Sheyenne's stud: Meet Karter Menz, North Dakota's top football prospect

WEST FARGO - Life is coming at Karter Menz pretty fast these days.

"I always wanted to play college football but I never imagined I could go that high. The last few months I started to believe that I could." Menz said.

What's happened over the last few months?

Nearly every big-name Division I football school in the Midwest has contacted Menz, from North Dakota State to Minnesota to Nebraska.

Menz is considered by some in recruiting circles as the top football recruit for the Class of 2023 in North Dakota. He just went on an official visit this weekend to the University of Minnesota.

"As soon as I got ranked as a three star recruit that's when things picked up, teams liked what they saw after that."

Menz was a wrecking machine on defense for the Mustangs this fall in leading Sheyenne to its first North Dakota Class 2A state championship.

He finished with 57 tackles and 11.5 sacks in 2021. The 6-5, 215-pound defensive end has caught the eyes of Gophers coach PJ Fleck to Huskers head coach Scott Frost.

"It was crazy at first. I was sitting on my bed and Minnesota contacted me first. They invited me down for a game and things really got going from there.

David Samson / The Forum

Menz is projected as either a defensive end or linebacker. NDSU is in the mix as well, as Karter's older brother Kole just completed his freshman season with the Bison.

"It be cool to play with him (Kole) again. I'm sure he wants whatever is best for me."

Menz has a busy June ahead of him. After this weekend's visit to Minnesota, it's to Lincoln, Nebraska this coming weekend for an official visit with the Huskers. He has tried to temper his enthusiasm as the offers come in.

"It's not a bad problem to have to be contacted by these coaches. I'm just trying to be patient and figure out what's the best fit."