Another Minnesota-based standout was the WR/TE Eli Thompson Eli Thompson 6'5" | QB Notre Dame College Prep | 2025 IL . The 6’2″ 195 lbs junior impressed me in person, and on tape. A major similarity I saw between the two was how Eli does a very good job of attacking the football in the air when he goes to catch it. He doesn’t wait. Instead he goes and gets it. Multiple times he also had to fight through contact to do so. His strong hands and concentration give him the ability to fight through that contact to secure the catch. Eli also brings 4.80 40 speed to the field, but where he really shined was with his short area burst. It showed up in the agility drills where he had to made repeated sharp cuts. It also showed up in his route running. He is able to create separation with that short area burst. Check out Eli’s highlights below.

The tight end wide receiver hybrid out of Rochester Century, Eli Thompson Eli Thompson 6'2" | 185 lbs | WR Century | 2024 State MN is a coach’s dream when it comes to versatility. His film is chalked full of highlights, and one of the most impressive things I initially noticed was his ability to track the football. On any deep route I watched on tape, I would see Thompson either work back to the ball or accelerate to get under it, always changing his strides seamlessly to get where he needed to be. Pinpointing the ball’s descent to this degree is next level stuff, and it allowed him to always have the jump on the defensive back covering him. Thompson shows impressive breaks out of his routes that give him a degree of separation that makes him dangerous everywhere on the field. He’s got another year left of high school ball, and this is a name I will be sure to keep track of as his career progresses.

A three-sport athlete at Rochester Century who measures in at 6’2, 190 lbs., Eli Thompson has some good things going for him as a WR and TE and posted 30 receptions for 494 yards, 2 rushes for 24 yards, 6 TDs, 30 tackles, and an interception in his junior season with the Panthers. He’s been popular this offseason, with the likes of NDSU, Augustana, SMSU, MSU-Mankato, Upper Iowa, Winona State, UWRF, UW-Stout, Drake, and Northern State reaching out with junior day invites and/or recruiting graphics, and he showed he can impress in person during December’s PRzMN Stock-Up Showcase. Thompson posted a 4.35 and 4.22 short-shuttle along with a 9′ and 9’1″ broad jump at a verified 6’2, 190+, and on tape he shows off some of that same quickness and explosiveness while he’s on the field. I really enjoy his vertical game, as Thompson is impressive and natural at high-pointing the ball, showing off great timing, soft hands, strength when reeling in the contested catch, and balance when he lands on his feet and continues forward. Also throws out a mean stop-and-go route that burned a few DBs deep and uses that same lower body strength to break weaker tackle attempts after the catch as well. If the ball is in the air, this dude is going to go get it. I can’t wait to see all of the Rochester talent in 2023. Thompson is near the top of the list of players I’ll be keeping track of.