2026 ND Winter Rankings Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>NORTH DAKOTA--</strong> We unload another preview from our 2026 rankings release for the state of North Dakota taking a look at: our new top 5, our eval process, who could rise into the top 5, and more!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><em>Our PRZ Prospect Evaluation Process:</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Our <strong>#1 priority</strong> and goal with Prep Redzone Dakotas is to put athletes to expose them to the college coaches and college programs at all levels to advance their exposure. We evaluate prospects on <strong><em>next-level </em></strong><em><strong>potential</strong></em>; not stats, not on the team's rankings in the state, it's all about prospect upside and how their skillsets fit in and apply at the next level when it comes down to measurables, athleticism and everything else that college football programs measure as far as skillsets within their evaluations. Rankings are also done with our <strong><em>tier system </em></strong>which simply groups athletes with other athletes of similar skillsets based on level. Ex: #1-#15 in state are usually reserved for Division I graded prospects, but at all levels those tiers are subject to change. All prospects will need to have tape available or have been referred to us by our anonymous sources throughout the North Dakota or South Dakota. Some prospects will peak with a higher rank searly in their high school careers which is why our rankings change 3-4 times per year at Prep Redzone Dakotas, because we also always factor in several live evaluations year-around thru prospect camps in the spring and summer, games during the fall season, and 7v7 season, as we have seen several prospects within a 3-month span add 30 pounds of muscle and a couple inches of height, while others stay the same. That is our clear-cut process with every rankings update for those of you that are new to us! <strong>Our main goal?</strong> Expose as many prospects state-wide to make sure they get the exposure they deserve in the Dakotas get next-level opportunities thru our network of college programs from Division I FBS, FCS, Division II, NAIA, Division and the JUCO ranks. We also on occassion will individually refer prospects to college coaches at all levels, other recruiting sources, etc. for their input to share.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"24px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:24px"><strong>Meet our Top 5:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"16px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:16px">No movement in the top five at this time, but if you ask if there will be by next update, my answer will probably be yes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"20px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:20px"><strong>#5: [player_tooltip player_id='929960' first='Yusuf' last='Jama'], RB, Bismarck Legacy </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"20px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:20px"><strong>#4: [player_tooltip player_id='674788' first='Braxton' last='Dahl'], OL, Bismarck Century </strong><a href="https://x.com/Bdahl34">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"20px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:20px"><strong>#3: [player_tooltip player_id='1113072' first='Cash' last='Danner'], DB, Thompson </strong><a href="https://x.com/CashDanner">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"20px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:20px"><strong>#2: [player_tooltip player_id='1214201' first='Hunter' last='Evans'], OL, Williston </strong><a href="https://x.com/Hunter_evans67">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"20px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:20px"><strong>#1: [player_tooltip player_id='1112591' first='Aiden' last='Wunderlich'], OL, Central Cass </strong><a href="https://x.com/aidenw426">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"20px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:20px"><strong>Who could move into the Top 5?</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"16px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:16px">These are likely suitors I could see jumping into the top five.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>#6: [player_tooltip player_id='1568598' first='Seth' last='Holder'], OL, West Fargo Sheyenne </strong><a href="https://x.com/SethHolder1030">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>#7: [player_tooltip player_id='1468528' first='Amari' last='Taylor'], WR, Fargo South</strong> <a href="https://x.com/not_amari1">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>#8: [player_tooltip player_id='1161045' first='Roman' last='Barnes'], OL, Bismarck St. Mary's</strong> <a href="https://x.com/RJB7741">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"24px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:24px"><strong>Key Points with this SD 2026 Class Update:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"20px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:20px"><strong>This 2026 Class is still an Unknown</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"16px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:16px">We just ran thru our South Dakota 2026 preview just a couple hours ago and grasped within our Top 4 their have been already about 25-30 D1 offers gone out, that is not the case yet with this North Dakota 2026 class. If my estimate is right, this 2026 ND class has seen maybe three D1 offers go out and the two sure offers I know of, I would be remissed by knowing if they are still committable based on the staff changes at those schools. With that being said, of course there is plenty of talent in North Dakota in the 2026 class don't get me wrong, I am just speaking that the top five is anyone's game to take with their performances at camps this summer.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Plenty of Size and on the Rise</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's become more apparent of college coaches having a deeper focus on measurables and high upside with those measurables to develop a football target. Here are some 2026 ND prospects that are 6'4 and up that are on the rise (outside of the top five we mentioned)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>#19 [player_tooltip player_id='1407882' first='Trey' last='McPartland'], DL, Valley City </strong><a href="https://x.com/TreyMcP54">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 6'6 255 pound defensive end from Valley City I will say it, is one of the most intriguing prospects I have ever scouted from Valley City in our five years in the Dakotas. The wingspan of this young man flashes well on tape, and the physicality Trey has in his hands show off all the violence you should want to see from a DE coming off his blocks. Early offer 2026 prospect in my eyes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>#14 [player_tooltip player_id='1422665' first='Jason' last='Hunter'], DL, Fargo Davies </strong><a href="https://x.com/JasonjrHunter1">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 6'5 240 pounder ended up on the 11AAA All-State team for defensive line and when you roll the tape, you see the why. Jason shows off an excellent pad-level as a defensive tackle and great balance with his hands overall. He lands as a stockriser inside our top 15 with plenty of room to grow even further. Early offer 2026 prospect in my eyes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>#12 [player_tooltip player_id='1455273' first='Marial' last='Deng'], WR, Four Winds</strong> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I cannot find a Twitter yet on Marial, but if you are a Fighting Hawks football fan, you know this last name from a couple recruiting cycles ago. The 6'5 180 has a lot of upside yet to grow, but roll the tape and you see outstanding length and strides that burn by defenders already and is a wide receiver that isn't even close to a finished product yet. The 2026 newcomer checks in at #12 overall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"24px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:24px"><strong>What is On Tap for Content in the Coming Weeks?</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Content will flow consistently from both Dakotas daily over the next week or two from each of these groups of article series:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Newcomers (Multi-Part Series)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-Who was added to our prospect database of 2025 prospects and what do they bring to the table as far as their skillsets?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Stockrisers (Multi-Part Series)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-Which prospects that were already ranked in the 2025 class rose their stock from last update into this offseason and why did their rank see improvement?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Positional Breakdowns (Multiple Positions)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-We will stack up some of our position groups and evaluate why x prospect was ranked over x prospect due to what their tape shows, live evaluation shows, etc.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Small Town Sleepers</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-One of my favorite article series every ranking update. Which prospects from sleepy small town America made waves on our rankings whether newcomers or stockrisers? We always love to talk the population too showing off these prospects from small town North Dakota. Any prospect from a small town under 5000 will get mentioned.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"20px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:20px"><br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"20px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:20px"><strong><br></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->