PRZMN Track Stars to Watch Out for in 2026

Track is a common sport for many multi-sport athletes who also participate in football, and may be one of the most indicative toward an athlete's ability to succeed on the gridiron with it's combination of acceleration, speed, and balance in races that translate well with a player's ability to change direction on the fly and outrun the defense to the end zone. Today, we take a look at 7 athletes in MN who will look to translate their success on the track onto the gridiron in 2026!    [player_tooltip player_id='1694135' first='Zak' last='Walker'] is proving his #1 status at the DB in MN, not just for his elite coverage skills, but also for his spectacular athleticism, proving himself to also be one of the top track athletes in the state. Walker's 10.57 second 100 yard dash time ranks as the 3rd highest among all MN track athletes so far through the 2026 season, and his 21.36 second 200 yard dash time ranks as the 2nd highest this year. Walker has proven himself to be a dangerously explosive athlete, taking reps at DB, WR, and return specialist with equal effectiveness, being able to burn defenders with the ball in his hands as well as to run the receiver's routes as a defender and play on the ball like a receiver. Walker is a fluid DB/ATH prospect who should continue to garner a lot of D1 interest over this next season, and he will look to round out his high school career with a state championship title added to his belt.     The focus for Cretin-Derham Hall was largely on their dominant offense, but it was impossible to overlook [player_tooltip player_id='1581350' first='Cartier' last='Russell']'s impacts as a lengthy and sharp CB who boasts plenty of athleticism to holds his ground against the fastest of receivers. Russell has impressed our scouts with his outstanding testing numbers which seem to get much better with each season. Russell posted a 10.88 100 yard dash time this last month and was noted for posting a whopping personal-best 4.43 40 yard time. Russell's speed is legit, and he uses that well in the secondary, giving very little separation even with a late first step, and his solid length and hand placement allows him to play on the ball very effectively, making him a premier shutdown CB for the Raiders' secondary. With offers from South Dakota and Augustana, Russell has been continuously putting in the work over this offseason to get stronger and more explosive, and that should pay huge dividends as he enters his senior season.     [player_tooltip player_id='1248616' first='Beau' last='Nicklay'] has continued to prove himself through his junior season as a dynamic and very dangerous DB for the Bears' defense. Nicklay only had 1 INT after a ball-hawking campaign in his sophomore season, taking that pick back to the house, giving the clear indication that offenses were simply too scared to throw it his way last season. Nicklay is a lightning-fast athlete, indicated by his impressive 10.82 second 100 yard dash time he posted this last month as well as his personal-best 4.52 40 yard dash time. Nicklay improved this last season on his run-stopping abilities, improving on his side-to-side movement, and using that quick acceleration and close-down speed to minimize the run-game. Nicklay continues to grow as a well-rounded Safety who should continue to terrorize defenses as he enters his senior season.     The 3-sport athlete for Redwood Valley, [player_tooltip player_id='2126014' first='Lucas' last='Fuhr'], continues to grow as a very talented athlete with football, track, and wrestling at a premium level. Fuhr has performed very well this season with track, having won several individual and relay competitions this season already for 100 and 200 meter dash/relays. While a RB/SS for the Cardinals, his role is a bit more undefined, being seen as well lining up in the slot at WR. Fuhr is a dangerous player to get the ball into his hands, as he is capable of breaking a long run on a whim, while also using his speed and instincts to showcase strong ball-tracking skills both against the pass and the run while proving sticky in man coverage and uneasy to shake off. Fuhr may lean more toward the other two sports at the next level, and Fuhr will have a lot to offer not just for the Cardinals' football team, but for the overall athletic program at Redwood Valley going forward.     [player_tooltip player_id='1633473' first='Hanley' last='Neumann'] caught our scouts' attention for his impressive performance during the Stock-Up Showcase event back in December, noting his 4.63 40 yard dash, his 4.43 shuttle, and his 9'11" broad jump, indicating very much his dynamic athleticism which should translate well on the field next season. Neumann has continued to flash his speed over this offseason with his performance in track, having won 5 varsity track events this year, including 3 individual events. Neumann has proven himself well as an effective slot DB who shows great instincts and tracks the ball down with ease along as a strong RB supporting the Tigers' potent run-game with his sharp agility, change of direction, and quick strides to race past defenders into the open field. Neumann may see some more carries headed his way this season along with his reps on the secondary, and he should easily remain as one of the Tigers' most important cornerstones on the gridiron entering his senior season.     Despite a dismal 3-5 regular season record, St. Michael Albertville persevered to the state quarterfinals this season, with one of their best overall players in [player_tooltip player_id='2128349' first='Wyatt' last='Mosher'] leading the way for the large part. Mosher led the team with 858 rushing yards (4.9 YPC) and 13 rushing TDs while adding 54 tackles and a forced fumble on defense. Mosher has had a successful campaign so far for track, winning 4 competition finals, including a 4x200 relay victory at the Land of the 10,000 Relays back in February. On the ground, Mosher attacks the open gaps with full confidence, bursting through the seams with long strides, and once he gets by the secondary, he's long gone. On defense, Mosher is an excellent Strong Safety who's fluid both against the pass and the run, attacking with low, hard-hitting tackles and shows solid pass-coverage skills, while also being able to take back interceptions and turnovers for long gains, if not to the house. Mosher should continue to be a lightning rod for the Knights on both sides of the ball as he enters his senior season.     An overlooked prospect from the 10-1 Pioneers', but Brayden Foust boasts explosive speed that borders on elite athleticism to make up for his smaller stature. Foust has been one of the best track athletes over the 2026 season, with a 10.76 second 100 yard dash time and a posted 4.5 40 yard time. A spectacular runner who can simply take the ball and turn on the jets to blaze past the entire defense in a flash, Foust was the ultimate weapon for the Pioneers' dominant run-attack that carried their offense through the 2025 season while also flashing flexibility as a hybrid LB-Safety player who uses his speed well to cover both the run and the pass. Foust should certainly not remain overlooked going forward as he well outplays what his size suggests.

Track is a common sport for many multi-sport athletes who also participate in football, and may be one of the most indicative toward an athlete's ability to succeed on the gridiron with it's combination of acceleration, speed, and balance in races that translate well with a player's ability to change direction on the fly and outrun the defense to the end zone. Today, we take a look at 7 athletes in MN who will look to translate their success on the track onto the gridiron in 2026!