PrepRedzoneMN Showcase MVPs: OL/DL
In this article:
We are now a week out from our second ever PrepRedzoneMN Showcase, and it’s not an exaggeration when I say I am still reeling with excitement from the event. With over 150 total attendees representing the great states of Minnesota and Wisconsin,…
Access all of Prep Redzone
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingWe are now a week out from our second ever PrepRedzoneMN Showcase, and it’s not an exaggeration when I say I am still reeling with excitement from the event. With over 150 total attendees representing the great states of Minnesota and Wisconsin, there was a plethora of speed, size, and talent across the 2022, ’23, and ’24 graduation classes present at the Rosemount Irish Dome last Sunday. Now that my peers Nate Wahl, Mark Johnson, and Brian Jerzak have published their standouts and the testing results from the athletes have been sent out, I wanted to circle back and try and wrap things up by bringing the spotlight to some of the overall MVPs from the event. We’re going to get things going by starting with the big boys, the corn-fed hogs, the Midwest’s bell cows, Minnesota beef, and the trench warfare specialists from the offensive and defensive line positions, and boy is there some talent amongst the chosen MVPs. Representing the Metro, the Outstate, and our Badger State neighbors to the east, these OL and DL came to Rosemount ready to compete, and I left the Showcase particularly impressed with these two position groups, who showed a ton of talent in the upcoming senior class of 2022, as well as some future stars from the young bucks. Let’s waste not a second more and get right into it. Thanks for reading!
Defensive Line
I want to begin things by bringing some special attention to an upcoming position group at a Metro MN program that our subscribers should be aware of. The Minnetonka Skippers 2023 DL group is loaded and poised to be one of the most dangerous and talented defensive lines in the state going forward, and all three of their standouts showed up and showed out at Sunday’s Showcase and will earn individual attention below, but I wanted to quickly shoutout Ben Ingersoll, Dakota Egert Dakota Egert 6'5" | 240 lbs | DL Minnetonka | 2023 State MN , and Jack Liwienski Jack Liwienski 6'3" | 265 lbs | DL Minnetonka | 2023 State MN for all of the future sacks these three are going to record, as well as warn Minnesota QBs of this stellar pass-rush coming their way.
Chase Carter Chase Carter 6'6" | 220 lbs | DL SMB | 2022 State MN (SMB, 2022) 6’6, 220 lbs.
Easily one of – if not the – most physically gifted and talented athlete at the entire Showcase, Carter had to attend the event a little late, so he came in without a warmup and still immediately got to work beating offensive lineman in any way he wanted. With standout length, reach, and explosiveness, Carter was impressive from his very first rep and cemented his talent and skill as a P5 recruit. His superb athleticism helped him beat lineman from just about any position throughout the rep and combined with his unreal first step, excellent hand usage, and natural bend and he proved to be the toughest matchup for OL all day long. Opposing lineman could not figure out how to properly pass-set or anchor against him, as he could get upfield before they knew it and could get around the arch at the top of the arch with ease, or break things back inside to set up power moves as well. He knew how to use his body and his strengths to his advantage, and with his great physical tools, he’s going to be busting up P5 backfields before we know it. Thanks for coming, Chase! It was very fun to watch.
Ben Ingersoll (Minnetonka, 2023) 6’2.5, 200 lbs.
Ran a 4.82 40 and a 4.79 short shuttle and sports a long, lean frame with a ton of room to continue to add weight and muscle. He’s got really long arms and a thicker lower body, and of the Skippers DL at the event, he was more of the speed rusher of the three. He flashed his speed and quickness during all portions of the event, and in 1 on 1s he utilized an impressive first step, lateral agility, and good bend off the edge to beat OTs with burst and bend around the edge or inside the tackles hip. If he can add some weight this offseason he’s going to be a menace next Fall.
Brooks Butt Brooks Butt 6'1" | 270 lbs | DL Crookston | 2022 State MN (Crookston, 2022) 5’11, 266 lbs.
A favorite of the positional coaches running drills at the event, Butt made the 4 and a half hour drive from the Northwest part of the state to Rosemount and shot his stock up in the eyes of our scouts as well as the college coaches in attendance. With a thick and powerful build for a projected college 3T, Butt was ferocious in his pass-rush with a naturally strong frame that he used to move OCs and OGs backward all afternoon. He posted a 4.97 on the short shuttle at 265+, and was able to translate that lateral agility to 1 on 1s, where he was capable of beating blockers with speed and/or quickness. He was always the low man and came out of his stance with a lot of force that stuffed OL at the point of contact. He was also very effective at getting his hands inside the chest of the opponent, making it hard for them to move or adjust him, and he was able to smartly counter his power rushes with speed rips or push-pulls to beat lineman that could compete with him in the strength department. He got himself a lot of wins throughout the day and really impressed from start to finish.
Dakota Egert Dakota Egert 6'5" | 240 lbs | DL Minnetonka | 2023 State MN (Minnetonka, 2023) 6’4.5, 235 lbs.
Man, what an athlete for his size and age. Another ’Tonka standout on the DL, Egert was a physically impressive recruit who was a lean and ripped 235 lbs. who also put up some awesome testing numbers, including a 4.78 and 4.75 short shuttle and nearly a 9’ foot broad jump. A strong 235 lbs. as well, he had great pop in his hands and could beat attempted blockers in a variety of ways, showing good technique and an understanding of leverage. His hand placement and usage were really effective as well, and with his size and athleticism, I would be really surprised if he isn’t soon seen as a Division 1 DL recruit.
David Gauderman David Gauderman 6'2" | 225 lbs | ATH Wittenberg-Birnamwood | 2023 State WI (Wittenberg-Birnamwood, WI) 2023. 6’1, 235 lbs.
Our #1 rated prospect in the class of 2023 for the state of Wisconsin, Gauderman is a PrepRedzone Showcase veteran standout but continues to get bigger and look better each and every time I see him compete. This past season he started putting his hand in the dirt and moved down from LB to DL, but he’s very much athletic enough to continue playing LB is need be, posting a 4.94 40, a 4.38 short shuttle, and a 9’1 broad at a legit 235 lbs. as only a sophomore, and also posted the best L-drill of every lineman at the event with a 7.41. Those are freaky numbers for his size, and he once again put them to good use in 1 on 1s, where his first step and overall explosive ability helped him win most reps from the snap of the ball. Where I got to see some particular growth in his game was in his hand usage and ability to counter, as his timing of when to strike or knock away OL hands looked the best I had ever seen it, and I also saw him set up and execute effective long arms and push pulls when he saw the opportunity present itself. He was also extremely coachable, as I saw the DL coaches constantly pulling him aside to give him tips and feedback, and the very next rep he would implement it in his rush. It was cool to see, and with his crazy camp schedule coming up this summer (thanks in large part to his awesome dad Tony) I think all of this hard work and competition is really going to wake some programs up this summer. Always a pleasure, David!
@Dg2Drippy is a @PrepRedzone Showcase veteran and also our #1 ranked recruit for 2023 in the state of Wisconsin for a reason. Everything I see him he looks better, and at a lean & mean 230 lbs. as a soph. there is just crazy potential from the small-school product. pic.twitter.com/kIlBNMA1JJ
— PrepRedzone Oliver (@OliverJamesWes1) May 3, 2021
Gannon Rosenfeld Gannon Rosenfeld 6'3" | 220 lbs | DL Mankato West | 2022 State MN (Mankato West, 2022) 6’1, 220 lbs.
A favorite of Wisconsin contributor and scout Mark Johnson, Rosenfeld tested really well for his size with a 4.75 40, 4.84 short shuttle, and 10 foot (!) broad jump at 220 lbs! He’s a thick and well-built 220 as well and was lethal as a 5T when he could use his explosive get-off and understanding of angles to beat a lot of blocks within his first few steps. The Scarlett continually pump out strong and hard-hitting DL prospects, and Rosenfeld is no doubt next in line. I’ll have to make sure to see him rush the passer in pads next season, as all of the athleticism you could want from a DE prospect is there in the junior.
Jack Liwienski Jack Liwienski 6'3" | 265 lbs | DL Minnetonka | 2023 State MN (Minnetonka, 2023) 6’2.25, 267 lbs.
A Top-10 prospect in the class of 2023 in Minnesota who possesses some awesome film, Liwienski was everything I was hoping to see from the Minnetonka sophomore in person and then some. At almost 270 pounds he ran a 5 flat in the 40 and a 4.84 in the short shuttle and was a beast during 1 on 1s that was particularly dangerous and effective and the point of contact, where his strength and aggressiveness overwhelmed OL more times than not. I also loved his versatility, as he was strong enough to play the 3T but athletic enough to hold down the edge as a 5T, and he played with some really noteworthy technique and a tremendous motor that never quit until after the whistle blew. He was physical, technically sound, and athletic, and has all the makings to become a future P5 lineman. I was feeling really good about where I ranked him at the conclusion of the event, I can’t lie.
Jack Twelvetrees Jack Twelvetrees 6'1" | 260 lbs | DL Bemidji | 2022 State MN (Bemidji, 2022) 6’.25, 260 lbs.
One of the strongest DL at the Showcase came out Bemidji and one of their dynamic pass-rushing duo in Twelvetrees. Man, when this kid put his hands on the opposing lineman you could hear it, and with an explosive first-step and one of the best bullrushes of the group, he was very tough for OL to handle as he was able to push them back into the QB and into vulnerable positions where he could rip or shuck and finish the rep off in style. He was a really strong and well-built potential 3T at the next level and had a great 1 on 1 session that saw a lot of W’s come his way.
Logan Larson Logan Larson 6'4" | 260 lbs | DL Eastridge | 2022 State MN (East Ridge, 2022) 6’3, 253 lbs.
Another junior DL I was very excited to check out coming into the event, Larson was natural and effective in short area situations with a very powerful build and playing style and an explosive first-step off the LOS that really helped him set up and finish pass-rush reps at the QB. With great size and long arms, he could beat blockers with either speed or strength which helped him win battles when breaking inside or around the arch at the edge. His experience of reps and playing against the big-school competition MN has to offer really has paid off for him, as he was comfortable in a lot of different situations, never panicked, and leaned on his strengths when in a compromising position. His technique is really sound, and all in all, he’s a really complete package of a DL. Definite D1 potential who is still waiting for that first offer to come his way. It’s coming soon, Logan!
I was so excited to finally see @RaptorPride 2022 DL @loganlarson22 yesterday and he lived up the hype. First step, strength, and a well put together 6’3, 250+ defensive lineman. Good W here. @PrepRedzoneMN pic.twitter.com/jGkGznHQMx
— PrepRedzone Oliver (@OliverJamesWes1) May 3, 2021
Nate Schwinghammer Nate Schwinghammer 6'4" | 220 lbs | DL Bemidji | 2022 State MN (Bemidji, 2022) 6’3, 210 lbs.
Another physically impressive and competitive Bemidji Lumberjack junior pass-rusher, Schwinghammer ran a 4.75 in the 40, a 4.53 short shuttle, and jumped a 9’7 broad to show off his athleticism at the position. He also has great length and knows how to use it, and shows great timing on when he chooses to engage with a strong long arm or speed rips and chops. He was very twitchy at the LOS and had a great get-off that helped him beat a ton of OTs around the edge, but also is a physical player who had the strength and balance to rip back inside to beat OL and not get knocked off his path or knocked on his butt. He’s an intriguing athlete at the position who looked natural getting after the QB. If he can keep adding weight no one is going to be able to handle the Lumberjacks DL next season.
Nicholas Ojile Nicholas Ojile 6'2" | 220 lbs | DL Spring Lake Park | 2022 MN (Spring Lake Park, 2022) 6’2, 220 lbs.
Already holds early offers from UMD and Northern State and ran a 4.88 40, back-to-back 4.34 short shuttles, and jumped a 9’10 broad at a clean and powerful 220. The Spring Lake Park Panthers standout was a favorite of coaches, media, and fellow DL all afternoon long, and was one of the most athletic players in the group who was smooth and natural at beating OL out on the edge or in the interior. He could get upfield and out of his stance with as much force and speed as anyone in the group, and used that to easily set up cuts and breaks inside that OL could barely even get a hand on. He also possessed some of the best natural bend of any DL in the group, and showed the flexion and bend in his ankles and hips to consistently get the edge on OTs he went up against, as well as the overall body control and balance to always stay in a competitive position. He played with a ton of speed, and at a thick and solid 220 I think he does have a D1 ceiling and the athleticism to play at the D1 level to boot, he just has to keep adding weight! He’s a special pass-rusher coming out of the 2022 class though, that’s for sure.
@SLPPantherFB 2022 DE @NicholasOjile was a camp favorite yesterday and is an athletic DE prospect with the quickness and bend to beat OTs around the edge or inside. Great rep here. @PrepRedzoneMN pic.twitter.com/8B019V0jRA
— PrepRedzone Oliver (@OliverJamesWes1) May 3, 2021
Cole Stevens (DC Everest, WI) 2023. 6’, 255 lbs.
A really exciting sophomore prospect out of the state of Wisconsin, Stevens has a stout build and a lot of power in his frame that helped him to throw a dominating bull-rip and some other power rushes throughout the afternoon of Session 1. As a youngin’, there is still some technical stuff that can be refined, and Stevens was out there basically out muscling kids and using brute force to get wins in the interior. Big things coming from him.
Good W here by another @PrepRedzoneWI standout in this @DCE_FOOTBALL matchup as @ColeSte55891356 shows off some muscle 💪🏻 @PrepRedzoneMN pic.twitter.com/XO7b2nC0tD
— PrepRedzone Oliver (@OliverJamesWes1) May 3, 2021
TJ Edminson TJ Edminson 6'3" | 230 lbs | DL Rosemount | 2022 State MN (Rosemount, 2022) 6’2.5, 215 lbs.
Brings a lot of versatility to the trenches, as he just started every game for Rosemount on the OL but came out and competed on the DL last Sunday, where I think he projects best in college. He ran a 4.98 40 and a 4.6 short shuttle and showed off some great technique and a really strong understanding and use of his hands. It was fun to finally watch him play.
I also wanted to shoutout the three freshmen in the group: Brayden Albee (Eau Claire Regis), Sam Murphy (St. Paul Academy), and Wyatt Osterbauer (Buffalo). It takes some stones to come compete at events like these as a youngin’.
Offensive Line
Brett Kelzenberg Brett Kelzenberg 6'4" | 255 lbs | OL Wayzata | 2022 State MN (Wayzata, 2022) 6’3, 258 lbs.
An offensive line prospect who is going to see his stock quickly rise after a strong junior season on one of 6A’s toughest OLs, Kelzenberg tested well at his size with a 5.19 40 and 4.5 shuttle (!) and was a really tough matchup for opposing rushers as he possesses a lot of strength in his chest and punch, plays with extremely clean technique, and is aggressive and nasty when given an opening to finish. He kept his feet extremely active and had a nice pass-set that played opposing rushers’ angles well so he was able to combat and meet speed or power rushers towards the end of his drop. I liked his hips as well, and he was able to drop them to generate power or lock and unlock them to change direction as well. He’s a good one coming out of Wayzata with a high ceiling and a big senior season ahead of him.
Ethan Fischer Ethan Fischer 6'9" | 265 lbs | OL Maple River | 2022 State MN (Maple River, 2022) 6’8, 264 lbs.
A massive OT prospect who is highly ranked in our 2022 class of MN, it was awesome to be able to evaluate Fischer live and he flashed some really strong and intriguing tools and skills that would greatly benefit a college program. With long arms and massive hands, he was able to execute a strong punch on rushers that knocked them off their paths and could read and react strongly to rushers while keeping them at bay thanks to his special physical gifts and length. He was definitely raw, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing, and with some technical cleanup and a college strength and conditioning program he’s going to be a beast.
Good battle here with @bigfish2022 showing off his length at OT. @PrepRedzoneMN pic.twitter.com/mFjKFGqD4R
— PrepRedzone Oliver (@OliverJamesWes1) May 3, 2021
Gage McManemy Gage McManemy 6'4" | 250 lbs | OL Lake Crystal-Welcome-Memorial | 2023 State MN (Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial, 2023) 6’3, 255 lbs.
Small school LCWM had a really strong showing on Sunday in Rosemount, and McManemy is an underclassman at the OL position that I’m really excited about going forward. He clocked a 5.15 short shuttle at 255 and flashed some awesome reps that highlighted strength and athleticism from the sophomore, as he was able to keep his base and battle at the point of contact when facing stronger power rushes, and showed that he could stay square and gain depth when dropping to handle speedier rushers. The power and tenacity is there, as well as a good understanding of technique and OL play, so I think it’s safe to say that McManemy has some great upside and is an underclassman to watch going forward.
Jai Kalvik Jai Kalvik 6'5" | 255 lbs | OL Hopkins | 2023 State MN (Hopkins, 2023) 6’5.5, 230 lbs.
Another young buck OL who I think has a bright future in the state of MN, Kalvik moved well for his size and age, was light on his feet, and used his long arms and nimbleness to handle faster 5Ts off the edge. He was also physical and nasty at the point of contact, and I saw a lot of traits that are going to help him succeed and continue to get better as an upperclassman. I’m going to closely watch the progress of the Hopkins product!
James Morrison James Morrison 6'6" | 315 lbs | OL Cretin-Derham Hall | 2022 State MN (Cretin Derham Hall, 2022) 6’5, 340 lbs.
A massive OL prospect who clocked a 5.25 (!!) short shuttle at 340 lbs., Morrison was smooth as an athlete who had no problem changing direction and countering to DL moves and rushes, Morrison was extremely strong and halted rushers in their cleats when he engaged and locked his hands on. Coming from a strong CDH program he was well-coached and had strong technique in his pass-set as well as with his hands, and it really helped prove to be a tough matchup for DL of all different strengths. He’s got D1 potential and I was really impressed after seeing the Raiders junior live last Sunday. Offers are coming!
Patrick Lavin Patrick Lavin 6'2" | 285 lbs | OL St. Anthony Village | 2022 State MN (St. Anthony Village, 2022) 6’1, 287 lbs.
Man, what an individual performance from the Huskies OC last Sunday in Rosemount. An experienced PrepRedzone Showcase veteran, Lavin came into the event relaxed, comfortable, and confident, and that payed dividends as he is my pick for the Offensive Line MVP for his play last week. Lavin was basically a brickwall at the OC position, matching up against powerful 3T and speedier 5Ts bumped inside, and dealt with all of them the same way, with force. He brought the attack to the rushers, using excellent timing to punch opponents backward and knock them off their path and out of their rhythm and always making sure to engage first. Once he engaged he also did an awesome job of bringing his hips through the block and really worked to extend and finish the block, and his understanding of leverage helped him to use rushers momentum against them and aided him in finishing all of his reps with authority. His stock really rose after his performance and I think NSIC schools need to get involved sooner rather than later for the standout OC prospect.
Exciting rep here by @patricklavin54 during Session 1’s Best of the Best matchups to end things. Also s/o @Mizzharris79 on the snap count & incredible coaching throughout the day. @PrepRedzoneMN pic.twitter.com/lz5TT8sJ1Q
— PrepRedzone Oliver (@OliverJamesWes1) May 3, 2021
Peyton Lange Peyton Lange 6'9" | 340 lbs | OL Minnehaha Academy/SMB | 2023 State MN (SMB, 2023) 6’9, 385 lbs.
Well, Lange is a beast. As one of the largest humans I’ve ever seen live (and I saw Tacko Falls in-person in Flordia once), the SMB sophomore has God-given size, strength, and power that showed in 1 on 1s, where he was brutal, aggressive, and nasty when he engaged with rushers and got hands on. For a man of his size he was able to gain ground in his rush to deal with speedsters, but truly shined when strong, aggressive DL who are studs in their own right tried to power rush the sophomore. He was immovable and was very hard to beat around the edge or inside for opponents, with one of the hardest punches I’ve ever seen to go along with a giant frame that a college S&C coach should be drooling to get his hands on. He’s got D1 written all over him, and it was fun to watch him maul people last week.
Gavin Falk Gavin Falk 6'6" | 300 lbs | OL Edina | 2022 State MN (Edina, 2022) 6’5, 270 lbs.
Another choice for offensive line MVP from the Sunday Showcase, Falk cemented himself as the next great Hornet lineman and displayed a skill set that really surprised a lot of the media and coaches in attendance. Not saying he didn’t have game before, as his film is a good watch, but Falk was a really noteworthy athlete at his size who was nimble, light-footed, and able to move and adjust in space. All of these traits helped him defend the edge as an OT, where he showed a clean pass-drop that could gain depth fast enough to handle speed rushes but able to stay square and not open the gate to inside moves. My favorite part of his game was definitely his attitude, nastiness, and affinity for finishing blocks as an OT. He showed that mean streak and propensity for putting defenders into the turf that I’m used to seeing from Edina OL and combined with his great physical tools and skill set and you have a really talented junior Hornet OL prospect.