There is a exciting range of talent coming out of the Bemidji High School program right now. The 2027 class in particular has some intriguing prospects across a field of positional groups, with experienced and mismatch-nightmare Nehemiah Schwinghammer Nehemiah Schwinghammer 6'0" | 226 lbs | DL Bemidji | 2027 State MN up there near the top of the heap of talent. Part of Schwinghammer’s best attributes come out of his big-time wrestling background, which includes a 2024-25 state qualification and state place on the podium thanks to a 6th place finish at 215AAA to earn All-State and All-Tournament Team honors for the Lumberjacks. He was also a MN #1 tournament competitor at 215 pounds against Little Falls’ Ivan Petrich, building momentum into a 2025 junior season on the gridiron that ended with 84 total tackles, 10 TFLs, 7 sacks, and 2 FF, earning All-District honors on the gridiron and visiting MSU-Moorhead for a gameday visit in November. Now ranked #2 at 285AAA, Schwinghammer is making a serious case for a state title in March, with sections looming closely on the horizon as we begin to wrap up the 2025-26 wrestling season.

As a junior, Schwinghammer showed off some major versatility and production, lining up as a true NG who can slide out to 3T or 5T if needed. He displays great closing speed and does a great job of breaking down in space, which allows him to act as a terrific 1v1 tackler, and he’s an effective power rusher with super active & effective hand usage. Schwinghammer is dominant at the contact point and doesn’t allow ball-carriers to earn extra yards post-contact, demonstrates a powerful, balanced base that really packs a punch against both blockers and RBs, and owns the play speed to pursue and run down ball carriers from the backside of the LOS. The 230 lber. also naturally works and melts into passing lanes and can sniff out screens like a bloodhound on a scent and is a crushing lead blocker as an acting HB/FB for the Lumberjacks‘ offense. What an athlete the Lumberjacks have on their hands in 2027!

The younger brother of a former Bemidji State DE, I just watched Nehemiah Schwinghammer Nehemiah Schwinghammer 6'0" | 226 lbs | DL Bemidji | 2027 State MN kick some butt at the Xcel Energy Center during the state wrestling tournament, finishing 6th in a loaded AAA215 lb. bracket as an underclassman against a very senior-heavy side and finishing his sophomore wrestling season 44-21 with 24 pins. He also helped Bemidji qualify for the state team duels as well. Schwinghammer was also productive on the gridiron in 2024, posting 66 tackles, 9 TFLs, and 3.5 sacks in 10 starts with the 5A Lumberjacks, who went 7-3 in 2024.

Schwinghammer is positionally versatile and can disrupt and produce as both a DT and DE, showing a good get-off that comes off the ball low and with power, lead in his hands that whiplashes OL’s heads backward on initial impact and helps him easily shock & shed linemen at the LOS, and aggression at the contact point as a powerful tackler. He also shows a bit of lateral quickness when defeating blocks at the LOS, has an effective bull rush and power can put OL on skates into the backfield, where he can shed tight off an OG’s backside and make tackles through contact, and a good motor that will clean up loose ball carriers and broken plays downfield. I’d keep an eye on Schwinghammer as a potential rankings riser this offseason.

The younger brother of former Bemidji State DE Nate Schwinghammer, sophomore DL Nehemiah is closing in on his brother’s reported size and is a 6’1, 225 lb. defensive lineman who reports a 305 lb. bench, 475 lb. squat, and 260 lb. clean. As a sophomore playing with the 5A Lumberjacks, Schwinghammer posted 66 total tackles, 9 TFLs, and 3.5 sacks in 10 starts, and his profile picture suggests, Schwinghammer is also a good wrestler who also threw shot put as a freshman at Bemidji. The film shows a positionally versatile DL who does a good job of not getting tied up around the LOS and can get off and beat blocks in a variety of ways. He shows a good get off and quick first step, the ability to beat blocks with quickness, and a strong punch and heavy hands that can create separation when he locks out and extends his arms. Schwinghammer is also a strong tackler who can breakdown and adjust to tackle 1v1 in space and displays a good motor and will pursue and chase down ball carriers downfield. Good foundation set on his first year on varsity in Minnesota’s second-largest classification of football.