MANKATO — Mankato West senior Hudson Clarksean was one of hundreds of Mankato athletes to start their 2026-27 athletic campaigns on Monday.
He’s also one of few who know exactly what his future looks like. The linebacker committed to play football at the University of New Mexico earlier this summer. Sure, it’s a far drive, but he’s all in on the Lobos’ coaching staff which features head coach Jason Eck and defensive coordinator Spence Nowinsky, one of the top assistant coaches in the country.
So, with his college plan set, what does Clarksean want to accomplish this season, his last for the Scarlets? He was asked this during practice Monday.
He said he wanted to accumulate more tackles than he did last season, a number which sits at 116. Then there was the other part.
“I just want to win,” Clarksean said. “We lost to (Mankato) East last season. I have no words. That doesn’t happen.”
He also wants to re-establish the program’s biggest goal — win a state championship. Whatever doubt resided in that locker room, according to Clarksean, is gone.
“Last year, if you asked somebody what their goal was and the answer was ‘Yo, I can’t wait to go to state,’ some people would say, ‘Oh, we’re not going to state,’” Clarksean said. “They just wouldn’t believe in it. That was just insane to hear for the first time. That should be your goal every year.
“We show up. You think that wouldn’t be a problem, but that was a problem last season.”
Of course, for Clarksean, his 4.66 40-yard dash speed only fits one side of the coin. There’s also what West’s offense is capable of.
That unit will be powered by senior quarterback Osborne Lorenz. He’s around 6-foot-4 and 225 pounds. Picture Minnesota State quarterback Mitchell Thompson, but with a slightly bigger frame.
Lorenz is a smart passer, but his ability as a runner is equally as effective. The same day Trevor Sheldrup broke two school records was a day where Lorenz made his return to the field, racking up 62 yards and a score off eight carries in the section quarterfinal win over Waconia.
Yet, Lorenz’s junior season showed a brief glimpse of what he can do. During last season’s 28-7 Kato Jug game loss to East he suffered a high ankle sprain dropping back for a pass which was immediately blown dead by officials for a pre-snap penalty.
But now in 2026 Lorenz is back to full strength. Like Clarksean, Lorenz’s college plans are set with his commitment with Minnesota Duluth.
“We’re just excited for him,” Scarlets head coach JJ Helget said of Lorenz. “He’s the leader of our offense. You could tell last year he made things go. We’ve centered our offense around what he does, and we’re excited for him.”