An Augustana commit, Hackbarth is a long, athletic defensive end. He uses quickness of the line to destroy any angle an offensive lineman might have on him. Then, he can get thin fast to prevent blockers from getting a square hit on him. The defensive end uses his hands effectively, utilizing his initial punch to create some separation. He holds the edge well and has good footwork coming down the line of scrimmage.  

I’m not sure what is in the water in the Norwood-Young America area, but the Central High School football program is pumping out NCAA Create-A-Player recruits like a factory as of late. With 6’6, 225 lb. senior Carter Storms Carter Storms 6'5" | 225 lbs | DL Norwood Young America | 2025 State MN off to NSIC heavyweight Augustana and 2026, 6’4, 215 lb. Kansas offeree Micah Fenney Micah Fenney 6'4" | 230 lbs | EDGE Norwood Young America | 2026 State MN firmly on the radars of high-major colleges, PRzMN wants to make sure that 6’4, 215 lb. DE Taylor Hackbarth Taylor Hackbarth 6'3" | 245 lbs | DL/TE Norwood Young America | 2026 State MN gets his fair share of the spotlight. A good athlete who came in at around 6’3 and posted a 4.6 shuttle and 8’7 broad jump this past summer, Hackbarth was a standout performer when PRzMN saw the Raiders take on eventual Class AA champion Jackson County Central in some win-or-go-home state quarterfinal action, shooting gaps in the LOS with pace and making clean, disruptive tackles and sacks in the backfield 1v1 and in space. His length and frame were eye-catching as well, and Hackbarth – at that point – wasn’t known to us at PRzMN. We’re glad he’s known now, as Hackbarth posted 83 tackles, 13 TFLs, 4.5 sacks for good production as a junior while going deep in the state playoffs against some high-quality small school competition. The junior displays a great get-off that easily gains width when working gap to gap and smoothly slides into the backfield and wades through traffic in search of the ball. Has a good rep of him pulling an OT onto his face before sniffing out a screen and making a beautiful TFL against Randolph. The DE, who generally operates as a 5T with his hand in the dirt, is a rangy defensive lineman who can cover noticeable ground in run support and run down ball carriers from the backside of the LOS. His long arms and heavy hands help him easily shed blocks when he rips and works off an offensive lineman, and those same long arms help him wrap up and corral ball carriers 1v1 and close space effectively as well. Hackbarth can unlock his hips and bend at the top of the arc well, beating OTs to their playside shoulder and easily closing on the QB with physical effect, and I love his great chop/rip and ability to get skinny and slide right past a blocker through the gap. The size, production, film combination at a premier position in football can’t help one to think about the high potential and upside possible in this NYA junior sleeper.