The Third Unit: MN's Top Return Specialists of 2025

Rounding out our list of the top special teams' standouts across the high school football landscape in Minnesota, we move on to the return specialists, where the volume of returns aren't high, but what these players were able to do with the ball in their hands showcased their playmaking potential, setting up their offense in position to succeed with their explosive ability. We unveil 6 of the best return specialists in MN through the 2025 season!    [player_tooltip player_id='1549956' first='Sahvar' last='Harvey'] did a spectacular job at all three phases of the game this season for Columbia Heights. Harvey recorded 954 rushing yards and 4 rushing TDs (7.2 YPC), while adding 62 tackles, 11 TFLs, 1 forced fumble, and an interception return for a TD on defense. As a returner, Harvey led the state with 625 kick return yards (28.4 YPR) and 1 kick return TD. Harvey translated his skills in the backfield in the open field as a returner, showing excellent vision in finding lanes to burst through, utilizing his speed and agility to maneuver around the kick coverage unit to set up the offense. The lone shining star on a winless team this season, Harvey will easily enter his senior season as the face of the team.     [player_tooltip player_id='1256233' first='Evons' last='Plamann'] finished with over 1000 yards rushing this season for St. Agnes, and he also had a major presence for the Aggies' special teams' unit. Plamann finished with 569 kick return yards (35.6 YPC) and 1 kick return TD. Over half of those kick return yards came against St. Paul Johnson alone, recording a whopping 295 kick return yards on just 4 returns and his lone return TD of the season. Plamann could work on his ball-tracking ability while the ball is in the air, but his improvisational ability with the ball in his hands more than often made up for this, being able to slice through open lanes and slip through defenders to make a big return. Plamann was another big-play stud who stood out the most on a winless team, and his multi-purpose ability certainly makes him an intriguing commodity worth looking at heading into this upcoming recruiting class.     Despite his smaller stature, Colin Welch had a large presence for Spring Lake Park in their return game. Welch finished with 504 kick return yards (38.8 YPR) and 2 kick return TDs. It's impressive to note that he only returned the ball 13 times all season as opposing teams realized how dangerous it was to let Welch have an opportunity to take it out. Welch is lightning-fast with the ball in his hands, and he's able to change direction on a dime, making it difficult for his opponents to predict where he is going and how to approach him. Welch will look to add to his total as Spring Lake Park heads to the 5A quarterfinals on Saturday.     TJ Washtock's 1360 rushing yards placed him in the top-10 in rushing yards across the state this season, but it wasn't the only area where he shined for New Prague. Washtock finished with 540 kick return yards (24.5 YPR) and a kick return TD as well. Washtock is a dangerous runner, with his change of direction being so sharp, it takes multiple defenders to drag him down, and that showed itself in the return game as well, using his shiftiness and speed to surge down the line and get big yardage on special teams as he did in the backfield this season. After an outstanding senior campaign, it will be interesting to see where Washtock ends up heading into this recruiting class.     The top RB in the class of 2028 has been living up to his ever-growing hype with a spectacular sophomore campaign, and he also was able to showcase value in the return game. On 7 punt returns, he had 238 return yards (34 YPR) and a state-high 2 punt return TDs. He also added 163 kick return yards on just 5 returns (32.6 YPR). Meaway is truly on a different level, proving incredibly dangerous with just the ball in his hands, and his game-breaking speed, athleticism, and game-sense has made him into a gem for Brooklyn Center. Meaway may see his stock bump up heading into this next season, and he may even have a chance to earn the spot as the top overall recruit in the class of 2028 heading into this next season.     Another stud who's been rocking it as a sophomore, [player_tooltip player_id='1655354' first='Madden' last='Lendt'] had a strong breakout season in 2025 as a WR and DB, and he also made a big presence in the return game. Lendt led all returners in the state with 260 punt return yards (17.3 YPR) and 1 punt return TD. It is crazy watching Lendt on the field; the fact that he has this much size and athleticism at his age is scary. Lendt is a player who opponents should fear greatly when the ball gets into his hands, and his presence should continue to do wonders for Springfield going forward.

Rounding out our list of the top special teams' standouts across the high school football landscape in Minnesota, we move on to the return specialists, where the volume of returns aren't high, but what these players were able to do with the ball in their hands showcased their playmaking potential, setting up their offense in position to succeed with their explosive ability. We unveil 6 of the best return specialists in MN through the 2025 season!