Lots of competitive teams in Minnesota’s Class 6A in 2025, and lots of new faces owning the spotlight, including Champlin Park’s stud RB Preston Nelson Preston Nelson 6'0" | 200 lbs | RB Champlin Park | 2027 State MN . If you’re not already aware, MN’s 2027 class is stuffed with playmakers and skill talent, and RB Nelson is one to keep an eye on in the developing race for potential D1 prospects. The Champlin product had a nice little introductory sophomore campaign as a sophomore in 2024, posting 73 carries for 398 yards and 4 TDs as an underclassmen competing against juniors and seniors, and he has tested very well on the offseason camp and showcase circuit.

After a long offseason of hard work, Nelson has attacked 2025 as a now-upperclassman, far and away asserting himself as the Rebels RB1 and helping power them to a 3-1 start at the midseason point while totaling 85 carries for 694 yards and 6 TDs, as well as two catches for 53 yards, and he already seems to have a season’s worth of highlights through only four games. Nelson possesses home run speed, quick feet, and a very well-rounded skillset that operates smoothly and with a sleek kind of effortlessness that shows up in a variety of ways. The junior is patient, uses his blocks to his advantage and allows the hole to develop, and owns good burst and acceleration once he sees daylight. His strong lower body and good contact balance allow Nelson to easily work through weaker tackle attempts, but his twitch and sudden, powerful cuts in the hole and in the open field is as impressive as it is quick. Plus, he has a couple physically dominating truck sticks to add to his potent play style on the gridiron. No doubt one of the better tailbacks in Minnesota this fall.

Nelson, a junior, opened his season with a long touchdown run late in Champlin Park’s 21-12 win over St. Michael-Albertville. Earlier, he added a 17-yard carry that helped set up the Rebels’ first touchdown. He also finished with a key score that sealed the victory, showcasing the speed and vision that already make him one of the most intriguing backs in the state. He finished the game with 160 rushing yards. At 6-foot, 190 pounds, Nelson combines verified athleticism (4.38 forty-yard dash) with natural running instincts. He is calm behind his blockers, but his sudden plant-and-go footwork and burst allow him to create when a play breaks down. His cuts are sharp, his change of direction is immediate, and once he hits the second level his top-end speed shows. Nelson also runs with balance and strength, capable of bouncing through low tackle attempts and finishing runs with force. His vision, versatility, and big-play ability make him a dangerous weapon in space and a rising prospect with real upside going into his upperclassman seasons.

2027 in Minnesota is the year of the running back, and Champlin Park has a stud on their roster in sophomore Preston Nelson Preston Nelson 6'0" | 200 lbs | RB Champlin Park | 2027 State MN . Yet another tailback with verified speed and explosiveness built on their foundation, Nelson had a great showing this past camp circuit, running in the 4.7s this past summer before his sophomore year began and adding a 4.38 and 8’7.5″ broad jump. That’s some exciting athleticism for a then-freshman, and Nelson’s sophomore tape is also thrilling, as he can pop off big TD runs, truck sticks on explosive kick returns, cut-on-a-dime footwork, and a utility asset in the screen game out of the backfield. Nelson is a patient tailback who follows his blockers but can also create electricity when a play breaks down and he needs to improvise, showing excellent vision that shows up in a variety of ways in his sophomore tape. Nelson posted 73 rushes for 398 yards and 4 TDs against 6A Metro competition, and his big-time burst slingshots Nelson to the third level of a defense, where his top-end speed can burn past Big School pursuers to finish big runs for six. His sudden, twitchy, lethal stick & plant ability as a ball carrier owns footwork that helps change direction in a blink, find and exploit space laterally, and get would-be tacklers on their heels and poor position to make a tackle. The cuts and COD ability is electric to say the least, and Nelson is also effective in the screen game and has good hands out of the backfield. I like watching this kid run the rock, and if he’s attacking the offseason like he should be, 2025 should be a monster year for Preston Nelson Preston Nelson 6'0" | 200 lbs | RB Champlin Park | 2027 State MN .