Emergent Series: Class of 28' Standouts in Class 1A

We continue our search of the top upcoming sophomores in Minnesota by moving up to the Class 1A level. This division boasted some impressive athletes that stood out greatly during their freshman seasons and have already put themselves on the radar as legitimate D1 talents in the making. Today, we take a look at 6 oncoming sophomores from Class 1A MN that are looking to take a big step forward in 2025!    [player_tooltip player_id='1655354' first='Madden' last='Lendt'] bears the name of a football legend, and he's already made his mark on the gridiron with an electric freshman year which has already placed him as the top athlete prospect in Minnesota for the class of 2028. Lendt caught 8 touchdowns on just 10 catches, while adding 67 tackles and 6 interceptions with 2 returned for touchdowns on defense .Lendt was an impressive ball-hawk, timing his jumps perfectly to steal the ball, and showing great vision and instincts with the ball in his hands. There was always an opportunity when Lendt got the ball that he was going to take it to the house, and that applied to him at WR as well, winning on 50-50 balls often by using his size and length to leverage against smaller DBs. Lendt is going to be a beast in Class 1A MN going forward.     Playing out of a traditional T-formation, [player_tooltip player_id='1654528' first='Adrian' last='Young'] emerged in the backfield with plenty of opportunities getting the ball in his freshman year, and he made the most out of his reps, placing him among the top RBs in MN for the class of 2028. I was really impressed with how well Young was able to run on the outside zones, showing great lateral agility and speed around the edge, and he's difficult to tackle, especially when being pursued horizontally, as he can easily stiff arm or hurdle over dive attempts. Young's carries were designed outside of the box, and he showed great vision finding the open lanes and following his lead blocks to make a big play. Young will be a difference maker for Benson's offense going forward.     Mason Javers didn't see a lot of reps during his freshman year, but he played well in limited appearances, making several very nice contributions toward Minneota's run to perfection last season. On the ground, Javers ran for 39 yards on 7 touchdowns on just 2 carries, and at OLB, Javers added 16 total tackles. Javers has a bulky frame and broad shoulders, and if he can build some mass during the offseason, Javers could really see a lot more playing time as a Fullback and OLB. Javers showed solid power and a willingness to play physical beyond his size. That attitude could really prove helpful toward maintaining Minneota's push to defend their Class 1A crown.     Ben Gullingsrud showed his worth during his freshman year by flashing multi-purpose value at all 3 stages for the team as a HB, DB, and return specialist. Gullingsrud ran for 103 yards on 21 carries and a touchdown while adding 10 receptions for 90 yards and adding 133 return yards on 7 kick returns. Gullingsrud saw a lot of playing time in the secondary, recording 43 tackles, 2 interceptions, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. Gullingsrud has the size, quickness, and agility to shine in each of his roles for the team. Gullingsrud has also emerged as a standout shooting guard for Red Lake County's basketball team and pitching for their baseball team. Gullingsrud is making noise as a three-sport athlete who's made quite an impact in each sport, and he will be an exciting athlete to watch coming out of Red Lake County.     [player_tooltip player_id='1654631' first='Rylan' last='Ristau'] sits behind starting QB [player_tooltip player_id='1633435' first='Bridon' last='Bahl'], a top prospect in the class of 2027, meaning that Ristau may not see a lot of reps on the varsity offense for awhile. Ristau's only completion on varsity during his freshman year was a 68 yard touchdown, hitting a beautiful deep strike over the middle to his WR in stride who took it to the house. Ristau's efforts could be seen more on the defense next season, as he boasts a solid amount of athleticism, including a 30" vertical and a 4.98 40 yard time that could help him gain some reps at LB. Ristau is an intriguing prospect with plenty of potential, but we'll have to be patient to see how he will develop and how will he be used for this team.

We continue our search of the top upcoming sophomores in Minnesota by moving up to the Class 1A level. This division boasted some impressive athletes that stood out greatly during their freshman seasons and have already put themselves on the radar as legitimate D1 talents in the making. Today, we take a look at 6 oncoming sophomores from Class 1A MN that are looking to take a big step forward in 2025!