Small school gems – Class of 2024
Following up on our previous story highlighting some of the best small-school talent from the Class of ’23, we look toward some underclassmen who will be roaming football fields across the state this fall. They made impacts last season and…
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Continue ReadingFollowing up on our previous story highlighting some of the best small-school talent from the Class of ’23, we look toward some underclassmen who will be roaming football fields across the state this fall. They made impacts last season and are looking for even bigger things in their junior seasons.
Zashon Rich Zashon Rich 6'2" | 180 lbs | DB MPLS North | 2024 State MN DB Minneapolis North
Rich is great in press coverage at the cornerback position. He gets a good jam off the line and then has great hip rotation to transition from press to a trail technique. He has the speed to stick with most receivers and reads routes quickly. Along with getting a good jam at the line of scrimmage, he quickly gets off blockers in the running game.
Conner Connell Conner Connell 6'4" | 225 lbs | ATH Luverne | 2024 State MN TE Luverne
Connell does a little bit of everything at tight end for the Cardinals. He gets good separation on his routes and has a long-striding running style allowing for the separation. That length also allows him to make contested catches. He is a physical blocker, and as he adds weight over the next couple of years, he has a lot of potential at the next level. On the defensive side, he is an athletic, aggressive linebacker.
Hudson Hackel Hudson Hackel 6'1" | 215 lbs | LB Perham | 2024 State MN LB Perham
Speaking of linebacker, Hackel shows excellent instincts at the position. He is a physical tackler, but he also plays well in space. Hackel does a great job balancing aggression with control and can recover quickly if his aggression or the call from the sidelines gets him out of position. He breaks down well is a very technical tackler. Instead of going for the big hit that runners can sometimes bounce off of, he uses good tackling technique. On offense, he is a tough in between the tackles runner but is an even better lead blocker.
Monte Gillman Monte Gillman 5'6" | 165 lbs | RB Dassel-Cokato | 2024 State MN RB Dassel-Cokato
The first thing I noticed watching Gillman is his quick feet. His feet, combined with his intuitive running style, allow him to pick up yards without much space. He is hard to get a clean hit on because of his elusive running style. His straight-line speed becomes an obvious strength once he gets into the open field. One of the better all-around athletes in the state, Gillman is also a multi-year starter on the Chargers’ wrestling and track teams.
DaShaun Hill DaShaun Hill 5'10" | 170 lbs | QB MPLS North | 2024 MN QB Minneapolis North
Hill has a quick release and solid arm. He has an effortless throwing style that lets him get good velocity on his throws – even off his back foot. He throws well on the run and is creative with the ball when a play goes off-schedule. It looks like he primarily runs to give himself more time to throw, but he has the speed to become a threat in the running game. Hill shows great touch on both his deep ball and throws underneath.
Davontae White-Sledge Davontae White-Sledge 6'2" | 170 lbs | ATH MPLS Patrick Henry | 2024 State MN ATH Minneapolis Patrick Henry
White-Sledge has great instincts when running the option. His long-striding style eats up yardage once he decides to cut up the field off the option look. White-Sledge is strong enough to break tackles despite his lean, athletic build and is harder to bring down than he appears. He is most effective as a straight-line runner, but he can make people miss in the open field.
Lewis Doyle Lewis Doyle 6'0" | 155 lbs | ATH Caledonia | 2024 State MN QB Caledonia
Caledonia’s nation-long winning streak might have come to an end last season, but their string of stud starting quarterbacks has not. Like many of his predecessors, Doyle has a big arm and can get the ball down the field. He is a good basketball player who shows excellent footwork and doesn’t need his feet set to make an accurate throw. He moves well in the pocket and can throw on the move. When he can set his feet, he makes quick decisions and has a quick release.
Damian Tapio Damian Tapio 5'7" | 180 lbs | RB Mountain Iron-Buhl | 2024 State MN RB Mountain Iron-Buhl
Tapio’s running style combines good straight-line speed with the power to run through arm tackles. Running primarily out of the shotgun, his vision and one-cut style is perfect for the Rangers’ offense. His strength is apparent watching him shrug off tacklers despite not having overwhelming size. With his low center of gravity, he is tough to get a direct shot on. He is also effective coming out of the backfield as a receiver – mainly on short or intermediate routes.
Jaxon Strinmoen Jaxon Strinmoen 6'5" | 170 lbs | WR Spring Grove | 2024 State MN WR Spring Grove
Maybe an even better basketball player than a football player, Strinmoen’s athletic ability transfers over to the football field. His 6’4″ 165-pound frame makes him a tough physical matchup for corners, and his speed makes him a nightmare for most linebackers and safeties. He already has big-play ability – scoring four touchdowns and averaging 22 yards per catch. A two-way player, Strinmoen led the team in tackles for loss from his linebacker/defensive back position.
Sam Haug Sam Haug 6'0" | 205 lbs | DB Concordia Academy | 2024 State MN DB Concordia Academy
Haug’s instincts and ball skills stand out immediately on film. He breaks on the ball well and has the hands of a receiver. He is a physical corner – both in the passing game and when he lines up in the box. Haug is just as effective tackling receivers in space as he is at the line of scrimmage. He also doubles as a running back on offense. He shows good instincts as a between the tackles runner out of the offenses’ shotgun formation.