2022 Rankings Update: Biggest Stock Risers
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PrepRedzoneMN is chugging ahead with more 2022 rankings update content and will follow up yesterday’s “Highest Debuts” feature with this exciting new article highlighting some of the update’s “Biggest Stock Risers.” These Minnesota preps saw their state ranking shoot up since our previous update in 2020, and have put in a ton of work on the field and in the weight room, deservedly earning this distinction and the below breakdown of their game. To find out which juniors saw their stock rise the most, all you have to do is scroll down. Thanks for reading!
Jordan McClom Jordan McClom 6'0" | 180 lbs | DB Armstrong | 2022 State MN (Robbinsdale Armstrong) DB. 6’1, 180 lbs. Rose from 224 to 21. I mentioned it in a previous article, but I have no idea how McClom found himself so low on the 2022 rankings prior to this recent update. I’m assuming what happened is that I knew he needed to be on the rankings, quickly added his name, and then forgot to go back and move him up to a deserving spot. Either way, it’s our mistake, and it set up McClom for a fantastic jump all the way to the Top-25 for this most recent update. The Providence Academy transfer already holds an offer from the University of Northern Iowa, and for good reason too as he fires out of his breaks, has great ball skills, and is an absolute weapon with the ball in his hands. He’s a patient safety with good instincts, and was also athletic enough to help out the Falcons in the return game for both kicks and punts, and scored TDs on both interception returns as well as kick returns. I like his size as well, and am sure more MVFC competitors are taking a hard look at McClom.
Charlie Boucher Charlie Boucher 6'3" | 230 lbs | TE MPLS Southwest | 2022 State MN (MPLS Southwest) TE/DE. 6’3, 220 lbs. Rose from 219 to 127. Put up some monster stats in 2020 including 65 tackles, 20 TFLs, and 8 sacks plus two TDs on offense in the shortened seven game season. At the TE position I think Boucher has some loose hips that help run some good routes, and I also like how he high points the football. From his DE spot he uses his hands well to get off of blocks, is a physical tackler, and is a strong pursuer when getting after the ball-carrier. With a great frame to continue adding weight I think his stock will continue to rise, and I forsee a big senior year coming for the Laker stud.
RJ Spencer RJ Spencer 6'3" | WR Totino-Grace | 2022 State MN (Totino Grace) WR/DB. 6’3, 180 lbs. Rose from 205 to 186. Not afraid to make tough catches over the middle or in-traffic and does a good job of continuing to work himself open and play through the whistle as a WR. He’s got long arms that help him play the ball well when it’s in the air as a DB, and his long legs help him to stay with WRs when they’re running deeper routes.
Miles Townsend Miles Townsend 6'2" | 210 lbs | LB Rosemount | 2022 State MN (Rosemount) LB. 6’2, 210 lbs. Rose from 203 to 101. Put in a ton of work in the weight room since the previous ranking update, as I last had him listed at 190 lbs and a few inches shorter. His junior tape was quite impressive as well, and his closing speed, blitzing ability and timing, and overall pop all improved drastically since his sophomore season. He was a dangerous blitzer in 2020 who got penetration between the tackles as well as off the edge, and I loved to see him take on blockers with forcefulness. He’s also a strong tackler with a great frame to continue adding weight. The Rosemount Irish just continue to pump out talented LBs.
Zander Dittbenner Zander Dittbenner 6'0" | 195 lbs | QB Mankato-West | 2022 State MN (Mankato West) QB. 6’1, 195 lbs. Rose from 186 to 91. A PrepRedzoneMN Showcase standout who went 63/103 for 1,057 yards and 16 TDs in 2020. Dittbenner has great mechanics, a strong arm capable of throwing the deep ball with accuracy and shorter throws with some zip, and he’s a good athlete who can hurt defenses with his legs on called QB runs or when extending plays. I really like how he naviages the pocket, makes rushers miss, and keeps his eyes downfield when a play breaks down as well. There’s a lot of QB talent in Mankato.
Cade Fitzgerald Cade Fitzgerald 6'0" | 170 lbs | QB Osseo | 2022 State MN (Champlin Park) QB/ATH. 6’, 160 lbs. Rose from 155 to 118. An excellent athlete at the QB position who ran a 4.56 in the 40 at our PrepRedzoneMN Showcase, Fitzgerald will continue to see his stock rise if he can have a strong senior season playing in one of the Metro’s toughest districts. He rushed for 440 yards and added 760 through the air in 2020, and on film he backs it up as a mobile and athletic gunslinger who can throw the deep ball and has some serious jets when he turns them on. He’s a heckuva athlete at the QB spot with a good future that could include multiple positions at the college level. NSIC schools are all over him for a reason!
Mateo Noriega Mateo Noriega 6'5" | 270 lbs | OL Burnsville | 2022 State MN (Burnsville) OL. 6’5, 270 lbs. Rose from 138 to 89. One of the highest upsides of the whole rankings comes from Burnsville and the offensive line standout Mateo Noriega Mateo Noriega 6'5" | 270 lbs | OL Burnsville | 2022 State MN . With an excellent frame, a high motor, and a seemingly impressive ability to zone block and work from combos to the second level of the defense. Overall he’s a menacing run-blocker with an excellent frame and some really good grades.
Josh Liggett Josh Liggett 6'0" | 200 lbs | LB Rosemount | 2022 State MN (Rosemount) LB. 5’11, 195 lbs. Rose from 134 to 115. Another member of Rosemount’s talented LB corps, Liggett is a speedier LB prospect who has a brother playing some high-quality NSIC football for the Augustana Vikings currently, and the younger Liggett definitely flashes scholarship potential as well. He’s quick at getting around blockers, has good burst through the LOS when blitzing, and is savvy and athletic enough to make an impact in the passing game as a LB. Where I really fell in love with his game though were his clips as a HB/FB, where he was a punishing lead-blocker who anniliated defenders in his path. That pop also translates to his game as a LB, as he’s a physical tackler who flies around on defense and puts his body on the line every play. He’s a fun one to watch.
Levi Richter Levi Richter 5'9" | 165 lbs | DB Perham | 2022 State MN (Perham) WR. 5’10, 175 lbs. Rose from 113 to 47. The younger brother of Perham graduate and Golden Gophers DT Logan Richter Logan Richter DL Perham | 2018 State MN , Levi has made tremendous gains from his sophomore to junior seasons and used his noteworthy athleticism to make impacts on offense, defense, and special teams. He runs with a lot of power for a smaller prospect, showing no hesitation to lower the shoulder and try to run over a tackler. On defense he’s a strong tackler, and he’s got good vision and some quick feet that help him in the return game. As a WR I also like how he makes contested catches and snags the ball at its highest point.