SMSU Prospect Camp: Minnesota Standouts + MVP

We keep hitting the throttle on camp season, as last week started with non-stop camp coverage! We move to our standouts from the great state of Minnesota at the SMSU Prospect Camp as we also named named a couple of MVPs not only positionally, but our overall MVP that came from the state of Minnesota at camp.    A last name you will recognize out of Marshall, as linebacker Sam Meier was one of a couple 2028 names that caught our attention in the live eval at the SMSU Prospect Camp. One of the most explosive linebackers in the camp during the testing period, especially showing what he could do in the broad jump. He's got growing upside at the linebacker position, as mostly what you see on tape comes from the backfield. But similar to his skillsets at running back, Sam is one that intrigued me with his downhill presence in what was a stacked linebacker group in Marshall on Friday. He also appeared as one that was quick from a development standpoint, as the reps you saw from start to finish from camp show the quick growth curve. His brother is a linebacker at SMSU, and I could surely see a similar D2 path in his football future.     One of the most intriguing names in the defensive trenches at the SMSU Prosepct Camp was defensive tackle [player_tooltip player_id='2152724' first='Braedyn' last='VanMeveren'] in the 2028 class. Braedyn showed off the grinding hands you want to see go to work in the defensive trenches, as the now 6'2 280 pounder showed off plenty of promising reps in the live eval from my eyes. Braedyn showed off he could also recover on reps that didn't start his way as this kid showed off his instinctiveness with his ability to readjust his hands, restore leverage while finishing and winning a handful of reps. Surely can see why we have him as our DL3 in the 2028 Minnesota class.     One of the most coachable prospects in the offensive trenches at the SMSU Prosepct Camp was Rosemount's [player_tooltip player_id='1633907' first='Max' last='Meger']. He was an offensive line prospect that was fluid with his first step and showed that he could generate power quickly which I could see the growth that's happened since his junior season at Rosemount. That coachability for Max was key watching him in 1v1s, as he grew from a football IQ perspective showing how quick he could turn over a rep that didn't go his way into a better one. Max surely showed off a blue-collar type offensive linemen in the trenches as one to watch at the center position in 6A heading into his senior season.     Another quarterback that was in my top-tier amongst the quarterback group on Friday at the SMSU Prospect Camp was New Prague's [player_tooltip player_id='1581347' first='Carter' last='DenHartog']. Carter showed off well-versed arm strength that carried across all levels of the field. He had some promising throws that also showed off his ball placement as well. Carson also showed off the athletic profile you want to see on Saturdays as he showed upside with his outof pocket mobility, but those athletic traits are there to grow quickly based off what he put together in the testing session.     A new name in the 2027 class that hit my radar at the SMSU Prospect Camp on Friday was Ada-Borup-West running back [player_tooltip player_id='1648099' first='Rudy' last='Reyes']. He showed elusiveness with his change of direction that showed off great balance no matter which direction he was utilizing. Rudy also showed off the tightness you want to see around the corners during the Indy period. He intrigued me too with his low center of gravity with the ball in his hands, as his stability and balanced within the reps I watched showed me that although undersized, has a good shot of playing on Saturdays.     One of the better wide receivers in the WR group on Friday was one of few that had the shortest travel to camp from across the highway, as one of those Marshall Tigers was 2027 Ethan Boeck. He was one from start to finish of camp that was very coachable from the high amount of reps he received and you can could see that growth with his developing hands. The 5'10 180 pounder, also showed off great translation from testing to the live reps with the use of his change of direction as Ethan was one of the more elusive route-runners in the group.     A 2027 out of Marshall that is a new name to our board that we liked at the SMSU Prospect Camp, was offensive linemen Kael Frana. This young man showed off the relentless work ethic you want to see in your offenisve trenches based on the reps I got to watch from Friday afternoon. He was persistent from a leverage perspective in the chunk of reps I got to watch as Kael was able to drive them into the second level and won a plethora of reps in 1v1s. Another area that stood out was his pad-level throughout the reps I watched as Kael was one that I saw good balance from with those hands. Surely an under the radar 2027 offensive linemen out of 4A powerhouse the Marshall Tigers.   <a href="https://x.com/FranaKael" id="https://x.com/FranaKael">TWITTER</a>     Nile got a ton of reps in at the SMSU Prospect Camp as the 2027 defensive back from Forest Lake showed off sound growth from his junior season. I felt with how much coaching he got at SMSU, it elevated his play even quicker as that quickness is where he stood out to me. He showed off well-versed footwork and I thought his ball-tracking ability showed possibly the most growth as well in the reps I watched. He has gotten more open with his hips while changing directions which I feel will elevate him as a senior for the Rangers to get from sideline to sideline even quicker. Surely has a solid shot of playing on Saturday in my eyes.     One of a few top-tier linebackers in this Minnesota group that walked out with his first D2 offer of the summer was Academy of Holy Angels [player_tooltip player_id='1624392' first='Jax' last='Schneider']. It would have been hard to miss the motor this young man possessed over in what was the most stacked position group at the SMSU Prospect Camp. I felt from the live eval, Jax has grown since the season ended with his downhill ability and had even smoother pursuit angles when he went to go make a tackle against the running backs in 1v1s in Marshall. He surely also has grown with his vision as well, as Jax showed off more twitch when he changed directions in 1v1s. Surely a 2027 linebacker out of AHA that will grow his stock this summer.     WR MVP   It didn't take long at all to establish who was the best wide receiver in attendance at the SMSU Prospect Camp on Friday afternoon, as that nod goes to Apple Valley 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2119280' first='Xavier' last='Holden'] who is another Minnesota target that walked out with his first offer from the Mustangs. His change of direction he displayed getting into the open field was surely eye-catching as his timing and elusiveness were locked in to winning several reps during 1v1s in Marshall. He showed off a very quick release at the top of his routes as Xavier was one that relished the attention to detail with his route-running and during the testing period, was very tight and agile around the cones and I really liked how this young man finished every rep he had on Friday. Xavier is surely 2027 wide receiver prospect that should move up our 2027 board in Minnesota based on the live eval we got in Marshall.     There is a reason you see so many linebackers within the Minnesota targets from the SMSU Prospect Camp, as local Marshall product [player_tooltip player_id='2049860' first='Cannon' last='Craigmile'] was another one that graded out in my top-tier amongst the linebackers. Cannon I felt showed off the biggest motor I saw in Marshall on Friday afternoon, which I believe is a must-have especially at the linebacker position. He showed off a great get off and boosted great agility in the bulk of the reps I got to watch and does so with ideal measurables at the linebacker position at the next-level. I also was impressed in person with Cannon's ability to get off blocks as I feel he's taken another step forward with that skillset since his junior season ended. Surely is a name that is a hot commodity in the NSIC right now offers wise.     Minnesota MVP   Mason is a 2027 prospect out of Dawson-Boyd that I thought turned in the best performance amongst Minnesota prospects at the SMSU Prospect Camp and elevated way up our 2027 Minnesota board at the linebacker position. The 6'2 200 pounder was a cerified flyer to the ball in the live 1v1 reps I watched on Friday at SMSU and boosted the most physicality on contact that I saw. Mason is one that has been on my radar for a couple years now, but the excellent growth we saw from an instinctive perspective in Marshall on Friday shows off the ideal fit to play linebacker at the next-level. His pure athleticism he has boosts also a ton of range when you roll the tape, as it's evident this young man has cetainly put in the work in the offseason to rise his stock a ton.

We keep hitting the throttle on camp season, as last week started with non-stop camp coverage! We move to our standouts from the great state of Minnesota at the SMSU Prospect Camp as we also named named a couple of MVPs not only positionally, but our overall MVP that came from the state of Minnesota at camp.