Small School Athletes on the Rise

Minnesota has produced many out-state standouts, ranging from D1 athletes to long-term starters at D3 programs in the MIAC/WIAC. I've found 7 more athletes from 4 schools who have had standout performances last season, whose stock is bound to rise if they can continue to build upon their success. Enjoy!    Roschen is a talented athlete who made plays everywhere last season. He finished his junior campaign with 228 rushing yards, 400 receiving yards, 12 total touchdowns, 40 tackles, 2 TFLs, 1 sack, a forced fumble, 3 interceptions, and 6 PBUs. He put up some electric junior tape in the process to match those incredible stats. On that tape, Roschen proves to be incredibly talented. He's athletic and quick enough to create a lot of separation at the start of the play, and then he'll make a series of defenders miss in space. He's not just a great route runner; however, Roschen will also go up and get deep balls, and his vert and high-pointing ability allow him to come down with them, even when faced with long and tall DBs. He doesn't shy away from contact either and fights hard for extra yardage after the catch. Roschen has all the makings of a breakout athlete during his senior season.     Loos is a lanky wideout whose frame makes him a very appealing prospect and makes him stand out among the 2028 class. He recorded 10 receptions for 187 yards and 4 TDs last season, as well as an impressive 55 tackles, 3 TFLs, 3.0 Sacks, 1 fumble recovery, and a PBU. As a DB, he can provide tight-man coverage, and I love how physical he is with receivers at the catch point without drawing a flag. He's a solid red zone threat as a receiver. This is highlighted both by his reception-to-TD ratio and on his tape, where Loos is able to bring down balls in tight coverage and secure the rock through contact. Keep an eye out for this stock riser and potential 2028 breakout.     O'Reilly was one of the most productive defensive linemen in the state last season, bringing down 96 total tackles, 10 TFLs, 2.0 sacks, and 3 FF. He's a certified standout across the board and makes an impact anywhere he's put in any sport he plays. On his tape, O'Reilly proves to be relentless in his pursuit of the ball carrier. I love how low he plays, and you see how well he uses leverage to his advantage against offensive linemen. He's powerful enough to bull rush linemen straight into the QB, but also quick and explosive enough to rip through and handfight. He's incredibly physical when he attacks ball carriers, and either lights them up or attempts to force a fumble when given the opportunity. I'd love to see him at a camp during the offseason and evaluate him against other comp. I look forward to an extremely productive senior season from O'Reilly.     An out-state prospect with a solid build that makes him a very intriguing athlete to watch, Kubian should be a welcome returning veteran presence at tackle for the Irish. His size makes him a real problem for opponents on both sides of the ball. On offense, Kubian keeps his feet chopping, and while he plays high, his length allows him to bully defenders and move them fairly easily. On defense, Kubian showcases a surprising get-off. Once he gets a hand on the ball carrier, he can stop them in their tracks, either holding them long enough for teammates to arrive or bringing them down himself. His power is legit, and if he chooses to bullrush a lineman, either a guard or tackle, he brings a real threat of collapsing the pocket with him. Kubian is an under-the-radar trench dog with a lot of upside.     Tall tight ends are always a hot commodity, and that means Suggs is becoming increasingly valuable as a prospect. Most of Suggs' tape is as a blocker, where he does a good job of working to the second level and finding defenders in space. It'd serve him well to play lower, but he frequently executes very effective position blocks, which allow him to seal off a defender from the play. He showcases a lot of determination when blocking, never giving up on a defender, and is quite efficient in double teams. I hope that he can step into an elevated receiving role during his senior year and continue to churn out tape for further evaluations.     A starting wideout for Pipestone last season, Quist returns ready to continue where he left off after putting out some great junior tape. On that tape, he gets open early, and he gets open often. Arguably, the best part of Quist's game is his route running and concentration when reeling in balls. He does an excellent job of timing when he dives for balls and flashes his hands very late. I love how he's able to make toe-tap sideline catches, a lot of which involve him keeping both feet in bounds. His body control and solid hands make him a legit receiving threat, especially outside of the hashes. He possesses some solid releases off the line as well. Quist should be an important factor in Pipestone's success next season.     Bussler is the definition of a versatile athlete. He's got tape this season of him making big plays running and catching the rock, and his frame/athleticism grants him the ability to hurt defenses where they are most vulnerable. He's got tape as both a wingback and a tight end. He runs hard with the rock in his hands and runs through defenders if given the opportunity. As a tight end, Bussler does possess a receiving upside. He's got solid ball tracking ability, and he is fast enough to create separation, while also using his size to his advantage. Bussler is a sleeper prospect, and I hope he puts out more tape during his final season.

Minnesota has produced many out-state standouts, ranging from D1 athletes to long-term starters at D3 programs in the MIAC/WIAC. I've found 7 more athletes from 4 schools who have had standout performances last season, whose stock is bound to rise if they can continue to build upon their success. Enjoy!