2026 Macalester College High-Academic Prospect Camp Standouts

Wednesday afternoon, PrepRedzone was honored to attend and evaluate at the unique, academically-minded, highly-rated, must-know St. Paul-hosted 2026 Macalester College High-Academic Prospect Camp. With attendees from every position on the gridiron and 11 (!) states represented, not to mention Canada, and some heavy-hitting liberal arts' college staffs in attendance (Pomona, Grinnell, Carleton, St. Olaf), this was one big-time stop on the camp trail, and these rising 2027s, 2028s, and 2029s were coached up by Macalester's impressive coaching staff that were backed by one of the United States' best academic institutions. Plus, Tono Cheesesteaks' is right across the street! Check out the Top Performers and Honorable Mentions from the Mac-Groveland-based Macalester College Prospect Camp Below!   --   Alpha Dog:    There were some serious contenders for MVP status of the second-ever Macalester College High-Academic Prospect Camp. OL, DL, RB, and DB produced some candidates, but given the fact that quarterback is the most important position in sports, not to mention MVP selection's showing in every phase of the camp and the fact he's from one of the United State's most fertile recruiting grounds of prep football talent, and we had to give the nod to Jordan Shannon. The Hitchcock (15 miles north of Houston) product manufactured a very well-rounded showing at the Macalester College High-Academic Prospect Camp, kicking things off with a 4.5 in the 40 to really highlight some athleticism to go along with that 4.0 GPA. Additionally, he put together an impressive overall body of work in terms of accuracy and command of the football, and in the applicable, well-run scenarios led by the Scots' coaching staff, including full field and half field skelly, he was seeing the field well, throwing with consistent timing and velocity, and a beautiful deep ball that was really giving WRs a chance, leading them open, and dropping the rock right in the bread basket. Shannon is a legit D3 QB prospect with an impressive skillset going into his senior year of high school. Shannon made visits to Carleton, St. Olaf, and Hamline while in the Twin Cities as well.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/Jshannon2027/status/2066264190877065713 </div></figure>    Top Performers:    Representing the aptly-named San Diego High School in San Diego, California, Jayden Johnson was an easy selection for Top Performer status out of the Macalester College High-Academic Prospect Camp. With noticeable muscle definition, a solid, thick, near-200-pound build with natural power and balance, and impressive athleticism, Johnson was a noticeably fluid and explosive mover during drill work and competition. Talk about dynamic, the RB, LB, and DB took reps all over the field at MAC's second-ever High-Academic Prospect Camp, but during DB drills his smooth, loose hips could swivel and transition with ease, and he was very quick out of his breaks. A Front-of-the-Line competitor who was coachable as he was versatile, the California boy, during team half/full skelly, was impressively dangerous in the open field thanks to his footwork and twitch, was an effective route runner with soft hands out of the backfield, and explosive deep speed with ball tracking ability to boot. Johnson was putting on a clinic at the Macalester College High Academic Prospect Camp. 3.88 GPA as well as a reported 11.5 100M dash time to contextualize that deep speed as well!   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/JJohnsonSD2/status/2065280319000092874 </div></figure>     Another Macalester College High-Academic Prospect Camp unanimous Top Performer and Standout, the 808 was well represented by Kahuku High School's Blake Alo. A First Team All-Eye Test and All-Testing Team selection, Alo was a stout, powerful, naturally-low-center-of-gravity 5'10, near-200-pounds with noticeable muscular definition and a thick lower body. A Front-of-the-Line competitor who was the best in his group during both RB and DB drills at Macalester Stadium, Alo was producing some teach tape-esque reps, especially when asked to show off his footwork, ability to drop his hips, and fly out of his breaks with impressive quickness. Alo was a loose, explosive athlete who a lot of the coaches in attendance referred to as "legit" throughout the course of the camp. Holds offers from the University of Redlands and University of Puget Sound and carries a 3.9 GPA!   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/blake_alo/status/2065855851362218248 </div></figure>     Representing the Mitten and Vicksburg High School - located 15ish minutes SE of Portage and 30 minutes south of Kalamazoo - Owen Bailey had some serious juice and was a unanimous Top Performer at the 2026 Macalester College High-Academic Prospect Camp. Bailey really flashed and came alive during 1v1s, displaying himself as an explosive and consistent deep threat who was smooth in-and-out of his breaks. He also caught anything and everything thrown his way in the 651, including a couple particularly impressive snags while fully extended. 3.85 GPA to boot!   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/Owen_Bailey_3/status/2064398892196921826 </div></figure>     There was a reason why Lakeside School and Washington State native and rising senior Carter Schultz posted 12 sacks last fall during the season. Schultz, measuring in around 6'2, 235 lbs., was in serious contention for MVP selection from the 2026 Macalester College High-Academic Prospect Camp. Big, strong, powerful, with a deep bag of pass-rushing moves, not only had the best frame in attendance, but the most pass-rushing juice as well. Strong, active hands, could unlock his hips at will, and brought both speed and power from whatever position along the DL he was working from. 3.60 GPA as well!   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/CutlerTru/status/1984298715302043678 </div></figure>     A Wisconsin born-and-bred Hog Molly winning MVP status out of the OL group? No surprises here. Little Chutes' Barrett Tamulion made the 4 hour, 15 minute drive to the Macalester College High-Academic Prospect Camp worth it, coming away as the best OL in attendance, in the opinion of PRZ, and to sweeten the pot, he's a new name to the deep PRZWI radar and 2027 OL class. A First Team All-Eye Test and First-off-the-Bus selection, Tamulion had no problems playing with physicality, but his bend, balance, and lateral agility were a huge asset in pass protection. With a great base, Tamulion did a great job of staying engaged to a rusher throughout a rep, keeping his hands active and on the inside chest plate more often than not. The Badger State prospect also was strong enough to handle even the most powerful of DTs that attended the camp. Plus, he carries a 4.0 GPA!   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/BTamulion/status/2064849702596579777 </div></figure>     Upon arrival and after checking the roster, PRZ's eyes were immediately drawn to East Ridge's [player_tooltip player_id='1577844' first='Lucas' last='Nordstrom']. A 6A DL we're well familiar with, Nordstrom was a no-doubt Top Performer and Big Dog at the 2026 Macalester College High-Academic Prospect Camp. His Big School experience, as well as plethora of reps on both sides of the LOS, payed off during every phase of the camp. One of the best athletes in attendance, regardless of position, Nordstrom was very positionally versatile, and he was more than a handful during 1v1s and unpadded competition. Nonstop motor, lead in his hands, could go speed-to-power, and displayed some twitch as well. It was more than a disruptive and productive combination for OL to handle. This kid would make an awesome D3 lineman. 4.10 unweighted GPA as well!   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/LucasNords63/status/1989459495412809816 </div></figure>    Honorable Mentions:    Straight from the Centennial State, Golden, Colorado's Liam Leffert showed up and showed out at the second-ever Macalester College High-Academic Prospect Camp late last week in St. Paul. PrepRedzone has been to more than our fair share of prospect camps since late May, and throughout the multi-state adventure we are currently underway with, Leffert's hands have stood out amongst all others. Leffert caught anything and everything thrown his way, and along with his good size and room to grow, Leffert flashed as a linebacker during both drill work and half-skelly, and he was demonstrating consistent ball skills and a huge catch radius in a variety of football-related situations and drills throughout the camp. 4.43 unweighted GPA as well!   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/liamleffert27/status/2066377535932583960 </div></figure>     Another representative of Golden High School, Arvada, Colorado product Thatcher Matthews was one of the more interesting prospects in attendance at the Macalester College High-Academic Prospect Camp. Produced an overall inconsistent body of work from the QB position, but boy did he flash some good throws, with a pretty deep ball that was hitting WRs in stride during full skelly drills, and he also threw a couple of eye-catching post balls that saw him work through his reads and deliver a ball on time and on a rope. To sweeten the pot, the kid has PRed with a 11.29 100M and owns a 4.53 unweighted GPA.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/ThatcherMa1713/status/2032953026638655502 </div></figure>     Another live evaluation point of Big Lake's rising junior QB [player_tooltip player_id='2056472' first='Weston' last='Jones'] this offseason! Jones, who has made some serious and noticeable strides this offseason, both in the eyes of PRZMN and as heard from his coaches with Pro MN Athletics. The lefty was really stretching the field well and with accuracy, and the ball was really popping out of his hand when he was able to get that pigskin goin' vertically. Was able to move the ball down the field safely and securely during half and full-team skelly as well.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/Weston_Jones12/status/2064895248334000235 </div></figure>     One of the taller and more eye-catching prospects in attendance at the Macalester College High-Academic Prospect Camp came out of the St. Cloud area and Little Falls High School in Colton Nelson. A rising junior, Nelson was dynamic, especially at his size, and had some strong reps in man coverage as a cornerback, and when manning the WR spot on offense, he could drop his hips well, aiding him when changing direction and especially at the top of the route.     Coming out of the 612 and Minneapolis Washburn High School, Chase Hogan proved himself to be one of the more natural and versatile prospects in attendance at the Macalester College High-Academic Prospect Camp. Hogan was doing a little bit of everything last week in the 651, running good routes out of the backfield, making defenders miss in space, and showing off soft hands and solid coordination. Defensively, he was overall comfortable in space and in pass defense and was squeezing space and getting to ball carriers hips quickly and effectively. 3.54 GPA out of Washburn High School as well!   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/ChaseHogan55/status/2063293653590708507 </div></figure>     A member of Annandale's 2025 Class AAA state championship and 13-0 undefeated run, WR [player_tooltip player_id='1581353' first='Cooper' last='Broman'] is in the midst of a stock rising offseason going into his senior year. A noticeably and impressively hard worker and experienced route runner, Broman was consistently getting open throughout the Macalester High-Academic Prospect Camp, and he also made one of the best catches of the entire afternoon, working and contorting his body to reel in a throw that was placed back and behind him. Broman was also showing some range as a safety on the defensive side of the ball. 3.98 GPA as well!   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/coopjb6/status/2065913623851995246 </div></figure>     Coming out of the defending Class 6A state champion Edina, consistently one of the best academically-inclined high schools in Minnesota, rising senior Sami Qleibo was a good fit for the Macalester College High-Academic Prospect Camp. Qleibo proved himself to be a rangy, disruptive SAF and MOF defender during full-skelly exercises. 3.72 GPA as well!     Good showing at the 2026 Macalester College High-Academic Prospect Camp for 507 and RJM product [player_tooltip player_id='1248727' first='Ben' last='Howard']. The Rockets, who have one of the more lowkey decorated list of football alumni in the state, are once again home to exciting rising seniors while going into the fall. Howard included, who had a good day on both sides of the ball and was especially quick out of breaks. Howard could read, recognize, and trigger on the ball with pace, whether in pass or defense or flowing/closing on ball carriers in space. Should be a big senior season for this Rochester John Marshall 2027. Perfect 4.0 GPA and 4.5 unweighted GPA as well!   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/Ben27Howard/status/2065954865289777509 </div></figure>     Hopkins' has a lot of returning talent that PRZMN is am excited to see padded up and in live action this coming fall. A rising senior piece that will play a vital schematic and experience role in the Royals' defense, who caught our attention at the 2026 Macalester College High-Academic Prospect Camp. Overall solid showing in every phase of the camp, and looked particularly good changing direction and sticking & planting. Positionally versatile with a 3.84 GPA as well.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/Andre_rivera09/status/2064445386370990453 </div></figure>     A Hometown Hero coming out of St. Paul Highland Park High School, 651 product [player_tooltip player_id='2143305' first='Joaquin' last='Lechuga'] checked a lot of boxes at the 2026 Macalester College High-Academic Prospect Camp. A First Team All-Eye Test selection who was a bowling ball of a rising senior, Lechuga was a powerfully-built 200ish pounds, and knew how to use it, playing with a noticeably low center of gravity and some impressive power generated out of his cuts. Additionally, he displayed some solid shake and overall quickness for his size and was a dynamic weapon out of the backfield from his RB spot. Going to be a monster season for Lechuga and his 651-based Scots in the 5A ranks.     Hudson High School always seem to show up and show out at an offseason stop. 2027 OL Braxten Walrack was in serious contention for OL1 at the 2026 Macalester College High-Academic Prospect Camp last week in St. Paul. Walrack had a particularly good showing during 1v1 pass pro reps, where Walrack displayed a great base that was absorbing, withstanding, and redistributing contact effectively, and he was fundamentally sound in his pass set (no surprises from a Hudson kid). Walrack was also strong, physical, and was able to gain both depth and width in his pass set, depending on what the DL wanted to try to work. He beat some of the top rushers in attendance with noted ease.     Reppin' Kingston, Ontario, way up north in Canada, DL Owen Goolsby sure made an impression at the 2026 Macalester College High-Academic Prospect Camps. With noticeable length and a good frame to continue adding weight and mass, Goolsby was showing an explosive get-off as a standup EDGE, and he was twitchy and flashed an effective chop/rip at the top of the pass rushing arc. Could win with pure speed too. This Canadian also has a 4.0 GPA!   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/owengoolsby11/status/2063723174873735611 </div></figure>     A new name to the PRZMN radar and a fun new name to add to the 2027 OL class, Liam Carter was representing Mahtomedi High School well last week at the Macalester College High-Academic Prospect Camp. The kid has #d3fb written all over him, in a good way, and Carter put together a good performance during 1v1 pass pro reps. Laterally agile, balanced, tough at the contact poin, and kept his hands active, Carter was never going to stop taking, and winning, reps during 1v1s, and his 5A experience with Maht last year showed up well in both run and pass blocking exercises. Would love to see this kid in the MIAC in a couple seasons! Oh yeah, and he's got a 3.50 GPA.   @LiamCarter7051    --

Wednesday afternoon, PrepRedzone was honored to attend and evaluate at the unique, academically-minded, highly-rated, must-know St. Paul-hosted 2026 Macalester College High-Academic Prospect Camp. With attendees from every position on the gridiron and 11 (!) states represented, not to mention Canada, and some heavy-hitting liberal arts' college staffs in attendance (Pomona, Grinnell, Carleton, St. Olaf), this was one big-time stop on the camp trail, and these rising 2027s, 2028s, and 2029s were coached up by Macalester's impressive coaching staff that were backed by one of the United States' best academic institutions. Plus, Tono Cheesesteaks' is right across the street! Check out the Top Performers and Honorable Mentions from the Mac-Groveland-based Macalester College Prospect Camp Below!