In his first start for Brainerd, Malik Lauer Malik Lauer 5'10" | 180 lbs | QB/ATH Brainerd | 2029 State MN led the Warriors to a thrilling 38-32 OT win in a shootout over Buffalo. Lauer finished the night 18 of 33 for 298 yards and 3 TDs while adding a rushing TD. Lauer provided some electric plays for the offense, hitting TDs from 61 and 65 yards out at points through the Bison’ defense. Lauer looked impressively comfortable throughout the night, even under duress and pressure through the different blitzes that Buffalo sent, but he showed quick delivery and great accuracy on his passes flashing the strong arm that has wowed our scouts over the course of this offseason. Possibly a sign of things to come for Lauer, but he could not have asked for a more thrilling debut to open his full-time starting tenure for Brainerd.

With starter Bo Schwartz Bo Schwartz 5'11" | 190 lbs | QB Shakopee | 2028 State MN transferring out to Shakopee following the 2025 season, quick-rising sophomore Malik Lauer Malik Lauer 5'10" | 180 lbs | QB/ATH Brainerd | 2029 State MN will be at the top of the depth chart for the starting QB position for the Warriors in 2026. Lauer made short appearances on the varsity unit as a freshman, but he’s been a budding prospect over the course of this offseason. His tape at numerous camps and events over this summer flashes his quick zip, steady footwork, and strong delivery even on the run, with one of the strongest arms in the state for his age, and he also flashes some impressive speed, with an unverified 4.62 40 yard time, Lauer could very well end up as a potent dual-threat QB for Brainerd. We’ll see how his performance over this offseason translates onto the field on Friday nights, but he should be under your radar to have a huge breakout campaign.

The QB2 for the Warriors last season and one of the highest-rated 2029 prospects in the state, Lauer is slated to come in and take over the gunslinging role for Brainerd this fall. He saw game action as a freshman, and although he doesn’t have any tape from last fall, his offseason tape gives us a great window into the player that he is becoming. From that summer scrimmage tape, Lauer looks like he’s evolved rapidly into a high-level 5A starter. He’s got a cannon of an arm and can sling rockets off-platform into tight windows with no issue. This kid possesses sick mobility too. He’s far more physically advanced than most QBs his age, and when he takes the rock off a read option, he’s liable to gash the defense for an explosive play. His vision when carrying the ball is legit, and he fights hard for every yard. He’s still got some things to clean up, but if he can put it all together this year, we might be looking at a legit prospect.

A dazzling, must-know freshman 2029er in the Great State of Minnesota, Malik Lauer Malik Lauer 5'10" | 180 lbs | QB/ATH Brainerd | 2029 State MN is looking, and playing, like a future D1 commit at the next level. An ultra-dynamic, multi-phase contributor for 5A Brainerd, Lauer has popped off impressive track and field times this spring, notably a 11.25 100M, 23.49 200M, and 19’0.5″ long jump, eye-catching athletic measurements for his age. With the departure of 2028 QB Bo Schwartz Bo Schwartz 5'11" | 190 lbs | QB Shakopee | 2028 State MN to the Metro and 6A Shakopee’s program, Lauer is stepping into the QB role for the Warriors, and due to the fact that he’s the best raw athlete on the team, this is a move we can get behind. Doesn’t hurt that Lauer has some juice in his arm, and the rising sophomore was stretching the field with accuracy, throwing a tight, accurate ball on the run, and velocity on the ball at a variety of different angles. Good overall body of work in Edina for the 218 product; can’t wait to see him with the ball in his hands every offensive snap this fall.