9 Man Athletes on the Rise in 2026

9-Man football in the state of Minnesota is electric, and I mean that in the fullest sense of the word. The state's smallest class has produced some high-level athletes who have populated D2 and D3 programs across the Midwest. I've found seven prospects ranging from 2027s to 2029s, each with the possibility of having a big fall this year. Enjoy!    Farris has been on the PRZ radar for a while now, and it's no surprise once you delve into his stats and tape from his junior season. He amassed an impressive 45 receptions for 835 yards and 12 TDs, with an additional 103 yards and a TD on the ground. On defense, he brought down 46 total tackles, 1 FF, 4 INTs, 7 PBUs, and 2 TDs! I really liked his tape as well. Farris is clearly faster than most of the DBs he competes against, and creates a ton of separation from defenders, even if they're playing a soft zone. He can turn it on after the catch, too, and can frequently be seen racking up serious YAC. He's got legit concentration, too, and can reel in tough balls in double coverage, which he's done on multiple occasions. He's a deep threat and demands special attention at all times; best believe he's the first look on a long third down too. He's the kind of athlete you just want to feed the ball to, and could end up being a versatile threat at the next level.     A streaking prospect who has seen immense success throughout last season as both the QB1 and as a standout defensive lineman for ACGE. He finished his junior year with 1646 passing yards, 19 passing TDs, a 58.4% completion percentage, and a 90.5 QBR. He also racked up 386 rushing yards with an additional 7 TDs on the ground. His success wasn't limited to offense, however. Dulitz tallied 70 total tackles, 12 TFLs, 1.5 sacks, 2 FR, 4 FF, and 2 PBUs. He produced a plethora of junior tape, and it was loaded with green flags. As a QB, Dulitz possesses some insane arm talent. He's plenty mobile and can buy time in the pocket with his legs, but he can also heave a ball downfield while throwing on the run. He's ready to scramble if the play breaks down, and his size allows him to run over defenders for extra yardage. On defense, Dulitz is an explosive DE with a great motor. He's always looking to rip the rock out of a QB's hands and crushes QBs once he gets to them. Dulitz has legit potential to play either position at the next level, and he looks due for a big senior season.     Dillon is a WR/DB who came into his junior year with legit expectations, met them, and in the process put up some pretty great junior tape. He's got a solid frame on him, and he moves well. He's a deceptively shifty runner and can gash defenses as soon as the ball touches his hands. His vision is impressive as well. Dillon does a great job of seeing the field as a whole, and can predict open run lanes, and combined with his shiftiness, he can turn any play into a TD. On defense, Dillon plays a very aware style of game and does a great job of both capitalizing on turnovers and creating turnovers when the QB underthrows a ball or misjudges distance. With solid hands and a high physical upside, Dillon is going to be a driving force on that Bethlehem team next season.     My colleague Oliver recently wrote about Conrad's success last season and his upside as a prospect, and I'm inclined to agree. On his tape, Conrad fires through the line like a missile. He's an explosive blitzer who can make big plays in the backfield by racking up TFLs. I also like how he doesn't give up on a play. He can be engaged with a blocker when a ball is slung out to the flats, shed the blocker, and hawk down the receiver for a minimal gain. Conrad does a nice job of sniffing out screens as well. He avoids blockers when tracking down RBs and flows effortlessly from alley to alley to make sideline tackles. He also has some utility on offense as a running back, where he fights hard for extra yardage when carrying the rock, and sells out for blocks when asked to clear the lane. Conrad should be an athlete to watch in 2026.     Bertrand was a starting safety for Adrian/Ellsworth last season, and he looks to grow in that role during his junior campaign. On his 2026 tape, Bertrand does a great job of reading the QB's eyes and anticipating where the ball is going to go. He does a nice job of high-pointing INTs when he gets the opportunity, and provides a legit INT threat against teams looking to push the ball deep. Against more run-dominant programs, Bertrand has no issues walking down into the box and functioning as an extra LB. When in the box, Bertrand has serious utility as a run-stopper. He can work through lead blockers and force the play to the edge, and tracks the near hip of the ball carrier well. Keep an eye out for this underrated 2028 out-state prospect.     Dunlop was a two-way impact player for ACGE last season, making waves at both wideout and corner. He finished his sophomore season with 14 receptions for 120 yards and 2 total TDs on offense (one rushing). On defense, he tallied 29 total tackles, 2 TFLs, 1 safety, and 2 PBUs. On his tape, Dunlop looks quick. As a wideout, he does a great job of creating separation from defenders and comes back for balls that are thrown behind him. His quickness makes him a problem when running routes in the red zone as well. As a corner, he's got the speed to hawk down wideouts from the other side of the field. I love how he utilizes his hands to force pass breakups, and the effort he gives on broken plays. He's got a number of touchdown-saving tackles on his tape that are very encouraging. I'd love to get a look at Dunlop at a camp this offseason.     Gadient was a freshman LB who saw some varsity time last year, and heading into his sophomore campaign, he's gearing up to make a massive impact. He doesn't have a ton of tape, but in what he did have, I was impressed with his discipline. Typically, younger defensive prospects will keep their eyes in the backfield and pursue whoever they think has the ball. Gadient stays true to his assignment and can execute a mean shoestring tackle or a gator roll to bring the ball carrier down. Gadient is an out-state 2029 prospect that people should watch out for.

9-Man football in the state of Minnesota is electric, and I mean that in the fullest sense of the word. The state's smallest class has produced some high-level athletes who have populated D2 and D3 programs across the Midwest. I've found seven prospects ranging from 2027s to 2029s, each with the possibility of having a big fall this year. Enjoy!