There’s nothing like a sub-11-meter sprint to build some momentum before the Summer Camp SZN. Cretin-Derham Hall is home to two 2027s who we believe have the chance to bump up into the FBS ranks of offerees thanks to some in-person showings in the coming months. One of these recruits has been fantastic this 2026 outdoor track and field season, as CB Cartier Russell Cartier Russell 6'0" | 160 lbs | DB Cretin-Derham Hall | 2027 State MN has been rocketing himself on the track this spring, PRing with times like a 10.88 100M and 22.15 200M while competing with his Raiders.

Russell posted 6 PBUs, 4 blocked PATs/FGs, 2 INTs, as well as 32 tackles from his CB spot, and he reportedly didn’t allow a completion in man coverage until Week 11. He works front to back in zone coverage and can easily sneak underneath passing attempts down the seam and further out wide, is overall is quick out of his breaks, and owns solid ball skills. Russell displays good start/stop ability and can get accelerate out of his breaks with noticeable effectiveness. Does a good job of melting into the hip pocket of a WR before getting his eyes around in an attempt to locate the football, and he is a good 1v1 tackler who can set the edge from his CB spot. The 651 product shows that top-end speed in a great rep of defensive pursuit and hustle, chasing down a loose Elk River tailback as the backside CB, hawking him down at the six-yard line, and he’s a productive special teams contributor on FG and PAT block, as you can tell by the number of blocks from 2025. South Dakota, UNI, and UMD have already offered, and I’d bet he’s going to add more during the summer camp circuit that kicks off in a week. Stay tuned!

The focus for Cretin-Derham Hall was largely on their dominant offense, but it was impossible to overlook Cartier Russell Cartier Russell 6'0" | 160 lbs | DB Cretin-Derham Hall | 2027 State MN ‘s impacts as a lengthy and sharp CB who boasts plenty of athleticism to holds his ground against the fastest of receivers. Russell has impressed our scouts with his outstanding testing numbers which seem to get much better with each season. Russell posted a 10.88 100 yard dash time this last month and was noted for posting a whopping personal-best 4.43 40 yard time. Russell’s speed is legit, and he uses that well in the secondary, giving very little separation even with a late first step, and his solid length and hand placement allows him to play on the ball very effectively, making him a premier shutdown CB for the Raiders’ secondary. With offers from South Dakota and Augustana, Russell has been continuously putting in the work over this offseason to get stronger and more explosive, and that should pay huge dividends as he enters his senior season.

I expect the Raiders secondary to be one of the best in the state next season, and athletes like Russell are part of the reason why. He’s a long and athletic corner who shines when put on an island. He’s got legit 4.5-speed which I was able to see firsthand at PRZ’s StockUp Showcase, and when combined with solid ball instincts and some talented recovery skills Russell proves to be a big problem for offenses. On his tape, he’s got a lot of tough reps which he won against high-level wideouts who received NSIC offers. He doesn’t let up a lot of space and should be considered a fast-rising 2027 prospect.