Wichita East: Players to Watch This Season

After posting a 9-2 record last season, the Wichita East Blue Aces are primed for a successful 2021 campaign on the backs of some impressive players. First and foremost, returning multi-position senior Tobi Osunsanmi has made waves as a result of his <a href="https://twitter.com/OsunsanmiTobi/status/1406710072122675200">recent commitment to Kansas State</a>. Aside from him, though, East has a great crop of young talent ready to make a statement this season. The following players are certainly worth watching throughout the summer and into the fall. [player_tooltip player_id="146114" first="DaeOnte" last="Mitchell"] - 6’2", 190 pounds, QB (2024) Mitchell burst onto the scene as a freshman, scoring 25 total touchdowns in just five games. He led the Blue Aces to a 4-1 record before suffering a season-ending back injury. Now 100 percent healthy and ready for a big sophomore campaign, Mitchell’s best football is ahead of him. The dual-threat quarterback combines his creativity and improvisational skills with a strong arm and a willingness to find his teammates downfield. After a full offseason of rehab, weight room work and film study, all eyes are on the class of 2024 prospect to continue thriving this season. [player_tooltip player_id="145601" first="Ashton" last="White"] - 5’8", 160 pounds, WR (2024) Referring to White as primarily a receiver was a difficult decision, but that’s no slight to his performances in other roles. The sophomore possesses smooth hips that allow him to not only get in and out of his breaks quickly as a wideout, but they also show up on defense. White can serve as a defensive back and even fill in under center as needed. He’s comfortable vertically stacking and is without a doubt a quick-twitch athlete. With a summer of strength and conditioning training under his belt, expect him to look even more explosive in 2021. [player_tooltip player_id="91385" first="Caquoy" last="Patterson"] - 5’7", 155 pounds, WR (2022) Don’t let Patterson’s stature fool you — he plays much bigger than he actually is. The senior is great in short-area situations, succeeding on numerous occasions on bubble screens. Patterson is capable of playing on the boundary or in the slot right now, as well as boasting tremendous potential as a return man. His agility and shiftiness, combined with sure hands and subtle head fakes on slant routes, make him a player to keep an eye on as he wraps up his high school career. He has a bright future ahead of him and just needs a collegiate program to look beyond the measurables. [player_tooltip player_id="113639" first="Jomarion" last="Nelson"] - 5’10", 170 pounds, RB (2022) Another Wichita East senior, Nelson works very well in traffic. He attacks gaps with authority, possesses solid vision and can stop on a dime to redirect and make jump cuts. His change-of-direction ability is arguably his best trait, but he complements it with afterburners that oftentimes leave defenders in the dust. Despite weighing in at just 170 pounds, Nelson powers through arm tackles without losing any steam as a runner. He also offers some relatively untapped potential as a receiving threat, which could be what rounds out his profile this year. [player_tooltip player_id="145516" first="Dayontay" last="Standifer"] - 6’0", 205 pounds, RB (2024) What Standifer lacks in top-end speed (which is still adequate), he more than makes up for with power and football IQ. His vision is some of the best in all of Kansas high school football, and it gives him a supreme advantage as a patient runner. Standifer is scheme-diverse, having enough short-area burst for a power or gap offense but also using his vision to thrive on zone runs. Doubling as a linebacker, Standifer gets the most out of his frame and is a punishing presence on both sides of the football. He should make a leap as a sophomore and appear on quite a few more radars overall.