Preseason Preview: Byron Bears

Sitting here, a couple of months before the start of the season, the Byron Bears look like a clear favorite to make a sizeable run during the state tournament for the third year in a row. They return a ton of talent, and what talent they don't return, they replace with phenomenal athletes. It's hard not to look at this team and not see how bright their future is. Meet the 2025 Byron Bears!   Season Schedule:   Week 1: @ Holy Angels   Week 2: Vs. Orono (Hall of Fame Night)   Week 3: @ Hill-Murray   Week 4: Vs. Faribault (Homecoming)   Week 5: @ Winona   Week 6: Vs. Kasson-Mantorville (Youth Night/Crush Cancer/Golfcart Giveaway)   Week 7: @ Stewartville   Week 8: Vs Totino-Grace (Senior Night)    A varsity heavyweight wrestler and a returning starter for the Bears as a left guard, Edwards has been a rising prospect in the trenches this offseason. As a sophomore starter, Edwards was extremely effective. He fires off the line quickly, sticks with his blocks, and continues to work even if the defender puts a move on. I love the physicality and aggressiveness Edwards plays with, and he always manages to find work downfield. He works well toward the second level while run blocking too. I'm eager to see Edward's hype continue to rise throughout his junior year.     One of the hottest rising prospects out of the class of 2027, Rodemeyer is both a top QB and one of the top players overall. He was named as an All-Conference QB last season, and he only looks like he's getting better. His biggest strength as a quarterback is his versatility. He's an accurate QB who can be used successfully in a variety of ways. Pocket passing, play-action passes, designed runs, all things well within Rodemeyer's bag. His ball placement at its best is some of the highest level in his class. He's got a silky smooth release and is the signal caller of one of the best teams in AAAA. The sky is the limit for Rodemeyer during his junior year.     Undoubtedly one of the top athletes in the state, Heimer currently boasts 6 offers, including two from recent full FCS member St. Thomas, and the University of South Dakota. Despite missing two games last season, Heimer racked up over 1,500 yards and 21 rushing TDs while averaging 8.3 YPC. He was also a force on defense, including 58 total tackles and a defensive TD. His tape is about as nuts as you would expect. An exceptionally quick back whose build is rare in football, let alone AAAA, Heimer can make wild cuts in rapid succession on a dime. He runs through defenders like a hot knife through butter, and should prove to be one of the best players in the state this fall.     A returning starter at center who was named the district offensive lineman of the year, Jones is fresh off a UW-River Falls offer, his third total, and doesn't show any signs of slowing down. One of his greatest assets is his agility. You see it show all the time on his film. Jones pulls constantly for the Bears, and when he does, he will light up a defender. I love how low he's able to play across a variety of situations, and he's shown that he can pick up blitzes with ease and work his way across the field with the defender. Jones is a key reason the Bears' running lanes look as nice as they do, and I imagine his success continues through his senior year.     A forceful offensive tackle who started for the Bears last season on the right side of the line, Meincke looks to be the anchor in the trenches for Byron. With a tall frame and long arms, Meincke brings a lot to the table physically that you would want out of an OT prospect. He's tough to bend the edge around, and punches well, utilizing his long arms to force defenders to work outside the ideal path. He also does a nice job of sealing an edge on a down block. With plenty of weight to be put on his frame, I think Meincke is just scratching the surface of his potential.     One of the most promising young DBs in the state, Nicklay has been on a tear this summer, lighting up the camp circuit with impressive testing and head-turning performances during competition. When you watch his tape, you realize he does a little bit of everything for the Bears. As a sophomore, he was a ball magnet, and you could see his speed and quickness on both sides of the ball. He excels at jumping short routes and makes sure QBs can't soft-arm a ball into windows. Nicklay has the speed to beat most DBs over the top, and the ball skills to bring down contested passes. He looks like one of the most promising athletes in his class and should be a key player for Byron this season.     Helland is an underrated gadget guy who I could see playing a far larger role this season, and recently snagged an offer from St. Olaf. Helland had just over 150 receiving yards and 3 TDs last season, but also was an impactful player on special teams and defense. As you might expect, Helland is an extremely effective slot receiver. He maximizes mismatches with linebackers and can create separation at the top of his break. He's tough to play man against, because if it's 1 on 1 in open space, there's a significant chance of him making the defender miss.     A big DB who recently earned his first offer from UW-Eau Claire, Durst hasn't gotten the appreciation he deserves, something that is likely to change after his senior season. Durst is primarily a safety, but he sees time as a wideout as well. On defense, Durst plays downhill hard and fast. He's big enough to be an impactful run stopper and is moved into the box frequently because of that talent. Durst is also very dangerous when blitzing. He has no qualms about working through lead blockers and knife tackles well, stopping ball carriers in their tracks. Expect Durst to be a key leader in the Bears' secondary this fall.     An explosive athlete on both sides of the ball, Heimer is one of the most promising prospects in the class of 2027. On offense last season, Heimer rushed for over 660 yards with 12 TDs, and on defense, he had 35 tackles, 3 fumbles recovered, and a sack. Like his brother, he has a well-built frame and actually possesses many of the same skills. Heimer is a thick power back with great vision and the ability to break arm tackles time and time again. On defense, Heimer is a violent tackler who can rapidly close the distance between himself and the ball carrier. He fights hard through lead blockers and often finds himself in the backfield disrupting the play. Look out for big things from this two-way star in 2025.     Fresh off an offer from WIAC member UW-Eau Claire, Brakke is one of AAAA's premier nose tackles. Despite being listed at 300 lbs, Brakke moves well, both laterally and straight line, and has a very high motor. Not only can Brakke collapse run lanes, but after the back is forced to make a cut, he works down the line and tackles them soon after. He does an excellent job of splitting double-teams, and it is incredibly difficult to displace him from his gap alone. Brakke is a high-level run stopper and should provide a veteran presence on that Byron DL this fall.     A rising linebacker who has impressed on the camp circuit this summer and who has recently snagged an offer from St. Olaf, Jones has started to build some hype ahead of his senior campaign. After watching his film, I can say I was thoroughly impressed. Jones moves really well, and his testing performances on the camp circuit support this. He's a very explosive athlete and finishes tackling through the ball carrier, leading to great form tackles time and time again. He's nasty coming off the edge, and when you can get him to build up a full head of steam, he can shoot through a gap rapidly. I'm very excited to see more of Jones during his senior season.     Steele is someone who has seen his recruiting take off this summer, earning 3 offers: St. Olaf, UW-River Falls, and, most impressively, one from NSIC member Southwest Minnesota. Steele does a little bit of everything for Byron; he's a talented DB who also can step in and play QB if the team needs it. As a DB, Steele can do it all. He's very adept in passing situations, he contests balls well, and attempts to disrupt the catch at every opportunity. He doesn't shy away from tackling in the run game; however, Steele will close the distance and make tough tackles near the LOS, ruining screen plays and handoffs alike. Steele has a high ceiling, and I hope to see more of him in 2025.     A three-sport athlete (Football/Hockey/Baseball) who teammates see playing a larger role in the offense this fall, Coshenet recently drew heads by running a 4.28 pro-agility drill at the UWRF Mega Camp. As you might expect, the best asset of his game is his quickness. The breaks at the top of his routes are top-notch, and that's where he's able to create the most separation. He catches a lot of balls over the middle and is able to do so despite constant surrounding pressure from DBs. His combination of quickness and concentration should allow Coshenet to break out in 2025.

Sitting here, a couple of months before the start of the season, the Byron Bears look like a clear favorite to make a sizeable run during the state tournament for the third year in a row. They return a ton of talent, and what talent they don't return, they replace with phenomenal athletes. It's hard not to look at this team and not see how bright their future is. Meet the 2025 Byron Bears!