Another familiar Top Newcomer to the 2025 PRzMN Rankings, Minnetonka’s Malachi Boadi earned some love during the fall thanks to his breakout junior campaign in his first year as a full-time varsity starter for the Skippers. One of the season’s breakout prospects and top performers, Boadi was impressive when I saw the Skippers take on Maple Grove in the regular season finale and brings a balanced and playmaking skillset to the table as a 6’1, 195 lb. SS/OLB hybrid. This dude will lay the lumber and is also one of the best ballhawks in Minnesota, showing off instincts in coverage and a real knack for finding and intercepting the pigskin from his opponents. Finishing with 30 tackles and 5 INTs, Boadi showed that he was equally impressive and advanced physically as well as mentally. The 195 lber. sees the field well, processes offensive attacks quickly and effectively, and shows off good route recognition and a natural and instinctive ability to make plays in pass defense.

There’s a ton to like in his pass defense. Boadi is patient in his read steps and when allowing the route to develop, confident in the scheme and knows where his help is, doesn’t waste steps when he’s mirroring receivers and breaking on the ball, and triggers on the football with pace and good timing. He can play man out of the slot, can find work and make plays in both man and zone coverage, naturally finds and steps into passing lanes as a zone defender around the hook/curl and flats or down the seam, and is always around the football, which allows him to capitalize on advantageous bounces, tips, and misthrows by opposing QBs. I also like how Boadi plays the ball in the air, is sticky once he gets hip-to-hip with a WR, and times out and competes for the ball at the catch point. The 6’1 DB plays receivers’ hands and comes away with the ball often as well. Additionally, he laid some big-time hits in 2023 and is a strong kid who crushes ball carriers when he gets the chance and gets the most out of every collision. He gets downhill quickly and aggressively when filling gaps and enforcing the run from the defensive secondary or around the edge of the LOS. The big question is where does he play in college? He’s a bit of an in-betweener in terms of size and position, but there are a ton of schemes that utilize that hybrid rover-type defender, especially one who has the physical and mental means to succeed at the next level. Either way, Boadi is one of the more dynamic, playmaking, and exciting defensive prospects in MN’s 2025 class. Someone is going to look very smart when they get him on campus.

Minnetonka Skipper ballhawk Malachi Boadi debuts as the #60 overall junior and #6 DB.