Blue Dragons Add 27 Kansas Athletes

Twenty-Seven members of the Class of 2021 from Kansas High Schools have signed to play for coach Drew Dallas and the Hutchinson Blue Dragons. Here is a look at those 27 Kansas Student-Athletes. A class that landed high-end defensive recruits and that will have an interesting competition at quarterback. DL, Trey Nuzum Trey Nuzum 6'3" | 285 lbs | DL Garden City | 2021 State KS , 6’3”, 285, Garden City– Nuzman is a beat and finished ranked in the Top 50 in the Prep Redzone Kansas Class of 2021 player rankings. He is fast, strong, and mean. Nuzman is expected to play in the 2021 Kansas Shrine Bowl. DL, Azael Perez Azael Perez 6'3" | 290 lbs | OL Holcomb | 2021 State KS , 6’2”, 290, Holcomb– Perez was the 27^th ranked offensive lineman at Prep Redzone Kansas but is expected to compete for a defensive position for Hutch. This is one of my favorite signings by the Blue Dragons. Perez will bring his lunch pale to practice every day and make his teammates better. Perez also plans on playing in the 2021 Kansas Shrine Bowl for the West squad. LB, Jack Kincaid Jack Kincaid 6'3" | 215 lbs | LB Bishop Miege | 2021 State KS , 6’3”, 235, Bishop Miege– Kincaid likes to hit ball carriers. He was the sixth-highest ranked linebacker at Prep Redzone Kansas. He has impressive speed and immeasurable toughness. LB, Darius Cooper Darius Cooper 6'2" | 240 lbs | LB Wichita East | 2021 State KS , 6’2”, 240, Wichita East– Cooper arguably could be the best pure athlete in the Hutch class. He is fast, strong, and a disciplined player. LB, Brayden Collins, 6’2”, 215, Canton-Galva – Canton-Galva was loaded for bear in 2020 and one of their key hunters was Collins. Don’t let the small school fool you, because Collins will compete for a starting spot at Hutch. LB, Ashton Ngo Ashton Ngo 6'0" | 205 lbs | LB Andover | 2021 State KS , 6’0”, 210, Andover– Ngo could be the fasted linebacker on this list. Hutch will want to line him and Cooper against each other in the timed forty. He is a hard-hitting player who could play free or strong safety for the Blue Dragons. QB, Tanner Cash Tanner Cash 6'2" | 200 lbs | QB Clearwater | 2021 State KS , 6’2”, 215, Clearwater– Hutch recruited three interesting quarterback prospects. Cash, might have the biggest arm of the three. He guided the Indians’ offense for multiple seasons and will look to take over the reins of the Blue Dragon offense. QB, Colin Shields Colin Shields 6'1" | 190 lbs | QB Maize South | 2021 State KS , 6’2”, 205, Maize South– Shields will compete against Cash for playing time. He had impressive weapons at the receiver position at Maize South and distributed the ball well in 2020. ATH, Jackson Miller Jackson Miller 6'0" | 185 lbs | QB De Soto | 2021 State KS , 5’10”, 180, De Soto– Miller looks like a defensive recruit for Hutch, but he is a solid quarterback who starred for De Soto. He could be a factor as a return man as well. Miller has a high football ceiling. WR, Malik Benson Malik Benson 6'1" | 175 lbs | WR Lansing | 2021 State KS , 6’1”, 175, Lansing – Benson was one of the best receivers I saw play in 2020. He has fast-greasy speed and will factor into the return game for Hutch. He was the third-highest ranked wide receiver in the Prep Redzone Kansas player rankings. Benson is scheduled to play for the East Squad in the 2021 Kansas Shrine Bowl.  WR, Jake Hartman, 6’0”, 175, Mill Valley – Hartman was one of the most productive receivers in Class 5A. He finished the 2020 season with 38 receptions, nine of which were for touchdowns. He could provide a scary one-two punch with Benson. More of a possession receiver than Benson. He is scheduled to compete in the 2021 Kansas Shrine Bowl. WR, Russell Wilkey Russell Wilkey 5'10" | 165 lbs | WR Junction City | 2021 State KS , 5’9”, 170, Junction City – Red Alert, Red Alert. This is an impressive signing. Wilkey can play multiple positions and was under-recruited. He is listed as a wide receiver, but throw him into the running back coemption as well.  Wilkey has a huge upside. WR, Tariq Logan Tariq Logan 6'0" | 165 lbs | WR Field Kindley | 2021 State KS , 6’0”, 175, Field Kindley – This is a great steal for the Hutchinson coaching staff. Tariq is a dangerous offensive weapon who could also turn around and play defensive back. With the Jayhawk Conference rival Red Ravens in Logan’s hometown, this makes this signing ever sweeter for the Blue Dragon staff. WR, Darby Roper Darby Roper 5'11" | 170 lbs | DB Haven | 2021 State KS , 5’11”, 165, Haven – Roper is a local speedster who will play college ball close to home. Roper is a slot receiver who will compete as a return man. WR, Marcello Bussey, 5’11”, 170, Junction City– Bussey is taller than his Junction City teammate, Wilkey. He is quick and has soft hands. He could contribute as a return man for Hutch. Bussey was the tenth-ranked receiver in the Kansas Prep Redzone player rankings. RB, Quinn Wittenauer, 5’10”, 170, Mill Valley– Wittenauer rushed for over 1,200 yards during in senior campaign. He also can find the endzone as he rushed for 15 touchdowns. You can also count on Mill Valley players knowing what it takes to win. He will have an impact at Hutch as a locker room leader. RB, Alec McCuan, 5’7”, 200, Hutchinson – McCaun had a solid career for the Salthawks and now hopes to continue that with Hutchinson CC. He is more of a threat as a receiving back than Wittenauer. DL, Nikko Taylor Nikko Taylor 6'6" | 225 lbs | LB Blue Valley North | 2021 State KS , 6’6”, 225, Blue Valley North – Taylor is a space-eater on the defensive line. He has is quick for a guy who stands six-foot-six and is a solid prospect out of Blue Valley North. DL, Leo Clennan Leo Clennan 6'4" | 240 lbs | DL Blue Valley West | 2021 State KS , 6’4”, 225, Blue Valley Northwest– Clennan can flat get off the line and knows how to finish tackles. He gets good leverage against blockers and will compete for a starting job at Hutch. DL,  Xavier Stillman, 6’3”, 270, Riverside – Stillman is an under the radar prospect from Class 2A Riverside. He is sold against the run and will compete right away for playing time. DL, Bryson Kenworthy, 6’6”, 240, Valley Heights– Kenworthy was an impact player for the Valley Heights Mustangs. He has a football frame and his strength is eating up blockers to free up his linebackers OL, Hunter Barlow Hunter Barlow 6'3" | 295 lbs | OL Haven | 2021 State KS , 6’3”, 300, Haven– Barlow is the only offensive lineman signed by Hutch. So the string run blocker will have a chance to compete right away, which opens the door for one of their d-line recruits to switch to the O-line. DB, Charles Jones, Jr., 6’1”, 185, Manhattan – Jones will be an asset in pass coverage and his size gives him the option to move to linebacker. DB, Will Wunderly, 6’1”, 165, Fort Scott – The talented Tiger can tackle and cover. He is a smart football player who can just down receivers and blitz from the corner. TE, Miles Kitselman, 6’5”, 250, Lyndon – Kitselman will provide a big target for whoever plays quarterback for the Dragons. He moves well for a big man and will post up in the middle of the field. Kitselman is scheduled to represent the Lyndon Tigers in the 2021 Kansas Shrine Bowl. TE, Nathan Hale Nathan Hale 6'4" | 240 lbs | DL Wichita West | 2021 State KS , Jr., 6’4”, 240, Wichita Northwest – Hale will be an interesting addition to the Hutch program. He played defensive line for Northwest but was recruited by the Dragons as a tight end. He will be a solid run-blocking tight end and raw in the passing game. K/P, Connor Gellender, 6’0”, 160, Lawrence – Gellender has an accurate and big leg. Kickers always file under the radar in recruiting but can make big difference between wins and losses in close games.