AAA Standouts: Minneapolis Edition

AAA football in Minnesota has produced some excellent athletes over the years, and a solid portion of those kids have come out of Minneapolis. Two schools in particular, Minneapolis North and Minneapolis Camden (formerly Patrick Henry), have been cranking out athletes at an insane rate. I've got 6 more that you NEED to keep an eye out for in 2026! Enjoy!    Sweezy amassed 34 total tackles last season, including 11 TFLs, 4.0 sacks, and a fumble recovery too. He tested very well at the PRZ Stock Up Showcase in December and put forth a TON of tape from his junior year. He possesses an incredibly explosive first step and is often far faster than the offensive linemen across from him. Sweezy has a plethora of pass-rush moves in his bag, ranging from a bull rush to a quick swim. He also has a relentless motor, constantly working through blockers to get to the QB. Whether that be beating a tackle outside off the edge and having to get past another blocker in the backfield, or working down the line on a run play to stop the ball carrier at the LOS. He's gone shockingly underrecruited, and as he continues to produce both in the weight room and on the field, I imagine we see his stock rise further.     Smith is a multi-faceted athlete who made his impact felt everywhere on the field last season, tallying 358 rushing yards, 450 receiving yards, 7 total touchdowns, 14 total tackles, 1 TFL, 1 interception, and 1 PBU, which helped him earn All-District honors. The thing that jumps immediately on his tape is how well he brings down contested catches. Tight man coverage, triple covered in zone, it doesn't matter. As long as the ball is thrown Smith's way, he has a significant chance to come down with it. His concentration when reeling in passes is insane; he makes difficult catches look ridiculously easy. Spinning around mid-route to reel in an underthrown fade, toe-tapping both feet in the back corner of the endzone, Smith can do it all. He isn't just a possession catch receiver; however, in the open field, Smith can make plenty of defenders miss. He looks like a problem ahead of his senior season.     Brown was an uber-productive DB/OLB last season for Camden, tallying 43 total tackles, 3 TFLs, 1 fumble recovery, and a PBU during his junior season. He put out some solid tape from 2025, in which he showcases some intense physicality, especially for a prospect of his size. He's extremely effective as a run stopper. Brown can play both in and out of the box, but he can close the distance to the ball carrier quickly and often shows a sharp knife tackle. He does a great job of not overpursuing, but also can fire through the LOS and stop the ball carrier for a loss. He does a great job of shedding lead blockers and should be a welcome return for that Camden defense next season.     Warren is extremely under the radar, and that's unfortunate because I believe that he's one of the top returning RBs in the state ahead of this fall. Last season, he racked up over 1,100 rushing yards with 12 TDs on the ground while averaging a stout 6.6 ypc. His greatest asset as a ball carrier is by far his vision. Warren does an excellent job of seeing the field, and this translates to him seeing a great deal of success returning kicks as well. He's slippery too, and capable of breaking good form tackles by both churning his legs upon contact and utilizing a stiff arm to aid him. He does a great job of following his blockers and bounces it outside at the most opportune time. He can run through a defender in open space as well. Warren looks to cement himself as one of the top RBs in the state next season, and if he continues to improve upon what he's already put forth, he's got a good chance.     A talented DB who tallied 44 total tackles, 2 TFLs, and 1 interception in just 8 games as a junior, Villagomez is an underrated 2027 who could draw a lot of attention during his senior season. Although he typically plays safety, Villagomez has no problems walking down to the box and making plays in the run game, where he does a standout job of knifing out ball carriers' legs, or gator-rolling them for a loss. He plays downhill hard and does a fine job of gang-tackling with other defenders. When dropping back to defend passes, Villagomez showcases quick hips and the ability to provide lockdown man coverage underneath. His quickness and pursuit angles also stood out to me as assets in his arsenal. Villagomez should be an athlete to keep an eye on in 2026.     Jenkins was one of the state's top RBs last season, and I'm eager to see if he can build on that success in 2026. During his junior campaign, Jenkins rushed for nearly 1,400 yards and found the endzone 22 times while averaging an insane 8.4 ypc. His tape is very indicative of the success he had throughout the season. This kid is a bruiser and will easily gash defenses between the tackles for massive gain after massive gain. He can run over defenders easily, and as he continues to put weight on his frame, I only see that improving. He's also shockingly quick for his frame. Jenksins boasts fast feet and can make rapid cuts when the situation demands it, proving to be an incredibly elusive runner at 200+ lbs. If it's a one-on-one in the open field, Jenkins is scoring, and his ability to chunk plays from nothing is very impressive. This kid is a game-changer and likely will start his senior year on the Mr. Minnesota football watchlist.

AAA football in Minnesota has produced some excellent athletes over the years, and a solid portion of those kids have come out of Minneapolis. Two schools in particular, Minneapolis North and Minneapolis Camden (formerly Patrick Henry), have been cranking out athletes at an insane rate. I've got 6 more that you NEED to keep an eye out for in 2026! Enjoy!