Our final must-know, ultra-exciting, small school, Outstate jumbo athlete in Part 1 of this MN 2025 Rankings Update feature, Pillager’s 6’6, 205 lb. QB/ATH Christian Hooge brings a ton to work with and an excellent frame to go along with his explosive pace as a ball carrier. A 6’6, 205 lb. QB/FS? Now that’s an eye-catcher, and Hooge keeps your attention with his skillset of burst, top-end speed, speed, and did I mention speed? The XL read-option QB also demonstrates good vision as a ball carrier, some effective shake in the open field when making that 1-on-1 defender miss, and his length and balance presents problems for would-be tacklers attempting to wrap him up. Hooge looks like a gazelle when he tucks and takes off and absolutely burns by pursuit angles of defenders that you don’t see many 6’6 athletes be able to pull off, and is a great form runner explodes through the first and second level of a defense and finish big runs for six.

The big question here is where does he project to position-wise at the next level? It’s dependent on a lot of factors, but the main takeaway right now is you don’t see a 6’6, 200+ pounder run and move like this very often. There’s more promise and potential than questions right now.

South Dakota State, Winona State, MSU-Moorhead, and Iowa State have all reached out with junior day invites in Hooge’s recently jumpstarted recruitment.

Christian Hooge debuts as our #35 overall Minnesota 2025 and as ATH6.