Nate’s PRZ Minnesota Combine Standout Notebook: Part IV

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We keep the foot on the gas into my notebook, as we log in for our Part IV standouts from Sunday's Prep Redzone Minnesota Combine as we close our book on the first session with a focus on our favorite running backs and linebackers. We meet our RB MVP, a 2027 out of Minneapolis North that has a bright future and a couple STA Cadets that caught a handful of our PRZ scouts attendance on Sunday in Plymouth.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1565274' first='Michael' last='Gunnink'], RB, Edgerton 2026</strong> <a href="https://x.com/MichaelGunnink">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Michael was a new name out of the 2026 class at our Prep Redzone Minnesota Combine, that I wish I knew about sooner as his impressive stat line logged over 1700 yards and 24 touchdowns as a junior. The reps that caught my attention though from Michael was with his pass-catching as he was one of the better ball-trackers in the RB group I got to watch and showed off a patience getting back to the ball when he needed to if it was underthrown or off line. The speed was electric too for Michael during testing, running a 4.68 best in the 40 yard dash and 4.44 in the shuttle showing off the change of direction. The tape Michael has wastes no time showing off that balance as a ball-tracker, as his first rep shows off all the athleticism you want to see like I saw on Sunday in Plymouth. This sleeper 2026 running back out of Edgerton looks like one that should be playing on Saturdays upcoming in my eyes. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='923837' first='Dominic' last='Baez'], RB, St. Thomas Academy 2026</strong> <a href="https://x.com/DominicBaez16">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of two running backs that caught our attention from the Cadets at Sunday's Prep Redzone Minnesota Combine was on a couple PRZ scouts radars including myself, was 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='923837' first='Dominic' last='Baez']. Dominic was one of the most locked in route-runners amongst the running back group in my eyes, as you could quickly gauge this young man has a soaring football IQ that is still brewing headed into summer and his senior season, as I was impressed with the eye-catching separation Dominic had with the cuts he put in on his routes. I felt like Dominic is running back that plays at a higher gear in a showcase or game setting then what is testing numbers will show you. He also shows off his best vision in the second level, as I am impressed with his 57165 lb frame how durable he is once he guess the throttle down. I like this young man's balance he shows off at the running back position and looks like a prospect you will see on Saturdays.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1630870' first='Grant' last='Young'], LB, St.Thomas Academy 2027</strong><a href="https://x.com/GrantYoung_27"> Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another linebacker that stood out in our top performers group at the end of the first session is another Cadets target in 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='1630870' first='Grant' last='Young']. This young man showed off promising upside for the coming years with how efficient he was with his hands getting off watch and hammering down to the point of attack quickly. He is one that also impressed me in the top performer session with how well versed his motor looks to be and that is backed up on tape with his wraps on special teams as one of the first one to the ball. The technique too that Grant played with also caught our attention as he looked more polish than I expected with his plethora of moves he showed off. He certainly is one to watch in the 2027 class at STA.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1656924' first='Samson' last='Rothwell'], LB, Pequot Lakes 2026</strong> <a href="https://x.com/samsonrothwell">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another new name to me that cracked our top performers list at the end of our Prep Redzone Minnesota Combine hailed from Pequot Lakes in 2026 LB [player_tooltip player_id='1656924' first='Samson' last='Rothwell']. Samson showed off an explosiveness early with a back to 9'4 broad jump and intriguing change of direction in his pro agility reps logging qa 4.54. This young man showed off as a constant flyer to the ball rep after rep that I watched on Sunday in Plymouth. I could also during the live eval, tell that Samson oozed as a linebacker that has a excellent hit stick for his size and on tape plays significantly bigger than what his measurables might show off. I also was impressed with that size how quickly Samson could eat up blocks and get downhill as one that was impressive in short areas. Another 2026 linebacker that I feel has a solid shot at playing at the next level out of Lakes Country.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1655336' first='Tyshone' last='Jenkins'], RB, Minneapolis North 2027 </strong><a href="https://x.com/TyshoneJ09">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"16px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:16px">Tyshone logged one of the top broad jumps within the running back group and honestly was in the top-tier for the whole camp due to his explosiveness with a 9'9 at 6'0 193 pounds as a 2027 target out of Minneapolis North. Another eye-popping number that caught our attention was his wingspan, which stretched out to 79 inches (6'7) which is absurd for the running back position. He showed off the agile movement in 1v1 reps that should intrigue any running backs coach at the next-level as one that has such promising upside at the running back position that hasn't been untapped fully yet. He showed off beaming hands when I watched during run blocking reps during our combine which had the strength and processed solid attention to detail in those reps as well. The Polars had plenty of studs on Sunday at our Prep Redzone Minnesota Combine, and Tyshone was one of my favorite from the 612.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='402073' first='James' last='Engle'], RB, Maple Grove 2026</strong> <a href="https://x.com/JamesEngleJr">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1658367,"width":"280px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/04/IMG_2968-rotated-crop-472x310-1744849682.jpg?w=471" alt="" class="wp-image-1658367" style="width:280px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>James I swear has been at every Prep Redzone Minnesota Combine since he was a freshmen, and this time came away as our RB MVP as one that in my eyes always crushs it during his reps during the live evals with his attention to detail. James has gotten more twitchy since my last live eval recording a 4.19 in the pro agility and went inside 7 seconds at 6.93 in the L-Drill as if you look at his overall testing numbers, you see so much consistency with his speed, movement, and explosiveness across the board. James is one that continues to impress me with the growth of his football IQ, as he showed off excellent vision, balance and even more versatility than I saw from my last live eval I got on James. No doubt this young man needs more attention on the recrutiing trail, as a young man that I have always loved his character too ever since he was a freshmen.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->