2025 Minnesota Preseason All-State Team: Class 9Man Defense

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Yes, folks. Somehow, someway, we're only a WEEK away from the 2025 high school football season kicking off in Minnesota, and before we drive headfirst into Friday Night Lights, it's Preseason All-State time! Up first: Class 9Man. One of my favorite articles of the year, <em>PrepRedzoneMN</em> loves highlighting under-the-radar talent, and no class is more under appreciated in the Land of 10,000 Lakes than 9Man. Last year, Minnesota's 9Man classification was one of the most talent-rich of the 2000s, resulting in an electric, high-powered playoff series that came down to <em>Fertile-Beltrami</em> taking down <em>Hills-Beaver Creek </em>in what was an action-packed, talent-ridden 20-8 win for the <em>Falcons</em>. This year, Class 9Man is looking to restock and refill it's talent, with some familiar names, but plenty of new faces, stacking this 2025 Preseason All-State Team. Next up: defense! Meet the best-of-the-best DL, LBs, DBs, ATHs, and Specialists the Land of 10,000 Lakes 9Man class has to offer. Congrats to the selections! </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>--</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">2025 Preseason Class 9Man Player of the Year:<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1506853' first='Micah' last='Bush'] </strong>(<em>Hills-Beaver Creek)</em> Senior. WR/DB. 6'1, 180 lbs. Committed to South Dakota State</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">2025 Preseason Class 9Man Offensive Player of the Year: <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1371692' first='Jamin' last='Metzger'] </strong>(<em>Hills-Beaver Creek</em>) Senior. QB. 6'5, 205 lbs. Committed to Sioux Falls </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">2025 Preseason Class 9Man Defensive Player of the Year: [player_tooltip player_id='1602768' first='Bryer' last='Strem'] <em>(Fertile-Beltrami</em>) 2026. 5'9, 150 lbs. DB. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Preseason 9Man State Championship Favorite: <em>Hills-Beaver Creek High School </em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"large"} --> <p class="has-large-font-size"><em>Defensive Line </em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>First Team:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1534070' first='Wyett' last='Shimp'] <em>(Hills-Beaver Creek)</em> 2026. 6'3, 225 lbs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1662074' first='Jacob' last='Dulitz'] (<em>Alden-Conger/Glenville-Emmons</em>) 2027. 6'3, 200 lbs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1655112' first='Riggins' last='Rheault'] (<em>Hills-Beaver Creek</em>) 2027. 6'2, 210 lbs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1638662' first='Gage' last='Henrickson'] (<em>Fertile-Beltrami)</em> 2026. 6'5, 220 lbs. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Second Team: </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Tre Calhoun</strong> (<em>Wabasha-Kellogg)</em> 2026. 6'1, 245 lbs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1651467' first='Tanner' last='Thomson'] (<em>Edgerton</em>) 2028. 6'4, 210 lbs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Cruise Millette</strong> (<em>Hancock</em>) 2027. 6', 230 lbs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Loken Brandt </strong>(<em>Rothsay</em>) 2026. 6'1, 245 lbs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Third Team: </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Chase Butler</strong> (<em>Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart</em>) 2026. 6'3, 210 lbs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Cole Gullickson </strong>(<em>Renville County West)</em> 2026. 6'2, 210 lbs. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Brecken Kaderlik</strong> <em>(Bethlehem Academy</em>) 2026. 6', 210 lbs. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Carter Davenport </strong>(<em>Rothsay</em>) 2027. 6'1, 200 lbs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Honorable Mention:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jarek Schultz </strong>(<em>Lanesboro</em>) 2026. 6'5, 245 lbs. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1741586' first='Kellen' last='Prinzing'] (<em>Lanesboro</em>) 2028. 6', 235 lbs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='591731' first='Noah' last='Heppner'] (<em>Spring Grove)</em> 2026. 6'2, 230 lbs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1629903' first='Bryar' last='Ender'] (<em>Wabasha-Kellogg)</em> 2027. 6'4, 220 lbs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"large"} --> <p class="has-large-font-size"><em>Linebacker</em> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>First Team:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1629939' first='Bryce' last='Nielsen'] (<em>Heron Lake-Okabena/Fulda</em>) 2027. 6'2, 225 lbs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Griffin Haus </strong>(<em>Hillcrest Lutheran Academy</em>) 2026. 6'4, 200 lbs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1255910' first='Preston' last='Hanson'] (Fertile-Beltrami) 2026. 6'5, 215 lbs. Committed to Minnesota State University-Moorhead</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>EJ Wegener </strong>(<em>Hills-Beaver Creek</em>) 2026. 6', 190 lbs. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Second Team: </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1664129' first='Caleb' last='Sather'] (<em>Fertile-Beltrami)</em> 2026. 5'11, 200 lbs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1651156' first='Axel' last='Vix'] (<em>Houston</em>) 2026. 5'11, 240 lbs. - 2nd</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Mason Kampsen</strong> (<em>Wabasso</em>) 2026. 5'11, 200 lbs. - 2nd</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jayden Lautt </strong>(<em>Adrian-Ellsworth</em>) 2026. 6', 205 lbs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Third Team: </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Abe Miller</strong> (<em>Goodridge/Grygla-Gatzke</em>) 2026. 5'11, 210 lbs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Chase Kalt </strong>(<em>Warren-Alvarado-Oslo)</em> 2026. 5'10, 210 lbs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Andrew Franzese </strong><em>(Border West)</em> 2026. 6', 225 lbs. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Honorable Mention:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1633450' first='Hayden' last='Dillon'] (<em>Bethlehem Academy</em>) 2027. 6', 165 lbs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Dylan Groebner</strong> (<em>Border West)</em> 2027. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ben Metzger</strong> (<em>Rothsay</em>) 2027. 5'9, 160 lbs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"large"} --> <p class="has-large-font-size"><em>Defensive Back</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>First Team:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1288332' first='Lee' last='Klunder'] (<em>Houston</em>) 2027. 5'10, 180 lbs. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Finn Batalden</strong> (<em>Red Rock Central</em>) 2026. 6', 160 lbs. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Darin Linn </strong>(<em>Alden-Conger/Glenville-Emmons</em>) 2026. 5'10, 175 lbs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1602768' first='Bryer' last='Strem'] (<em>Fertile-Beltrami)</em> 2026. 5'9, 150 lbs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Second Team: </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1565274' first='Michael' last='Gunnink'] (<em>Edgerton</em>) 2026. 5'9, 155 lbs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1244815' first='Mark' last='Vossen'] (<em>Mille Lacs</em>) 2026. 5'8, 160 lbs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Juan Reyes</strong> (<em>Renville County West</em>) 2028. 5'7, 140 lbs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Caden Gerard </strong>(<em>Spring Grove</em>) 2027. 6', 190 lbs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Third Team: </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>AJ Reyes (</strong><em>Renville County West)</em> 2026. 5'7, 150 lbs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Gunnar Curfmon</strong> (<em>Hancock</em>) 2027. 5'10, 150 lbs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"large"} --> <p class="has-large-font-size"><em>Athlete</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>First Team:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='402074' first='Kaaleem' last='Reiland'] (<em>Kingsland</em>) 2026. 5'8, 190 lbs. Committed to Minnesota-Duluth</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1290743' first='Reid' last='Hungerholt'] (<em>LeRoy-Ostrander/Lyle-Pacelli)</em> 2027. 6'2, 170 lbs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1506853' first='Micah' last='Bush'] <em>(Hills-Beaver Creek)</em> 2026. 6'1, 180 lbs. Committed to South Dakota State</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Second Team: </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1651176' first='Cole' last='Evink'] (<em>Hancock</em>) 2028. 6'1, 165 lbs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1394056' first='Macoy' last='Fairbanks'] (<em>Cook County</em>) 2027. 5'10, 180 lbs. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Third Team: </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Thomas Kunze</strong> (<em>Bethlehem Academy</em>) 2026. 5'11, 170 lbs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Honorable Mention:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Winston Schaefer</strong> (<em>Hancock</em>) 2026. 5'8, 150 lbs. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Max Lake </strong>(<em>Sebeka</em>) 2027. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"large"} --> <p class="has-large-font-size"><em>Specialists</em> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>First Team:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1506853' first='Micah' last='Bush'] (H<em>ills-Beaver Creek</em>) 2026. 6'1, 180 lbs. Returner. Committed to South Dakota State</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1665769' first='Owen' last='Dvorak'] (<em>Warren-Alvarado-Oslo)</em> 2026. 6'1, 160 lbs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Second Team: </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1394056' first='Macoy' last='Fairbanks'] (<em>Cook County</em>) 2027. 5'10, 180 lbs. Returner.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>--</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->