PRZMN 2027 Rankings Update: Top Newcomers Part 1

ICYMI: the PrepRedzoneMN 2027 Rankings Update went live last week! It was a bear and a half to renovate this monster, as nearly 400 new additions to the Big Board and Watchlist took time to input, plus everyones film had to be watched, height and weights had to be updated, offers needed to be added (still on my list), and the WL had to be reexamined, so honestly, I'm happy how things turned out. Yes, there are some prospects on the WL that should be ranked, but that's what the offseason is for, as many of the New Additions and Top Newcomers to the Big Board caught our attention during the 2025 season. Speaking of Top Newcomers, the Top 10, Top 25, Top 50, and Top 100 are completely overhauled, and we're highlighting the the biggest and loudest new additions for your eyes only today! Dig in!   --    Welcome to the rankings, [player_tooltip player_id='2113349' first='Jonah' last='Cummings']! A member of Minnetonka's physical and athletic defensive backfield this past fall, Cummings has exploded onto the scene in his first year starting for the Skippers and the varsity 6A fields of the Metro. A sticky, loose-hipped, Brayden-Dozier-esque man-coverage vibes, Cummings cracks the Top 20 and clocks in behind Moorhead's [player_tooltip player_id='1694135' first='Zak' last='Walker'] as the current DB2 in Minnesota, cementing himself as a D1 cornerback prospect after the North Dakota Fighting Hawks offered the young Skipper back in late January. As with many juniors, and especially defensive backs from Minnesota, Cummings will most likely have to cut his teeth on the Summer Camp Circuit to crack into that echelon of P4 prospects, as his top speed and man coverage against high-end competition will need to be measured up close and in person but regional collegiate heavyweights.   Cummings - at least on tape - is one of the stickier CB highlight tapes I've seen in PRZMN history, demonstrating oily-loose hips that are really spotlighted in the first play of his 2025 tape. His impressive short-area quickness and start/stop ability shows up favorably in coverage, as he is easily able to stay in phase with 6A WRs through the entire route tree, as he owns the deep speed to stay on top of even the most explosive WRs in MN's Class 6A has to offer and overall excellent eye-discipline. Does a great job of keeping his eyes on a streaking WR's hips until he's in the hip pocket, after which he can easily locate and play the ball in the air, and the reported 6'1, 180 lber. broke up passes on routes all over and to all three levels of the field. Plus, he's physical and technically-sound at the catch point and fires out of his breaks with noticeable pace and effectiveness, as his team-high 11 PBUs show. Can't wait to see where this recruitment trends to!   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/JonahCummings27/status/1999687585090929062 </div></figure>     What a RB class we have in the 2027 class! In addition to some powerhouse, well-established names and speedsters such as [player_tooltip player_id='1288313' first='Taye' last='Reich'] (Gophers commit), [player_tooltip player_id='1633432' first='Zach' last='Shatek'] (SDSU commit), and [player_tooltip player_id='1292281' first='Martin' last='Sleen'] (NDSU, Brown, USD offers), Woodbury High School is represented by a serious disruptor in 6', 205 lber. [player_tooltip player_id='2124875' first='Mark' last='Mathis']. The reported 6, 205 lber., whose game screams power, power, and more power, is a very impressive athlete who was a big part of Woodbury's successful 7-3 season, finishing his junior year with 180 carries for 952 yards and 12 TDs, 21 catches for 200 yards and 4 TDs, 284 kickoff return yards and 1 TD, and 0 fumbles, earning him offers from Montana State, South Dakota, and North Dakota for his efforts.   Mathis is creeping very close to that elite T&F threshold of 20'+ in the long jump and sub-11-second in the 100M, as his 2025 Outdoor T&F SZN resulted in PRs of 21-0.5' long jump, 11.11 100M, and 22.90 200M, explosiveness he more than displays in his junior highlights.   Mathis is a man-amongst-boys type of opening highlight, pumping his legs through a dog pile before spinning up the right sideline, dropping his hips and aggressively attacking a Moorhead DB, running the poor Spud clean over before, popping an additional safety off his shoulder pads, and exploding upfield for a beautiful blend of power, physicality, twitch, and explosiveness. The good times follow with a smooth, eye-catching "B-button" spin move on a would-be East Ridge tackler that got the crowd on their feet, and his size and power combination had defenders making business decisions and grabbing at his 210-pound frame coming in hot, unsuccessfully I must add. Mathis demonstrates great vision, sees and sets up the cut back effectively, explosive lateral twitch and a mean jump cut that can really create and take advantage of what the defense gives him, and he's also a three-phase weapon out of the backfield and returned a kickoff for a TD against Moorhead in 2025. He owns serious contact balance allows the 205+ lber. to work through and bounce multiple tackle attempts in a single carry. The running style and power wear down defenses and defensive backs in particular throughout a ball game, and he's also a thumper of a lead blocker who is really looking to take the head off a second or third level defender in aid of his Royals offense. Plus, Mathis has an excellent rep of pass pro around 1:10 into his highlights. Looks for work around the pocket, slides right at the perfect moment to annihilate a blitzing OLB or SS and bounce his off the turf in dominant fashion. This kid is a baller and I am very bullish on his chances of rising firmly up the rankings come the next update. Remember the name!   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/Mark_Mathis1/status/2026801282724348268 </div></figure>     Minnehaha Academy, the Blake School, St. Paul Academy, Hope Academy, and Mounds Park Academy, the members of the 4A competitor SMB's co-op football squad, was one of 2025's biggest turnaround teams and stories. From 1 win in 2 seasons to a 7-3 2025 reversal, the Wolfpack's success was engineered first and foremost by 2030 two-sport rising star Carter Cupito, but if you know anything about the Wolfpack's football legacy, you shouldn't be surprised that SMB has some serious athleticism roaming the various halls making up their 4A squad.   One of those now-heralded athletes is Top Newcomer and New Addition [player_tooltip player_id='1792020' first='Ty' last='Malone'], a two-way standout with big-time juice and playmaking ability from both sides of the ball, not to mention special teams, where he's easily one of the most dangerous returners in Minnesota. Malone opens his tape with a very impressive KOR for a TD that involved four-five missed tackle attempts and some noticeable vision, acceleration, and overall playmaking ability. He also turned a routine hitch into a big-time splash TD after planting, rotating, stepping through the CB's tackle attempt before burning past the flowing OLB's pursuit line for an impressive display of speed and burst. Plus, there's a unique and smooth TD rep vs. Richfield where Malone catches a slant, works his momentum inbetwen two Spartans who in-fact, run straight into each other, and then sticking his cleat in the turf and working vertical to out-pace those last two Richfield DBs. He easily steps and stacks CBs at the LOS thanks to his shifty and sudden releases, which helps reinforce his 18 YPC average, as well as his twitch and potency in the open field.   Malone also has game as a CB. He's Bendy and twitchy with an aggressive press and effectiveness technique, especially at the LOS. Smooth back-pedal, reads with patience and reacts with decisiveness from his CB spot, and his excellent top-end speed helped him save a TD on a beautiful pursuit angle from the backside CB spot. His naturally works to rip and punch at the pigskin as a tackler - which speaks to his overall playmaking ability, and had an impressive INT vs. Richfield thanks to a very quick break on a hitch that he picked ripped out of the WR's hands and tried to take back for six   South Dakota and South Dakota State have offered the Minnehaha Academy junior so far! You can bet your butt more are coming.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/TyMalone_/status/2018886661707383202 </div></figure>     Buffalo always has the beef, and the Bison are very well represented in the upper echelons of the 2027 Big Board, led first and foremost by monster LB [player_tooltip player_id='1602411' first='Dolen' last='Brisk']. Measuring in at a reported 6'2, 220 pounds of 5A aggression, Brisk easily one of the Minnesota's hardest hitters, and his size, play, and production found him firmly on the radar of the NDSU Bison, who invited Brisk for an unofficial gameday visit this past fall. From the perspective of PRZMN, Brisk is a bit of an enigma, as we don't have any verified athletic data and don't know very much about him besides his junior year stats, film, and the fact that he runs with the MN Icemen baseball club to solidify himself as a multi-sport athlete to know in his home state.   Brisk posted 80 tackles, 4 TFLs, 1 FFs, and 2 PBUs, according to MNFootballHub, and as mentioned in the intro, the 220 lber. is a powerful tackler and a thumper at the contact point who sticks and halts ball carriers as soon as he makes contact and crumpled more than a few RBs in his junior season. Brisk has a good rep showing off some recovery speed and vertical bounce in a nice PBU on a high-pointing undercut down the seam, and he's overall rangy in pass defense and coverage for his size. He displays loose hips, and the Buffalo product absolutely smacked a streaking Brainerd WR who crept into his zone, sending the poor unsuspecting Warrior parallel to the cold Central Minnesota turf. Keep your head on a swivel around this ILB! He's a technically sound, efficient mover who doesn't waste steps or movement, and runs the alley with ruthless effectiveness. Camp season is going to be when he'll have to blow up unless some spring in-person tests and workout evaluations go well. Keep your eye on Buffalo in the 2027 cycle!   <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/2027847968057962933 </div></figure>     The third installment of the athletic, dynamic, and explosive Dean line of brothers at Lakeville South, I think 2027 RB/ATH [player_tooltip player_id='2125946' first='Griffen' last='Dean'] may be the best in terms of college projection. Lakeville South's line of RBs speaks for itself, and Dean is fitting in quite comfortably to the scholarship and even P4 cleats Cougars RBs have worn most recently before him, popping off as South's leading rusher in 2025 to the tune of 196 rushes for 1,621 yards (8.3 YPC) and 16 TDs. A 5'11, near-200-pound ball of dynamite who I am hearing is running 4.5 hand-timed 40s behind the scenes, Dean visited SDSU's Junior Day 1/18/26 and invited to SDSU's Spring Game as well, and the Jackrabbits, and soon to be others, have to appreciate that he's absolutely deadly in South's potent rushing attack and Power-T system, although he's far from systematically-specialized or specific by any means.   Dean's long speed to so easily burn 6A DB's pursuit angles - and good ones at that - should not go unappreciated in his junior tape and production. Dean owns good vision, and he's patient when allowing the hole to develop and space to reveal itself and takes what the defense offers. It's impressive how smoothly and effectively he cuts at top speed, and he glides, shifts, and surfs through traffic like it's a walk in the park for you or me. His tape is filled with fluid COD ability, but boy does he have the contact balance to slip, step, and power through weaker tackle attempts as well. He threw out a mean truck stick on a couple 6A DBs to emphasis the power in his game, and has the skillset and consistent choice to either run around or run over any and every defender he meets across Minnesota Big School competition. To add to his dynamic ability, Dean also burned and stacked a Farmington CB before making a beautiful back-shoulder play and catch on the ball.   With a game and at a position this predicated on speed, he's going to have to make his $ on the scales, in the 40, and in 1v1s this summer on the camp circuit, so stay tuned and keep this one on the back-burner while the youngest Dean grinds away in weight rooms in Lakeville.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/GriffenDean3/status/1991973927976042982 </div></figure>     Back to back Buffalo Bison coming at you live, and as we noted with ILB [player_tooltip player_id='1602411' first='Dolen' last='Brisk'], the Bison always have the beef! Stepping into the shoes of Army West Point-bound DE [player_tooltip player_id='445957' first='Hans' last='Pederson'], 2027 All-District Honorable Mention DL [player_tooltip player_id='2126252' first='Lucas' last='Phillips'] is ready to make some of his own noise on the recruiting trail. At a reported 6'5, 200 lbs., Phillips brings some serious length to the table, and his frame is one that could easily add 30-40 pounds and maintain and add to its athleticism and explosiveness. However, similar to the aforementioned Brisk, PRZMN hasn't had any personal exposure or data points for his athletic profile, so we're very interested to get a look at Phillips ASAP, whether that's at the upcoming PRZMN spring showcase (April 18th) or on the summer camp circuit.   In 2025, Phillips tallied 52 tackles, 6 TFLs, 4 sacks, 1 FF, and 1 PBU for a solid junior campaign in MN 5A football, and he shows off noteworthy versatile as a standup 5T outside of the tackle or 3T with the hand in the ground. The kid can seriously drop his hips and run the hoop, and his impressive play speed for a pass rusher of his size helps bring some noticeable thump to the contact point, which creates FFs and bone-crushing hits on helpless QBs late to get a pass off. Closes with frightening pace as well, and besides the noticeable bend in his game, Phillips owns a balanced base and is strong enough to hold a gap and split double team attempts for TFLs and tackles at the LOS. I also love how fast he explodes out of his stance and into a ball carriers' grill. Phillips and his game scream toolsy, traits heavy, and high ceiling DE who flashes an exciting skillset and noticeable pass rushing production in his junior tape. Buy stock now!   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/lucas09phillips/status/1991235910613205384 </div></figure>     With the departure of 2025 Mr. Football and All-Everything Golden Gophers commit [player_tooltip player_id='212362' first='Roman' last='Voss'] from the Class AA state champion JCC's roster, as well as their fellow seniors, there are some serious shoes to fill going into next season. Lucky for the Huskies, there is both talent and beef returning for 2026, and PRZMN very much has our eyes on 2027 DL [player_tooltip player_id='2126061' first='Michael' last='Reipke']. Measuring in at a reported 6'3-6'4 and 220+ pounds, Reipke was an All-Conference pick and an integral part of the Huskies state championship run, earning a visit from NDSU to the halls of Jackson County Central High School this offseason before heading up to Fargo for the Bison's junior day in late January. Plus, he visited Dordt for a big visit for the NAIA out of the GPAC.   Reipke generally works from the interior of the DL and does have experience as a defensive tackle, including as a true NG, and was consistently able to disrupt and create production for his Huskies' defense. Reipke, with a nose for the football and a nonstop motor, was physically dominant all of 2025 and was generally stronger and able to man handle most defensive linemen he came across as a junior. With a big-time disruptive get-off, the JCC junior owns lead in his hands and can run OL deep into the backfield before easily shedding the block, locating the ball carrier, and making a dominant tackler for losses or neutral gains by the offense. Lots to like in this powerful package; I'd remember the name now if I was you.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/ReipkeMichael74/status/2027421655790735400 </div></figure>     If you haven't been paying attention, Prior Lake has been putting out some borderline freaks since 2020. The Lakers, fresh off a P4-turned-North Dakota OL commit in [player_tooltip player_id='592222' first='Ethan' last='Beckman'], as well as TE and 6'7" mismatch nightmare [player_tooltip player_id='1522534' first='Colten' last='Gunderson'], who will be heading to the Bison, are looking to replace their star power sooner rather than later. Lucky for the Lakers, they have some heavyweight contenders for the title of "D1 signee" in their rising 2027 and 2028 ranks, and a junior DL who PRZMN is very bullish on and would not bet against when it comes to naming some future Big Board Risers.   The DE and occasional EDGE has one of my favorite tapes in the entire class, as his explosiveness, aggression, and nonstop motor scream at you on tape in can't-miss fashion. Tetzlaff fires off the ball like he was shot out of a cannon, using excellent leverage and explosiveness that clearly show the 405 lb. squat and the 285 lb. power clean he's posting in the weight room. He flies flat down the LOS and has the play speed and burst to chase down ball carriers from the backside of the LOS, goes all-out into contact, and owns noticeable pop in his hands. He's also positionally versatile and does a lot of good work from the 6 or 7 (*insert hand motion*) technique outside of the tackle's shoulder, and uses his speed and strength to quickly disengage and not get tied up around the LOS from opposing OL. Tetzlaff demonstrates particularly excellent defensive range for his size and has an impressive rep of the DL chasing down a WR 20-25 yards downfield and followed it up by hawking down a loose Rosemount tailback as the final pursuer over 30 yards downfield in a dazzling display of speed and effort from the defensive line spot. What a hustler! His 27 tackles, 5 TFLs, and 1 sack production even add to his overall mysterious, and I am incredibly curious to get some verified measurements and data points on him to really put the explosiveness, body control, physicality, and reckless abandon into athletic context. Remember the name!   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/JacksonTetzlaff/status/2016360178082308275 </div></figure>         You don't find yourself at U.S. Bank Stadium in the Class AAA state semifinals without some talent on your team, and boy did Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton have some dynamic athletes on their 2025 roster. With 6'3, 250 lb. dynamo [player_tooltip player_id='1575668' first='Nolan' last='Verdi'] off to Bemidji State, the Rebels are going to have to rely on some of their returning beef to open holes and create opportunity for the unproven playmakers returning for DGF.   One of the most exciting of this returning beef is EDGE/OL [player_tooltip player_id='2119175' first='Nolan' last='Dale'], a 6'2-6'3, 220-230 lber. who brings a controlled yet aggressive skill set and playstyle to the table as a standup EDGE. Dale closes quickly and shows body control in his 1v1, open-field tackling ability, and he does a good job of disengaging, sifting through traffic, and locating the football, sometimes before a play can even really develop. He's a hammer at the contact point and displays great hand usage when shedding blocks and disengaging from blocking attempts around the LOS. Once he gets his hands and pads on a ball carrier there is no chance they are earning any extra yardage post-contact either. Hope to see this kid soon at the upcoming PRZMN spring showcase, which will be held on April 18th!   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/FarmerDaleNolan/status/2028199612012507640 </div></figure>     As I'm sure a lot of you know, PRZMN is always on the lookout for the Next Great Minnesota Lineman. A lot of the time that search coincides with the hunt for giant OL and DL, particularly OTs, and last year we saw the likes of [player_tooltip player_id='1602779' first='Phillip' last='Pisarchuk'] (Iowa Western commit) and [player_tooltip player_id='1602696' first='Zak' last='Koep'] (MSU-Moorhead commit) make big debuts on the 2026 Big Board, and this year's iteration looks even more promising in St. Michael-Albertville mammoth OT [player_tooltip player_id='2126057' first='Tanner' last='Carel']. Coming in at a massive 6'7, 300 lbs., Carel also plays volleyball for STMA, a fun little multi-sport combination for an offensive tackle, and that volleyball background definitely flashes in his mobility and athleticism, especially laterally and in his pass set.   Speaking of his pass set, the RT is smooth and balanced and is easily able to gain depth and handle both speed and power from opposing defensive ends and linebackers in pass pro. I love how he can smoothly combo, climb, and work laterally around the LOS, especially for his size, and the COD ability is really impressive for a developing offensive tackle in the MN 6A ranks. He does play a little high, but Carel is comfortable and effective at finding work and eliminating threats in space for a larger OT prospect. The STMA product does a good job of staying engaged with a defender once he gets those massive mitts on a DL or LB and can easily wash DEs out of the play thanks to his size and mobility. PRZ is overall really impressed by his effectiveness, experience, and overall comfortability in pass protection for his age and size. There isn't a chance you should miss seeing this dude live and in the flesh if you're recruiting 2027 MN OL!   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/TannerCarel27/status/2023545455133839714 </div></figure>    --

ICYMI: the PrepRedzoneMN 2027 Rankings Update went live last week! It was a bear and a half to renovate this monster, as nearly 400 new additions to the Big Board and Watchlist took time to input, plus everyones film had to be watched, height and weights had to be updated, offers needed to be added (still on my list), and the WL had to be reexamined, so honestly, I'm happy how things turned out. Yes, there are some prospects on the WL that should be ranked, but that's what the offseason is for, as many of the New Additions and Top Newcomers to the Big Board caught our attention during the 2025 season. Speaking of Top Newcomers, the Top 10, Top 25, Top 50, and Top 100 are completely overhauled, and we're highlighting the the biggest and loudest new additions for your eyes only today! Dig in!