Bemidji State Big School Team Camp: Nate's OL and Def Standouts

Last but not least, we put our finishing touches on my standout list in my notebook on what I saw on the offensive line and the entire defensive side of the ball at the Bemidji State Big School Team Camp. We'll look at how our #2 and #1 athlete in the state looked out of the 2027 class, 2028 names that impressed the Bemidji staff, and one of the biggest 2027 sleepers that doesn't have an offer yet. Here's one last cheers from Bemidji!    An offensnive linemen that got on my board early from camps a couple seasons ago already that was in my top-tier amongst the offensive linemen I watched at the Bemidji State Big School Team Camp was Zimmerman's [player_tooltip player_id='1683376' first='Carson' last='Stay']. Although a 2028 prospect, you could tell the Beavers staff were impressed with what Carson showed off at Chet Anderson Stadium. What I saw out of Carson was a improved first step from a power perspective as he released into highly engaged hands that were quick from a hand speed perspective to pave ways for the Thunder's run game, which was quite proficent in the all the reps I watched in Bemidji on Wednesday and Thursday morning. His other growth appeared to me with his pad-level as I saw more pinpoint placement on those reps I watched. Carson's was also on a constant basis moving DLs all over the place. The now 6'3 260 pounder is surely the next Thunder offensive linemen to play on Saturdays at the scholarship level.     Another 2027 that gained some stock in my eyes on both sides of the trenches was another prospect one out of Zimmerman in [player_tooltip player_id='1940690' first='Jacob' last='Aderman']. Both PRZ scouts in attendance had Jacob logged in our notebooks but where my stock was risen with him was in the offensive trenches. He showed off quick footwork for the size mentioned and got into position quickly during the reps I watched. The physical hands that he showed were pretty evident in the reps I watched out of Jacob as there was times where you could tell the DLs were overwhelmed by his long arms as he knocked a few back quickly. Jacob has no reported offers thus far which our PRZ scouts in attendance were both shocked about, being his production on both sides of the trenches.     Nebraska commit [player_tooltip player_id='1452200' first='Nehemiah' last='Ombati'] is our DL1 for a reason in the 2027 class and did not waste any time showing why that's been the case for a while now. His high motor was evident in the defensive trenches and I felt Nehemiah was more powerful getting to the edges of the inside box with his fluid movement than what I saw out my last live eval from a handful of months ago. He was relentless with winning the 1v1 battles in the trenches and there were countless times where his enforcement in the backfield cause a handful of off-line throws due to the physical pressure he put on the QB. There was one particular rep from Nehemiah that stood above the rest even though I didn't have it on video and was 40+ yards away from the play, the physicality that he showed showed off how much his presence made a difference while leading the Sabers to becoming now back to back War on the Shore Champions in Bemidji.     4A MVP   Another name that's gotten a ton of pub from us at Prep Redzone Minnesota throughout the summer, has been Princeton's [player_tooltip player_id='1288296' first='Carson' last='Pruett'] as his outing at the Bemidji State Big School Team Camp was surely one of the best showings prospect-wise I saw from the 4A schools. I got to watch a bunch of his DL reps against rival Zimmerman and his swift ability to get off blocks and get to the point of attack was relentless during the reps I was able to watch on the Bemidji practice fields. He also boosted the excellent short-area vision as one of the most dominant DTs I saw from the perspective amongst the big school group. Basically the whole NSIC has offered thus far along with the Tommies, but he's been surely once since his sophomore year that I feel can play in the Missouri Valley especially with how much position flexibility is at Carson's disposal and knowing his well-oiled work ethic he has.     A name out of Maple Grove that was an EDGE rusher in the 2028 class that caught my attention at the Bemidji State Big School Team Camp was [player_tooltip player_id='1506709' first='Julian' last='Cipala']. Julian has intriguingly long arms that measure up to a 6'7 wingspan and it was clear in the reps I watched up on the shores of Lake Bemidji, that he is figuring out how to utilze that length to his advantage. He showed off to be more twitchy when he get off blocks and got down to the ball carrier and showed that his mobility extends pretty balanced in muliple directions. He was one that flashed the position flexibility as a sophomore, but watching him as a defensive end shows where the next-level translation lines up. He's one that I would expect takes a significant step up for the Crimson defensive front looking at the 2026 season.     The best downhill and rangy linebacker in the state of Minnesota was one of two top 2 prospects we got to watch at the Bemidji State Big School Team Camp as our #1 overall prospect [player_tooltip player_id='212480' first='Blake' last='Betton'] showed why the folks over at Penn State should be ecstatic over the coming several years. Blake was also my selection for heaviest hitter on contact on several reps I watched out of him in Bemidji as the fluidity Blake has to get to the ball carrier no matter where he's at on the field is surely a blast to watch live and in-person. Easily the most instincitve linebacker in attendance in Bemidji from a vision perspective. One of a couple Sabers that will have full PRZ attention watching the Big Ten on Saturdays over the next handful of falls for sure!     One of a few defensive backs that caught my attention last week at the Bemidji State Big School Team Camp out of Maple Grove, was a name we've gotten on our radar at camps over the summer as cornerback [player_tooltip player_id='2126678' first='TJ' last='Williams'] had some reps that caught our attention yet again this summer. I felt watching TJ's reps in pass coverage that even in the short time seeing him since the UND Flagship Camp, he's got slightly more physical with his ball-tracking ability and his lateral movement is more flexible on each of the three levels of the field especially with his reps I saw carry more to the middle of the field. Just got his first offer from MSU-Moorhead a couple weeks ago and I surely could see more attention coming from the NSIC coming soon as he's got the means of being a senior bloomer for Maple Grove.     A name that got on my board as one of the best defensive backs at the SMSU Prospect Camp this summer and is now a SMSU commit as of yesterday is [player_tooltip player_id='2005418' first='Nile' last='Laszczak'] of Forest Lake who had one of the best defensive outings I saw coming from the Rangers defensive at the Bemidji State Big School Team Camp. Regardless if it was slowing down the run or pass, Nile wasted no time penetrating into the backfield and making the sure tackle in what I have seen has been a quickly growing and physical tackling ability seen this summer. Via my notebook and his clips from Bemidji, Nile showed consistently to be the first one at the point of attack. He's got a ton of position flexibility he can bring to the Mustangs secondary as far as where he lines up and I surely feel that SMSU got themselves a sleeper in our 2027 rankings out of Forest Lake as I think Nile's best football is ahead of him from a developmental standpoint.     The last name out of the Maple Grove secondary that caught my attention at the Bemidji State Big School Team Camp was 2027 safety [player_tooltip player_id='2126676' first='Luke' last='Smith']. He's had a solid July when it came to his recruiting trail added two Division III offers from Augsburg and Lawrence (WI) and I thought after watching him in Bemidji, that he's one that should come off our watchlist to the 2027 rankings due to what I saw. He's a strong safety that showed off versatility in where he can contribute in the middle of the Crimson secondary. He was productive in tight areas utilzing his vision to squeeze into the ball carrier and make tackles on a few reps I watched. Luke also displayed more range than I was expecting to see and is one that I feel makes a couple names out of Maple Grove that could be senior bloomers in the 2026 season.

Last but not least, we put our finishing touches on my standout list in my notebook on what I saw on the offensive line and the entire defensive side of the ball at the Bemidji State Big School Team Camp. We'll look at how our #2 and #1 athlete in the state looked out of the 2027 class, 2028 names that impressed the Bemidji staff, and one of the biggest 2027 sleepers that doesn't have an offer yet. Here's one last cheers from Bemidji!