Playmakers to Watch in Week 5

Seven of Minnesota's most dynamic athletes headline this week's Playmakers to Watch in Week 5 list. These versatile standouts impact games in multiple ways, from breaking tackles in open space to flipping field position with game-changing speed and vision. Each one has already shown a knack for seizing big moments, and all seven enter Week 5 ready to deliver more highlight-reel plays.    Junior [player_tooltip player_id='1288386' first='Tommy' last='Subah'] is building on flashes from last season. Two weeks ago, he exploded for 129 yards and two touchdowns on five receptions. A smooth route runner with verified 21.9 mph top-end speed, Tommy excels on vertical shots and quick-hitting RPO concepts. His chemistry with quarterback Liam Henke makes him a natural target on key downs. He smoothly runs deep posts, fades, and bubble screens that capitalize on his ability to separate and finish. With proven big-game production and continued rapport in Burnsville's fast-paced spread system, Tommy is positioned for a headline role all season and a big off-season.     A true all-purpose weapon, Tyler has been one of Minnesota's most explosive players through four games. He's already scored 12 touchdowns—four rushing, four receiving, plus a punt and a kick return—while averaging over 20 yards per reception and over 20 yards per carry. Aligned primarily at wide receiver, he also takes snaps in the backfield to maximize touches. Tyler combines elite straight-line speed with rare agility, consistently outrunning angles in the open field. Defenders think they have him hemmed in, but his side-to-side wiggle and burst erase pursuit. His physical development has matched his natural gifts: a varsity contributor since ninth grade, he's spent years in the weight room, transforming into a compact, powerful senior. Braham's spread offense is built to free its best athletes, and Tyler is the centerpiece, capable of scoring from anywhere and tilting a game at a moment's notice.     Matthew Welter has become the heartbeat of Chaska's new veer-midline offense. A towering 6-foot-7 and a multi-sport athlete with a baseball pedigree, he blends rare size with surprising mobility and a strong arm. I watched Welter two weeks ago against Hastings. The Raiders' defense had no answers for him. Welter rushed for 138 yards and four touchdowns on 10 carries. Coming off a junior year spent throwing to his older brother, he dedicated the offseason to mastering a brand-new run-heavy scheme. His study shows on Friday nights. Welter is checking plays at the line, diagnosing fronts, and puts teammates in position to succeed. Welter punishes defenses as a downhill runner, regularly falling forward for extra yards and finishing drives in short yardage or the red zone. His poise and willingness to embrace a ground-first attack have helped Chaska sustain long, clock-draining possessions while sprinkling in timely play-action strikes. Simply put, he's a beast, and if he wants to play college football, he should have the opportunity.     Wideout [player_tooltip player_id='1528749' first='James' last='Kopfmann'] has been a playmaker since bursting onto the scene as a freshman during the Storm's state championship run, earning the nickname “Junior James.” Last year he averaged over 28 yards per catch, and this fall he's expanded his skill set. Last week he caught six passes for 124 yards and two scores. The game has slowed for him, allowing more yards after contact and critical third-down conversions. James still stretches defenses vertically, but he now adds subtle route adjustments and short-area shake that turn modest gains into first downs. His growth from pure deep threat to complete receiver makes him Nathan's go-to option and a matchup headache for every opponent.     Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1236446' first='Owen' last='Darsow'] embodies rare two-way explosiveness in one back. Called up midway through last season, he quickly adjusted to varsity speed and entered 2025 as the featured runner. Described as possessing both “thunder and lightning”, Owen lowers his pads to finish runs and shrugs off contact, yet also flashes breakaway acceleration and smooth lateral cuts. His ability to bounce off tackles, as shown against Cooper, creates long gains from seemingly closed lanes. Calm and team-oriented, Owen shows maturity beyond his years, taking coaching and guidance from seniors without ego. In the St. Francis offense—designed to stay balanced and unpredictable—he thrives as a dual-threat runner who can hammer inside or exploit space outside. With continued development, he profiles as a college-level tailback and a centerpiece for the program's future.     Smooth and technically polished, Nik Wallin controls the slot. He reads coverages cleanly, finds seams, and presents a reliable target for quarterback Blake Spitzker on vertical concepts and quick-hitting seam routes. Wallin's route precision meshes with the team's emphasis on early-play diagnostics, giving the quarterback a dependable option to exploit mismatches. His ability to adjust mid-route maintains spacing when Pequot Lakes shifts between wing-T motions and spread looks, keeping the passing game efficient and explosive.     Junior [player_tooltip player_id='1567052' first='Ayden' last='Betts'] provides a reliable, technically sharp target from the slot. A natural hands catcher with subtle route craft, he thrives against the match-quarters coverages common in Minnesota. Aiden's growth shows in his pre-snap reads: he now adjusts based on leverage, as seen when he recognized inside coverage against Owatonna and set up an easy touchdown by feinting outside. Speed and size give him a strong baseline, but it's his emerging ability to manipulate defenders mid-route that sets him apart. He remains the key chain-mover for Mankato West and an ascending college prospect.

Seven of Minnesota's most dynamic athletes headline this week's Playmakers to Watch in Week 5 list. These versatile standouts impact games in multiple ways, from breaking tackles in open space to flipping field position with game-changing speed and vision. Each one has already shown a knack for seizing big moments, and all seven enter Week 5 ready to deliver more highlight-reel plays.