North Dakota State Semifinals Preview: 11AA Players to Watch

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With the 11AA state semifinals on deck this Friday in Minot and Kindred we take a look at the nearly 25 players to watch from both state semifinal games.. Four teams, 24 athletes, only two will get a state-finals trip to the Fargo Dome a week from Friday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"24px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:24px"><strong>11AA</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>#4 Central Cass (7-3) at #1 Minot North (10-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"18px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:18px"><strong>Squirrels to Watch</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='929959' first='Colton' last='Cruchet'], RB 2026</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-Committed to Montana Tech to play running back in Butte.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='1292702' first='Brody' last='Kegley'], QB, 202</em>7</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-Top tier 2027 quarterback in North Dakota 2027 class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='1112591' first='Aiden' last='Wunderlich'], OL, 2026</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-#1 overall prospect in 2026 North Dakota class. Committed to North Dakota.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='675358' first='Evan' last='Wiersma'], DL, 2026</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-Committed to MSU-Moorhead. Top-tier defensive tackle in North Dakota 2026 class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='1113069' first='Ayden' last='Thummel'], LB, 2027</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-Linebacker on the rise in 2027 class with intriguing junior tape that I have watched.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Sentinels to Watch</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='1113076' first='Ethan' last='Howey'], DL/OL, 2027</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-Top tier defensive linemen in 2027 North Dakota class. D1 grade in our eyes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='1590705' first='Josia' last='Jaquinet'], WR, 2026</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-Way under the radar wide receiver that has been a persistent top perform on offense for the Sentinels.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='1568603' first='Evan' last='Berg'], LB, 2026</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-Under-recruited linebaccker that has performed well at our Prep Redzone Dakotas Showcase. Surprised Evan does not have more offers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"16px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:16px"><strong><em>Gabe Mendez, OL, 2026</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>An offensive linemen that has caught my attention for Minot North in his senor season. Should be one that plays on Saturdays.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='1222777' first='Brayden' last='Blikre'], QB, 2026</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The ringleader of the Minot North offense with limited next-level attention is [player_tooltip player_id='1222777' first='Brayden' last='Blikre'] of Minot North. This young man has great position flexibility on both side of the ball, could also be a linebacker at the next level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='929929' first='Christian' last='Deadmond'], LB/ATH 2026</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A linebacker that has a steady nose for the ball that is another under-recruited prospect that can play on both sides of the ball with the best fit being at linebacker.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>#3 Devils Lake (8-2) at #2 Kindred (10-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"20px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:20px"><strong>Firebirds to Watch</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='1568605' first='Mason' last='Palmer'], QB, 2026</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Senior gunslinger that leads this Firebirds offense. Has Division II offers for baseball at Minot State</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>Bryar Exner, RB, 2026</strong></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Senior bellcow at running back that has great vision and patience in the backfield. The recent tape he has put up shows me he can certainly play some college ball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Kade Fee, WR, 2026</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the Firebirds go-tos at wide receiver. 6'0 200 pound with good athleticism as a pass-catcher.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1314674' first='Casey' last='Brown'], OL, 2027</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the three XL offensive linemen that Devils Lake has is 6'5 260 pounder [player_tooltip player_id='1314674' first='Casey' last='Brown'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1575838' first='Grady' last='Quam'], DE, 2028</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Grady is another stockriser in this 11AA matchup at defensive end in this 2028 North Dakota class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Isaac Woodhull, DL, 2026</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Isaac is a defensive linemen that made noise in the quarterfinals a week ago. The 5'10 280 pound defensive tackle made waves in the passing lanes logging an interception last week.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1259264' first='Carter' last='Christensen'], OL, 2028</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another XL offensive linemen for the Firebirds, is 6'5 310 pounder [player_tooltip player_id='1259264' first='Carter' last='Christensen'] in the 2028 class and sits as a top-tier offensive linemen in that class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"20px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:20px"><strong>Vikings to Watch</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"16px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:16px"><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='1422613' first='Gabe' last='Whipple'], QB, 2026</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"16px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:16px">-Senior quarterback with muliple scholarship offers from over the summer. He is one that I would love to see get on D2 radars.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='929969' first='Sawyer' last='Hesse'], WR/ATH, 2026</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-One of the biggest sleepers at the athlete position in the 2026 ND class. Just picked up his first offer from D3 powerhouse Bethel (MN) last week</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='1222779' first='Tanon' last='Johnson'], LB/OL, 2026</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-Stock rising linebacker in 2026 class. Offer from Valley City State over the summer.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='1222778' first='Miles' last='Stroh'], LB, 2026</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-Another stock rising linebacker in 2026 class. Offer from Valley City State over the summer.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1027992' first='Brooks' last='Bakko'], WR/FS, 2027</strong></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-#3 overall prospect in 2027 North Dakota class. Several P4 offers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='1027991' first='Luke' last='Starcevic'], TE/DE, 2027</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-Consesus #1 overall prospect in North Dakota's 2027 class. Double-digit power four offers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->