Also a Top Newcomer and highly-rated debutant in the recently updated PRzMN 2026 Big Board, Maple Grove’s stud RB Patrick Wright Patrick Wright 5'10" | 195 lbs | RB Maple Grove | 2026 PA is five foot, eleven inches, and 190 pounds of playmaking ability, but playing on Minnesota’s best 2024 roster can have its disadvantages. Wright was sitting behind senior Chuck Langama, Minnesota’s RB1 last season, and although we got to see Wright do his thing in person multiple times throughout 2024, including a start against Minnetonka in which he was the key to the Crimson’s victory offensively, he did not have a full workload last fall and wasn’t able to truly highlight what he brings to the table as RB1 throughout the course of a football season. Not only that, Wright didn’t make any appearances (that we know of) on this past summer’s camp circuit, so we don’t have any verified athletic data on the potential game-changing, high-upside running back for a potential college suitor. However, we do know that Wright can flat-out ball, and have watched him tear up some of 6A’s best defenses, as well as put the team on his back, in 2024 thanks to his lethal combination of power and quickness. Wright posted 694 yards and 9 TDs in 2024, showing he can run over you, run by you, or juke you out of your shoes with his smooth and fluid running style and gait that seems to float past defenders and would-be tacklers, getting him up to the third level of a defense before you know it. He’s a smooth cutter who sends defenders flying past him for out-of-control missed tackles and wraps when he sticks and plants laterally, and I love how he can drop his hips and smoothly break tackles and float by defenders with a minor mid-run adjustment to their pursuit paths. Wright also displays great vision and naturally follows his blocks and allows a play and big run to develop in front of him. I just want to see him work on the top-end speed a bit and finish big runs once he finds space. The junior also took some safety reps and showed he can read, react, and pursue ball carriers for minimal gains and blocked a dropped punt that was picked up and returned by a Crimson defender for six. This dude is a two-way starter on most teams in the state with a ton of good football in front of him. Just a straightforward natural and strong football player! Going to be a monster senior season for Wright in 2025.

Wright made an impact on both sides of the ball. On offense, he found room right up the middle behind Landon Albeck. Then, Wright bounced a run wide, used a spin move, and broke a tackle for a first down. He also got into the end zone with a ten-yard run. On defense, he got into the backfield for a tackle for a short loss. Then, he kept the Skippers off the board when he picked off an underthrown fade on the goal line.