AA Southern MN Athletes to Watch Pt. 2

Continuing my coverage of AA Southern Minnesota athletes to watch next season, I've got 7 more athletes from 4 schools across that area. There are some exciting 2027s and some 2028s that look like they might be up next. Expect to see some stock risers from this crew below. Enjoy!    A standout AA athlete whose frame makes him an appealing prospect, Brummer is riding high after a solid showing at the PRZ Stock Up Showcase. His junior tape is at both defensive end and tight end, and he could likely do both at the next level. For a 6'3" 190 lb prospect, Brummer moves well. He does a good job of flowing to the ball, often not getting caught up in the wash and stretching the field to make a tackle. He continuously works through offensive linemen when rushing the passer, and does a nice job of not letting hiccups during the play set him back. I love how hard Brummer fights not to get reach blocked. On offense, Brummer has seen success lining up out wide. His route running is better than I anticipated, and he has shown that he can bring down balls in contested space. Brummer should be a 2027 to watch out for next fall.     A 2028 wideout whose stock could rise significantly over the next couple of seasons, Dion looks to be one of the out-state wideouts to watch. The two-sport athlete (Football/Basketball) had some solid tape from his sophomore campaign on varsity. I like how he attacks the catch point, and even if the threat of getting hit is imminent, Dion makes sure to secure the ball when he comes down with it. Even if the ball is thrown to an awkward and hard-to-catch place, Dion shows that he can bring it down. I also like his on-field awareness. Dion does a great job of diving forward for first downs and comes up with big catches in key moments. I'd love to see more tape from him this fall.     A two-sport athlete (Football/Track), Graham is a remarkably under-the-radar wideout who I think could make waves next season. On his tape, Graham proves to be a speedy wideout who can stretch the field deep. He dices up zone coverage, and his size+speed make him a tough cover downfield. His concentration on difficult catches is unexpected for AA football, and he does an excellent job of flashing his hands late and going up and getting tough and misplaced balls. He's shown that he can dice DBs in man coverage everywhere and has even taken designed runs for big gains. Graham could prove to be a diamond in the rough in 2026.     A corner with additional tape as a punt returner, Boelter is an underrated athlete from out-state Minnesota. Like most small-town athletes, Boelter has tape at nearly every facet of the game. He showcases a dogged determination on special teams, hawking down punt and kick returners. When he's returning punts, Boelter showcases some solid quickness and the vision to find open run lanes, which he has shown that he can exploit for a TD downfield. On defense, Boelter shows that he can provide tight coverage deep downfield. He also provides a consistent blanket as a last resort in the run game, where he can make tackles that prevent chunk gains. Boelter should be a DB to keep an eye out for next season.     A standout LB who has also seen time as a RB/FB on offense, Johnson is an exciting player who could provide a lot of utility to college programs. On offense, Johnson is super physical both with the ball in his hands and without it. His utility as a fullback is extremely underrated. While carrying the rock, his running style is a mash-up of hard and downhill running, with elusive cuts once he his the LOS. On defense, I love how he collisions lead blockers, blowing up the play and then tackling the ball carrier near or behind the LOS. Johnson chases after ball carriers with a dogged determination, showcasing solid pursuit as well. LeSueur-Henderson could be a squad to watch next season.     Zollner standout baseball player who was a solid two-way athlete for Pipestone last season as both a QB and a DB. As a DB, Zollner showcases surprising physicality. He lights people up, punishing ball carriers and receivers alike. He hits like a linebacker and provides a legit presence in the run game. His closing speed also impressed me. As a QB, Zollner possesses some pocket escapability and throws a solid ball off platform. The rock leaves his hands with a nice spiral, and while placement could be a little better, all the building blocks are there for Zollner to evolve into a legit AA QB next season. He should be an athlete to keep an eye on in 2026.     Bierstedt is an RB whose sophomore tape wasn't extensive, but was impressive. Bierstendt is an elusive runner who does a standout job of following his blockers and adjusting his path to the evolution of the play. He's also showcased utility catching passes out of the backfield, where Bierstedt has reeled in difficult-to-catch passes for big gains in key moments. His frame is impressive for a sophomore, and his evolution over this offseason could help him blossom into a larger role for Sibley East.

Continuing my coverage of AA Southern Minnesota athletes to watch next season, I've got 7 more athletes from 4 schools across that area. There are some exciting 2027s and some 2028s that look like they might be up next. Expect to see some stock risers from this crew below. Enjoy!