​​Kleffman rushed for 159 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries in Elk River’s 50-42 win over Bemidji. He broke free for a 59-yard score after a fake punt and followed with a 62-yard touchdown on the next possession, jumpstarting the Elks’ offense in the first half. A junior, Kleffman is fast and physical, running with urgency and balance through contact. He keeps his feet driving, falls forward, and consistently turns small creases into explosive gains. His vision in Elk River’s Power T attack allows him to hit lanes with confidence, and once he clears the second level, his speed makes him difficult to catch. Kleffman gives Elk River another dynamic option in a loaded backfield, pairing toughness with big-play ability to make the Elks’ ground game one of the most dangerous in the state.

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that a #15 ranked overall prospect, and #2 athlete, qualifies as one of the most versatile athletes. Elk River’s do-it-all two-way starter has one of the most decorated athletic resumes in the state, even regardless of class. Already a two-way, two-year starter with the now-5A state champion Elks, Kleffman already has totaled 1,266 rushing yards (981 in 2024) and 15 TDs (13 in 2024) and 205 tackles (111 in 2024), 19 TFLs (15 in 2024), a sack, a FF, a blocked kick, and three PBUs in his high school football career, showing more than enough juice to make plays and make an impact on every game since the Week 1 of his freshman season.

Also a center fielder on the baseball team, Kleffman has that “it” factor, and #0 shows great vision, jittery and quick-twitch footwork, as well as his burst and acceleration from a dead stop, make him a threat to take the ball to the house on any given carry. Kleffman is an elite playmaker, with twitch, contact balance, sudden and effective footwork in space, and the ability to go from 0-60 in a blink, which help consistently make that free defender miss. Additionally, Kleffman is a OLB/nickel hybrid with a quick trigger to the football with impressive closing speed that can split double teams and make tackles at or behind the LOS with effectiveness. He can blitz off the edge, has a great rep in the state semifinals as a standup EDGE where he bolts into the backfield, gets into the QB’s face to force a pitch, then changes direction and sticks onto the RB for a double read that not a lot of defenders can even dream about making, and also blocked a punt from the edge of the LOS, coming out of his stance like a sprinter, which a teammate picked up and returned for a TD and a sweet special teams splash play. Kleffman also demonstrates great range and is a thunderous tackler with impressive strength at the contact point, especially for his size. The kid can do everything and do everything well. I’m very interested to see how Kleffman continues to develop and sharpen his already ultra-dynamic game.

Kleffman is an incredible athlete who rushed for 981 yards and 13 TDs while averaging over 9 ypc as a sophomore. He also had a phenomenal defensive season where he recorded 88 total tackles, but today we’re going to highlight his impressive offensive capabilities. On his tape, Kleffman showcases his talented one-cut abilities. He’s got phenomenal vision while carrying the rock and always seems to find an open run lane to cut back to. Even when all looks lost on a play, Kleffman has a wild tendency to spin out of tackles for big gains. He never stops moving his feet, and with two more years to develop still, he could evolve into an elite prospect.

Elk River’s do-it-all superstar of a freshman Carsyn Kleffman Carsyn Kleffman 5'10" | 175 lbs | ATH Elk River | 2027 State MN had one of the top seasons of any freshman in the entire state last fall, finishing 2023 with 94 tackles (41 solo), 4 TFLs, a FF, a safety, 285 rushing yards (9.2 YPC), 2 TDs, and 370 kick return yards at nearly 25 yards a return. Injuries and too-hard-to-ignore talent led the freshman onto the field early in 2023, and in true ultra-competitor fashion, Kleffman ran with his opportunity, sprinted, in fact. A splash play machine who is one of the most versatile players in the state, not just in the freshman class, as well as physicality in droves, Kleffman was an easy choice for the Top 10, and although I don’t have a clue where he’s best projected to in the future right now, I’m going to sit back and enjoy the ride.

The rising sophomore is the early pick for hardest hitter in the class, and he laid some massive hits in 2023 on special teams, defense, and offense; no one was off limits to get put on their butts by the impressive freshman thumper. Kleffman displayed game-breaking speed as a freshman RB – as he outran and finished some long, impressive runs against a very athletic Andover Huskies defense to highlight his speed offensively. I like the power he generates when he sticks his cleat in the ground and cuts, and he shows good balance through contact that can step and slip through weaker tackle attempts at his lower body, as well as good vision and patience as a ball carrier. His nonstop hustle and motor, strength as a tackler, and versatility on the defensive side of the ball all contributed to his enormous production defensively, and his impressive ability to play both around the box, in space, and/or in 1-on-1 settings doesn’t go unnoticed. Kleffman even showed he could unlock his hips and play man coverage in the slot. The playmaking ability and instincts are off the charts- blocked kicks, big kickoff returns, runs busted wide open up the gut, turnovers, broken up passes, big hits, TFLs, and three-phase contributing and production ability, who wouldn’t want that on their squad?

To back up the film and production, the Elk River rising sophomore had a good showing at December’s PRzMN Stock-Up Showcase this past December, running nearly in the 4.8s in the 40 and posting a 4.56 shuttle, 8’7 broad, and 7.4 L-drill. 2024 is only going to be bigger and better!