PRZMN Underclassmen Offensive Player of the Year Candidates

PRZMN takes a stab at naming our inaugural PRZMN Preseason Underclassmen Player of the Year, beginning with some preseason nominees and candidates. 2029s and 2030s only!   --    The obvious #1 contender for the PRZMN Underclassmen Offensive Player of the Year Award comes out of Minnehaha Academy and the SMB Wolfpack football co-op. #1 football and basketball player in Minnesota's 2030 class is already the total package, coming into his freshman season and second year starting at QB for the Wolfpack with a B1G football offer from the Minnesota Gophers thanks to a standout camp performance in June. Coming off a 2025 season as an 8th grader that saw him finish with 1,952 passing yards and 16 TDs on a 60% completion percentage and 140 total completions.   Went crazy in SMB's Week 1 win over Winona. Throws a beautiful deep ball. Accurate, on time, makes good decisions with the football at all three levels of the field. Good pocket awareness and is cool, calm, and controlled scrambling and maneuvering around the pocket, as well as when he tucks and takes off. Also shows good ball placement on a couple particularly challenging throws. Shifty ball carrier with some juice in the open field.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/cartercupito3/status/2096776333426557186 </div></figure>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/cartercupito3/status/2096776333426557186 </div></figure>     Hill-Murray is home to one of the most talented rosters in Minnesota this fall, especially at the top end. The Pios are led at the front by a very promising QB in the 2029 class in [player_tooltip player_id='888363' first='Brayden' last='Hartmann']. A second-year starter at the varsity level, Hartmann can really sling the rock around for his size and age, with his boomin' arm showing up in a couple of live evaluations this summer, namely NDSU's first-ever FBS camp. Hartmann popped off in HM's thumping of Chisago Lakes in Week 1, stretching the field vertically with ease, putting some serious zip on the ball when needed for tougher throws and smaller windows, and showing off footwork, quickness, burst as a ball carrier. Good footwork in his throwing mechanics as well. Accurate on the move and looks a lot more comfortable from his 2025 tape. Kid had a good offseason.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/Bhartmann2029/status/2097061013195530488 </div></figure>     [player_tooltip player_id='1583948' first='Adam' last='Regino'] is another SMB standout underclassmen worthy of some potential present, mid-season, and/or post-season accolades. A big-bodied, versatile, and athletic sophomore who had a strong freshman season that saw him earn plenty of varsity reps, Regino really stood out to PRZMN because of his YAC ability, not to mention catch radius and overall length. Showed off some eye-catching body control on a back-shoulder TD snag against Winona in Week 1.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/AdamReginoJr/status/2096817660163981526 </div></figure>     [player_tooltip player_id='1715738' first='Braylon' last='Kannel'] brings some small school, Greater Minnesota representation to the PRZMN Underclassmen Offensive POY candidates. The Crosby-Ironton sophomore is already due for a ranking's bump after his eye-popping showing at the Bemidji State small school War on the Shore Team Camp, as Kannel was absolutely dynamite on both sides of the ball and particularly on offense. Getting wide open on routes, breaking ankles and churning out chunk gains with regularity, and of course, scoring TDs, Kannel was particularly dangerous with the ball in-hand during camp. He's also going to have a big role on the Rangers' 2026 campaign, something we saw in Week 1 despite Crosby-Ironton getting shut out by Aitkin 29-0. Kannel posted 1 completion for 13 yards, 6 rushes for 26 yards, and 3 tackles in the loss. Also produced some green athletic numbers at the Minnesota Gophers' prospect camp this summer in Dinkytown.     [player_tooltip player_id='2250199' first='Brayden' last='Kern'] was one of the best finds from PRZMN's two stop tour of Bemidji State War on the Shore team camps. A beast of a Wadena-Deer Creek freshman, and I'm not using the term "beast" lightly here, we were first introduced to the cowboy collar-rockin' LB/QB/TE/ATH after he produced one of the most violent collisions we've seen in the past five years, coming at the conclusion of a big run up the middle before Kern lowered his pads and ran over a tackler so hard that the kid's helmet popped off and flew 10 feet in the air. Live evaluation: check. Additionally, Kern is coming off a accomplished middle school campaign filled with stat-stuffing career production, USA national team honors, where he competed against high schoolers, and a ton of reps at a ton of different positions on the gridiron. Kern also had a good showing at one of the Minnesota Gophers' prospect camps this summer, coming in at a verified 6'+, 195 lbs. as a mere 8th grader, not to mention the promising athletic numbers he posted during testing as well.   In his first high school game, coming in last week's matchup against Long Prairie-Grey Eagle, Kern nearly took an interception to the house on a beautiful read and undercut out in the flats. Keep an eye on this Great MN small schooler!     PRZMN hasn't been shy about our admiration for Hill-Murray's roster, and in particular, 2029 [player_tooltip player_id='2246440' first='Tristan' last='Will']. One of the best multi-sporters in the state, Will has earned a ton of attention this offseason thanks to his exploits as a hockey prospect at a somewhat recent USA Hockey National 16 Camp, not to mention the fact he got drafted in the 6th round of the annual USHL Draft by the Tri-City Storm.   Possessing some of the best verified athletic numbers of any underclassmen in the state, Will was a playmaker and game-breaker as a freshman in 2025, and he picked up right where he left off in Minnesota's Week 1 when Hill-Murray battled Chisago Lakes to a 49-0 victory.   Showed off some explosiveness as a kick returner, made a great TD catch down the seam, good snag, stepped through a tackle attempt as well. Has really added strength and physicality as a tackler during the offseason, made a big 1v1 tackle out on the edge, driving the ball carrier backward and winning at the contact point. Also planted a would-be tackler on his butt thanks to a mean, effective stiff arm, then followed it up by lowering his pads and trucking another defender's helmet right off his head in dramatic fashion.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/TWill2029/status/2076814626856071360 </div></figure>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/TWill2029/status/2008552561758888108 </div></figure>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/TWill2029/status/2076814626856071360 </div></figure>     Representing the 612, Minneapolis Southwest has a real-deal 2029 RB on their hands in [player_tooltip player_id='2150938' first='Michael' last='Spear']. A PRZMN Spring Showcase standout performer, Spear has some strong athletic numbers backing his game, which included light, nimble, feet, twitchy moves in the open field and as a route runner, and an overall dynamic skillset that can be used a lot of different ways offensively. Spear rushed for 105 yards at a 5.2 YPC clip and a TD in the Lakers' 27-3 defeat of St. Louis Park in Week 1.   Concise, quick feet that can make ya miss in a phone booth, has the speed to take the edge on a defense, and shows some good contact balance, not to mention leg drive post-contact. Good vision and burst as well. I smell some serious production out of the Lakers' backfield this fall.     A new-to-the-scene 2029 tailback, United South Central's Leeland Getchell sure has made his presence known in Week 0 and Week 1 action, against Blue Earth Area and Cleveland, respectively. Getchell has totaled 25 rushes for 134 yards in the two weeks, and although he doesn't have any film or social media presence, the production speaks for itself! Say it with me: "new 2029 RB to know!"     Fillmore Central is home to a couple of breakout athletes that PRZMN is very excited to gets eye on in 2026. One of these standouts is 2029 RB [player_tooltip player_id='2382340' first='Grant' last='Daniels'], who just popped off for 17 rushes for 174 yards and 4 TDs in the Falcons' 48-28 win over JWP. No tape, unfortunately, but man, if Daniels keeps this up his production is going to be unmatched out of the 2029 RB class. The mid and postseason accolades will have no choice but to follow!     A highly-touted WR in Minnesota's 2029 class, Robbinsdale Armstrong's [player_tooltip player_id='785859' first='Kyson' last='Wanjara'] has really come out of the gates hot this 2026 prep football season. In the Falcons' 33-7 win over Burnsville in Week 1, Wanjara popped off for 165 receiving yards and 2 TDs through the air, plus 2 PBUs and 1 tackle, transferring and applying his offseason work and focus into deadly results for the Blaze's defense and particularly, defensive secondary.   The Plymouth product, in the Burnsville game tape, explodes off the LOS in his releases, eats up DBs cushions like it's his breakfast, and the speed and explosiveness show up on tape even to the untrained eye. Can burn man and zone coverage alike, and with frightening ease. Can change tempo in his routes, great footwork, and the burst after the catch is an absolute game-breaker. Stuck his cleat in the ground and got upfield after a comeback/sit down route with so much speed and 0-60 burst that he flew by the entire Burnsville defensive secondary before they could react. Really dangerous YAC ability thanks to his raw speed and playmaking ability. Noteworthy defensive range as a safety and will come downhill and stick ball carriers in 1v1 settings and can also cover receivers 1v1 out of the slot, noticeable quickness out of his breaks.   If Wanjara keeps this production and tape up, he's going to be in contention for one of the best WRs in the state this fall, not just out of the 2029 class.     2029 Tracy-Milroy-Balaton QB/ATH [player_tooltip player_id='1716426' first='Jackson' last='Kruse'] asserted himself as one of the most dynamic athletes in Minnesota thanks to his Week 1 performance. In the Panthers' 38-16 win over MACCRAY, Kruse put up an absurdly versatile, three-phase performance that saw him go 14-21 passing for 255 yards and 3 TDs (67%) through the air, 16 rushes for 104 yards and 1 TD (6.5 YPC average) on the ground, 2 tackles and 1 TFL on defense, and a 91-yard kickoff return for six! Someone is sure due for a ranking's bump!   In the game film, Kruse gets the ball out of his hand quickly and accurate on a variety of different routes, leading his WRs open on deeper throws with effectiveness. It looks like he gets through his reads well and is safe and smart with the football, and he put the ball into some tighter windows for the prep level and for a sophomore, first-year starting QB. Good maneuverability around the pocket, athletic scrambler and will also run behind his pads with physicality. Smooth, ultra-explosive KOR for six that didn't even see him get touched by a MACCRAY coverage defender. Looked like a track meet of a TD. Defensively, shoots gaps with quickness, physicality, and intent, made some strong 1v1 tacklers against MACCRAY. Very fun watch out of an always-talented TMB program.     We had to throw the #1 ranked 2029 on this star-studded underclassmen list naming some PRZMN 2029 and 2030 Offensive Player of the Year candidates. Especially given the fact that [player_tooltip player_id='1715723' first='Cordell' last='Givance'] is getting some offensive run with his new Champlin Park Rebels' program who is looking to make some serious noise in 2026. A offseason transfer from Hopkins, Givance posted 6 tackles and 2 carries for 15 yards in the 35-0 win over STMA in Week 1 of Minnesota prep football action. In some of the posted game tape, Givance looks frightening comfortable toting the rock. Runs like a locomotive got off the tracks. You can see smaller defenders make business decisions in just a single one of his carries. What a dangerous DT/HB combination out of MN's 2029 class. Plus, this is year three of Givance starting on varsity in the MN 6A ranks.     A breakout tailback on the 2026 Heron Lake-Okabena/Fulda roster, 2029 Truman Olsem had a good showing in Week 1 during the Coyotes 52-0 trouncing of Mountain Lake Area. Olsem posted 9 carries for 111 yards on a 12.3 YPC average on September 4th. No game tape available, but hopefully that changes soon!     Minneapolis North is home to a very exciting 2030 prospect in Jerrell Washington. A 6'2 multi-sport standout who transferred to North from Bloomington Kennedy, Washington was hooping in the Eagles' varsity rotation as an 8th grader last winter, the freshman pass-catcher showed some serious explosiveness and playmaking ability in North's Week 1 gridiron loss to Simley. Washington posted 3 catches for 106 yards in the effort, and although there isn't any football tape available right now, the basketball film I can manage to wrangle shows off a confident sharpshooter with good handles that help him drive to the basket and finish with both hands. Also a long, sticky defender who can score in the low post. Lots of versatility in his game on the hardcourt that I can't wait to see translate into his football tape and production.   @wr1rel5     Just look at the package 2029 WR Connor Johnson is presenting right now. A reported 6'5, 185 lbs. on MNFootballHub's Edina roster, Johnson is getting 6A tick with the defending champs and taking advantage, as he posted 3 catches for 98 and 1 TD in the Hornets' Week 1 win over Hopkins. Johnson's play was highlighted by his 71-yard TD reception, wherein the sophomore plucked the ball right out of the air to show off strong hands and a big catch radius. He snagged it between 2-4 defenders as well, fully extended while remaining in an uncompromised body position. Then turned upfield, made a good cut past that backside safety, and finished the big run & catch for six. Size, playmaking ability, YAC, length, and a ton of good football left ahead of him, we had to include Connor Johnson in this PRZMN Underclassmen Offensive Player of the Year feature.    --

PRZMN takes a stab at naming our inaugural PRZMN Preseason Underclassmen Player of the Year, beginning with some preseason nominees and candidates. 2029s and 2030s only!