PrepRedzoneMN Midseason Film Review

Nothing like some straight-up film evaluations! 2026s and 2027s: you're on the clock! Lots of new names and first-time evals for our PRZMN readers below! More coming from the Midseason Film Review department as well. Enjoy!   --    Somehow, there isn't a ton of buzz around 5-0 Mahtomedi right now. Sporting an undefeated record going into the back half of the regular season, the Zephyrs are manned by a senior and upperclassmen-heavy roster with a ton of speed in their productive rushing attack, but defenders like senior captain and linebacker Cameron Hentsch is really what makes this wheel turn. The 6', 185 lb. LB/S has posted 33 tackles, 10 TFLs, 5 PBUs, and 2 sacks in only 13 quarters of play, and he recently earned an offer from Valley City State this past weekend due to his efforts this fall as a senior. Hentsch possesses a nose for the football, and he can defeat blocking attempts thanks to his physicality at the point of attack. The senior does a great job of reading/recognizing/triggering on the ball, especially in the run game, is a strong tackler who is capable of effectively bringing down ball carriers 1v1 in space with consistency, and also doubles as a useful OLB/nickel who can help in pass defense out of the slot. Great move by VCSU getting in while the iron is hot!   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/CamHentsch_2026/status/1972475827347714334 </div></figure>     A 6', 255 lber. bruiser out of the 507 and the always-fertile recruiting grounds of Rochester and specifically, Rochester Century High School, junior [player_tooltip player_id='1261389' first='Matthew' last='Ding'] is a two-way starter in 2025 and has allowed 0 sacks in the hundreds of offensive reps he's posted under his belt in 2025.   As a LG, the Century product is balanced, nimble, patient, and strong in pass protection, where he's confident and physically impressive pre and post-contact when setting himself up for a rusher. He displays good hand placement, drives through his hips after first contact, and has the foot drive and motor to push DL far downfield between the whistles in run blocking, always working to finish, and he'll slam you onto your face if you get over your toes and off balance when working North-South in your rush. I like his active hands that you can visibly see working for ideal hand placement and leverage advantages, and Ding is strong and able to work iDL around and out of the way of his tailbacks and rushers. Good junior tape so far!   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/DingMatthew27/status/1971296465999044654 </div></figure>     The Waseca Bluejays are once again playing like a Class AAA state title contender, to no one's surprise. Behind the playmaking ability of North Dakota State DB commit [player_tooltip player_id='592119' first='Deron' last='Russell'], who doubles as one of the best hoopers in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, the Bluejays are stocked with sleepers and under-the-radar prospects all over the graduating class spectrum, maybe none more underrated than linebacker Julius Oviedo. A 215 pound boulder of a inside linebacker in the heart of the Bluejays defense, you're going backwards once Oviedo puts the pads on you, and he does a good job at winning at the contact point and reading/triggering on the rock once he sees a play develop. A traditional downhill, run-support-heavy LB who does a good job of weaving and wading through traffic inside the box. Looks like a great DIII or NAIA pickup for a local MIAC, WIAC, UMAC, MCAC, or GPAC squad.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/juliusoviedo07/status/1969776749706641427 </div></figure>     More sleepy sleepers out of the Mahtomedi 2026 class! Get to know Jake Reubish now, because if the Mahtomedi Zephyrs continue their win streak deep into the postseason this senior running back is going to be at the forefront of the success. The game-breaking tailback has posted 74 carries for 451 yards and 8 TDs in only 13 carries of play through 5 games, and any kind of outside-breaking run or rushing call that puts Reubish in space is a good one, as this kid can bob, weave, and then explode through a hole and into space like a boxer finishing a combination. He owns homerun speed that can take routine carries through all three levels of the field with explosive burst and into the endzone, as well as good contact balance that can easily eat and work through weaker of out-of-position tackle attempts at his legs and upper body alike. Strong enough to carry dogpiles for a couple of extra yards after contact, Reubish's game screams power and explosiveness, and to sweeten the pot, the young man has no offers! Hit him up!   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/jakereubish13/status/1973606199858790749 </div></figure>     The Annandale Cardinals are playing straight-up dominant football right now. 5-0 going into Week 6 with nothing but butt whoopings on their schedule so far, the Cards are senior-heavy, with two-way standouts littering the large, physical roster, with OC/DE Ben Walter representing and personifying the theme well.   Walter's senior midseason tape displays a rusher with a twitchy inside step as a pass rusher, noticeable burst from a dead stop when getting after the QB, and the ability to unlock his hips and easily slip through traffic around the LOS in run support. Walter possesses a good understanding of pursuit leverage and can hold the edge of the LOS and contain QBs in the pocket, as well as make 1v1 tackles in space, effectively and routinely, and he's a thumper at the contact point, especially as a pass rusher when he has free reign on the QB. As an OC, Walter is a excellent second and third-level blocker who is extremely proficient at breaking down in space, keeping his feet active, and shutting down quicker LBs and DBs to open big holes for his tailbacks an offensive weapons. Walter is a must-know for local DIIIs, NAIAs, and JUCOs on a really fun 2025 Annandale Cardinals roster.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/BWalter52/status/1972864619254272295 </div></figure>     What a wild year for the two Mankato programs, with Mankato West experiencing a very up-and-down year in the 5A ranks with injuries at key positions and a tough schedule in the big school ranks proving a hard-to-manage task for the Scarlets roster this fall. With some QB interchange around the midseason point of the 2025 schedule, the Scarlets have been leaning on the run game, specifically 2026 tailback [player_tooltip player_id='591733' first='Trevor' last='Sheldrup']. Sitting at 74 carries for 539 yards and 6 TDs as West's leading rusher, Sheldrup is an animal between the tackles, going 0-60 in a blink, where his hulking size that has developed and grown well since junior year, makes safeties tackle from off-angles or out of position, either due to his size/speed combo or pure fear, where he can run through that free defender and make house calls from anywhere on the field. Sheldrup owns wildcat carries in 2025, and I love the balance, as he has some shifty and powerful inside cuts off that offside foot that can split would-be tacklers and find paydirt when needed. Plus, the now-190 lber. is an asset out of the backfield thanks to his hands, good vision, and is more than capable of taking advantage of the massive holes his experienced OL has afforded him throughout the season. No offers so far, talk about a sleeper!   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/TrevorSheldrup/status/1973458344854884564 </div></figure>     Always nice to find EVW prospects on the recruiting trail, especially new names, as the Eagles are tighter with their stat input and Hudl tape, so it's harder to get looks at their standout players until the players and/if you're name is [player_tooltip player_id='1292716' first='Nate' last='Wahl'], who lives out in Big Lake and is a big fan of the EVW program, as is PrepRedzoneMN. The Eagles are 3-2 in 2025 with their two losses both coming within a one-TD margin, and new-to-the-scene junior Lamichael Artis is having a breakout season with the the Section 5AA competitor, posting 103 carries for 650 yards and 4 catches for 46 yards, and he shows off a skillset of quick, twitchy cuts and footwork and the balance to run through arm tackle attempts with ease. PRZMN love's watching him cut and pinball off and away from tackle-attempts with consistency, and Artis strong kid who can eat big hits from would-be defenders in space with electric burst and positional versatility who can impact all three phases of the ball game positively. RB, WR, CB, KOR, ask the small school standout and he shall deliver!   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/La_mike21/status/1973101310867013959 </div></figure>     A new name out of an always-talented Park Center Pirates roster, 6'1, 160 lb. WR/DB Joseph Jacobs is a lean, silky, two-way contributor who is a contested catch standout with great ball tracking and body awareness. The senior is capable of making some especially-impressive sideline toe-taps and back-shoulder snags against tight coverage from Metro-area defenders, and his big-play speed and ball-track ability makes him a homerun threat on fades and slants, even against Cover2 and Cover3 defenses. Jacobs, as a CB, does a good job of reading the QB's eyes in zone coverage, able to high-point and play the ball in the air effectively, and I like his upside at both positions, but he seems to thrive as a WR, where he is effective at improvising and working to separate and work with his QB when a play breaks down and owns dangerous YAC ability, with good contact balance for his size. No offers yet!   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/JoChosen3/status/1973413899341799735 </div></figure>     Don't sleep on the feisty East Grand Forks 2025 roster! Lot of talent departed the Greenwave from the 2025 class, but new names are stepping up and stepping into the spotlight this fall, notably junior QB Jakob Stassen, who has completed 60 passes on 110 attempts for 651 yards and 7 total TDs through the first five weeks of the season, the 175 lber., with the flick of the wrist, can cannon the ball 40-50 yards downfield and right into the receiver's awaiting breadbasket with impressive ease, showing a rare ability to stretch the field for a gunslinger of his size. Stassen possesses beautiful touch and throws one of the smoother, easier fade balls I've seen form the MN 2027 crop of QBs, especially in the red zone, and with a clean, quick, compact throwing motion and mechanics, Stassen can also rifle the rock into tight throwing windows with noticeably impressive accuracy, as well as torque and zip. His ball placement on third level throws is especially impressive. Back-shoulders seem to be routine for this first-year starter, and he seems to really capitalize on red zone opportunities and passes, especially in 1v1 situations, and the in-your-face arm talent in the midseason junior tape, this kid has some tremendous flashes of poise, velocity, and ball placement ability. DIIIs and NAIAs should take notice IMMEDIATELY!   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/JakeStassen/status/1973415061944426917 </div></figure>     There's always big, strong, physical sleepers on the Prior Lake Lakers roster, and senior OLB/SS/RB Jackson Didion is a new name to our PRZMN radar who seems to be making the most of his 2025 opportunities. Didion has posted 27 tackles and 2 TFLs in 4 1/2 quarters of play through 2025, and he's a thumper who crumples and run through ballcarriers like they were a tackle dummy. Didion is comfortable changing direction, tackling space, and tracking the hip of elusive 6A ball carriers with effectiveness, and he wins at the contact point and showed that he can stick, standup, and repel Big School RBs from the endzone and first down marker game to game. The Prior Lake product is a good tackler with noticeable pursuit leverage who recognizes how to set the edge and turn a ball carrier back inside. Would be an excellent addition to a local DIII or NAIA roster.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/JacksonDidion1/status/1973441461808144828 </div></figure>     Coming into Week 6 with a 3-2 record but possessing one of the most explosive offenses in MN's Class 9Man football, 6'2, 200 lb. Alden-Conger/Glenville-Emmons QB/DE [player_tooltip player_id='1662074' first='Jacob' last='Dulitz'] has been one of the bigger stat monster of 2025, coming into the sixth game of the season with 51 completions on 87 attempts for 1,069 yards (214 passing YPG) and 14 passing TDs along with 42 carries for 312 yards and 4 TDs, and he sports a big arm that can teardrop the rock right into the awaiting arms of a streaking wideout. The tough signal-caller will stand in the pocket and deliver throws threw massive oncoming hits and streaking, free defenders with no regard to his well being, but he loves throwing the deep ball, has the athletic ability to extend plays to allow his wideouts to find space downfield, and can stretch the field consistently. Dulitz possesses good touch on his downfield throws but will also run your butt over when he tucks and takes off and brings the physicality of two-way versatility to the QB spot, and I like how is versatility projects to the next level as an 11-man prospect. Get at him now!   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/JacobDulitz2/status/1973104398847897751 </div></figure>     Minnetonka always seems stuffed to the brim with physical, fast, hard-charging DBs, and the 2027 iteration of this legacy is 5'11, 185 lber. Noah Wallace. Posting 30 tackles, 3 PBUs, 1 INT through four games, Wallace reads, plays, closes space, and tackles with the speed and urgency I'm used to seeing from Tonka back-end defenders. He shows multi-phase utility as a returner who is comfortable and explosive with the ball in his hands, as well as noticeable defensive range and the ability to flip his hips quickly. Wallace is stingy and physical at the catch point, with the strength to hang with TEs and bigger wideouts, and he reads and sees developing route combinations well. Awesome new name to add to our PRZMN radar! Keep them coming, Minnetonka!

Nothing like some straight-up film evaluations! 2026s and 2027s: you're on the clock! Lots of new names and first-time evals for our PRZMN readers below! More coming from the Midseason Film Review department as well. Enjoy!