Upperclassmen to Watch in 2021: Salina South

Last season was a difficult one for many programs, and that was no different for Salina South. The Cougars posted a 2-6 record in 2020 (1-4 in district play), defeating only Haysville Campus and Salina Central on the year. With that said, Sam Sellers’ team returns with a ton of talent still on the roster and will be looking to make a statement this season. How high Salina South climbs up the Ark Valley Chisholm Trail League standings will largely depend on contributions from its best 2022 and 2023 players. Who are some of the biggest names to watch? Let’s take a look. [player_tooltip player_id="119031" first="Weston" last="Fries"] - 6’2", 160 pounds, QB (2023) Fries is the <a href="https://prepredzone.com/kansas/rankings/2023-rankings/">No. 35 player in our 2023 rankings</a> and the No. 5-ranked quarterback on the list. He got an All-AVCTL Honorable Mention nod as a sophomore for his efforts on the Cougars baseball team, and that two-sport versatility shows up on tape. Fries improvises well and can throw from different arm angles, almost surely a byproduct of his experience as a pitcher and shortstop. His throwing motion is effortless and allows him to challenge defenses vertically. The scariest part? He still has room to improve his mechanics and generate more torque with his hips. Fries threw for 1,569 yards and 16 touchdowns last season. He’s still young, is already a promising prospect and is oozing with potential. That should be music to Salina Central’s ears this season as he looks to make a leap on the field. [player_tooltip player_id="35587" first="Shae" last="Lefort"] - 6’2", 290 pounds, OL (2022) LeFort is the <a href="https://prepredzone.com/kansas/rankings/2022-rankings/">No. 85 player in our 2022 rankings</a>. He received AVCTL All-League Second-Team honors last season and recently got his first offer from Tabor College. LeFort explodes off the snap well and drives opponents into the ground — specializing in serving up pancakes. He has strong hands that can prove to be even more effective as he learns how to place them with more accuracy. He pulls across the formation when necessary and moves well in space, often chipping in on combo blocks. If LeFort can continue to hone his craft and work on his technique, he has a very bright future at the next level. His raw strength and athletic ability are evident. [player_tooltip player_id="35666" first="Tejon" last="McDaniel"] - 6’4", 170 pounds, WR (2023) McDaniel is the No. 70 player in our 2023 rankings and the No. 10-ranked receiver on the list. He also plays basketball and was named to the SIT All-Tournament team earlier this year. There’s limited tape of McDaniel available but from what is out there, it’s easy to come away impressed with his ability to succeed as a vertical threat. He rises up and high-points the football before plucking it out of the air and coming down with it. He displays quality body control, which is a major plus for a tall receiver who should only improve as he gets more experience. Fries’ risk-taking mentality should play to McDaniel’s advantage this season. As McDaniel fine-tunes his route-running process and continues to get more comfortable in Salina South’s offense, he very well could emerge as a viable receiving option for the team. [player_tooltip player_id="89188" first="Kayson" last="Dietz"] - 6’1", 290 pounds, DL (2022) Dietz is the No. 83 player in our 2022 rankings, and he recently received his first collegiate offer from Benedictine in June. For a large human being, he moves very well and displays above-average pursuit speed. He’s more than capable of disengaging quickly, sniffing out screen passes and making tackles in space. He also plays a major role in assisting on tackles close to the line of scrimmage. Dietz’s straight-line burst to the quarterback is good and he’s willing to work across the face of the offensive line in order to generate pressure. He reverts to an outside spin move that gets a lot of defensive linemen stuck, but it works for him and allows him to break off quickly. Dietz is a force to be reckoned with on the interior. [player_tooltip player_id="35573" first="Brandt" last="Cox"] - 6’1", 195 pounds, RB (2022) Cox is the No. 62 player in our 2022 rankings and the No. 8-ranked running back on the list. He moonlights as a track and field athlete, as well as a basketball player. Athleticism comes naturally to Cox, and it’s obvious on film. His top-end speed is great and he doesn’t require much space before shooting through gaps and separating from the defense. This speed is also put on display during his reps as a return man. Cox’s balance is exquisite, pairing with his willingness to lower his shoulder in the open field to make him a difficult player to stop. He does a ton of damage between the hashes and also offers versatility as a receiver. If the Cougars are to improve their record this season, Cox will be a primary reason why.