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HERMANTOWN — Martin Sleen’s explosive start has moved well beyond being simply a Hermantown football story.
The Hawks standout has established himself among the most productive running backs in Minnesota.
Sleen has rushed for 900 yards and 15 touchdowns, placing him sixth statewide in rushing yardage and tied for second in rushing touchdowns through the latest 2026 statistics.
Only Zachary Shatek, with 1,222 yards; Mack Jurkovich, 1,050; Brian White III, 1,008; Kale Eiken, 902; and Elijah Larson, 901, have rushed for more yards than Sleen.
The margin between Sleen and several of the state’s leaders is remarkably small. Larson and Eiken are only one and two yards ahead of him, respectively, putting Sleen within striking distance of fourth place in Minnesota.
His touchdown production has been even more impressive.
Larson leads Minnesota with 17 rushing touchdowns. Sleen is tied for second with Shatek and Benjamin Lindesmith at 15, giving the Hermantown standout one of the most productive scoring seasons in the state.
That combination — 900 yards and 15 rushing touchdowns — has made Sleen the centerpiece of a Hermantown offense that has repeatedly demonstrated its ability to strike quickly and create explosive plays.
Sleen has been more than a high-volume runner. His season has been defined by his ability to turn opportunities into touchdowns, break open games and provide Hermantown with a dependable offensive focal point.
His performance against Duluth East offered perhaps the clearest example. Sleen scored six touchdowns as Hermantown rolled to a 48-27 victory, continuing a season in which opposing defenses have struggled to keep him out of the open field.
A week later, on Homecoming night against Cloquet, Sleen returned the opening kickoff approximately 90 yards for a touchdown, immediately setting the tone in another Hermantown victory. His value as a return threat adds another dimension to a season already defined by elite rushing production.
The statewide rankings put the season into perspective.
Among hundreds of Minnesota high school football players, only five entered the latest statistical update with more rushing yards. Only one had scored more rushing touchdowns.
And Sleen is doing it for a Hermantown program playing a schedule that has included Northeast Red competition and several of northeastern Minnesota’s strongest programs.
The rushing race remains fluid. Shatek has created significant separation at the top with 1,222 yards, but the next group is tightly packed. Sleen sits only two yards behind Eiken for fourth and one behind Larson for fifth, meaning the order could change dramatically with one productive game.
The touchdown race is even tighter. Larson’s 17 scores lead the state, while Sleen, Shatek and Lindesmith are only two behind. Logan Giese, Reid Hungerholt and Brodie Metzger follow with 14 apiece.
That puts Sleen squarely in the conversation among Minnesota’s most productive offensive players as the regular season moves toward its decisive stretch.
Statistics alone do not determine the best running back in Minnesota. Classification, schedule strength, offensive systems and workload all matter. But 900 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns are impossible to dismiss.
Sleen has gone from being one of northeastern Minnesota’s most dangerous players to one of the state’s statistical leaders. And with football still to be played, his biggest numbers may still be ahead.
