Preseason All-State Football Team of Hoopers

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">It is always basketball season at Prep Hoops! However, football practices have started across the state and 9-Man games start this Friday!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontStyle":"normal","fontWeight":"100"}}} --> <p style="font-style:normal;font-weight:100"><span style="text-decoration: underline">What quality basketball players are also talented football players in the state of North Dakota? Here is our preseason All-State Hooper Football Team with their football rankings from Prep Redzone</span>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"30px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:30px"><span style="text-decoration: underline"><strong>Offense</strong></span></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>QB -</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1632742' first='Easton' last='Simon'] of New Rockford-Sheyenne. Won the 9-Man State Championship and First Team All-State last season. 54th ranked player on Prep Redzone in 2026, 4th ranked QB. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>QB - </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1539676' first='Reese' last='Walters'] of Grand Forks Red River. Projected to be the starting QB at RR, quality athlete with impressive size at 6'4". Prep Redzone has him on the Watchlist for rankings, which should change quickly.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>RB -</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1859912' first='Gunner' last='Thielges'] of LLM. 2nd Place at State and First Team All-State last season.14th ranked player on Prep Redzone in 2026, 2nd ranked RB. Committed to NDSU.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>HB/FB -</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1327798' first='Collin' last='Williams'] of Fargo Davies. Has some position flexibility but I would imagine he gets some touches in the backfield and will be a stud on both sides of the ball. Currently ranked 101 on Prep Redone in 2026, but that will rapidly change once the season kicks off.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>WR - </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1363917' first='Marial' last='Deng'] of Four Winds. At 6'5" and a superior athlete, he will be impossible to defend. 15th ranked player on Prep Redzone in 2026 and 3rd WR. Committed to UND.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>WR - </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1484338' first='Brooks' last='Bakko'] of Kindred. 2nd Place at State last year and First Team All-State. 3rd ranked player of Prep Redzone in 2027. Recruited as a TE, has many Power 4 offers from all over the country. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>WR - </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2270646' first='Easton' last='Benz'] of New Rockford-Sheyenne. Won the 9-Man State Championship and First Team All-State last season. 13th ranked player on Prep Redzone in 2026, 2nd ranked WR.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TE -</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2237729' first='Ben' last='Hynek'] of Stanley. 2nd ranked player of Prep Redzone in 2027. Has high-level offers from Power 4 schools from all over the country.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TE -</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2412050' first='Wyatt' last='Knudsen'] of West Fargo. He has the body/build/strength and size to be an impact player. It is tough to see the field in AAA as a soph but with Kundsen's Prep Redzone ranking of #7 in the 2028 class, he makes the article.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>OL - </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2237752' first='Luke' last='Starcevic'] of Kindred. 2nd Place at State last year and First Team All-State. 2nd ranked player of Prep Redzone in 2027. Recruited as a DL, has many Power 4 offers from all over the country. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>OL - </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2347920' first='Colt' last='Champion'] of Alexander. Not ranked at the moment on Prep Redzone but he is 6'6" with a GREAT frame. Has D2/D1 potential on the gridiron. Player to keep eyes on.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>OL -</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2672464' first='Preston' last='Arndt'] of LLM. 2nd Place at State last season. Will have another big season. His dad played football at NDSU. Preston is an emerging force on the field.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"large"} --> <p class="has-large-font-size"><span style="text-decoration: underline"><strong>Defense</strong></span></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DL -</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1537901' first='Drew' last='Kessel'] of Fargo South. 6'7" high-level athlete. 7th ranked player in Prep Redzone 2027 class. He should star as a TE as well as being tough as a DE. Has offers from the Gophers and Bison.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DL -</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1798698' first='Landon' last='Ralph'] of Wahpeton. Has the size, toughness, and smarts to be a very nice player. Second Team All-State last season. Currently ranked 82 in Prep Redzone 2026 rankings.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DL - </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1717045' first='Hunter' last='Tolstad'] of Westhope-Newburg-Glenburn. 10-1 record last football season, lost in the State semifinals. Strong, physical, aggressive, tough, hard-nosed player. Great DE and O-lineman. Currently ranked 58 in Prep Redzone 2026 rankings.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>LB -</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1539675' first='Nathan' last='Stevenson'] of Dickinson. He will also be the starting QB and will make some noise. Strong as an ox and will clean up on defense. Currently ranked #14 on Prep Redzone for the 2027 class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>LB -</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1510913' first='Carson' last='Quam'] of Shiloh Christian. 8-3 last season and a trip to the quarterfinals at State. Ranked #26 in the 2026 class in the #1 LB. I imagine many colleges are interested.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DB -</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1510890' first='Dylan' last='Glasser'] of Dickinson. First Team All-State last season in AA. Glasser is going to be a major playmaker. Currently ranked #65 in the 2027 Prep Redzone rankings.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DB -</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1680906' first='Aiden' last='Green'] of Horace. 10-2 record and State Champions in AA. Stud WR but should also be a difference maker on defense. 15th ranked player on Prep Redzone in the 2027 class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DB -</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2442325' first='Ty' last='Barman'] of Ray-Powers Lake. #1 ranked 2029 player in the Prep Redzone rankings. He will be a breakout star on both sides of the ball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DB -</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1559968' first='RaeShaun' last='Earl'] of Hankinson. First Team All-State last season in 9-Man. Currently ranked #73 in 2026 Prep Redzone rankings. It sounds like there is legit interest from the next level, should be moving up the ranks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DB -</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1338493' first='Aiden' last='Samek'] of West Fargo. He will be a playmaker on both sides of the ball. Currently ranked #37 in the 2026 Prep Redzone rankings. Samek is committed to MSUM.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DB - </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2092234' first='Kai' last='Zabel'] of Shanley (Oak Grove). Ranked #11 in the 2027 Prep Redzone ranking. Expect him to be a baller on both O &amp; D.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DB -</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2132772' first='Austin' last='Kanenwisher'] of Stanley. At 6'3" and athletic, he should be a dude on both sides of the ball at WR &amp; DB. Austin will makes plays as a safety &amp; corner. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontStyle":"italic","fontWeight":"1000"}},"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size" style="font-style:italic;font-weight:1000">Best of luck on the gridiron!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1606306,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/NorthDakota.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/NorthDakota.jpg?w=865" alt="" class="wp-image-1606306" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image -->