As a first-team all-district defensive lineman with a tremendous upside, I view Pederson as a potential scholarship athlete at either the FCS or FBS level. Pederson is a terror lined up on the edge. He does a fantastic job of keeping powerful offensive linemen at bay with his long arms, and the level of effort he gives when pursuing ball carriers anywhere on the field is simply outstanding. He moves like a linebacker stuffed inside the body of a monster, and his speed frequently proves to create problems for offenses attempting to run off-tackle. He’s got all the tools to take a massive recruiting jump headed through 2025, and I think he deserves far more hype as a prospect.

Another well-known name in the Minnesota recruiting scene, Buffalo’s standout 2026 DE Hans Pederson Hans Pederson 6'4" | 240 lbs | DL Buffalo | 2026 State MN is really starting to put it all together as a junior. He’s already been a verified top-tier athlete for his size, coming in at a verified 6’4, 250+ with a lot more room to grow. He runs near a 5.0 40, can hit a shuttle in the 4.6-4.8 range, and is nearing a 9′ broad jump. Also a multi-time PrepRedzoneMN Showcase Top Performer, Pederson has been on college radars for a while, and Central Michigan and North Dakota State have already offered Pederson before his upperclassman campaign began. Good showings in the summer camp circuit have led to a ton of fall visits to the likes of Wisconsin, KState, Notre Dame, Michigan State, Michigan, and Minnesota, and more visits, as well as potential offers, are on the horizon.

I was most impressed by his play speed and motor at 6’4, 250. He has good plays of him running down QBs from the backside of a play or LOS, as well as hawking down loose RBs 15-20 yards downfield, and he uses brute force, as well as intentional strips and punches, to occasionally knock the ball loose as well. Pederson is quick off the ball, strong through contact, and can lean and get skinny through gaps along the LOS while holding an OL at bay and running down RBs and QBs alike. He uses his hands well and can win 1v1s and take advantage of blockers when they get off-balance or on their heels, shows some bend at the top of the arc and can run the hoop, and has reps of him man-handling defenders as a TE. Pederson has stepped it up a notch in the physicality department and has posted 25 tackles, 6 TFLs, and 2 forced fumbles through 6 games of 2024, according to MNFootballHub. Really want to see that sack number come up soon, but the tape looks good and big, athletic kids with already three years of starting experience on varsity don’t grow on trees. Only a matter of time with the Buffalo standout 2026.

On the other side of the trenches, Buffalo has uncovered another highly-coveted prospect in Hans Pederson Hans Pederson 6'4" | 240 lbs | DL Buffalo | 2026 State MN . Pederson played in a limited role during his freshman year, but bulked up a ton during the offseason. This physical growth parlayed onto the field as Pederson recorded 28 tackles, 12 TFLs, and a fumble recovery last season. The first thing that struck me was how incredibly fast he’s been off the snap and how quickly he gets into the backfield. His pursuit has been relentless, and he reads option plays well. He works well against blockers, especially well pursuing the outside-shoulder, and is able to bat down passes. Pederson has appeared this offseason in numerous D1 prospect camps, including Oklahoma, Nebraska, Iowa State, Iowa, Kansas State, Kansas, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. Entering his junior year, Pederson is already one of the very best pass-rushers in the state, and could propel himself by the end of 2024 as the top overall prospect in Minnesota for the class of 2026.