MSU-Mankato-bound older brother Cam, 2027 standout [player_tooltip player_id='1290743' first='Reid' last='Hungerholt'] is carving out his own potentially record-breaking legacy at LeRoy-Ostrander High School and with the new LeRoy-Ostrander/Lyle-Pacelli co-op program. Hungerholt is a rising three-year starter who does great work on either side of the ball as a 6'2 WR and DB, but he's also a threat as a returner with real-deal three-phase who PRzMN got to see live and inperson at U.S. Bank Stadium in the 9Man state semifinals. Hungerholt was a true WR1 who could take the top off the defense on any given vertical route, and was a natural and easy playmaker who was comfortable under the brightest lights of a high school football season. Heavy weight for a sophomore's shoulders, but the younger Hungerholt is up for the challenge, and he posted more than 900 all-purpose yards and 10 TDs, along with 38 tackles and 6 INTs, in his sophomore season of high school football. He also passed the 1,000 point mark on the hardwood as a sophomore, and he's coming for his brother's all-time scoring record when it's all said and done. Gotta love some multi-sport heroics for good measure.   The tape displays a three-phase playmaker and big-play machine with homerun speed. Hungerholt is a shifty and elusive ball carrier who can accelerate at top speed, and he's an electric kick returner whose long legs and powerful cuts help launch him into daylight and space to make for easy TD runs with a whole team of defenders chasing him. Hungerholt is quick at the top of the route and can consistently get open and create separation as a route runner and wide receiver. He demonstrates tons of natural ball-hawking range as a MOF defender and free safety who can play the entire width of the field in pass defense, and his smooth COD ability and loose hips help him stay sticky in coverage. And with his speed, there isn't a receiver around who can burn him deep. Tall, long, fluid and athletic sophomore who really looks like he projects well to the next level. Hope to see him at April's PrepRedzoneMN Showcase.     A must-know name in the 2027 class, Richfield's [player_tooltip player_id='1105134' first='Dre' last='Collins'] is a standout two-sport athlete with a decorated background on both the gridiron and hardcourt, a mix that should never be discounted when it comes to scouting Minnesota-born-and-bred ballers. Collins is also one of the more popular 2027s in the state, having earned a coveted Junior Day invite to the Golden Gophers upcoming event, as well as a camp invite from the Wisconsin Badgers. With verified size at 6'3, 170+, Collins had one of the most versatile stat sheets in Minnesota, finishing 2024 with 6 total TDs, with three of them coming as catches, two as kickoff returns, and one as a punt return, and he threw for a TD. Plus, he also picked off 5 passes and caught 37 passes for 645 yards. To highlight more versatility, Collins played 6 positions in 2024, including punter, and his long strides cover a lot of ground with each step, and those same long legs him step and slip through tackle attempts at his lower body. He's explosive, can cut at top speed, and shows good vision, as well as contact balance and the speed to finish big runs for six. Collins also possesses eye-catching 50/50 ball ability and can high-point the rock and shows some bounce when playing the ball in the air as well. He's also fun to watch as a safety, as he can play hash to sideline and does a good job as a Cover 2 safety thanks to his range and ball skills, and he's looking to score after the INT as well. Big-time versatility and playmaking ability in a verified frame is always going to be a popular mix.     How could you not like an EDGE/fullback mix?! Princeton has an exciting 2027 crop of sophomores who still have a lot of football left in front of them, and one of the headliners is undoubtedly 6'2, 210 lber. [player_tooltip player_id='1120527' first='Colton' last='Johnson']. With good size and utility, as well as a noticeable motor, Johnson totaled 26 tackles, 2.5 TFLs, 2 sacks, 2 FF, and 1 blocked kick, as well as 2 carries for 10 yards for the 9-1 Tigers, and you have to like the versatile positional designation of both fullback and EDGE and have to assume Johnson is a fan of contact, an assumption that is backed up in his sophomore tape. The 210ish pounder is a good edge defender who can shed, close, and make tackles all around the field, as well as get after QBs as a pass rusher. The standup EDGE can align wide off the LOS and shows an explosive get-off who can drop his hips and bend the edge well at his speed. The speed he rushes at was effective in 2024, as well as a good base of raw pass-rushing ability to build on, and Johnson also proved himself to be a strong tackler who can also can drop into passing lanes and disrupt an opponent's quick game. Offensively, Johnson is an effective lead blocker who can identify and eliminate the most dangerous defender and open big holes for his fellow RBs. Good pop at the contact point as well, and he shows good leg drive and some strength and go-forward as a ball carrier. Plus, that aforementioned high motor was also productive on special teams to add to his versatility. If this kid can put on some weight this offseason, he will be a serious problem on both the gridiron and recruiting trail.     You can never have enough fullbacks, and the 218 has a promising young sophomore fullback/linebacker mix in Cloquet's [player_tooltip player_id='1581363' first='Jack' last='Horvat']. A strong kid who can bench 270 pounds and squat 365, Horvat had a solid showing at this past December's Stock-Up Showcase, highlighting some utility as a route runner and pass catcher who can get open and win 1v1 routes against man coverage. Horvat posted 89 carries for 365 yards and 2 TDs as a sophomore, as well as 3 catches for 48 yards and another score, and the sophomore shows some juice as a ball carrier, with contact balance, quick and effective footwork, and good leg drive after contact. Plus, he's a good lead blocker who can stand up and win at the contact point in the hole against LBs. Defensively, Horvat is a strong tackler who can shed blocks at the second level and close quickly, shoot gaps with pace to make tackles behind the LOS, and tackle 1v1 and in space. Horvat also runs the alley well, and shows good start/stop ability, acceleration, and closing speed in run support. He's got a lot of football in front of him.     Representing the beautiful Grand Marais area Way Up North, the Cook County 9Man program has been quietly putting out ballers since I started working with PrepRedzoneMN, and they have an explosive and versatile sophomore in WR [player_tooltip player_id='1394056' first='Macoy' last='Fairbanks'] representing their 2027 class. Not only can Fairbanks play WR and DB, he also returned three kickoffs for six in 2024, adding three-phase versatility to his resume that also includes an All-District Honorable Mention nod from this past season.   Fairbanks totaled 25 catches for 509 yards and 6 TDs, 357 return yards and 3 TDs, and 49 total tackles, as well as 2 PBUs and 2 INTs for good measure. The three-phase versatility and production can be credited to his balanced and diverse skillset that includes good vision, good ball skills, noticeable burst, the ability to cut at top speed, and homerun speed with the ball in his hands to create splash plays and finish big runs for six. Fairbanks can take the top off the defense, is shifty and elusive in the open field, and is a solid route runner who can create separation, not waste movement, and cut off his routes smoothly and effectively. Plus, he's got great balance, especially as a ball carrier, who put together some electric runs in 2024, sometimes as a wildcat QB, and is a strong and physical tackler defensively. I foresee many more big plays in Fairbanks' future.     Good to see Win-E-Mac have some representation on the 2027 Rankings! RB/WR [player_tooltip player_id='1573260' first='Jayden' last='Haugen'] really won me over thanks to his versatility as a three-phase contributor and comfortability with the ball in hand. Haugen took a kick back for six in 2024 to highlight some explosiveness, and he was also productive on the stat sheet, finishing 2024 with 784 rushing yards and 9 TDs, the KOR for a TD, and 39 tackles and 2 INTs en route to an All-District nod as a sophomore. The speed pops off the tape, and Haugen displays big play burst with the speed to finish long runs for six and good contact balance for his size. If he sees daylight, he's gone, and Haugen can also get up to top speed quickly. If he has a good offseason, Haugen could be a kid in real contention for a 9Man All-State nod in a couple seasons. His speed and playmaking ability is legit.    --

Chugging along with the PrepRedzoneMN 2027 Rankings Update, and after covering some of the initial headliners and the always trusty Top Newcomers and Stock Risers, we're starting to dig into the meat of the rankings. When scouting, evaluating, and ranking prospects, versatility is a trait that should never be overlooked. Generally, being a multi-phase contributor and positionally versatile prospect means that you're a smart football, tough, have the endurance to withstand and succeed with a high volume of game reps, and have the functional athleticism and wherewithal to do a lot of things well on the football field. Having the skillset to project to multiple positions at the next level, including as a special teams contributor, brings you rare and valuable utility and athleticism to a college program, and we hope that we've made it clear that Versatility as a prospect is a big deal. The 2027 rankings have a talented batch of versatile prep football players, with Big School from 9Man represented and a whole lot of INTs, kickoff returns for six, positions played, and touchdowns scored by these 10 sophomores. Dig in!