9-Man League WR Watchlist for 2025

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Staying in the 9-Man league, we kick off our search across the high school football landscape in Minnesota for the top senior WR/TE names to look out for this season. The 9-man league held a very impressive group of receivers with 12 receivers amassing over 500+ receiving yards last season, tying with class 6A for 2nd in that category. Today, we reveal 5 WRs that should rank among the top pass-catchers in the 9-man league in 2025!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1858670' first='Logan' last='Giese']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'9u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"170","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2411","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Park Christian","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68222d3012135"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1858670' first='Logan' last='Giese'] emerged as a major threat for Park Christian during his sophomore season, proving valuable as a WR/CB, and he would finish his season with offensive and team MVP honors to his name. On the offensive side, Giese caught 63 passes for 743 yards and 7 touchdowns, adding an impressive 748 yards and 18 touchdowns on the ground. Giese is a bona fide athlete who's dangerous whenever the ball is in his hands. Giese was lined up out wide and in the backfield for Park Christian, and he gets the ball on a handoff or gets sent out as a short-pass option. His vision, speed, and ability to change direction so smoothly has made him a weapon all around, and Giese should be a must-watch player for Park Christian going forward. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Nathan Kellenberger ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'1u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"170","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2410","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Hancock","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68222d3012297"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Nathan Kellenberger has clearly established himself as a redzone threat, and he found the endzone quite often in 2024. Kellenberger led all 9-man league WRs in receiving touchdowns (15) last season, placing him 5th among all Minnesota receivers last season, finishing with a total 41 receptions for 632 yards. Kellenberger isn't a prototypical outside WR, being lined up often in the slot or even on the LOS as a TE. Kellenberger used his length to win his reps, being able to force separation on the DB and stretch his arms to reach difficult passes. He's a solid route-runner with good hip agility, bending and twisting around to adjust to the ball pretty well. With Kellenberger in the lineup, Hancock should remain in contention to make a run for the 9-man league state championship after losing in an upset in the section finals. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1290743"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68222d3012324"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Another very explosive athlete in the 9-man league, [player_tooltip player_id='1290743' first='Reid' last='Hungerholt']'s game took several huge steps forward in 2024, solidifying him as one of the top multi-purpose athletes leading the class of 2027. Offensively, Hungerholt finished with 521 receiving yards on just 20 receptions and 5 touchdowns, adding 128 rushing yards on just 10 carries and 2 rushing touchdowns, and even hitting a 49 yard touchdown pass during the season. Hungerholt is a tremendous playmaker who can sneak behind the secondary very easily, showing good instincts and football IQ, and he can improvise his routes on the run, adjusting to where his QB is going and setting up a big play for the offense at all accounts. Hungerholt is a huge threat who will remain to be a key asset for this 9-man powerhouse. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Drew Fischer","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'7u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"150","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2410","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Hillcrest Lutheran","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68222d3012433"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Drew Fischer doesn't appear to have the size to win a 1-on-1 matchup outside, but much of Fischer's success in the passing game comes from what he does after the catch. Fischer finished with 517 yards on 41 receptions and 4 touchdowns. Fischer works best in the slot, often utilizing motion and a good understanding of spacing on his routes to get open. Fischer is a reliable short-pass option who's able to scamper around defenders and has shown to be slippery for defenders to tackle, making him a trusted YAC-receiver. With his QB Ethan Swedberg returning in 2026, expect even bigger numbers from Fischer next season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"AJ Kramer","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"200","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2410","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Nicollet","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68222d3012566"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">My wild-card choice for this list is AJ Kramer, who currently doesn't have film, but he's made a big impact already for Nicollet's offense. In 2024, Kramer caught 44 passes for 472 yards and 6 touchdowns. Kramer boasts very good size and frame for an athlete coming out of the 9-man league which suggests borderline-D1 talent. Kramer has also stood out as a strong Center for Nicollet's basketball team, while also competing as a sprinter for Nicollet's varsity track team. Kramer is an impressive multi-sport athlete who deserves some more recognition for his potential heading into his senior season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->