2026 ND Small Town Hidden Gems: You Need to Know Now

We drove back into North Dakota with a similar series that we just launched in South Dakota, the Small Town Hidden Gems series. This list features what I would consider the "cream of the crop" from small town North Dakota as all are prospects ranked within our top 40 and under in the state in this class that come from small towns on this list from under 2500 people which to me should surprise people as what is considered a "small town in the US" is double that population showing you the purity of the hidden gems that play football in the Peace Garden State.   [player_tooltip player_id='1113072' first='Cash' last='Danner'], DB, Thompson <a href="https://x.com/CashDanner">Twitter</a>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/12/26-Cash-Danner-crop-4378x2875-1711510691.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1224306" style="width:283px;height:auto" /></figure>   Thompson, ND Pop. 1,101 (2020 Census)   Cash is one prospect in this 2026 class that I will say I am very surprised is on this list as our DB1 and the #4 ranked overall prospect in the class. You surely cannot miss on seeing Cash's football IQ on tape, as he is positionally sound and is constantly in the right spot at the right time as one that is not only a ballhawk, but you have to love his sideline to sideline range he brings as a free safety at the next-level. The very long and instinctive strides that Cash has downhill to the ball as a legit 6'4 205 pounder that has tested well at camps even last summer you can also gauge has that intuition as a tackler to persistently understand the best angle of attack to pop the ball free, even if he comes in just slightly late coming out of nowhere. Cash would surely be my first offer of uncommitted in this 2026 ND class if I were a recruiting coordinator at the college level.   [player_tooltip player_id='675358' first='Evan' last='Wiersma'], DL, Central Cass <a href="https://x.com/Evanwiersma74">Twitter</a>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/12/77-Evan-Wiersma-crop-4378x2875-1703130901.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1122916" style="width:303px;height:auto" /></figure>   Casselton, ND Pop. 2,479 (2020 census)   Evan is a defensive tackle out of Central Cass that has been high on our 2026 board since this class first came out a couple years ago and is our best available defensive tackle still available in this class in our eyes at PRZ. The 6'3 290 pounder has developed nicely with growing a more solid athletic base with his bend and shows off the brick-like hands getting off blocks as one that is constantly quick to the point of attack as a run stopper. He also has shown the development over the past couple of years with his position angles down to the ball over the years, as I can gauge that Evan has grown in a sense with his attention to detail and turned his upside into sounder skill in the defensive trenches. Evan will surely be one that I would surely bet is going to gain some traction on the camp trail sooner rather than later, in which I wouldn't be surprised to see the Dakota's Missouri Valley schools to get involved as one the top DTs in North Dakota.   [player_tooltip player_id='1556593' first='Reid' last='Morlock'], WR, Mohall-Lansford-Sherwood   Mohall-Lansford-Sherwood, ND Pop. 1,126 (combined, 2020 census   One of the biggest sleepers in this 2026 class in my eyes, is wide receiver [player_tooltip player_id='1556593' first='Reid' last='Morlock'] out of MLS that has a population just over 1100 between the three towns. The sudden change of direction that Reid has as a route-runner, generates sizable change of direction it seems like just about on every rep I have gotten to watch on tape. You also cannot miss on Reid when it comes to his sound ball-tracking ability in high traffic areas as one that has springy athleticism from top to bottom of his routes and the consistency he has shows off an excellent amount of athleticism. If you need a wide receiver in the slot that has the break-away ability getting yards after the catch, you can add that to what brings to the table. He surely defines the term of a diamond in the rough prospect that you will want to hunt for on the camp trail this summer and is worth the look during the in-person eval at camps as a top four wide receiver in our 2026 North Dakota class.   [player_tooltip player_id='1226854' first='Easton' last='Benz'], WR/DB, New Rockford-Sheyenne-Maddock <a href="https://x.com/BenzEaston">Twitter</a>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/11/Easton-Benz-crop-381x250-1732226675.jpg?w=380" alt="" class="wp-image-1563280" style="width:279px;height:auto" /></figure>   New Rockford-Sheyenne-Maddock, ND Pop: 1,924 (combined, 2020 census)   Easton is a WR/DB prospect that blew up in my eyes during the last live eval I got from him the 9-man state championship game this winter. He showed off a sound catch radius and great instincts getting back to the ball in the reps I got to watch as one of the best wide receivers I got to watch all day at the Fargo Dome. The 6'3 185 pounder has one NSIC offer thus far, but I feel his athleticsm he shows off in the open field has a ton of upside that can grow a ton in the right system from an agility perspective with his size. The suddenness Easton brings to the table in my eyes, also sees his eyes open up in the open field and with that frame as a wide receiver, you surely won't want to miss on that.   [player_tooltip player_id='1226855' first='Larry' last='Umber'], DL/ATH, Linton/Hazelton-Moffit-Braddock <a href="https://x.com/larry_umber56">Twitter</a>   Linton/Hazelton-Moffit-Braddock, ND Pop. 1,341 (combined, 2020 census)   If we are talking sure hidden gems, I don't feel this is a bigger one in North Dakota than DL/ATH [player_tooltip player_id='1226855' first='Larry' last='Umber'] in this 2026 class. When I first got a glimpse of Larry last year on tape, I was super intrigued with his athleticism and position flexibility and since then he has added to his frame but I can gauge that flexibility is still there. He shows off sound downhill strength and leverage very persistently with his hands and passes my eye test with his agility he has getting off blocks as a defensive tackle. I also am engaged to watching Larry's instincts at college camps this summer as I feel from a season ago have flourished even more. I can gauge Larry has found his home in the defensive trenches, as I will be intrigued to see positionally where college coaches will place him as a 6'3 240 pounder that I hope college coaches pay great attention too this summer.

We drove back into North Dakota with a similar series that we just launched in South Dakota, the Small Town Hidden Gems series. This list features what I would consider the "cream of the crop" from small town North Dakota as all are prospects ranked within our top 40 and under in the state in this class that come from small towns on this list from under 2500 people which to me should surprise people as what is considered a "small town in the US" is double that population showing you the purity of the hidden gems that play football in the Peace Garden State.