Ben Knaup, East Ridge - Prep Redzone

Ben Knaup

Class: 2026
Position: DL
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 240
School: East Ridge

State
Position

About Ben

Ben Knaup is a 6'2" Defensive Line in the 2026 class. Knaup attends East Ridge in Minnesota. Knaup's Player Profile was created on April 23, 2024. Subscribe to Prep Redzone to see where Ben Knaup is ranked and what our scouts have written about them.

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Expert Analysis

Ben

Knaup DL

Class

2026

Height

6'2"

Weight

240

HS

East Ridge

|

MN

Ben Knaup

East Ridge’s 6’2, 240 lber. Ben Knaup was a big-time stock riser in the latest PRzMN 2026 Rankings...

Written by Oliver West

Read more at PrepRedzone.com

Oliver West

Prep Redzone Lead Scout

East Ridge’s 6’2, 240 lber. Ben Knaup Ben Knaup 6'2" | 240 lbs | DL East Ridge | 2026 State MN was a big-time stock riser in the latest PRzMN 2026 Rankings Update, climbing 17 spots since the last update despite the addition of nearly 200 new names and prospects to the Big Board and watchlist. Knaup was a player I heard a lot of good things about from opposing coaches during the year, and the juice that was described to me by the competition is more than visible on tape from the 2024 season. Knaup posted 51 tackles, 7 TFLs, and one sack against some of the best OL and competition that MN’s 6A class has to offer, and although I’d like to see those numbers increase a little, especially in the sack department, the splash play athleticism and mobility are more than present.

Knaup, a 6’2, 240 lber. who was an All-District pick this past fall, is a monster in the weight room, posting a 335 lb. bench, 530 lb. squat, and 500 lb. deadlift, numbers that make sense when you see the tape. The East Ridge Raptors standout’s get-off, lateral twitch and quickness, bend, and pad level are legit, consistent, and able to produce splash plays and big losses for his defense. He’s positionally versatile and can find work as a 3T or 5T, also can play LT and even fullback, and his flexible lower body and twitchy lateral agility really shine in an explosive TFL on Knaup’s first play of his junior tape. The 240 lber. has exciting bend at the top of the arc and can do damage as a pass rusher and embarrass 6A OTs in their pass set. His powerful get-off makes him look like he was snapped out of a slingshot and has him fly by lagging OL with impressive and eye-catching play speed, and he has a good rep of him getting upfield before identifying and retracing his steps to blow up a screen against Forest Lake before it could develop. Knaup’s strong hands and good base can shock and shed would-be blockers in traffic at the LOS, as well as keep lineman at bay when he locks out and extends his arms, and he displays a great dip and rip that’s quick off the snap, can drop his hips low to the turf, and cut off blockers for easy wins 1v1. He’s also a strong run blocker who can move mass as an offensive lineman and shows a good base and solid balance in pass pro, as well as good hand usage and the awareness and nastiness to finish opponents when he gets them off-balance or out of position. Overall, Knaup is a strong, tough, physical kid who loves mixing it up and creating – and winning – collisions in the trenches of MN Big School football and is able to constantly excel in the trenches and high-contact situations. One of my favorite prospects and junior tape in the 2026 class!

Written 7 months ago