Emergent Series: Top Freshman Standouts from Class 6A MN

Rounding out our coverage of the top players from the Class of 2029 to watch out for this upcoming season, we move up to Class 6A MN, which boasts an incredibly talented group of players who are already highly touted for that class as anticipated breakout candidates playing in the top conference level in the state. We reveal 8 upcoming sophomore players from Class 6A MN to watch out for in 2026!    [player_tooltip player_id='1555622' first='Jayden' last='Bates'] already entered his freshman season with significant hype around his name and has more than enough justified his position already as the top prospect in Minnesota for the class of 2029. A talented Edge rusher with a broad frame that will benefit greatly with bulk, Bates fits the mold of a talented pass-rusher with speed, agility, and tenacity on the line to force consistent pressure on the QB with explosiveness off the snap and game-wrecking playmaking ability to spare. Bates will be one of the most exciting defenders to watch grow in the state over the next three seasons.     Hopkins has a talented group of underclassmen, and [player_tooltip player_id='1715723' first='Cordell' last='Givance'], one of their most recent young studs already has showcased the potential to become a premier prospect in his class. Givance has flashed brilliantly at both positions playing at DE and TE, despite DE being his primary position during his freshman year at Hopkins. Givance has the speed and agility to win 1-on-1 matchups against bigger OTs, and he's flashed as a solid run blocker on offense while also showcasing potential value as a pass catcher from his performances this offseason in showcase events. Givance could end up becoming one of the best two-way prospects to watch out for as he enters his sophomore season.     [player_tooltip player_id='1715729' first='Jaxon' last='Hellerud'] flashed prior to his freshman season during the Minnesota Gophers' prospect camp over the summer, and while he didn't receive many reps on varsity, Hellerud was a standout playing at QB and Strong Safety on the JV team. As a QB for a wing-slot offense, Hellerud showed solid progressions and timing on his reads when to keep and when to pitch the ball, and when he kept it, he was a dynamic runner, flashing his impressive 4.7 40 yard speed that was able to create big plays on the ground. As a safety, Hellerud does a great job tracking the ball-carrier and pinning the hip while also showing impressive power in his hits, and it is best to make sure to not throw any errant passes his way, as he has a great opportunity to take the ball back to the house when he gets it. Hellerud may see much more playing time on defense and special teams for the Sabers entering his sophomore season.     [player_tooltip player_id='1657711' first='Gustavo' last='Vahk-Lopez'] flashed as a standout receiver on Wayzata's freshman squad, and with a strong performance during our combine series event back in December solidifies his position as the top athlete among the class of 2029 in MN. Lopez was a talented outside receiver with speed and smooth precision on his route running, excelling with sharp footwork and also being able to improvise his routes to find an opening for his QB when he is forced to scramble out. Lopez has strong mechanics to like as a WR, and he could potentially find his way into the varsity lineup entering his second season to give a strong boost to their offense.     [player_tooltip player_id='1524598' first='Jamison' last='Mackey'] will have to wait as [player_tooltip player_id='725721' first='Thor' last='Soukup'] will remain as the Trojans' starter for 2026, but there is little doubt of Mackey's potential to become a premier signal-caller within the state, even already earning the label as the #1 QB in MN for the class of 2029. Mackey has a spectacular arm , showing impressive placement and touch on his passes on the run A self-proclaimed dual-threat, Mackey shows good footwork moving in the pocket and extending the play, but it was his arm that for the large part stood out the most when watching Mackey play. I can't wait to see Mackey eventually take over as the Trojans' starting QB, though there is a good chance that we will have to be patient and wait until 2027 to see Mackey take the starting role.     Delane "DJ" Woods has already flashed as a worthy Athlete prospect flashing at both WR and DB for the Bengals' football team. Playing mostly in the slot, Woods shows quick acceleration off the snap as well as fluid lower-body movement and change of direction who can generate a big plays over the middle of the field or on short passes gaining yardage after the catch. Woods is a solid tackler who despite his size doesn't get pushed back easily and is able to track the play down from the other side of the field to prevent big plays from reaching the end zone. Woods also provide value as a run-blocker and excels as a kick-returning threat. Woods will be quite the all-purpose player to watch out for Blaine going forward.     An intriguing prospect as a DE/TE/Wing player for the Panthers, [player_tooltip player_id='1716546' first='Kolten' last='Johnson'] flashed enough to potentially see a much bigger role for the team entering his sophomore year. Johnson showed solid blocking, holding his own despite being somewhat undersized for his position, but he flashed running the ball as a wing-back, proving difficult to tackle with the ball in his hands. Johnson played well on the defensive side as well, being able to knock blockers back and set the edge to force pressure on the QB while also showing good hustle in getting across the field to make tackles outside of the perimeter. Johnson shows value as a two-sided player that could see legitimate playing time on the varsity lineup in 2026.     [player_tooltip player_id='1707092' first='Nolan' last='Weisbrod'] immediately stands out among other Lineman prospects among this freshman class, as you could easily mistake him as a college starter already. A strong Center who excels in the interior, Weisbrod is able to close down interior pressure gaps almost single-handedly and doesn't get beaten easily to the outside. I would like to see Weisbrod work more this offseason on getting lower with his stance and pad-level to improve his flexibility, but with his athletic frame at this age, he's going to be an immovable piece on the trenches for the Wolfpack going forward.

Rounding out our coverage of the top players from the Class of 2029 to watch out for this upcoming season, we move up to Class 6A MN, which boasts an incredibly talented group of players who are already highly touted for that class as anticipated breakout candidates playing in the top conference level in the state. We reveal 8 upcoming sophomore players from Class 6A MN to watch out for in 2026!