Northern State Prospect Camp: Nate's Off. Skill Standouts

Quarterbacks   [player_tooltip player_id='1593562' first='Tanner' last='Rothbauer'], St. Francis, MN 2026 <a href="https://x.com/TannerRothbauer">Twitter</a>   My vote for QB MVP at the Northern State prospect camp in my eyes was St. Francis (MN) [player_tooltip player_id='1593562' first='Tanner' last='Rothbauer'] who seemed to have the most balanced toolbox I could grasp in watching the group of Gunslingers in Aberdeen. He showed off well-versed mechanics and a quick release that were pure from what these eyes could grasp. That balance was proven the most with his arm strength mixed up with his ball placement as I didn't ever feel like Tanner got off point with either of those skillsets in the good chunk of reps I watched at the Northern State prospect camp. He was affluent on all three levels and it's worth saying again, the balance was there for the taking.   [player_tooltip player_id='1575888' first='Carter' last='Gross'], West Central, SD 2026 <a href="https://x.com/CarterGross16">Twitter</a>   Carter was a 2026 quarterback that grew on me a fair share during the Northern State prospect camp in Aberdeen. This young man had one of the most accurate arms I saw in the group and I could tell the more reps you gave Carter, teh more he produced. I also was encouraged by this young man's poise in the pocket as you could feel it by watching his reps of his comfortability in the pocket. Carter is one that also was more mobile with his quickness in the live eval and doesn't seem to lose arm strength when he leaves the pocket based on his release. The first offer came in the next day for Carter by one school in attendance in Aberdeen, so certainly one that I feel could be an upcoming riser in this 2026 class based on that camp eval.   Running Backs   [player_tooltip player_id='1422534' first='Porter' last='Gregg'], Herreid-Selby, SD 2028   Porter is listed as our RB1 in the 2028 class at the moment as the Herreid-Selby product showed off some encouraging reps at the Northern State prospect camp. Where Porter showed off where he has grown since our last camp eval last summer appeared to me was with his suddenness. He seemed from my live eye, to pick up steam with his lower body much quicker than I caught last year in Jamestown which was a a bright spot for the Wolverines tailback who logged nearly 1000 rushing yards as a freshmen. Should be an upcoming bright sophomore campaign for Porter.   [player_tooltip player_id='1275173' first='Mack' last='Saxon'], Mobridge-Pollock, SD 2027 <a href="https://x.com/Mack_Saxon">Twitter</a>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/07/IMG_4054-rotated-crop-384x253-1753730611.jpg?w=384" alt="" class="wp-image-1738762" style="width:317px;height:auto" /></figure>   Mack seems to consistently turn on more jets just about anytime I watch him in a 1v1 setting, as he sparked in the RB group during the live eval. Mack showed the power the 5'10 213 pounder has as a tailback that will run thru you always, not around you as there was not one, but a couple reps I watched where Mack showed that he can run with some authoritative power yet still bringing the fluid speed always to the table. Our RB2 in the class, surely looked like he belonged in the top-tier amongst 2027 RBs in attendance at the Northern State prospect camp in Aberdeen.   [player_tooltip player_id='1314732' first='Beckett' last='Price'], Bismarck St. Mary's Central, ND 2027 <a href="https://x.com/BeckettPri4837">Twitter</a>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/07/IMG_4050-rotated-crop-384x253-1753730754.jpg?w=384" alt="" class="wp-image-1738769" style="width:317px;height:auto" /></figure>   If we are talking about the alpha of the running back group from my eyes, that would be [player_tooltip player_id='1314732' first='Beckett' last='Price'] of Bismarck St. Mary's Central, who is also our RB1 in the 2027 class. Watching Beckett during County Fair, you could pinpoint how agile this young man has continued to be as nobody had success tagging Beckett out of that drill as he used every ounce of elusiveness he had. The 5'11 180 pounder also went 1.06 in his flying 10-yard dash, over 34.3 inches in the vertical (2nd out of 160 kids) and nearly a 10 foot broad jump in Aberdeen. Beckett relished the encouraging speed we've known about for a few years now and the natural athletic ability that has continued to grow. You also couldn't miss with the elusiveness that Beckett attack the hole with in Aberdeen as there's a reason why I feel Beckett is an early D1 offer from the 2027 class.   [player_tooltip player_id='848990' first='Hayes' last='Havlik'], WWSSC, SD 2026<a href="https://x.com/hayeshavlik"> Twitter</a>   I got to watch Hayes the most during individual drills and what encouraged me with his running ability is unique compared to other running backs. Where I felt he gathered his most instinctiveness? I felt that was when he was given inside runs. He showed off his agile twitch, tight angles, and quick-ahead sudden burst that flowed with balance during drills. Hayes just has one offer thus far and being the growth he's made in the last several months to growing his frame, agility, amongst other skillsets he surely could be one that encourages more college coaches in the coming months.   Wide Receivers   [player_tooltip player_id='1575889' first='Carter' last='Lust'], Aberdeen Central, SD 2027 <a href="https://x.com/lust_carter">Twitter</a>   I swear the last handful of trips I make to Aberdeen, recent Prep Redzone Dakotas Showcase WR MVP [player_tooltip player_id='1575889' first='Carter' last='Lust'] of Aberdeen Central has caught my attention. It even seemed like his agility has picked up since last live eval, as Carter ran a 4.22 in the pro agility. He's also gained more explosiveness, as I recall his broad jump being longer last Friday as Carter jumped his top jump at 8'11. When I zeroed in on Carter's reps later into the Wolves camp, I could gauge Carter is getting upfield with more torque and more finish. I'll be excited to see what the tape looks like this fall from Carter as I think he's got a great shot as a slot receiver at the next-level with excellent hands to boot.   [player_tooltip player_id='1300031' first='Thomas' last='Hughes'], Spearfish, SD 2027 <a href="https://x.com/thomas_hughes27">Twitter</a>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/07/IMG_4048-rotated-crop-384x253-1753730848.jpg?w=384" alt="" class="wp-image-1738772" style="width:317px;height:auto" /></figure>   There are not too many wide receivers in this 2027 class in South Dakota that are as gifted athletically than [player_tooltip player_id='1300031' first='Thomas' last='Hughes'] of Spearfish. He went 1.06 in his flying 10-yard at 6'0 160 pounds. He also jumped sub 33 inches in his vertical which lands in the top tier out of the 155 athletes in Aberdeen. His 1v1 reps were intriguing in my eyes too. Even though ranked as a quarterback in our 2027 SD class, Thomas came out to Northern State as a wide receiver as I was impressed with the position flexibility he has. He looked like a natural pass-catcher displaying the soft hands and solid route-running ability. Thomas surely was one of my favorite 2027 wide receivers from the Northern State camp last week.   Matthew Danninger, Marion, IA 2026 <a href="https://x.com/mattdanninger">Twitter</a>   Matthew in my eyes was the best all-around wide receiver in attendance at the Northern State prospect camp last Friday. The 4.44 pro agility was intriguing to me because it was his top time yet had a slip in it which Matthew regained his footwork quickly as this was only of the fastest times with a slip I have seen as a top time all summer long. He was also another nearly 10 foot jumper in the broad jump in Aberdeen as the testing numbers you see from Matthew all show off solid consistency. Getting to watch Matthew in indvidiual drills and 1v1s, you had to love watching Matthew get sepration and pave his way into the open field with his route-running ability from what I could grasp in several reps. His football IQ certainly gained on me throughout the day in Aberdeen. Big time 2026 sleeper out of Iowa.   Pierce Buckley, Lakeville North, MN 2026 <a href="https://x.com/Pierce_Buckley7">Twitter</a>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/07/IMG_4056-rotated-crop-384x253-1753730475.jpg?w=384" alt="" class="wp-image-1738728" style="width:282px;height:auto" /></figure>   Even though Pierce I knew is coming back from an injury from earlier this summer, it was nice to see him catch his strides late in the summer at camps with a handful of reps I watched at the Northern State prospect camp. He had a couple of reps that he had to recreate his routes, which Pierce showed off that he could improvise and still use his great in-traffic hands to his advantage which he did on on a few occasions. College coaches should find out quick that Pierce is a wide receiver that is going to be coachable at the next-level and adds the character you want in your locker room. He's one of a handful of 2026 WRs from the Metro that should have more attention.   [player_tooltip player_id='1300016' first='Brayden' last='Jackson'], Rapid City Central, SD 2026 <a href="https://x.com/Brayden_jack24">Twitter</a>   If I had to dish out a "biggest rise" to a prospect in this offensive skill group from the Dakotas, my vote would go to 2026 wide receiver [player_tooltip player_id='1300016' first='Brayden' last='Jackson'] of Rapid City Central. The 6'2 185 pounder came in as verified with his measurables which is always a bright spot in a live camp eval. He brought the speed at the top of his route that we wanted to see during 1v1 reps in Aberdeen. As one that runs track, you could bet that Brayden is an athlete that has natural footwork that showed off even better when changing direction on his routes. He also has the long frame you want to have in your wide receiving core. Surely one that has an NSIC offer already, but surely could add more offers in the coming months out of this class as he made his biggest marks during 1v1s at Northern State.   Tight Ends   [player_tooltip player_id='1475610' first='Colby' last='Flowers'], WWSSC, SD 2026 <a href="https://x.com/ColbyFlowers07">Twitter</a>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/07/IMG_4057-rotated-crop-384x253-1753730399.jpg?w=384" alt="" class="wp-image-1738703" style="width:311px;height:auto" /></figure>   A tight end that to me is due for a rise in our 2026 tight end class, is [player_tooltip player_id='1475610' first='Colby' last='Flowers'] of WWSSC who had an excellent day at the Northern State prospect camp. All the measurables checked out early and so was the encourging athletic profile Colby has with a 6'6 wingspan, 4.47 pro agility at a verified 6'4 210 pounds. If you want to talk about a tight end that showed off that they know how to use their body to their advantage in 1v1 situations with reps that's what Colby knows how to do, and does it well. He has the big hands you want as a next-level tight end and has an encourgaging frame that college programs can certainly develop even further. Colby surely is trending to our TE2 in the 2026 class as we look at fall.   [player_tooltip player_id='1314713' first='Zachary' last='Long'], Bismarck St. Mary's Central, ND 2027   As an evaluator, I am obviously more interested in what you do in a live eval vs. testing, etc. but I was encouraged when I saw [player_tooltip player_id='1314713' first='Zachary' last='Long']'s wingspan number jump from my last live eval. He has stretched his wingspan out to 6'5 (77 in) and you could see the length he showed off as a pass-catcher in the reps I watched out of Zachary. Another encourgaging skillset I picked up from Zachary along the way in Aberdeen, was how quick he could grow charisma with his quarterback it seemed as on the couple reps I watched he seemed like he was in tune real quickly which is showing me how much this kid's football IQ continues to grow.

Quarterbacks