Emergent Series: Top Freshman Standouts from Class 4A MN

Moving on with our Emergent Series to Class 4A, we take a look at a new batch of athletes that hold an intriguing amount of potential, from already established starters from their freshman seasons to wild card names that could get more opportunities to flash as high-caliber prospects in the making. We reveal 7 players from Class 4A MN part of the class of 2029 to watch out for in 2026!    [player_tooltip player_id='888363' first='Brayden' last='Hartmann'] immediately took the starting reigns as a freshman and excelled under Center, and the Pioneers' gambit of letting the freshman start immediately paid off as he helped sustain their success they've had over the last few seasons. Hartmann threw for 1121 yards, 18 TDs, and 3 INTs as he guided the team to a 9-2 record and a state quarterfinal appearance. Hartmann quickly grew confident, and as time went on, Hartmann looked fearless slinging the ball down the field, showing excellent precision, power, and control in the pocket, and his passing mechanics have shown to be more advanced than most upperclassmen in the state. Hartmann will be an exciting QB to watch develop over the next few years as he will look to help the Pioneers make a deep push in the 4A conference once again in 2026.     Another freshman standout from Hill-Murray, Tristan Will has been an overlooked prospect so far despite being one of the most exciting newcomers within the 4A conference. Working as a slot-back, LB, and as a gunner on kickoff coverage, Will's athleticism and versatility was on display as he excelled in each of these roles. Will's best position may be at LB, where he made great reads on where the ball is going, along with impressive acceleration and clean tackling form that's helped him become a force to stop the run. A sneaky receiver who was able to line up in multiple slots in different formations, Will's speed translates well on offense, allowing him to break away for big yardage after the catch. Will should become an X-factor for the Pioneers going forward as they boast a very strong group of underclassmen to help maintain their success going forward.     [player_tooltip player_id='1716370' first='Jaelon' last='Larson-Adams'] has immediately cemented his place as a star prospect coming out of Simley. Larson-Adams finished with 211 receiving yards on 16 receptions and 3 TDs in his freshman year. Showcasing impressive burst and fluid agility, Adams is a twitchy athlete with big-play potential. He isn't a particular big receiver, but he has proven to do well in one-on-one matchups, and he also contributes nicely as a potent run-blocker. Adams will continue to develop chemistry with the Spartans' passing game, and with a bit of mass to match his frame, he could see a strong uptick in targets coming his way entering his sophomore year.     [player_tooltip player_id='1716535' first='Romeo' last='Ayala'] makes up for his smaller size on the trenches with an aggressive style of play that has helped him stand out quickly on Rocori's offensive and defensive line. Ayala has shown to be a solid DE, utilizing his speed and agility to get around the edge and contain the pass and the outside run. Ayala also flashed as a Guard, showcasing solid power and footwork to match up against much bigger interior-linemen. As Ayala continues to build strength, his play-style should become much more dangerous and prevalent for the Spartans as his attitude suits him well on the trenches.     Dexter Seelen already boasts tremendous athleticism and size for his age, making him one of my favorite prospects among this underclassmen group with his high upside. While he didn't see much playing time in his freshman season, he flashed brightly in their JV lineup, using his size and length to reach past blockers to win around the edge, showing solid speed and power in his hits, and being able to bat down passes at the line of scrimmage with his length. Seelen should begin to see playing time on the varsity lineup for Providence Academy entering his sophomore year, and with how impressive he already looks, the ceiling could be very high for Seelen going forward among this group.     In the midst of a winless campaign, Lamarion Riley saw some valuable playing time in the varsity lineup for Columbia Heights, and there is a good chance that Riley will see a major uptick in reps entering his sophomore year. At Free Safety, he recorded 16 tackles and an interception while catching 3 passes for 35 yards at WR. Riley's role was much more prevalent on defense and special teams, showing to be a solid open-field tackler who doesn't get pushed back easily despite his size, making him a nice contributor as a run-defender and on kickoff coverage. Riley has quickly become a bright spot for the Hylanders and will look to help them get back on track after a dismal campaign in 2025.     [player_tooltip player_id='1240000' first='Landen' last='Alderman'] didn't see much playing time in his freshman season on varsity, but he flashed as a bright spot on their 9th grade team. Taking reps at RB, Safety, and in special teams' coverage, flashing as a nimble and quick athlete who shows solid change of direction and agility as a potential scamper-back. Alderman may have to wait another season to potentially breakthrough within the varsity group, but he could see some reps entering his sophomore year on special teams as well as in their deep backfield with several of their leading rushers graduating this offseason.

Moving on with our Emergent Series to Class 4A, we take a look at a new batch of athletes that hold an intriguing amount of potential, from already established starters from their freshman seasons to wild card names that could get more opportunities to flash as high-caliber prospects in the making. We reveal 7 players from Class 4A MN part of the class of 2029 to watch out for in 2026!