Upfront Forces to Watch in Week 7

Week 7 shifts the spotlight back to the trenches and beyond, where Minnesota's toughest prospects are setting the tone. Our Upfront Forces to Watch list features seven standouts who dominate the line of scrimmage and control the game's most physical moments. While the focus remains on the linemen who move piles and collapse pockets, this week's group also includes a few tight ends whose versatility makes them dangerous as both blockers and receiving threats. These are some players who are helping shape their team's identity when it matters most.    Givance is a rare one. As an eighth-grader last year, he was all-district, disrupting games from the interior with grown-man power and shocking twitch. Now a freshman at 6'2, 235–240, he's expanding to a DL/LB hybrid role—think heavy edge/stand-up backer who can reduce inside on money downs. He's been an A-gap problem all season. He has 12 tackles and sack over the past two weeks. The tape showcases his already eye-popping mesaurables. Givance has posted weight room numbers that include a 400-pound deadlift, 315-pound bench press, and a squat in the high-300s. But it's the way the strength translates—violent shed, explosive first two steps, and short-area burst—that makes him nearly unblockable one-on-one. Hopkins tries to vary his alignments to chase matchups: 3-tech on passing downs, 5-tech/edge in base, and even off-ball to blitz gaps. Tape shows that when offensive attention flows towards senior [player_tooltip player_id='1489277' first='Charlie' last='Pollen'], Givance feasts on one-on-one blocks. Givance shows advanced understanding of block recognition at linebacker depth, pad consistency vs. doubles, and relentless recovery habits. Will be interesting to track his developments going forward.     One of Minnesota's most promising young prospects, [player_tooltip player_id='1651178' first='Brady' last='Reeves'] already plays like a veteran. At 6-foot-3 and 205 pounds, the sophomore started both ways as a freshman, handling tight end and defensive end duties. A rare feat at Hill-Murray. This season, he's caught 11 passes for 150 yards and an impressive four touchdowns. Hill-Murray is playing a freshman quarterback and is not throwing as much, but Reeves' athleticism still jumps off the tape. He runs like a receiver, blocks like a skinny tackle, and plays with the relentless energy of someone who loves the game. Offensively, his massive hands and fluid movement make him a natural target in the red zone and on seam routes. He snaps routes off with fluidity and body control. Very comfortable running deep outs. Reeves is a natural ball carrier and seeks YAC. Defensively, Reeves thrives as an edge rusher, using long arms and a high motor to chase quarterbacks and set the edge against the run. This season, the coaching staff has shifted to a 4-4 front that accentuates his ability to attack rather than contain, giving him freedom to hunt. Reeves' blend of size, speed, and maturity makes him a legitimate threat regardless of alignment. He's a name that will keep popping up.     Brutger started at center as a sophomore and returns as the hub of the operation. At roughly 6-3, 270, he looks the part and moves along the interior with precision and accuracy. Breger clearly understands his assignments. From front IDs, mic points, and protection checks, he allows the offense to toggle between under-center and gun without misfires. In the run game, he plays with a strong base and independent hands, reaching shaded noses and staying connected on doubles before climbing with balance. Breger's feet stay underneath him on wraps and counters, which keeps pullers clean and creates vertical movement in short yardage. In pass pro, he's calm through games, passing off with quiet eyes and a firm post leg. Another offseason of core strength and strike timing will turn stalemates into displacement. Breger is a clear college prospect on the interior—scheme-versatile, smart, and durable, with the frame to carry more good weight without losing mobility.     Nordlund is the tone-setter up front—smart, physical, and assignment-clean. Upfront, he fits Zimmerman's identity. He is explosive with his first two steps on down blocks, square on contact, and has the strength to dent double teams. He's comfortable pulling and finding second-level work on GT/counter, arriving with low pads and independent hands. Pass pro is efficient and patient; he carries width without oversetting, re-anchors vs. power, and replaces hands when long-armers lock him out. He's a natural tackle, comfortable with power runs and dominating at the point of attack. On defense, he plays with leverage and knock-back, squeezing gaps and finishing with effort. A college-ready frame, the Minnesota State commit is having another anchoring season. The tape shows a powerful competitor. Nordlund will be the one who gets your run game on schedule and can be trusted one-on-one on third-and-7.     A four-year starter and anchor at right tackle, Odagwe has the strength, size, and speed to excel in the trenches. His leadership and consistency are critical upfront for Osseo. At 6'3”, 280, Odagwe carries his frame cleanly and plays with balanced power — long arms, square base, and a heavy initial strike. He's comfortable in true pass sets but at his best firing off the ball downhill, fitting hands inside, and rolling his hips through contact. The Winona State commit uses leverage well, rarely lunges, and keeps his pad level consistent, allowing him to handle stunts and anchor against stronger rushers. Mentally, he's a steadying presence. He is a calm communicator and quick to adjust mid-series. His run-blocking technique and finishing mentality give Osseo an edge in short-yardage, and his recovery speed stands out when redirecting late movement. He's sturdy enough for tackle, athletic enough to kick inside if needed.     Davey is the interior anchor who has helped Chaska transition smoothly to its new under-center veer game. A quiet but forceful leader, Davey sets protections, communicates blocking calls, and delivers flawless snaps, the first such responsibility for Chaska in years. Coaches praise the chemistry he built with Hawks' quarterbacks during offseason workouts, ensuring quick exchanges and sharp timing. Chaska started the season rushing for 1,081 yards in its first four games before quarterback Matthew Welter suffered a season-ending injury in Week 4. Since then, the Hawks have shifted to a more balanced attack, showcasing Davey's adaptability under center. He is technically sharp and unflinchingly physical, capable of moving defenders off the ball and sustaining drive-extending blocks on long possessions. Off the field, he is known as a friendly, dependable teammate, but on Friday nights he flips a competitive switch, supplying the edge that defines Chaska's downhill rushing style. His consistency and toughness let the Hawks control tempo and dictate terms at the line of scrimmage, making him indispensable to an offense built on patient, punishing drives.     At the core of North Branch's power-T offense is senior tight end Jacob Knoespel, whose blend of toughness, size, and intelligence makes him essential to the Vikings' identity. Knoespel is far more than a blocking tight end—he's the hinge of a system that demands precision and physicality. At 6'3” with long arms and a wrestler's base, he sets edges, seals linebackers, and dominates second-level defenders with leverage and effort. He is described as an on-field extension of the staff. Knoespel understands schemes, makes pre-snap communication checks, and anticipates defensive fronts. As a receiver, Knoespel offers a reliable, basketball-style catch radius with strong hands and the body control to box out smaller defenders. He's a natural red-zone target. He plays in a selfless system where he's asked to make dozens of key blocks per game, knowing his pass-catching opportunities will be slim. A two-way stud, Knoespel recorded a sack and caught a touchdown two weeks ago in North Branch's 22-12 victory against Duluth East. His leadership, awareness, and two-way versatility make him the type of player college coaches want.

Week 7 shifts the spotlight back to the trenches and beyond, where Minnesota's toughest prospects are setting the tone. Our Upfront Forces to Watch list features seven standouts who dominate the line of scrimmage and control the game's most physical moments. While the focus remains on the linemen who move piles and collapse pockets, this week's group also includes a few tight ends whose versatility makes them dangerous as both blockers and receiving threats. These are some players who are helping shape their team's identity when it matters most.