Nate’s PRZ Minnesolta Combine Standout Notebook: Part VI

We continue thru our notebook of standouts at our Prep Redzone Minnesota Combine from last Sunday in Plymouth mixing it up with a ton of QBs, TEs, and WRs in this grouping. It took nearly 1500 words to put together this group including: targets I am shocked that they don't have an offer yet, my vote for TE MVP, plenty of gunslingers with intrguing upside.   [player_tooltip player_id='1581344' first='Calvin' last='Nelson'], QB, Red Wing 2026 <a href="https://x.com/calvinnelson127">Twitter</a>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/04/IMG_3146-rotated-crop-472x310-1744985261.jpg?w=471" alt="" class="wp-image-1659204" style="width:290px;height:auto" /></figure>   One of the first quarterbacks that caught my attention while with the QB group, was 6'2 190 pounder [player_tooltip player_id='1581344' first='Calvin' last='Nelson'] out of Red Wing. The 2026 QB target showed off fluid arm strength that was capable of throwing on all three levels as Calvin also was efficent with his ball placement in the reps I watched that showed off a vast variety of throws that showed off a balance with his throwing arm as one that impressed me with his mechanics. One that coud be intriguing on the camp trail this summer in my eyes.   [player_tooltip player_id='743253' first='Connor' last='Johnson'], QB, Forest Lake 2026 <a href="https://x.com/connorjohnso_2">Twitter</a>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/04/IMG_3011-rotated-crop-472x310-1744983527.jpg?w=471" alt="" class="wp-image-1659161" style="width:280px;height:auto" /></figure>   I have seen plenty of times at camps over the years young men coming in clutch taking advantage of the thier final reps, which was the case with the [player_tooltip player_id='743253' first='Connor' last='Johnson'] of Forest Lake at our Prep Redzone Minnesota Combine last Sunday in Plymouth. This young man not only consistently threw a tight spiral, but also could his throws in some tight throwing windows even off from on the run which impressed me. Watching the tape, was also a match in those tight spots, as Connor showed off well-vered poise in the live reps I was able to watch while also showing off a quick release. Surely one that needs more next-level attention headed into his senior season with the Rangers.   [player_tooltip player_id='1288312' first='Reiker' last='Wignes'], QB, Buffalo 2027 <a href="https://x.com/wReiker11">Twitter</a>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/04/IMG_3042-rotated-crop-472x310-1744983921.jpg?w=471" alt="" class="wp-image-1659164" style="width:296px;height:auto" /></figure>   One of the first 2027 quarterbacks to catch my attention during live reps came from Buffalo quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1288312' first='Reiker' last='Wignes']. The 6'1 180 pounder showed off well-versed pocket movement in the reps I watched as I kept being impressed with more skillsets time and time after watching him. Reiker also showed off the ideal ball placement especially on intermediate and deep routes that I watched. He also was one of the more athletic quarterbacks overall in testing, running a 4.75 in the 40 yard dash, 9'5 broad jump, and 7.37 in the L-Drill. The tape also shows the development Reiker has made up to this point, as a 2027 quarterback locally up the road in Buffalo I will be keeping my eyes on over the next couple of years.   [player_tooltip player_id='1659065' first='Jude' last='Houglum'], QB, Detroit Lakes 2027 <a href="https://x.com/JHouglum39062">Twitter</a>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/04/IMG_2980-rotated-crop-472x310-1744983443.jpg?w=471" alt="" class="wp-image-1659158" style="width:299px;height:auto" /></figure>   It is always great at our combines, when you see a prospect developing quickly from their first live rep to their last, as that was the quick case for Detroit Lakes quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1659065' first='Jude' last='Houglum'] on Sunday in Plymouth. The ball placement in 1v1s that Jude showed off was some of the best stuff I saw all-day as the drop of his ball is pretty to watch back from Sunday as Jude showed he doesn't need much of a window to squeeze his throws into. The release Jude has is super fluid for a 2027 target and in my eyes, with the attention to detail being reeled in well on Sunday from the coaching he received, I wouldn't doubt that Jude is due for a big junior season upcoming for the Lakers.   [player_tooltip player_id='1647747' first='Connor' last='Kaphing'], QB, Blaine 2028 <a href="https://x.com/Connor_Kaphing">Twitter</a>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/04/IMG_3052-rotated-crop-472x310-1744984016.jpg?w=471" alt="" class="wp-image-1659168" style="width:299px;height:auto" /></figure>   In my eyes, Connor was one of the best 2028 QBs we had in attendance on Sunday at our Prep Redzone Minnesota Combine as his talents crossed the board of now a couple of our PRZ scouts in attendance. The young man from Blaine is already gifted at the quarterback position with his body type alone at 6'1 and my assumption he will stretch out even bigger with already a 6'5 wingspan. Not many quarterback prospects at Connor's age have the fluidity in their arm yet like Connor has as I was quite impressed with how sound this young man was mechanically on Sunday in Plymouth. He still has to build some mass in the weight room upcoming, but the well-versed spiral and overall balance this young man showed off on intermediate routes left me intrigued in this 2028 QB from the Bengals.   [player_tooltip player_id='1650804' first='Sam' last='Smude'], QB, Blaine 2028 <a href="https://x.com/SamSmude">Twitter</a>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/04/IMG_3072-rotated-crop-472x310-1744984327.jpg?w=471" alt="" class="wp-image-1659179" style="width:306px;height:auto" /></figure>   The Blaine Bengals have a good problem to have in their QB room in their 2028 class, as two of my favorite 2028 QBs hailed from Blaine which includes [player_tooltip player_id='1650804' first='Sam' last='Smude']. The 5'11 165 pounder freshmen has some skillsets brewing in the coming years as one that impressed me with his composure for his age and you can never go wrong with a baseball and football background together. Sam showed in the live reps well-versed throwing mechanics were and even still there is a great ceiling of upside to get those even more poished in the coming years. I'll be intrigued to see how Sam progresses in the coming years on tape for the Bengals.   [player_tooltip player_id='1648471' first='Zach' last='Hubbard'], WR, New Ulm 2026 <a href="http://Twitter/com/ZachHub23130656">Twitter</a>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/04/IMG_3058-1-rotated-crop-472x310-1744984259.jpg?w=471" alt="" class="wp-image-1659177" style="width:314px;height:auto" /></figure>   A wide receiver that was a new name on my radar in the 2026 class was [player_tooltip player_id='1648471' first='Zach' last='Hubbard'] out of New Ulm. Zach was one that came in as advertised with no fluff on his measurables, as the 6'2 175 pounder logged an impressive 4.72 in the 40 yard dash and 7.47 in the L-drill. As a route-runner, he possessed the straight line speed early at the top of his route really well as you could also gauge the athleticism this young man has with watching how fluid he is with his athletic movement. He had one catch that showed off his great length and catch radius along the edges that caught a bunch of folks attention. The All-District WR of the year, has been kind of off the radar prior to our Prep Redzone Minnesota Combine, but the steam for this young man on his recruiting trail looks to be trending upwards as if I were any scholarship level school, I would certainly get this young man in town for camps this summer.   [player_tooltip player_id='1392997' first='Noah' last='Tieden'], TE, Blaine 2026 <a href="https://x.com/NTieden5">Twitter</a>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/04/IMG_3078-rotated-crop-472x310-1744984793.jpg?w=471" alt="" class="wp-image-1659194" style="width:306px;height:auto" /></figure>   One of my favorite tight ends at our Prep Redzone Minnesota Combine on Sunday in Plymouth was Blaine's [player_tooltip player_id='1392997' first='Noah' last='Tieden']. The live reps I got to watch from Noah surely showed off a TE that is destined to play on Saturdays as I was impressed with his athleticism he showed off at the top of his route and showed off a big frame of physicality when he got the ball in his 10.25 inch hands. The 6'4 225 pounder, also showed off the edgy change of direction in testing, logging a 7.40 which is excellent with that size he has. Those hands also showed off some range in my eyes from the live eval, as Noah showed off the instinct that you want at the next-level. Surely going to be a summer to watch for Noah on his camp trail, as I could surely see this young man blowing up by the end of it if not sooner.   [player_tooltip player_id='1522534' first='Colten' last='Gunderson'], WR, Prior Lake 2026 <a href="https://x.com/ColtenGunderson">Twitter</a>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/04/IMG_3098-rotated-crop-472x310-1744984682.jpg?w=471" alt="" class="wp-image-1659192" style="width:287px;height:auto" /></figure>   I said it at our combine on Sunday and it's worth repeating, that Prior Lake XLwide receiver Colten Gundeson needs to be on more recruiting boards across the Midwest. Our WR3 in Minnesota, had a dominant performance at our Prep Redzone Minnesota Combine and showed off a man versus boys mentality with just watching his hands and physicality on his routes alone. The verified 6'7 211 pounder, also has eye-catching testing numbers running a 4.5 in the pro agility and a 7.22 in the L-Drill which is absurd for his size. No doubt in the live eval did we see how impressive Colten's catch radius was and it is evident that it is a crime that he doesn't have his first offer yet.   [player_tooltip player_id='591740' first='Boston' last='Meyer'], WR, Mankato East 2026 <a href="https://x.com/TheBostonMeyer">Twitter</a>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/04/IMG_3110-rotated-crop-472x310-1744985463.jpg?w=471" alt="" class="wp-image-1659207" style="width:316px;height:auto" /></figure>   A 2026 wide receiver that grew on me rep after rep, was Mankato East 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='591740' first='Boston' last='Meyer'] at our Prep Redzone Minnesota Combine. I would be remissed if I didn't feel this young man has some of the best hands overall at our combine, as he caught anything and everything thrown his way on Sunday. I also felt Boston approached every rep with a workhorse mentality as he possessed the physical nature and won plenty of 50/50 balls in the reps I watched. I was impressed too with his football IQ, as Boston surely is one that repped the game-speed at a higher gear and also was one that was a quick developer of his skillsets during our combine. The city of Mankato always shows out at our Prep Redzone Minnnesota Combines for years, as Boston is the next one that has caught our attention.

We continue thru our notebook of standouts at our Prep Redzone Minnesota Combine from last Sunday in Plymouth mixing it up with a ton of QBs, TEs, and WRs in this grouping. It took nearly 1500 words to put together this group including: targets I am shocked that they don't have an offer yet, my vote for TE MVP, plenty of gunslingers with intrguing upside.