PRZMN 2027 Rankings Update: Hardest Hitters Part 1

Time for a PrepRedzone classic and a personal favorite subject of mine to write about! Yes, we are just about wrapped with our 2027 ranking's coverage, but before we dive into the 2028 Ranking's Update, with a goal to launch before April, PRZMN wanted to highlight the Hardest Hitters in the Land of 10,000 Lakes. In this multi-part series, PRZMN puts a spotlight on the biggest contact creators, most intimidating, most aggressive, and best bone-crunchers the rising seniors in Minnesota have to offer. Part 1 focuses on the Defense, with LBs and safeties crashing onto the scene first. Make sure you watch the tape and decide for yourself who the Hardest Hitter in Minnesota is. Enjoy! And also, get out of these boys' way!   --    Lakeville North's [player_tooltip player_id='1610248' first='Gavin' last='Casey'] qualifies for quite a few titles in addition to his newest designation as one of Minnesota's Hardest Hitters. The Lakeville product is one of the fastest defensive players in the entire state, clocking in a 22.22 200M PR this past outdoor T&F season in ‘25, as well as 7.32 60M and 18'10” long jump during the indoor '25 season, and rounding it out with a speedy 11.35 100M this past outdoor season as well. Shouldn't come as much of a surprise, as his brother Andrew runs track at Wisconsin, but the younger Casey even sweetens the pot as a gridiron prospect, as he was named a captain of the Panthers for the 2026 season, owns some impressive numbers in the weight room (225 x4 power clean), is a member of Lakeville North's DECA and holds a 4.2 GPA, and already has been offered by the likes of Northern State (earned at camp), St. John's, and the prestigious Grinnell College in Iowa. Talk about the total package!   Yes, Casey can cook, but he can also lay the wood. With green numbers all over the board, including at a PRZMN Showcase, the 180 lber. sticks WRs at the catch point and comes into contact like a missile, and he comes downhill like a freight train, visibly whiplashing opponents heads and necks due to the force he generates when coming into a collision. An overall excellent tackler, Casey is particularly explosive when coming downhill and closing on WRs and RBs behind the LOS, ate up WR screens for breakfast in 2025, which generated some of his biggest hits of his junior season, and the 180 lber. even lifted a WR off his feet and sent a RB on a 360 degree spin thanks to how hard he hit him when reading a triggering on a screen. The Lakeville product puts his hat on the ball at the contact point, popping the pigskin loose with chaotic effect, and naturally forces turnovers, whether that's due to ripping at the ball or putting his hat on it. Casey can slide and fit into zone drops at the second and first level of the field with lethal precision, demonstrates sideline-to-sideline range in coverage, and utilizes speed turns effectively. Casey's offer list is going to be seriously full by the time the season rolls around this fall. As with many Panthers of the past, keep an eye on the UMD Bulldogs as this recruitment continues to develop.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/GavinCasey24/status/2035844283543011718 </div></figure>       Laying the wood and hitting hard can absolutely be genetic, and we have a legacy of Pine Island Schiltz's to prove this hypothesis. 2027 'backer [player_tooltip player_id='1629919' first='Cody' last='Schiltz'], the younger brother of NDSU RS freshman DE Blake Schiltz, has shown significant development and improvement in his body and game the past couple season. Schiltz has added some serious good weight in the offseason, and despite seeing significant physical growth, Schiltz has moved from the DL to an off-ball, ILB role with the Panthers as a now-upperclassman, and boy, does this switch look great. The younger Schiltz is also powered by some serious track numbers, namely a 52'02 shot put and 179'03 discuss last outdoor season, showing some serious D1 ability and upside depending on the speed, in-person COD, and general camp evaluations. Talk about a potential stock riser!   Schiltz pinballs climbing and pulling guards off him with physicality and ease, and he's a frightening fullback with impressive burst for his size. When he's coming downhill at full speed safeties and smaller opponents are noticeably worried about squaring him up, and he also showed the top-end sped to finish runs for six once he gets into space. Schiltz crumples RBs at the contact point and can knock the ball loose off pure contact alone, and he absolutely flattened some first and second level defenders as a fullback. Bone-shattering hits that seem to erase blocking assignments and sending them collapsing to the grass with ridiculous brutality. Additionally, ball carriers don't have a chance of gaining extra yardage post-contact, and he consistently wins at the gain line. Plus, the Panthers' 2027 displays good hands out of the backfield or from a HB spot that adds to his utility offensively, as well as good overall range for his size. Can't wait to see where the Summer Camp SZN takes him!   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/cody_schiltz/status/2027937404904993248 </div></figure>       The first of two Shakopee Sabers to earn a selection as one of Minnesota's Hardest Hitters, 6'3, 215 lb. colossal off-ball 'backer Andrew McGee has been quite the popular name on the recruiting trail this offseason. With offers from Northern Iowa, Central Michigan, South Dakota, NDSU (in November), and North Dakota already under his belt, it's no surprise the ILB qualifies as one of the state's biggest bone crunchers. The recently-named Shakopee captain for 2026 tallied 80 tackles (second on Shako), 4 TFLs, 2 sacks, and 2 INTs as a junior, and he's fresh off an All-Conference Honorable Mention nod in hoops for Shakopee in 2025-26.   The ILB can square up RBs and dominate at the gain line, and he completely envelops RBs and QBs at the contact points before squashing them into the turf in front of their horrified fans and loved ones. A physical, crushing blitzer, both for opposing OL and ball carriers alike, McGee does most of his work around the box, but is a true off-ball inside 'backer and has some serious juice in coverage as well. The 215 lber. can find paydirt when dropping into the hook/curl and undercutting slants and quick game around the second level of the field, and he displayed an excellent, eye-catching, one-handed snag on a poorly-thrown screen attempt to show off some highlight-play-worthy hands. Plus, the 215 lber. closes with impressive pace and smoothly tracks, flows, scrapes, and pursues the football around the box. This upcoming Summer Camp SZN will be a big test as to whether McGee can break into that upper echelon of P4 linebackers, so stay tuned with PRZMN for news and updates, both on the site as well as on Twitter.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/andrew_mcgee27/status/1985370200477204955 </div></figure>     One of the most fun, high-potential, and Hardest Hitters in Minnesota's 2027 class, Shakopee's Blake Loughin was also one of the 2025 Summer Camp SZN's biggest winners and breakout stars, proving his eye-popping athleticism and ability all over prospect camps of the Upper Midwest last summer. The then-6'2, 205 lber. ran in the low 4.7s and popped up a few mind-bending 10'+ broad jumps at various points on the Summer Camp Circuit, so I absolutely believe his reported 10'10" broad jump, 39" vert, and 4.6 40 in his Twitter bio. Additionally, Loughlin is up to a reported 6'3, 220+, a terrifying predicament for potential 6A opponents to try and manage next fall, and he's more than likely to beat his 76 tackles, 7 TFL, and 2 sack total from his 2025 junior campaign.   Loughlin is fresh off a big-time Ivy League tour, visiting Cornell, Princeton, and Yale, and the junior holds offers from Northern Iowa, Central Michigan, Cornell, South Dakota, Yale, and North Dakota going int April. The recently-named Shakopee football captain for 2026 can consistently chase down RBs from the backside of the LOS and owns excellent defensive range and is a real-deal sideline-to-sideline defender. Loughlin owns smooth, concise lateral agility, which helps him plug holes with physicality between the tackles, and he flashes a bat-out-of-hell get-off and acceleration from a standup EDGE spot, which allows him to beat OL blocking schemes before they develop thanks to his vision and play speed. Loughlin is positionally versatile, as he lined up and made plays from a variety of positions all over the gridiron and can go 0-60 in a blink. Now, onto the hitting. Loughlin straight-up knocks ball carriers around at the contact point. The 220 lber. comes into collisions with so much speed and force that RBs either vanish beneath his mass or pinball and ping pong through the air and off the turf in chaotic fashion. He's a strong form tackler who will square up RBs and go toe-to-toe and shoulder-to-shoulder and dominate thanks to his strength, physicality, and leg drive post-contact. Loughlin has a rep of him absolutely demolishing a Lakeville North and splattering him to the turf in embarrassing fashion, off a few steps of momentum too I may add. The junior is overall a fluid, rangy, fast, aggressive 'backer who looks sleek, functional, and impactful in the black & red of Shakopee. Could watch him hawk down RBs and knock the ball loose all day long. I would not want to get hit by this kid. Loughlin is no-doubt on P4 offer watch.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/Bloughlin10/status/2036306988951335134 </div></figure>     One of the most athletic EDGE players in Minnesota's 2027 class, Princeton is home to a tandem of extremely fun, physical, and dominant juniors going into the Summer Camp SZN. One of this duo is EDGE [player_tooltip player_id='1288296' first='Carson' last='Pruett'], who totaled 41 tackles, 10 TFLs, and 2 sacks in 2025, and he's undoubtedly one of the more versatile and dynamic defensive players in Minnesota and a beast in a camp setting, in large part thanks to his green athletic and testing numbers at 230+ pounds.   Pruett owns maybe the best get-off in the state. His timing, leverage, and explosiveness are all slapping you in the face when watching Pruett fly off the ball at the snap, and his motor and overall effort embody the hair-on-fire mentality you can't coach with high school prospects. The twitched-up block defeater can do serious damage as a hand-in-the-dirt DE or from a standup EDGE position, and his acceleration and ability to go 0-60 from a start/stop position do not go unnoticed in his junior highlights. Pruett can easily shed blocks and not get tied up around the LOS, and he's a particular mismatch from the NG spot, where he's an especially productive blitzer who can beat iOL and OTs with either speed or power, or both. Pruett forces the pigskin loose thanks to the velocity and force he comes into collisions with, and he knocks ball carriers backward on force of contact alone. The 230-pounder is a hammer at the contact point who sends helpless QBs bouncing off his pads like he ran into a middle schooler on accident, and he's strong enough to knock the ball loose when he gets an arm on the ball in a tackle. Pruett can go speed to power, bull-rushed a LT straight into his own QB for a beast of a sack in his junior highlights, is a strong 1v1 tackler in space, and can pursue and hawk down ball carriers out to the edge and the sideline from his DE spot. This is going to be one popular Princeton Tiger this upcoming Summer Camp SZN!   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/OJW_Scouting/status/2027885965931315249 </div></figure>     PRZMN is fresh off a detailed, first-time introductory evaluation of Buffalo's [player_tooltip player_id='1602411' first='Dolen' last='Brisk'], a big-time Top Newcomer and New Addition to the 2027 Ranking's Big Board, which can be found <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/03/przmn-2027-rankings-update-top-newcomers-part-1/">here</a> for those curious. In that spirit, we're going to be focusing on Brisk's game and hard hitting ability specifically for this feature, as the Buffalo product is undoubtedly one of Minnesota's Hardest Hitters going into the 2026 season.   Built like an ATV, the 220 lber. swallows up RBs thanks to his combination of enveloping size, brute strength, and long arms, and he rattles the bones of WRs when he gets a chance to put the pads on them. Brisk has a huge hit on a wideout lazily running his slant over the middle without his head on a swivel, popping the poor Brainerd WR right under the chin and sending him crumpling to the turf in painful-fashion. Brisk creates car crash-esque collisions between the tackles, either when facing opposing OL or RBs, and he's a sticky tackler who reads, triggers on, and sniffs out the football quickly and with intention. Plus, Brisk flashes ball skills and shows some 50/50 ball ability, which helps him make plays and undercut throws from his ILB spot, particularly up the seam and in the MOF, and he owns loose hips and takes good angles to the football. The Buffalo product can run the alley and pursue out to the sideline with pace, and to sweeten the pot, was recently named a Preseason All-State pick by Prep Baseball Minnesota. Don't come over the middle on this kid, straight up.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/BriskDolen/status/1989913993121861804 </div></figure>     A long-time favorite and well-known name to PRZMN, Byron's stud 2027 'backer [player_tooltip player_id='1288402' first='Jordan' last='Heimer'] manufactured the biggest single hit I saw while evaluating 2027 tape for the update and this ensuing special feature. Heimer opens his tape with an absolutely gigantic hit against Holy Angels, lifting the Stars' RB straight off his feet and into the air for a crushing collision stamped on the chest plate and upper body of the running back. Heimer can run through OL and run over QBs, sometimes both in a single rep, and he closes in a blink.   The 200+ lber. completely stamps out RBs at the contact point and goes all-out, balls-to-the-wall into tackles, and he will spin ball carriers down and into the turf with so much force that he'll bounce their heads off the green blades of "grass" like a basketball. Heimer displays tons of contact balance and a mean stiff-arm as a tailback in Byron's offense, but he does his best work at LB, where he can cuts down ball carriers with low chop tackles so physical it looks like a explosion on a battlefield out of a movie. Heimer is overall an excellent form tackler, and his ability to square up bigger RBs, drive his feet, and upend the ball carrier with a lift and dump really has gotten college coaches and programs excited about his long-term potential. The younger Heimer will visit either UNI or WIU on April 18th, and stay tuned for moire inevitable recruiting news out of the Byron program and the Heimer household this offseason.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/JHeimer24/status/2017669469892497457 </div></figure>     PRZMN is fresh off breaking down [player_tooltip player_id='1629953' first='Tyler' last='Ruff'] and his athletic skillset on both the wrestling mat and gridiron for this Multi-Sport special feature that went live on the site last month and can be found <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/02/minnesota-multi-sport-standouts-wrestling-edition-class-aaa/">here</a>. The experienced Big School 'backer is a heckuva upper weight on the wrestling mat, finishing his junior season as the 189AAA 3rd place finisher 2025-26, and he's a 3x state entrant in his decorated career that has legitimate potential and upside to wrestle at the collegiate level. With a wrestling pedigree like Ruff's, of course things would come together to create a hardest hitter, and boy does Ruff lay the wood.   The Lakeville North Panther is arguably the most technically sound tackler in his class - which is obviously reinforced by the wrestling background - as Ruff creates some high-powered and physical slams and dump tackles that are sure to leave a more permanent mark on opposing ball carriers. The 205ish-pounder accelerates and brings his hips through contact, and he closes with noticeable pace and speed. Ruff owns a nose for the football, and his instincts help him read, identify, process, and trigger on the ball with urgency. The ILB can shock, shed, and make tackles through and after contact between the tackles and around the box and is built for eating climbing OL and making tough tackles for minimal gains around the LOS, and he wins at the gain line and contact point, and attacks blockers with the physicality to knock them backwards and off their mark at initial contact. Power, power, and more power. Oh yeah, and physicality. Talk about a multi-sport prospect and recruit!   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/Tyler_ruff7/status/2030050171942306134 </div></figure>       Violence. Violence. Violence. Orono junior nickel [player_tooltip player_id='1939588' first='Lucas' last='La Belle']'s junior highlights are so mean, physical, and nasty that they have left an enduring mark and imprint on PRZMN, whose brain and memory is already naturally predisposed to remembering hard hitters from the Land of 10,000 Lakes. La Belle is fresh off a recent evaluation by PRZM (which can be found <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/03/prepredzonemn-2027-rankings-update-new-names-to-know/">here</a>) highlighting his game as a recent New Addition and Top Newcomer to the 2027 PRZMN Ranking's Big Board, but we had to circle back here just to focus on La Belle's bone-crunching tackle ability in 2025. La Belle's tape is one of the harder hitting not just in MN's 2027 class, but also in our overall time scouting Minnesotans, as he   La Belle is no doubt the pound-for-pound hardest hitters in all of Minnesota, regardless of age, size, or position. The nickel/SS/OLB hybrid brings some serious strength, power, pop, and physicality into contact and can force you into the turf in a variety of different ways. Dump tackles, slams, no-wrapped, shoulder-leading, put-you-straight-on-your-butt pops, or high-quality form tackles, when La Belle puts the pads on you, you are going to the turf. And HARD. La Belle can stonewall RBs in their tracks with so much force it literally lifts them off their feet and airborne, and he runs through RBs with so much power off so little momentum that you'd have thought a 225-pounder just popped that helpless RB to the floor in ragdoll-esque fashion. La Belle naturally forces turnovers in the tackles thanks to the velocity he enters contact with, flattens RBs in dominant fashion at the contact point, and knows how to use his natural leverage advantage and momentum he brings into contact to his aggressive favor. Talk about a fun watch! This dude can hit.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/LucasLaBelle27/status/2021392374489035259 </div></figure>    --

Time for a PrepRedzone classic and a personal favorite subject of mine to write about! Yes, we are just about wrapped with our 2027 ranking's coverage, but before we dive into the 2028 Ranking's Update, with a goal to launch before April, PRZMN wanted to highlight the Hardest Hitters in the Land of 10,000 Lakes. In this multi-part series, PRZMN puts a spotlight on the biggest contact creators, most intimidating, most aggressive, and best bone-crunchers the rising seniors in Minnesota have to offer. Part 1 focuses on the Defense, with LBs and safeties crashing onto the scene first. Make sure you watch the tape and decide for yourself who the Hardest Hitter in Minnesota is. Enjoy! And also, get out of these boys' way!