4A Standouts to Look Out for in 2026 Pt. 2

Continuing my coverage of talented Metro-area standouts, I have identified eight more athletes from Columbia Heights and Fridley, both of which have produced notable talent over the past couple of years. Enjoy these stock risers!    One of the Hylanders' standout players from last season, Boyd is on track to emerge as a serious stock riser in 2026. He's got a lot of tape from his junior campaign, both as a TE and as an MLB. As a TE, Boyd is an elusive route runner who can turn short catches in the flats into big gains downfield. I think the better body of work is at LB, however. I love how downhill he plays. Constantly screaming through gaps and wreaking havoc in the backfield, or scraping over the top and blowing up plays at the edge. When blitzing, he's able to time when he arrives at the LOS perfectly, leading to a number of TFLs. Can't wait to see what Boyd does during his senior season.     A varsity starter as a sophomore, Arradondo racked up 288 all-purpose yards, 3 PBUs, and 24 tackles in 2025. He saw time as a DB, WR, and KR, while putting up solid tape at every position. On offense, Arradondo is a crafty route runner who uses his speed and agility to separate from defenders. He's got a number of plays where he brings down an awkward ball while manned up against a DB. His defensive film is solid, too. On that side of the ball, Arradondo has shown that he can provide lockdown man coverage, while also being physical and closing down in the run game. Perhaps the most underrated facet of his game is his utility as a returner, where he gets to show off his vision and speed in the open field. There's a lot to like about this 2028 prospect.     A talented DB boasting a 3.8+ GPA, Saimon had a great showing at the Stock Up Showcase in December, leaving a lot of people excited to see what he can do during his senior year. I really liked his film at corner from 2025. Especially, I liked his tape in man coverage. Matched up one-on-one, Saimon can be found attached to a wideout's hip and does a great closing once the ball arrives. He also does a standout job of contesting passes, both by using his hands without drawing flags and by being physical at the point of attack. He makes QBs pay for underthrowing balls, and I could see him as a serious stock riser next season.     A wiry DB who can make an impact in both the run and the pass game, Tengben is a Hylander's product who I will be keeping an eye out for this fall. He typically does his best work manned up with a receiver on the outside, but he's also shown success in zone coverage as well. He doesn't give receivers an inch in coverage, and I love how he gets up to contest passes. Tengben also does a nice job of crashing down and can make plenty of tackles at or near the LOS. I wish he had more tape, but he should be an athlete to watch, nevertheless.     A wideout who played in 5 games and racked up 195 yards and a TD last season on just 11 receptions, Olson is expected to play a large role for Fridley next fall. Touting some great route running and solid hands, Olson's junior tape stood out to me. He does a good job of adjusting his route to the needs of the play, and I've been impressed with his ball tracking ability. Perhaps one of the most underrated facets of his game is his utility when run blocking. Olson can and has planted defenders in the dirt, and will prevent defenders from claiming the edge. I'm eager to see how he performs with an elevated role in 2026.     While I couldn't find any measurables for Sonkarley, the 2027 Fridley product put up some solid tape from last season, and I'd be remiss if I didn't mention what he can bring to the table. This kid has some wild plays on tape that show off some insane athleticism. This includes a wild INT, where his whole body was facing north but managed to maneuver just in time mid jump to completely 180 and come down with the ball. He's also got some tape at receiver, further highlighting his positional versatility. I'd love to get a look at this kid on the camp circuit throughout the offseason.     A crafty wideout with some solid junior tape, Karsten played an important role in the Tigers' offense last season and looks to repeat that success next season as well. His success wasn't limited to wide receiver; however, Karsten also saw a lot of time as a running back and as a linebacker on defense. Regardless of where he plays, however, Kartsen is always on go. He plays with a full head of steam and runs hard, with or without the ball in his hands. Kartsen should be an athlete to watch ahead of next season.

Continuing my coverage of talented Metro-area standouts, I have identified eight more athletes from Columbia Heights and Fridley, both of which have produced notable talent over the past couple of years. Enjoy these stock risers!