Eli Kuempel | Robbinsdale Armstrong

In an absolutely loaded 5A, 612, Friday Night showdown last fall between Robbinsdale Armstrong and Robbinsdale Cooper, 2026 pass-catcher Eli Kuempel Eli Kuempel 6'1" | 200 lbs | TE/WR Robbinsdale Armstrong | 2026 State MN made his mark and the Falcons‘ most reliable, clutch, and dependable pass catchers and offensive weapons, as well as one its toughest. Add this to Kuempel’s eye-catching athleticism, verified this summer at a couple prospect and mega camps, and you have the makings of a bonafide scholarship football talent. Kuempel is also a stock riser from the recent 2026 PRzMN Update, seeing his ranking climb a couple of spots despite an addition of nearly 200 new names, and if he can best his testing times from last summer this offseason, I don’t see why he wouldn’t be a Top 100 prospect in Minnesota. Kuempel, at 6′, 195 lb., recorded bests of a 33″ vert, 4.72 40, 4.43 shuttle, and 9’7 broad, owning the size and athleticism to be a WR1 in college, but thanks to Kuempel’s toughness and versatility, Armstrong uses him as a utility TE/HB with a big role in the run game as a blocker. Don’t get it twisted though, Kuempel added an 11.39 100M and 23.24 200M times this past spring, you know the kid can fly, and you could see his current positional classification potentially change in the coming offseason.

Talk about versatility! Kuempel is one of the best route runners in the 2026 class, tough blocker who can find work and move mass in the box as a blocker, has snaps, sacks, and production as a DE and LB, and even has a rep of him evading pressure on a failed PAT attempt, where he gets the ball off and throws a dart to a waiting receiving option, showing some arm mechanics and talent as well. As a WR, the Armstrong junior primarily works out of the slot but is alignment versatile before the snap, and he opens his tape with a beautiful display of his track speed, taking a jet sweep right in-between the OT and TE and exploding upfield before hitting an extra gear and pulling away from a couple of close pursuers to finish the run untouched and for six against Mahtomedi. Kuempel is a nuanced route runner who is fluid, technically impressive, and shifty at the top of the route. Uses head fakes, owns loose hips, and is subtle yet effective in his movements and footwork throughout a route. Can easily create separation at multiple points throughout a route and owns clean, smooth, quick COD ability when working to get open.

The 200 lber. displays good contact balance that can easily bounce weaker tacklers off his lower and stay upright through arm tackles and weaker tackle attempts. He owns big-time burst when he sees daylight and works upfield, and can smoothly and effectively takes the sideline on a defense, seemingly unexpected, where he can blow by those last pursuit angles from backside DBs. Kuempel also demonstrates a big catch radius and strong hands can reel in and finish catches through tight coverage and a ton of contact, he will high point the ball in-between traffic, and he has a great rep of him climbing to the second level and eliminating the #1 player in the state from run support as a zone blocker. Also plays OLB/DE, displaying impressive closing speed on the defensive side of the ball, getting into a QB or RBs face in a blink off the snap. Laid some massive hits on QBs trying to get the ball off in 2024 and generally lays the wood at the contact point. Has some Big Boy tackles on tape from 2024. He’s pound for pound one of the toughest and most versatile 2026s in MN and should have been named one of Minnesota’s Fastest Prospects in our recently published feature. What a talent!