Prospect Spotlight: Nathaniel Staehling – Brainerd (2022)

After two years at quarterback for the Brainerd Warriors, [player_tooltip player_id="116203" first="Nathaniel" last="Staehling"] felt like a change was needed to help both his team and himself. He thought he could be of more help to his team and would make more of an impact if he played on both sides of the ball. Playing two-ways would take advantage of his athletic ability but would also mean he would no longer be playing one of the most critical positions on the field – quarterback. "It wasn’t my greatest season," Staehling admitted when asked about the 2021 season. "I feel like I was playing the wrong position. I think – at least in high school – I need to be playing both ways. I can show my athletic ability and help the team the best that way. This year I felt contained as a quarterback and couldn’t exert myself like I wanted to. I wanted to play safety or linebacker so I could roam around, be an athlete, and hit somebody." Staehling has always played quarterback. "I am a physical quarterback; I can put a hit on a linebacker or defensive back. I scramble well. If the play breaks down, I can get out of the pocket and make things happen." As the starting quarterback, Staehling led a young team to a COVID19 shortened 1-3 season. "A lot of people said we might not be able to compete this year," Staehling said. "We lost some of our good guys, and it was a season of developing our younger guys to make next season even better. When we were playing well, everyone played their role well. We communicated well and showed glimpses of consistency." The short season may have contributed to the Warriors’ struggles. "Everyone was bummed out that we only got four games," Staehling told prepreczonemn.com. "That is part of the reason we didn’t play to our potential. We maybe played the ’poor me’ card. The season is going to make us stronger next year. We can build off this year." Staehling will have to build from the beginning this offseason. "As I am trying to transition to linebacker, I am focusing on my footwork – getting my feet under me and working on change of direction," Staehling – who likes to jet ski, golf, fish, and hunt - said. "I am also going to be more of a student of the game – learning more about the defensive schemes and reads." The junior expects to have a role on offense next year – but will be playing another new position. "It is up in the air right now. From what I have talked to my coach about, I am going to be a safety/outside linebacker hybrid and a running back on offense. I haven’t played either position since eighth grade." What PRZ-MN’s 34th ranked prospect in the Class of ’22 lacks in experience, he makes up for with belief in himself. "Whatever I put my mind to, I think I can accomplish. I have a lot of confidence in what I do. My ultimate goal is to play Division I football, and I am going to do anything I can to get there. I am going to study the playbook, talk with the coaches and get those extra reps." Part of ’do anything’ is putting a year-round focus on football. "I took the year off from basketball and baseball to focus on football. Our trainer does a combination of weight training and cross-fit training." "I do a lot of footwork drills on my own," Staehling continued. "I have a video I use that shows a lot of footwork drills." Staehling recently picked up his first offer from Bemidji State. "Recruiting is going well. It is a long process and sometimes gets slow, but it has been fun to build relationships with coaches. It is always exciting to get contacted by coaches. So far, I have enjoyed the process." The Beavers are not the only program interested in Staehling. "I have been on a virtual visit to Montana, Columbia, Minnesota State-Moorhead, and South Dakota State. I have had two in-person visits with Minnesota State-Moorhead and Bemidji State. In about a week, I will be doing a junior day with North Dakota State." The soon-to-be senior will be busy on the camp circuit this summer. "I will be going to camps at Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota State, South Dakota, and NDSU." Despite having no film showing him playing anything but quarterback, Staehling is being recruited almost exclusively as a defensive player. "I would assume on my film they can see my physicality and my size. I am 6’2", 220 pounds, and am built like a linebacker. That would be my guess. The only school I have heard from that wants me at quarterback is Mankato. Bemidji offered me as a linebacker, and all the other schools are recruiting me as a linebacker." Staehling and his high school coaches agree; the move away from quarterback will help the team in 2021. Colleges seem to agree with that assessment too.