Prep Redzone Minnesota Showcase DB & WR Standouts
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MINNETONKA– We kick into high gear all this week on PrepRedzone.com/Minnesota as I cover every standout I could possibly watch at the Tonka Dome. I will start with the defensive backs and wide receivers, due to the fact that a lot…
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Continue ReadingMINNETONKA– We kick into high gear all this week on PrepRedzone.com/Minnesota as I cover every standout I could possibly watch at the Tonka Dome. I will start with the defensive backs and wide receivers, due to the fact that a lot of these prospects faced eachother last Sunday morning and put in some battles especially in 1on1s that were 100% eye opening. Meet the 11 prospects at wide receiver and defensive back that caught my eyes. Some of these prospects are college-ready right at this given and others have the potential to get there with a strong offseason and a big junior or senior season! Take a look.
Wide Receivers
Dominic Cartney | Wide Receiver | Byron | 2023
Cartney was a prospect that caught my eye early in the session. I really liked watching his burst out the gates as he showed explosive hips to get out of there quickly. His limited film shows a young man that is a good route runner that can improve on his balance with his footwork this offseason. He looks to be a prospect that is very under the radar in the Class of 2023 for the Bears. Hoping to see more tape out of this young man this offseason!
Shea Landa | Wide Receiver | St. Paul Highland Park | 2023
Landa showed off another strong showing at another Prep Redzone Minnesota showcase. He is not the biggest wide receiver you are ever going to see, but his range is exceptional for his size and he has go-getter mentality with his route running ability. With how agile Landa is, I think if he can improve his burst out the gates on the snap, he could be a college level prospect in the coming years.
Jonah Hviding Jonah Hviding 5'10" | 155 lbs | WR Princeton | 2023 State MN | Wide Receiver | Princeton | 2023
Hviding certainly caught my eyes in the 40 yard dash. He ran in the low 4.6s which was super impressive. Watching his film, it’s no wonder his speed stuck out at the Prep Redzone Minnesota Showcase, as his speed on his brakes is next-level material in my eyes as he can turn his hips around on a dime. He is a wide-out that the Tigers will line up just about anywhere, but his best spot is certainly in the slot as his athletcsm sticks out most when he’s attacking the secondary from that spot. His elusive hips have the ability to make that linebacker look silly if he’s not careful. I see Hviding as a next-level talent, with some added strength in the Princeton Tigers weight room going into his senior season.
Marcus Lomanga Marcus Lomanga 6'2" | 215 lbs | ATH Bloomington Jefferson | 2024 State MN | Wide Receiver | Bloomington Jefferson | 2024
Watching Lomanga use his length in his legs was what kept my eyes on him from the wide receiver group. He makes some quite long strides in his 6’3 205 pound body that paid dividends for him being able to out reach defensive backs in 1on1 drills. Lomanga also opened my eyes with his very solid footwork which can sometimes be an uphill climb for WR prospects at his age and size. He shows a huge catch radius on film as he logged 10 touchdowns as a sophomore for the Jaguars. Marcus is certainly a wide receiver any QB will want to find in the red zone as he provides a massive target that has a solid vertical as well. He also adds great balance on balls that might be just out of reach for other wide receivers that lack his length.
Keondre Bryant Keondre Bryant 6'0" | 165 lbs | WR John Marshall | 2023 State MN | Wide Receiver | Rochester John Marshall | 2023
Bryant signed up as a pass-catcher, but man oh man did this kid have that “it” factor in 1on1 drills. He was an instant flyer of speed the second the football reached into his hands, and he wasted zero time turning on the jets upfield with a huge burst. Bryant just had such explosive hips at the Prep Redzone Minnesota showcase, I just couldn’t wait to watch his film. It’s no surprise that Keondre is such an active member of the Rockets kickoff returns, as his footwork is fantastic. Bryant also carries a big motor on punt return and has a quick jolt to get downfield quickly and make a play on the ball carrier. He has really strong reaction time as he has a solid pad level on his tackles as a defensive back. I would expect Bryant to turn in an even bigger role for the Rockets entering his senior season with his excellent variety of skill sets he brings to the table.
Defensive Backs
Peyton Himley | Defensive Back | Edina | 2023
We love the word instinctive around these parts, and that is a solid word to describe Peyton Himley of Edina last Sunday. His hips were super loose and opened up really quickly to make a jump on the football. He was the top dog when it came to the shuttle, running a 4.28 which was the fastest amongst all defensive backs. You can put Peyton on an island, and let him roam and he will cover plenty of ground for you. Watching Peyton on tape, you see a DB prospect that in my eyes, his football speed looks faster on tape. Himey can get into or beyond that first level of play super quickly to make a play on the ball carrier. If the play is coming inside or outside it doesn’t matter this kid is going to be right there guaranteed. Not only does he have range, he also plays extremely long for a safety at 6’2 180. I also can tell Himley has excellent pad-level when dropping upfront to the next level of the field. Certainly a scholarship-level prospect in my eyes.
Donovan Brown Donovan Brown 6'1" | 165 lbs | DB Princeton | 2022 MN | Defensive Back | Princeton | 2022
Brown showed off some excellent explosion that I caught in the early drills starting with the 40 yard dash. That explosion also amounted to a solid outing in 1on1s where Brown started to catch some attention from the college coaches in attendance. When I rolled Donovan’s tape, holy cow do I enjoy watching his backpedal as his feet are so fluid when in reverse. Donovan also has a really long stretch, and he shows it off on numerous occasions within the first minute of his film on both sides of the ball. The interest has really risen for Donovan Brown Donovan Brown 6'1" | 165 lbs | DB Princeton | 2022 MN since the PRZ Minnesota Showcase, picking up two next-level opportunities since the showcase ended last Sunday. This young man had an eye-popping 32 pass breakups in his senior season to along with five interceptions.
Cordell Wilson Cordell Wilson 5'10" | 170 lbs | DB Robbinsdale Armstrong | 2023 State MN | Defensive Back | Robbinsdale Armstrong | 2023
Wilson was not the biggest defensive back at our Prep Redzone Minnesota showcase, but man was this young man stuck like glue in every rep I watched in 1on1s. He tested at one of the highest levels for defensive backs so I was not surprised to see the motor he plays with but I loved how he played his game and did not let the bigger wide receivers push him around. Wilson has a really strong vertical on tape that exceeds what you would expect out of his 5’10 170 pound body. Not only is he elusive with his stretch, he also has the hard-hitting instinct you want out of your defensive back as Wilson plays fearless around the football field. I believe this young man has a bright future playing scholarship level college football in the coming years.
Kameron Clay Kameron Clay 5'10" | 145 lbs | DB Minneapolis North | 2023 State MN | Defensive Back | Minneapolis North | 2023
Clay showed some raging speed in the shuttle drill posting one of the top numbers at 4.32 amongst defensive backs. He also was the top performer in the L-drill with a 7.15. Clay also had a great day in the field, looking really superb in 1on1 drills. In his junior tape, Clay shows a lot of versatility all around the football field. He can show off his skills in coverage or be an invader assisting with the Polars outside rush defense. He makes a solid amount of plays playing up a level and assists his linebackers nicely at that next level. I can’t wait to see more tape on this young man into his senior season as I would love to see more reps on how he fills in pass coverage with some added boost in the weight room this offseason as Clay also looked solid when I attended Minneapolis North’s practice this summer.
More Standouts from the Prep Redzone Minnesota Showcase
Quentin Cobb-Butler Quentin Cobb-Butler 5'9" | 155 lbs | DB Woodbury | 2024 State MN | Defensive Back | Woodbury | 2024
Cade Osterman Cade Osterman 6'1" | 185 lbs | ATH Elk River | 2023 State MN | Defensive Back | Elk River | 2023