Highlights:

​​Andover senior quarterback Joseph Mapson Joseph Mapson 6'0" | 175 lbs | QB Andover | 2026 State MN exploded in Week 1, rushing for 216 yards and five touchdowns on 21 carries while adding another score through the air in a 44-20 win over Wayzata. Mapson is one of the most dynamic dual-threat quarterbacks in Minnesota. At 6’1, 190 pounds, he combines a live arm with explosive athleticism, giving him the ability to beat defenses in multiple ways. Last season he totaled over 1,500 yards and 22 touchdowns. His running ability makes him a nightmare for defenses. Mapson runs with vision, acceleration, and toughness, and when plays break down, he can turn them into chunk gains or touchdowns. His Week 1 outburst showed exactly that, as he ripped through Wayzata’s defense repeatedly in the second half.College programs are already taking notice. Mapson is a true gamer. He takes care of the ball, leads with confidence, and raises the ceiling of an Andover team making the leap to 6A. With his arm talent, rushing ability, and leadership, he’s one of the most dangerous quarterbacks in the state and a name to watch closely this fall.

A high-level returning QB from 6A newcomer Andover, Mapson holds two well-deserved NSIC offers from Mankato State and Concordia St. Paul, as well as an MIAC and WIAC offer from St. Olaf and Eau Claire. If you watch his tape, you’ll understand why. Mapson is an electric dual-threat QB who had over 1,500 yards and 22 TDs, nearly evenly split between passing and rushing. He has plays on his tape where he can showcase a throw of a 40-yard dime off his back foot while getting hit. He’s a playmaker who takes care of the ball and is due for a big 2025. I see more offers in the future for the 2026 senior captain.

One of the most surprising, yet deserving, offseason rises and winners comes out of Andover High School and their star quarterback Joe Mapson. I got to see Mapson play last fall against Elk River early in the regular season, where the first-year starter proved himself to be dynamic and capable of moving the chains with both his arm and/or his legs, but I think I underestimated and under-appreciated his skillset going into the offseason. In what will go down as a historic 2026 QB class, Mapson has continued to climb the state’s leaderboards and QB ranks, in large part due to an excellent offseason on the prospect camp trail. Now ranked as Minnesota’s QB5, Mapson has been offered by MSU-Mankato, Concordia-St. Paul, and UW-Eau Claire, all while dazzling scouts and college programs throughout the process. A focused and competitive presence in the pocket, Mapson cam throw with precision and velocity to all three levels of the field, and has been pinpoint accurate in multiple unpadded settings PRzMN has attended this winter and spring. His offseason performances can probably be highlighted by his showing at the 612Q’s Offensive Skills Camp in late March, where he went 4.67 on the laser 40, as well as 4.34 on the short-shuttle and a near 30″ vert, spotlighting some major juice as a potential dual-threat QB at the next level. With Andover bumping up to Class 6A in 2025, it’s going to be a major prove-it year for Mapson and his Huskies teammates. We at PRzMN think he’s up for the challenge.

If there was a prospect who could’ve won Co-MVP, it was Mapson. At back-to-back combines now, I’ve seen Mapson throw with the best, turning heads with his arm and his legs. Perhaps his most impressive trait is his ability to consistently throw rockets to receivers off platform and on the run. Ball placement, in particular, really stood out to me as well. There were a number of throws in the red zone and in the open field where he hit very tight windows, placing the ball where only the receiver could get it. With verified 4.6 speed and one of the best arm talents in his class, it’s easy to see why his stock is rising so quickly.

Mapson burst onto the scene during his junior season, and his offseason recruiting has been electric. Two NSIC offers to his name, and a fantastic camp to validate them. Likely the fastest and quickest QB at this camp, Mapson stood out both with his athleticism and his arm. Throughout the day he was consistently among the most accurate of the QB crop, and the touch he put on his deep and intermediate balls was high-level. His stock has been rising tremendously, and I don’t see that stopping anytime soon.

Joseph Mapson Joseph Mapson 6'0" | 175 lbs | QB Andover | 2026 State MN is one of the most unique athletes that I’ve seen through the MN high school football landscape for how equally effective he’s been as both a pocket passer and as a dual-threat. Mapson’s passing mechanics shined during the showcase, showing a great throwing motion, fully rotating his hips and driving off the back foot. Mapson had a nice combination of floaters and quick slings that hit nearly all of his targets. Mapson is clearly making progression in his passing mechanics this offseason, and that could translate in a big way on the field in 2025.

A returning starter for one of the state’s best and most consistent programs, Mapson had a great junior year, putting up 807 passing yards and 8 TDs on 10.0 yards per pass. He also put up a stunning 704 yards on the ground with an additional 14 TDs while averaging just shy of 8 ypc. His tape reveals an athlete with incredible composure inside of the pocket. Mapson can stand and deliver strikes deep across the field. He consistently makes the right read and doesn’t force balls into traffic, which is highlighted by his impressive 67.9% completion percentage. While his ability to run is definitely high-level, his knack for extending plays by bouncing around the pocket or rolling out is elite and I think we’ll see that success continue to evolve during his senior year.