2022 IA Risers: RB’s, WR’s & TE’s
Jake Lemming
In this article:
In today’s piece, we took a look at the top risers amongst running backs, wide receivers, and tight ends. Some of these prospects were in our initial rankings, while others took their first leap in. Without further ado, here are the top RB, WR & TE risers.
RB’s Lane Spieker Lane Spieker 5'11" | 175 lbs | RB CAM | 2022 State IA , 5’9, 170, CAM A smaller yet shifter scatback equipped with pristine cutting ability and exceptional vision. His balance makes him extremely tough to bring down in the open field, and he has the top-end speed to run away from people. Spieker is an electric return man who can create a big play out of almost nothing. To me, he’s one of the state’s most underrated prospects. Titus Christiansen
Titus
Christiansen
5'10" | 175 lbs | RB
Southeast Polk | 2022
State
IA
, 5’10, 175, Southeast Polk
A 3-down back with great change of direction and overall solid patience as a runner. Titus took a huge leap in year two running for 1,380 yards & 16 TD’s. On film, Titus can get you the tough yards between the tackles but is also not afraid to bounce the football outside and get to the perimeter. He was a serious mismatch as a pass-catcher out of the backfield in 2020 and ran right past linebackers.
Trenton Pitlik
Trenton
Pitlik
5'11" | 190 lbs | RB
Mount Vernon | 2022
State
IA
, 5’11, 190, Mount Vernon
As a junior, Pitlik rushed for 1,193 yards & 13 TD’s. He was even named to the 2A All-State Defensive Team. As a running back, Pitlik runs well behind his pads and will accelerate through arm tackles. He shows good build up speed on tape and isn’t afraid to finish his runs by lowering his shoulder. This young man was a playmaking machine on both sides of the football and is no doubt deserving of his place on this list.
WR’s
Connor Frame
Connor
Frame
6'2" | 190 lbs | WR
Harlan | 2022
State
IA
, 6’2, 190, Harlan
Nobody took a bigger jump in our rankings more than Mr. Frame. Frame and OA-BCIG wide receiver
Easton Harms
Easton
Harms
6'1" | 185 lbs | WR
OABCIG | 2022
State
IA
were neck and neck for the top wideout spot in our rankings. Frame shows an unbelievable catch radius on tape. The kid hauls in everything thrown his way and can contort his body into awkward positions to make spectacular grabs look easy. Frame is a physical type of runner after the catch and is rarely brought down by the first defender.
Caden Hartz
Caden
Hartz
6'2" | 175 lbs | WR
Columbus Catholic | 2022
State
IA
, 6’1, 175, Columbus Catholic
This is a true x receiver whose number one route in his arsenal is the go ball. Hartz can track any ball while it’s in the air & does a good job separating at the top of his route. He shows solid footwork off press and uses his hands effectively to defeat cornerbacks. Hartz was not on our initial rankings, but based on the season he had this fall, there was no question he’s one of the state’s top wideouts.
Caedyn Glosser
Caedyn
Glosser
5'11" | 185 lbs | WR
Davis County | 2022
IA
, 6’, 185, Davis County
Glosser is an intelligent route runner who understands the importance of stemming defensive backs. Caedyn consistently found his way behind coverage and showed no issues catching the football in traffic. On film, he’s got deceptive speed that he uses to fool defensive backs before accelerating past them. Caedyn is no question a redzone threat who has the leaping ability for jump ball situations.
TE’s
Brayden Loftin
Brayden
Loftin
6'5" | 210 lbs | TE
Lewis Central | 2022
State
IA
, 6’5, 205, Lewis Central
Loftin runs routes more like a receiver than he does a tight end. He was a nightmare for rolled-up safeties and linebackers to guard out of the slot. He uses his long frame to post up defenders and attack the football at its highest point. Brayden is a physical blocker on the perimeter and will literally drive opponents into the sideline at times. He does need to add some weight, but the ability on tape is certainly there.
Andrew Knipper
Andrew
Knipper
6'4" | 225 lbs | TE
Linn-Mar | 2022
State
IA
, 6’4, 220, Linn-Mar
Knipper shows great hand placement as a blocker and is looking for work until the whistle is blown. He understands the importance of passing off stunts and shows no issues with lunging at defenders. On tape, he’s got soft hands for a big man and made some magnificent catches as a junior. Safties did not respect his speed last fall, leading him to haul in multiple long grabs over them. I think Knipper is going to develop into a really nice tight end prospect.
Braden Hemann
Braden
Hemann
6'4" | 210 lbs | TE
Waukon | 2022
State
IA
, 6’4, 210, Waukon
The first thing that jumps out to you on tape about Braden is his ability after the catch. He looks more like a running back than a tight end with the ball in his hands. He’s a high effort kid as a blocker who is a bit raw there but has loads of potential. He will calmly adjust to poorly thrown balls and make it look effortless. Braden is not afraid to get physical in his routes and will use peer strength to defeat linebackers.
RB’s Lane Spieker Lane Spieker 5'11" | 175 lbs | RB CAM | 2022 State IA , 5’9, 170, CAM A smaller yet shifter scatback equipped with pristine cutting ability and exceptional vision. His balance makes him extremely tough to bring down in the open field, and he has the top-end speed to run away from people. Spieker is an electric return man who can create a big play out of almost nothing. To me, he’s one of the state’s most underrated prospects. Titus Christiansen
Titus
Christiansen
5'10" | 175 lbs | RB
Southeast Polk | 2022
State
IA
, 5’10, 175, Southeast Polk
A 3-down back with great change of direction and overall solid patience as a runner. Titus took a huge leap in year two running for 1,380 yards & 16 TD’s. On film, Titus can get you the tough yards between the tackles but is also not afraid to bounce the football outside and get to the perimeter. He was a serious mismatch as a pass-catcher out of the backfield in 2020 and ran right past linebackers.
Trenton Pitlik
Trenton
Pitlik
5'11" | 190 lbs | RB
Mount Vernon | 2022
State
IA
, 5’11, 190, Mount Vernon
As a junior, Pitlik rushed for 1,193 yards & 13 TD’s. He was even named to the 2A All-State Defensive Team. As a running back, Pitlik runs well behind his pads and will accelerate through arm tackles. He shows good build up speed on tape and isn’t afraid to finish his runs by lowering his shoulder. This young man was a playmaking machine on both sides of the football and is no doubt deserving of his place on this list.
WR’s
Connor Frame
Connor
Frame
6'2" | 190 lbs | WR
Harlan | 2022
State
IA
, 6’2, 190, Harlan
Nobody took a bigger jump in our rankings more than Mr. Frame. Frame and OA-BCIG wide receiver
Easton Harms
Easton
Harms
6'1" | 185 lbs | WR
OABCIG | 2022
State
IA
were neck and neck for the top wideout spot in our rankings. Frame shows an unbelievable catch radius on tape. The kid hauls in everything thrown his way and can contort his body into awkward positions to make spectacular grabs look easy. Frame is a physical type of runner after the catch and is rarely brought down by the first defender.
Caden Hartz
Caden
Hartz
6'2" | 175 lbs | WR
Columbus Catholic | 2022
State
IA
, 6’1, 175, Columbus Catholic
This is a true x receiver whose number one route in his arsenal is the go ball. Hartz can track any ball while it’s in the air & does a good job separating at the top of his route. He shows solid footwork off press and uses his hands effectively to defeat cornerbacks. Hartz was not on our initial rankings, but based on the season he had this fall, there was no question he’s one of the state’s top wideouts.
Caedyn Glosser
Caedyn
Glosser
5'11" | 185 lbs | WR
Davis County | 2022
IA
, 6’, 185, Davis County
Glosser is an intelligent route runner who understands the importance of stemming defensive backs. Caedyn consistently found his way behind coverage and showed no issues catching the football in traffic. On film, he’s got deceptive speed that he uses to fool defensive backs before accelerating past them. Caedyn is no question a redzone threat who has the leaping ability for jump ball situations.
TE’s
Brayden Loftin
Brayden
Loftin
6'5" | 210 lbs | TE
Lewis Central | 2022
State
IA
, 6’5, 205, Lewis Central
Loftin runs routes more like a receiver than he does a tight end. He was a nightmare for rolled-up safeties and linebackers to guard out of the slot. He uses his long frame to post up defenders and attack the football at its highest point. Brayden is a physical blocker on the perimeter and will literally drive opponents into the sideline at times. He does need to add some weight, but the ability on tape is certainly there.
Andrew Knipper
Andrew
Knipper
6'4" | 225 lbs | TE
Linn-Mar | 2022
State
IA
, 6’4, 220, Linn-Mar
Knipper shows great hand placement as a blocker and is looking for work until the whistle is blown. He understands the importance of passing off stunts and shows no issues with lunging at defenders. On tape, he’s got soft hands for a big man and made some magnificent catches as a junior. Safties did not respect his speed last fall, leading him to haul in multiple long grabs over them. I think Knipper is going to develop into a really nice tight end prospect.
Braden Hemann
Braden
Hemann
6'4" | 210 lbs | TE
Waukon | 2022
State
IA
, 6’4, 210, Waukon
The first thing that jumps out to you on tape about Braden is his ability after the catch. He looks more like a running back than a tight end with the ball in his hands. He’s a high effort kid as a blocker who is a bit raw there but has loads of potential. He will calmly adjust to poorly thrown balls and make it look effortless. Braden is not afraid to get physical in his routes and will use peer strength to defeat linebackers. 
