Another one of the top athletes in the state, Jurkovich, just finished an insanely productive junior campaign, rushing for over 1,000 yards while missing two games. His junior tape is legit. This kid is a game breaker. His speed, vision, and elusiveness make him VERY challenging to tackle in the open field, and he always seems to make the right cuts to find paydirt. His acceleration out of the backfield is impressive, and he’s shown upside as a receiving back, too. In the passing game, Jurkovich shows off great ball tracking and route running far better than you’re used to seeing from RBs. He already holds a Bemidji State offer and has gameday invites from North Dakota and North Dakota State. He’s getting a lot of NSIC attention so far, and I’m pumped to see where he goes from here.

Jurkovich has cemented himself as one of Minnesota’s most productive and complete running backs. The Forest Lake standout has built on his 1,200-yard sophomore season with another strong start, including 160 rushing yards and a touchdown on 22 carries against East Ridge, and 142 yards and a score in a 21–18 win over Prior Lake. Jurkovich is a one-cut, north-south runner who fits perfectly in a gap or power-based system. At 5’11” and around 200 pounds, he is patient behind pullers, accelerates decisively through creases, and finishes runs with square pads and leg drive. His hips and feet are sudden, allowing him to change direction with precision and turn small seams into big gains. Once he reaches the second level, his acceleration separates him from most defenders. He also provides value in the passing game, showing reliable hands and strong blitz pickup technique. Forest Lake’s undefeated start has been powered in part by Jurkovich’s consistency.

Jurkovich is the definition of a bellcow ball carrier. As a sophomore, he was named First Team All-Conference and rushed for 1,165 yards and 9 TDs on a stunning 8.4 YPC. He also caught 7 balls for 80 yards and 2 TDs. His offseason has been nothing short of stunning as well. The now-junior has put a ton of time in the weight room, and I suspect that will show immediately come August. His tape is fantastic. Jurkovich has verified 4.6 speed (with time to continue to develop), and it shows immediately on his film. He’s often one of, if not the fastest, person on the field at all times, and on top of all that, he’s quicker than he is fast, with a PRZ combine verified 4.0 shuttle time. Once he sees daylight, Jurkovich is gone. He’s the #19 overall athlete in his class for a reason; there’s a massive 2025 campaign loading for the Rangers junior.

Mack Jurkovich Mack Jurkovich 5'9" | 180 lbs | RB Forest Lake | 2027 State MN has already proven himself to be a high quality starter at RB. Jurkovich carried the ball well once again on Sunday, posting a 4.65 40 yard time, making smooth cuts, and showing a solid amount of burst running outside the defender. However, Jurkovich stood out the most as arguably the best blocking RB during the 1-on-1 pass-blocking drills, as Jurkovich was able to keep up with his defenders the whole time, showing great footwork and hands as he was able to contain nearly every pass-rush move attempted on him. Jurkovich should be in clear contention toward finishing as one of the top rushing leaders in the entire state over the next two seasons with how much he has been progressing over these last few months.

Jurkovich is sure to be considered one of the top backs in his class after a stunning sophomore year where he rushed for 1,100 yards and 9 TDs on an eye-popping 8.4 ypc. His pop when breaking through the line of scrimmage is incredible, it’s like he flips a switch and Jurkovich is able to tap into another gear of speed and athleticism. He’s frequently able to break through congested running lanes and once he hits open space, defenses have a hell of a time stopping him. He’s a game-changer when used correctly, and I expect his stock as a prospect to continue to skyrocket this off-season.

Very few sophomores have been popping off like Jurkovich. He’s been on a tear this whole season, but these last two weeks in particular have been electric. He was key in the win over Stillwater, with 178 rushing yards and 1 TD, all while averaging 7.7 ypc. Through 5 games he has over 600 rushing yards averaging over 8 ypc. This kid is due for big things.