MN's Thursday, Week 3 Breakout Athletes and Standouts

Inclement weather made sure to make Minnesota's Thursday, September 17th's slate more packed than we were expecting. With 37 games kicking off on Thursday, PRZMN made sure to comb through and check in on every single individual contest and result in the hopes of uncovering some of Week 3's Breakout Athletes and Standouts. Check out who we dug up below!   --    Ogilvie, MN, a town of ~ 400 and home to the Ogilvie Raceway as well as former NFL LB Clayton Tonnemaker, has a freshman RB bursting onto the PRZMN radar in 2026. Charlee Dennis, a 5'11, 165 lber., is as exciting of a freshman FB and LB as he is mysterious. The 2030 standout popped off for 14 rushes for 161 yards and 2 TDs rushing as Ogilvie beat Chisholm 56-32 in MN Week 3 action, and he's posted 37 rushes for 315 yards and 5 TDs as a freshman with the Lions. No film on Hudl and no socials I could find, but how could you not be intrigued after seeing that stat line?   Charlee: update your Hudl, please!     Recruiting can be tough sledding for Minnesota-born-and-bred skill players sometimes. [player_tooltip player_id='1360530' first='Akeed' last='Ali'], despite 6A explosive ability, production, and tape, not to mention eye-catching track times that have topped out at 11.01 in the 100M, only came out of the Summer Camp Circuit with an offer from Augsburg University. Underrated to say the least, Ali is quickly asserting himself as one of the biggest walking highlight reels in all of Minnesota this all. Doing a bit of everything for the 2-1 Raptors, who nearly squeaked out a win over powerhouse Minnetonka 14-7 in Week 1, Ali has been finding particular success as a RB and kickoff returner for East Ridge, where he's had stat-stuffing performances the last two weeks against Roseville and Hopkins.   Ali, in Week 3, popped off for 11 rushes for 215 yards and 3 TDs in win over Roseville, as well as 2 for 2 passing for 36 yards and 2 returns for 103 yards and 1 TD in the 36-13 win over the Raiders. Also produced a KOR TD Week 2 against Hopkins.   vs. Roseville:   Ali barely decelerated in the KOR against Roseville. Saw the hole and exploded through it, finishing the TD run by torching that last defender's pursuit angle.   As a read-option QB/RB, Ali put his big play ability on full display on an exciting TD run that involved a big cut and step back inside, then you really see that track speed as the senior accelerates, gets up to top speed in a blink, and races past the Raiders' defense with ease. Two more cuts and he's gone and into the endzone down the far sideline. Ali flies through the first two levels of the defense like he was shot out of a cannon, shows good vision and footwork, and when he sees space, he takes space, gone.   vs. Hopkins:   Nifty footwork scoots him between 5 or 6 Hopkins coverage defenders, scurries his way into space, accelerates, and is gone. Pulls away from the last three Royals' pursuers in noticeably easy fashion.   Dangerous read option attack was on display again vs. the Royals. Ali scored on a goal line TD run, and he slips by arm tackles and stuck-in-the-mud defenders thanks to his top-notch burst. Ali showed off smooth, powerful COD ability, and PRZMN loves how he moves, maneuvers, and operates in space comfortably and effectively. Ali is playing like one of the most dangerous weapons in all of Minnesota right now.   @akeedali_1     Another week, another game of [player_tooltip player_id='2382340' first='Grant' last='Daniels']' film that PRZMN is dying to watch. Fillmore Central have a couple of the bigger upstarts of Minnesota's developing 2026 season, one of whom being 2029 tailback [player_tooltip player_id='2382340' first='Grant' last='Daniels']. Already mentioned and highlighted on a previous article thanks to some noteworthy production from his sophomore season, Daniels' still doesn't have any film updated, but he's fresh off a MN Week 3 (Fillmore Central Week 4) performance that netted him 23 rushes for 202 yards and 2 TDs, as well as 5 tackles on defense in 49-14 win over Blooming Prairie/Hayfield last Thursday. I hope Daniels and his teammates update their Hudl accounts soon!   IG: grantdaniels9     The defending Class AA runner-ups Goodhue have a roster that PRZMN is very interested in seeing how it bounces back in 2026. With upperclassmen aplenty rising into the cleats of the Wildcats' legendary 2026 graduation class, PRZMN has been seeing you trickles up into our radar. It's hard not to notice a 3-sack performance from one single game on the stat sheet, and Goodhue's Oskar Jensen, who posted 9 tackles, 3 TFLs, and 3 sacks in Goodhue's 44-8 win over La Crescent-Hokah on Thursday night. No film, unfortunately, but the kid obviously has a knack for getting in an opponents' backfield. We hope to see Jensen's Hudl updated soon as well, as we'd love to get some eyes on his game and Thursday night performance ASAP.     Little Falls is fresh off a meat-grinder of a Week 3 win over Litchfield. The 20-17 finish, as well as talent on both sides of the contest, indicated to PRZMN that this was one of the better games of MN's Week 3 slate. We simply had to check out this box score, where our eyes quickly found the legit multi-sporter Liam Thoma, a 6'3, 175 lb. RB out of Little Falls' 2028 class. At a reported 6'3, 175 lb., according to his EliteProspects hockey profile as a righty forward, Thoma is also a first baseman, has Perfect Game and Minnesota Blizzards Baseball profiles, and oh yeah, is pretty good at football too. Thoma popped off for 31 rushes for 180 yards and 2 TDs in the 20-17 win over Litchfield, and there's also some tape available to get a look at the intriguing tailback's game.   In his 13 yard TD run vs. Milaca, Thoma's a tall, imposing presence as a ball carrier who steps through, bounces off of, and works through weaker tackle attempts with ease thanks to those long legs. In a 10-yard TD run vs. Annandale, the junior displays big-time burst through the hole, comes into contact with aggression and intention, and is overall a very challenging 1v1 tackling assignment. PRZMN is here really hoping that we get a midseason cut up from the rising 2028 tailback.   IG: thoma_liam     In addition to the aforementioned [player_tooltip player_id='1360530' first='Akeed' last='Ali'], Redwood Valley's [player_tooltip player_id='2126014' first='Lucas' last='Fuhr'] is easily one of the most underrated playmakers in the entire state this fall. He's also verified as one of the fastest football players in all of Minnesota, coming into his senior season with personal bests of a 10.84 100M, 21.85 200M, and 50.88 400M. That is real-deal, game-changing speed, ladies and gentlemen, and Fuhr put it to good use in Week 3 against Paynesville. In the 39-7 win, Fuhr popped off for 22 rushes for 153 yards and 2 TDs, and the film displays a 30-yard TD run that saw him explode up the gut of the defense and, not kidding, ran through four different tackle attempts by Paynesville defenders. Absurd TD run and highlight that displayed rare contact balance and overall playmaking ability for a tailback of Fuhr's size. Strong, strong, strong. And physical.   No tape from Pipestone, but his Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg pops, as he can easily take the edge on a defense, especially on off-tackle runs, particularly pitches or tosses. He blocked a punt in explosive fashion, and was able to slice through the middle of the defense with so much force and momentum that he was able to carry 2-4 KMS defenders for extra yardage after first contact, Fuhr sniffs out the ball from his DB spot and triggers on passes with lightning-quick efficiency and breaks. Plus, he'll clap you at the contact point and has no problems laying the wood, Overall a rare combination of contact balance and top-end speed, not to mention great hands and a big catch radius. Eye-catching snag back and behind him that he reeled in with noticeably strong hands and good concentration.   @Lucas_Fuhr6     Sticking with the Redwood Valley 2026 for this next breakout performer and riser from Thursday's slate of MN prep football action. Senior RB Zack Lundeen posted 18 rushes or 83 and 4 TDs, but threw 2 INTs, in the Cards' 39-7 win over Paynesville. The film is quite impressive, and Lundeen is quite gamer that could really stuff a college program's 2027 class over the top with talent.   The QB/DB/LB, vs. KMS, shined from the quarterback spot. Lundeen throws a good ball on the move and in the pocket. Bit of a hitch in the mechanics, but displays a tight spiral, gets the rock out of his hand quickly, is able to throw with touch, accuracy, and needed zip when he has a clean pocket. Defensively, he closes on ball carriers in a blink. Excellent closing speed and tackling ability. As a runner, Lundeen displays effective burst when he tucks and takes off. Playmaking is aided by his strong lower body, contact balance, and fight/will to stay upright and in bounds.   Versus Paynesville, Lundeen really puts his body on the line and sacrifices his physical well being to make a play for his team. Impressive 1v1 tackler who will put a hurtin' on a tackler and bring the contact to the defender. Also shows quick feet and love the get-up and burst.   vs. Pipestone, Lundeen is a patient ball carrier who can follow his blocks but see and anticipate the cut back. Good vision, nifty work, shifty quickness and COD ability can take advantage of seams in a defense. He displays the speed to finish big runs for six when given the space, as well as fight, balance, strength to work through dog piles and multiple attempted tackles at a time. Broke through a dog pile and powered his way 60 yards for an electric TD run that looked like it beat Pipestone's entire defense. He also demonstrates eye-popping play and closing speed as a blitzer off the edge. Can get off the ball and into a QB's grill in a blink, and he made a great 1v1 tackle while working underneath a block on an attempted WR screen. Lundeen has to get one collegiate radars ASAP.   IG: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/zack_lundeen2/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"></a><a href="https://www.instagram.com/zack_lundeen2/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">zack_lundeen2</a>     A freshman getting varsity tick, and of course, starting, for a Class 4A program is a serious accomplishment at any program. This is especially true when said prospect is getting tick for Winona, an always-fertile recruiting ground that can pump out some seriously talented prospects year to year. The Winhawks have a lot of eye-catching names on their 2026 roster, notably a new-to-the-scene 2030 in 6', 160 lb. DB Dempsey Taylor. The freshman posted 4 tackles and 1 FF in Winona's Week 3 win over Faribault, and although there is no no tape on Hudl or available social media accounts we can gather, Taylor certainly has caught our attention as we look to launch our inevitable 2030 ranking's drop. Update your Hudl, Dempsey!     Class A competitior Minneota won their 49th game in a row in Friday's defeat of Canby. This cements the program as the owner as the second-longest winning streak in Minnesota high school football history, surpassing their own record of 48. Stephen-Argyle, between 2002-2008, won 76 games in a row, the state record, but the Vikings are showing no signs of slowing down as they look to snap said record and of course, before that, defend their four-straight state championships in Minnesota's Class A. Leading the Vikings from the front this season is 2028 two-way monster Randy "RJ" Sorensen, a reported 6', 210 lber. who is coming off a sophomore season that netted him 92 tackles, 9 TFLs, 5 sacks, 1 INT, 2 blocked kicks in 2025 as a sophomore. Was listed at 6', 195 lbs. Also 11 rushes for 157 yards and 1 TD and 1 catch for 5 yards.   Sorensen is looking to best those numbers as a junior, and he did a good job of stuffing the stat sheet against Canby in the Vikings' win. the junior tallied 6 tackles, 1 TFL, 18 rushes for 156 yards and 4 TDs as Minneota beat Canby 65-14. That puts the junior at 41 rushes for 314 yards and 7 TDs rushing, 17 tackles, 2 TFLs, 1 FF, and 2 catches for 31 yards and 1 TD in 2026.   The tape includes a 36-yard TD reception vs. Canby, wherein Sorensen sees space, caught the rock, attacked space on a screen/dump out in the flats. Sprinted untouched for a TD to show off the straight-line speed and acceleration/burst. Again though, no one seemed to want to tackle Sorensen. There was no visible effort from the defense to close space and try to hit the 210 lber. Sorensen gets into defenders heads and wears them down physically and mentally. In his TD run vs. Minnesota Valley Lutheran, Sorensen presents himself as a tall, strong, powerful tailback carried a sprinting defender past the white line for six like he was his heavy backpack. Big-time goal line threat, scored from two yards out, and eye-catching size on film. In his TD run vs. Eden Valley-Watkins, the 210 lbers. 3-yard TD run was too easy. OL did work, but no one wanted to tackle Sorensen anyway. You can tell by the way the defenders "attacked" their blocks. Sorensen will wear a defense down over four quarters. What a talent the Vikings have on their hands this fall!    --

Inclement weather made sure to make Minnesota's Thursday, September 17th's slate more packed than we were expecting. With 37 games kicking off on Thursday, PRZMN made sure to comb through and check in on every single individual contest and result in the hopes of uncovering some of Week 3's Breakout Athletes and Standouts. Check out who we dug up below!