Valley City State Prospect Camp: Defensive Standouts

We give it one last run from the Valley City prospect camp, as we lock in on the defensive standouts from Vikings Country that caught the attention of our notebook. Two states, plenty of hidden gems, and more are in this defensive standout series from Valley City!   Defensive Linemen   [player_tooltip player_id='1293591' first='Evan' last='Benedict'], Moorhead, MN 2026 <a href="https://x.com/Evan47652407">Twitter</a>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/07/bendict-rotated-crop-384x253-1753209865.jpg?w=384" alt="" class="wp-image-1724311" style="width:323px;height:auto" /></figure>   One that comes off as one of the biggest sleepers on a powerhouse team, is 2026 Moorhead defensive end [player_tooltip player_id='1293591' first='Evan' last='Benedict']. Started off his day with the speed you might be looking for coming off trhe edge, blasting a 4.78 40-yard at nearly right on pre-camp measurables minus just a couple pounds. Evan showed off in 1v1s an elusive first step that you can evaluate quickly has the solid power generation you want in the hands department and also I felt was one of the most versatile DEs in Valley City with his technique variety. I think there could be position flexibility with Evan at the next-level, as with his agile first step he could be a run stopping stand up linebacker or utilze his upside as a defensive end, college coaches have options.   Oliver Melin, Red Lake County Central, MN 2026 <a href="https://x.com/OliverMelin2228">Twitter</a>   6'5 225 pound defensive linemen are hard to miss at a college camp, as that was the case with Red Lake County Central's Oliver Melin at the Valley City State prospect camp. Oliver showed off the athleticism that you want to see at that size along with the upside during camp. Where the upside was evident, started with the coachability Oliver developed durnig individual drills as on the chunk of drills I watched you could see the small gains that were made. His hand placement, his pursuit angle, the timing and speed of his hands, and even the motor I felt were all areas that were shown out of for Oliver duirng the live eval. You won't be able to find tape on this young man as of yet, so look for him to be a senior bloomer out of Red Lake County Central.   Linebackers   Eli Thompson, Grand Forks Central 2026 <a href="https://x.com/Evan47652407">Twitter</a>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/07/thompson-rotated-crop-384x253-1753209741.jpg?w=384" alt="" class="wp-image-1724308" style="width:315px;height:auto" /></figure>   Eli is a 2026 prospect out of Grand Forks Central that is starting to elevate his stock amongst regional schools at the NAIA and the D2 level. Eli actually came in with more size than his pre-camp measurables coming to Valley City at 6'3 nearly 215 pounds which is a match made well at the linebaccker position, but the skillsets Eli has are versatile enough to have position fleibility on the defensive side of the ball. He showed off some of the most eye-catching footwork in the top-tier of the linebacker group in Valley City as there was plenty more bouce than you expect with that frame. That lower body, as showed off excellent range too getting downhill to the ball as a linebacker that I feel is one that carries a football IQ that has grown deeper into summer camp season. Eli also was well-versed with his pursuit angles for that frame. Eli is one that surely looks like a stockriser upcoming in this 2026 class based on his camp trail performances.   [player_tooltip player_id='1323108' first='Drew' last='Thorpe'], Ellendale-Edgeley-Kulm 2027 <a href="https://x.com/DrewThorpe12">Twitter</a>   The lone 2027 linebacker that caught my attention at the Valley City State prospect camp was EEK linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1323108' first='Drew' last='Thorpe']. If you want to meet one of the biggest motored linebackers I have seen at the last couple of camps in the coming weeks, Drew is one you will want to know, as shown off more than that as well in the live eval. The 6'0 208 pounder also has a ideal frame for the linebacker position at the next-level and is a LB prospect that over a couple of camps shows a quick growth curve by showing constant attention to detail within alll of his reps. You can bet after seeing Drew at a couple camps this week, he's going to be one rising up my board amongst ND 2027s at the linebacker position.   Abe Miller, Goodridge Secondary, MN 2026 <a href="https://x.com/AbeMiller144678">Twitter</a>   Abe was a new name out of Minnesota that caught my attention at the Valley City State prospect camp out of Goodridge Secondary that logged into my notebook. I could tell right away in watching Abe that as a hybrid DE/LB that it's clear his best fit at the next-level steams at the linebacker position. If you incorporate what I saw from Abe's downhill vison, the fluidity he showed with his downhill movement, and just a linebacker that looks extremely wirey when he gets downhill. Abe to me is a linebacker you go outside that measurables box for as I feel the production as a run stopper at the NAIA level could be fun to watch in my eyes.   [player_tooltip player_id='1222778' first='Miles' last='Stroh'], Kindred 2026 <a href="https://x.com/StrohMiles54">Twitter</a>   Miles was one of a handful of Kindred Vikings that had themselves a sound outing at the Valley City prospect camp. A 200-meter runner that runs a 22.88 on the track was the fastest linebacker in the 40-yard dash in the gorup, as Miles beat the compeitition by .16 in the 40 yard. The 5'11 184 pounder also was in the top-tier in the linebacker group in every testing category. He was excellent during testing, but Miles continues to impress me with his ball instincts as when he came downhill in the reps I watched, he did so with textbook pursuit angles in the reps I was able to watch as a LB that plays way above his measurables from a production level. You could also quickly grasp the attention to detail Miles has at his disposal, as a linebacker that I saw great upside traits to thrive more in pass-coverage in the coming years.   [player_tooltip player_id='1222779' first='Tanon' last='Johnson'], Kindred 2026 <a href="https://x.com/Tanonjohnson55">Twitter</a>   If you are looking for one of the more blue-collar linebackers in the state of North Dakota you might want to take a look at Kindred 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1222779' first='Tanon' last='Johnson'] like we did in Valley City. The 6.1'5 202 pounder, is one that constantly plays bigger than his measurables and one linebacker in the state if you want a linebacker with a big motor and solid read instincts, he is worth the look. During the live eval too in Valley City, I thought Tanon was more sudden with his release to the ball than I had envision which was a great plus side to see. Tanon is a long stride that makes the field seem smaller with his steps as a sideline to sideline linebacker. One that I wouldn't doubt gets more attention during the coming months.   Defensive Backs   [player_tooltip player_id='1575666' first='Brady' last='Wadena'], Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton, MN 2026   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/12/IMG_2017-rotated-crop-384x253-1753209987.jpg?w=384" alt="" class="wp-image-1724314" style="width:291px;height:auto" /></figure>   The defensive back wasn't a big group, but my DB MVP out that grouping at the Valley City State prospect camp was [player_tooltip player_id='1575666' first='Brady' last='Wadena'] out of Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton. Brady was well-versed with his footwork that he showed off during the reps I watched. Over time with watching Brady, I saw the quick growth he made during indy drills with his ball-tracking ability getting clearer angles, a quickness in his turnaround seeing where the ball was, and more. The 6'0.5 178 pounder from DGF, had the second fastest 40-yard dash at elite size with a 4.55 in his first attempt. Any college coach should love the upside they can grow with Brady at the defensive back position, as there is a lot of it and a lot of admirable athletic traits he can utilze that upside quickly.

We give it one last run from the Valley City prospect camp, as we lock in on the defensive standouts from Vikings Country that caught the attention of our notebook. Two states, plenty of hidden gems, and more are in this defensive standout series from Valley City!