Players to Watch This Season: Piper

The Piper Pirates football program is one looking to build on a 5-5 record a season ago. Head coach Rick Pollard’s group went 3-2 in the Frontier League in 2020 and boasts some exciting young talent coming back for the 2021 campaign. In what’s shaping up to be a crucial year for the program, there’s a lot to like about this group. Who are some of Piper’s premier players to watch out for this season? Let’s take a look. [player_tooltip player_id="124494" first="Logan" last="Ladish"] — 6’2", 185 pounds, QB (2023) Ladish has had a busy summer, participating in showcases and camps throughout the state of Kansas and even receiving invites from the likes of Princeton and Purdue. The junior is a strong-armed quarterback who placed fifth in this past year’s 5A javelin throwing competition. He has the physical tools to be a successful pro-style field general in the future and is aware beyond his years. If there was one Kansas City area signal-caller poised to make another jump this season, Ladish would be at or near the top of the list. [player_tooltip player_id="87681" first="Camden" last="Beebe"] — 6’4", 300 pounds, RG (2023) Many may know the Beebe name from Cooper, who currently plays along the offensive line at Kansas State. His younger brother, Camden, is a great young talent as well and already has an offer from that same institution. Beebe is very mobile for a player of his size and strikes hard, capable of defeating double-teams when necessary. Combo blocks are no problem for him and his sound fundamentals allow him to thrive even when kicked outside to right tackle. Beebe’s anticipation is great on defense, and he has a very solid get-off at the line of scrimmage. Expect him to have another very solid season. [player_tooltip player_id="87682" first="Cameron" last="Rogers"] — 6’0", 257 pounds, LG (2023) What Rogers lacks in elite size for a lineman, he more than makes up for with great leverage and a terrific mean streak. He starts plays with a low pad level and fights throughout the rep, oftentimes driving his assignment into the dirt. Rogers is comfortable pulling and he moves well in space. There’s untapped potential for him as a defensive lineman, where he currently pushes the pocket consistently in pursuit of the quarterback. If Rogers can continue adding to his frame while maintaining what got him to this point, he has the makings of a very productive interior line piece on either side of the football. <strong>JamarRe’Air Jarrett — 5’8", N/A, RB (2024)</strong> In short, Jarrett is lightning in a bottle. The sophomore has a second gear that allows him to turn on the jets and pull away from defenders with ease. He redirects well and has little trouble planting his feet in the dirt and stopping on a dime. Jarrett is a patient runner who lets his blocks develop and uses the bigger bodies ahead of him to his advantage. He also plays like a larger running back, keeps his legs churning and rarely gets brought down after initial contact. Jarrett’s impressive profile at such an early stage makes him a must-watch prospect moving forward. <strong>Divante Herrig-Brittain — 5’10", N/A, CB (2022)</strong> Herrig-Brittain already has offers from Benedictine and Bethel, and for good reason. He possesses excellent ball skills at the cornerback position, specializing in tipped passes and improbable plays. He’s patient in his run fits and scrapes through traffic efficiently. Herrig-Brittain closes hard on the ball and is very decisive. He makes plays all over the field and simply has a nose for the football. His length and tracking abilities give him a chance to end his high school career on a very high note.