One of the busiest campers in all of Minnesota this summer, PRZ has seen Brainerd, formerly Crosby-Ironton’s, Jacob English Jacob English 6'6" | 240 lbs | EDGE Brainerd | 2028 State MN at seemingly every possible spot on the camp trail through the first three weeks of June. Honestly, I’m surprised he hasn’t walked away with a D1 offer yet, although NSIC competitor Minot State did offer a D2 scholarship after his performance in Fargo. With impressive and rare athleticism + measurables for his size and age, English has been popping off green testing numbers and performances left and right, and the play has been more than up to snuff, whether it’s strength-based, offset base or head-up block/block defeat drills, as well as pass rushing situations, where English’s talents can really shine through. Plus, English is tough as nails and takes a ton of reps throughout competition, and he’s extremely coachable, intensely competitive, and has the right makeup to play D1 and possibly P4 ball in a couple recruiting cycles. Talk about well rounded!

At NDSU, English flashed the twitchiest jab step out of the DL group and is able to string together pass rush moves effectively against a variety of high-level OT competition. He displayed a powerful extension post-contact, had OT’s reaching thanks to his skillset, and could go speed to power with frightening impact, as he flattened one of the best and most experienced OTs in attendance with eye-catching impressiveness. He’s on a short list of Minnesotans on “offer watch” right now. And for good reason!

Crosby-Ironton product Jacob English Jacob English 6'6" | 240 lbs | EDGE Brainerd | 2028 State MN is making the move 16 miles SW to Brainerd High School to finish out his high school career, and say what you want about “this day and age” in prep and college sports, but I think it’s a good move. A higher level of competition and more pass rushing opportunities are two good things for high-level DEs, and that’s exactly what Jacob English Jacob English 6'6" | 240 lbs | EDGE Brainerd | 2028 State MN is. With a ton of college programs watching, English showed off green, verified size/athleticism, as well as elite twitch that he used well during 1v1s. The Golden Gophers are going to be keeping a close eye on English this fall. He’s trending towards P4 offers right now.

English impressed me during inside one-on-one drills, flashing quick transitions, and coordinated footwork. English, who will be a sophomore, displayed first-step acceleration and active hands to create separation and pressure when working through pass-rush reps. He is already a refined speed-to-power rusher who did not need to showcase other moves because he couldn’t be blocked. His athletic frame suggests room to grow physically, and his commitment to technique development will be key in translating potential to next-level production.

Despite Crosby-Ironton’s struggles over the last few seasons, the Rangers uncovered a diamond last season with the emergence of Jacob English Jacob English 6'6" | 240 lbs | EDGE Brainerd | 2028 State MN as a DE/TE hybrid. English caught our attention during the offseason with his testing performance at our combine series event in April, posting a 7’10” broad jump, a 5.25 40 yard time, and being listed with an impressive 75″ wingspan. In limited varsity appearances, English did an excellent job winning leverage on the inside and using his length to get his hands on the blocker first. On the offensive side, English has solid footwork, and he excelled at jamming defenders at the line before going out for a checkdown pass. English could very well become a game-changer for this Rangers’ team to build around over the next few years to bring them back into contention.