PRZMN 2027 Rankings Update: Top Newcomers Part II

Minnesota's 2027 PRZMN Ranking's Update is stocked full of big-time debutants, New Additions, and Top Newcomers, representing just about every region of the state and position group in football. Check out the second batch of this recent update's Top Newcomers, for your eyes only! All-State heavyweight wrestling DT, monster OT out of Big Lake, rangy small school LB prospects, 6A beef, and more. Dig in!   --    We're kicking things off with a literal heavyweight prospect! Not only does Rochester Mayo's standout DT/OL [player_tooltip player_id='2129778' first='Caleb' last='Loomis'] crush it on the gridiron along the trenches, he's also an All-State wrestler in Minnesota's biggest class of competition and biggest weight class, coming in at 6th in last month's state wrestling tournament 285AAA. You should already know that you have PRZMN's attention if you're a linemen with a high-level wrestling background, and Loomis is an excellent addition to the Big Board's Top 100, showing a ton of reasons why he could continue to climb the rankings this offseason.   Loomis plays both ways for 5A Mayo, manning both the LG and DT spots, and he looks like a scholarship prospect on both sides of the LOS. As a LG, Loomis is laterally agile and able to pass off and combo front-seven defenders, their twists, and their stunts in smooth and effective fashion, and he's a strong run blocker who can dominate off the snap. As a 3T/NG, I love his get-off and pad level off the snap, and he's a disruptive force from the interior of the DL whose speed off the sap can wreck offensive run schemes before they can fully develop. Loomis pinballs ball carriers off him like it's child's play and sent dozens of opponents onto their butts in 2025. The lateral agility and physicality really pop on tape, as does the comfortability and effectiveness in pass pro. Need some verified numbers on the Rochester product, but high-level defensive tackles are one of the most sought-after positions on the recruiting trail and Loomis has a resume, game, and background that matches high-level college performers in the past.     By and large, this is the wide open OL race and class we've seen at our time with PRZ/NFN. Behind Lakeville South's [player_tooltip player_id='1676622' first='Joseph' last='Hamer'], there is a ton of contenders for those remaining D1 scholarship spots that generally come out of Minnesota, though none of them are really verified or fully vetted by PRZMN as of yet. However, there are some fun top contenders, many of which made big debuts in the latest 2027 Rankings Update and a few we will cover in this feature here. One of the biggest potential stock risers and names in the conversation comes out of Big Lake, who have been putting out some lowkey exceptional prospects over the past few cycles despite that area being ripe poaching. The 2027 class for the Hornets have a monster on the OL in reported 6'6, 250 lber. [player_tooltip player_id='2125932' first='Evan' last='Blackman'], a beast in the weight room with a 315 lb. bench, 225 lb. power clean, and 500 lb. squat that is only going up during this current offseason.   Blackman has good reps from both sides of the LOS. As a DL, he flashes a good get-off and flies into the backfield like a much smaller defensive lineman and is easily able to shed blocks and not get tangled up around the box from his DL position, in large part thanks to his get-off and length. As Big Lake's LT, the reported 6'6er is smoothly able to reach DEs and OLBs from his LT spot and set the edge for his offense, and he demonstrates a strong base in pass protection and can easily handle power rushes from DL and LBs in the MN 4A ranks. Blackman crushes LBs when climbing to the second level, is a physical finisher and dominant run blocker, and displays fluid mobility and versatile as a blocker from an OT position. Huge name to watch this offseason out of Big Lake!   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/Evanb70fb/status/2010873133650362465 </div></figure>     The more I dug into the 2027 class, the more I like St. Michael-Albertville going into next season. This particularly includes the offensive line, with beef, experience, physicality, and toughness in droves all over the Knights' LOS, and [player_tooltip player_id='2126253' first='Grady' last='Riebel'] is a big-time name-to-know and stock-riser from the interior of the OL. To sweeten the pot, especially when talking high-level OL, Riebel has some eye-catching track & field numbers in the shot put, PRing with a 46'7" toss last spring, but we need to get some verified size and athletic measurables on the OG before we really cement his spot in the upper echelons of the Big Board.   The rankings show a LG who is a bull out of the gates off the snap, and Riebel is an overall crushing finisher in both run blocking and pass pro. Riebel is an effective puller with good footwork that doesn't waste movement or steps, and man oh man, you don't want to be on the other side of the STMA product off a full head of steam. The 270-pounder is a strong kid who can finish blocks post-contact thanks to some noticeably effective leg drive. PRZMN will be closely monitoring Riebel this offseason and Summer Camp SZN, plus the 2026 Outdoor T&F season, so stay tuned. I could see some serious noise coming out of the STMA OL room soon.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/RiebelGrady/status/1994984252459389088 </div></figure>     If you don't already know, Mountain Iron-Buhl, whose success has propelled the Rangers from Class 9Man to Class A, has been pumping out college-ready prospects the past few cycles. With a 9Man state semifinal appearance in 2024, the Rangers are no strangers to scholarship prospects and big-time regional programs coming to check out their guys, but I think 2027 ATH [player_tooltip player_id='2135786' first='Izaiah' last='Alto'] may have the highest ceiling of the recent crop of MIB talent.   Alto posted 77 tackles, 12 TFLs, 7 PBUs, 1 INT, 21 catches for 375 yards and 6 TDs in 2025, highlighting his dynamic ability and production, and he visited NDSU in late January, as well as during the fall, when Winona State got a visit too. Alto put in work from the slot of MIB's offense, showing impressive YAC ability and in particular, contact balance, and he also flashed highlight-reel-worthy ball skills and 50/50 ability, which is obviously aided by his reported 6'3 frame. Plus, Alto owns impressive burst and is a tough 1v1 tackling assignment for Class A defenders in the open field. Defensively, the game screams scholarship-worthy, as it's bursting closing speed and aggression, and Alto is an effective 1v1 tackler, especially in space, not to mention a hammer at the contact point in his SS/OLB Rover role. Alto sniffs out and closes on the rock in a blink and is an overall rangy defensive player with instincts and shut down tackling ability. Need to get some verified measurements on the young buck, but hopefully he's already in the midst of planning his 2026 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/AltoIzaiah3/status/1986293983509950478 </div></figure>     The Forest Lake Rangers are coming off one of their best seasons in recent memory, finishing 8-2 in 2025 before an unfortunate Class 6A, Round 2, 31-30 loss to eventual state champs Edina. Despite having a senior class that will be etched in 6A lore, you don't earn eight Big School wins without some depth and talent in the non-senior ranks, and Forest Lake has some serious names and prospects returning for their 2026 campaign. One of their anchors in the all-important offensive line is Alex Knies, who first caught the eye of PRZMN this past summer at the Bemidji State War on the Shore Big School Team Camp, where Knies & co. were moving some mass in the run game against high-quality competition.   Knies is one of a handful of 2027 OL that PRZMN is watching particularly close this offseason as we look to clean up and solidify the always-prominent OL group in the Land of 10,000 Lakes. With solid size at a reported 6'3, 260, Knies displays concise, fluid movement skills and ability make him a bully of a blocker when climbing to the second level that 6A defenders should really fear around the box and even up to the secondary at times. He's a crushing puller, and I love his footwork as a puller and versatile blocker & mover around the LOS. You can can see the impact of his initial contact when he puts the pads on defenders in his junior tape, strong kid with a lot of power, balance, and finishing ability in his game. The LG #55 is a bruising finisher when he gets his hands on the chest plate of a DL or LB who visibly explodes through his hips out of his stance as a run blocker. Don't be surprised in the slightest if you see this Forest Lake Ranger rise up the Big Board 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/AlexKnies44/status/1985755231729209426 </div></figure>     Shouldn't come to anyone's surprise to see a couple of Waconia Wildcats firmly nestled into the Top 85 of a Minnesota recruiting Big Board! As always, the 5A suburban competitor have some serious beef in their front seven, and PRZMN is very excited about OT [player_tooltip player_id='2126060' first='Adam' last='Hayden'], a reported 6'4, 250 lber. who hoops for the Wildcats, earned All-District Honorable Mention honors in 2025, and will captain the football team this upcoming season.   The reported 6'4, 250 lber. plays LT for Waconia, and he runs his feet like a bat out of hell once he gets his hands firmly on the interior of a DL, as you can see from the first rep of his junior highlights with Waconia. Hayden smoothly can climb and find work at the second level, where LBs are sure to meet the turf when the Wildcats' LT is heading their way, and man, does he play through the whistle. Hayden is also a crushing finisher who can seriously move some mass after running his feet as a run blocker and is a balanced, fluid mover who can get out to the edge and find work all around the box for his offense. As with many of these touted 2027 OL prospects, camp season is going to be very important for how Hayden's collegiate future shakes out. Stay tuned with PRZMN!   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/Adam_Hayden64/status/1983797152695644377 </div></figure>     6'6, 225 lbers. are always going to catch the attention of PRZMN and find their way to a cozy spot on the ranking's Big Board! The Waconia Wildcats have a high-ceiling, high-potential 2027 in DE [player_tooltip player_id='2126055' first='Max' last='Greenwell'], who posted 33 tackles, 2 TFLs, 2 sacks, 1 INT, and 1 FF in 2025 and reports a 370 lb. squat, 275 lb. bench, and 245 lb. clean. To sweeten the pot, Greenwell plays hockey for Waconia, but on the gridiron, Greenwell, as a 5T, displays some bend off the edge of the LOS and to an offensive tackle's outside shoulder. He demonstrates good motor and does a good job of not getting tied up around the LOS and can shed multiple blocking attempts in a single rep. He's raw, and doesn't have a lot of tape, but boy does he have the measureables and traits to really develop into a monster at the next level, hence the Top 100 ranking. Could be a monster offseason for the Waconia risng senior defensive end! Stay tuned with PRZMN!   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/Max_Greenwell1/status/1981110359621849302 </div></figure>    --

Minnesota's 2027 PRZMN Ranking's Update is stocked full of big-time debutants, New Additions, and Top Newcomers, representing just about every region of the state and position group in football. Check out the second batch of this recent update's Top Newcomers, for your eyes only! All-State heavyweight wrestling DT, monster OT out of Big Lake, rangy small school LB prospects, 6A beef, and more. Dig in!