Explore every episode of the podcast Varsity Insiders With Randy Shaver

Minnesota’s football recruiting landscape is loaded with talent, led by powerhouse rosters at Moorhead and Shakopee, seven in-state Gophers commits and a growing group of prospects attracting national attention. Randy Shaver sits down with 247Sports' Ryan Burns and Prep Redzone's Oliver West to examine the state’s 2027 recruiting class and the debate over Minnesota’s top senior recruit. Burns and West identify overlooked players who could emerge this season and break down the transfer portal’s impact on high school recruiting, the pressure to commit earlier and Brodie Metzger’s rise from Nine-Player football to Power Four prospect.

How do you build and sustain a football dynasty when small enrollments, limited rosters and constant expectations are working against you? Minneota coach Chad Johnston and Jackson County Central coach Tom Schuller join Randy Shaver to share what keeps two Minnesota high school football programs thriving across generations. They explain how coaching continuity, youth involvement, weight-room commitment and community support turned their small-town schools into perennial powers. The coaches also share their advice for rebuilding a program, why relationships matter more than any “secret sauce” and how they keep accomplished players hungry when everyone expects them to win.

Blake Betton is a Penn State commit playing Class 6A football in the Twin Cities. Brodie Metzger is a Nine-Player state champion from southwestern Minnesota with 12 Division I offers. Both are ranked No. 1 in Minnesota in their recruiting classes, and both play for their dads. Randy Shaver talks with Betton, a Shakopee linebacker, and Metzger, a Hills-Beaver Creek two-way player, about the pressure of being a top recruit, the reality behind NIL negotiations and why college coaches keep calling after a verbal commitment. Betton shares why he chose Penn State and offers Metzger advice on evaluating schools, coaches and opportunities. The two multisport stars also discuss being coached by their dads, getting discovered, enrolling in college early and how basketball has made them better football players.

Why did Dwight Lundeen stay at Becker High School for 57 football seasons — and how does a program replace the only head coach it has ever known? The Minnesota high school football legend joins Randy Shaver to reflect on his final season, the emotional milestones ahead and the coaching philosophy behind Becker’s enduring success. His son, Redwood Valley coach Matt Lundeen, shares what inspired his book, "Success Is Temporary. Impact Is Forever," and Becker’s next head coach, Hokan Bengtson, explains what he learned from Lundeen. They explore how great coaches earn trust, bring out more in their players and build a legacy that reaches far beyond wins and championships. Plus: Lundeen reveals what comes next — and whether he can truly leave football behind.

Welcome to Varsity Insiders from Strib Varsity and the Minnesota Star Tribune. This is your one stop shop for all things Minnesota high school football.