Class of ‘24 Rankings Update: Top Sophomores in the State

The wait is finally over! The Class of ’24 player rankings have officially been updated, and with this update comes considerable change since last May. Especially within the Top 5, as there are three prospects joining this elite group. Each of these players were fantastic this past season, so it wasn’t easy ranking one over the other. This group could very well change again in the next update, but for now, these are the Top 5 sophomores in the state of Kansas. Coming in are two surging quarterback prospects, a two-way monster from the trenches, a tailback that eclipsed 2,000 yards rushing, and a versatile athlete out of Class 4A. Don’t forget to view the rest of the rankings, and be on the lookout for more coverage about the update. No. 1 [player_tooltip player_id="145515" first="Hudson" last="Ferralez"] – Hesston, 6’0”, 175, QB Since last spring, Ferralez has been a prospect on the rise, and he now sits atop the class as the new No. 1 ranked player. He put together an impressive year and was amongst the state leaders in passing yards per game. Ferralez would finish the ’21 season completing 193 of his 274 pass attempts for 2,436 yards and 27 touchdowns. This would earn him a 3A All-State Honorable Mention nod and a 2nd Team All-CKL selection. The first thing that jumps out from his film is his accuracy. Whether he’s throwing quick game or evading defenders, Ferralez manages to place the ball where only his receivers can catch it. He also has a good feel in the pocket and can sense when defenders are closing in. Even when defenders get close, Ferralez can make the tough throw under pressure. No. 2 [player_tooltip player_id="146114" first="DaeOnte" last="Mitchell"] – Wichita East, 6’2”, 210, QB Next up is the 2nd ranked quarterback prospect in the class. Mitchell moves up two spots in this update, and he also made a strong case for the No. 1 spot. He followed up his breakout freshman year with a great sophomore campaign. He earned his second straight 6A All-State Honorable Mention nod and was a 2nd Team All-City League selection. Mitchell ended the year completing over 75% of his passes and threw for over 1,900 yards with 26 touchdowns. The second-year starter took his game to another level in 2021. He was more efficient and it was evident that his confidence was much higher. Mitchell displays clean mechanics and does a great job of taking what the defense gives him. He’s dangerous when the pocket collapses because he’s an elusive runner and he keeps his eyes down field to find open receivers. No. 3 [player_tooltip player_id="146106" first="Holden" last="Bass"] – Nemaha Central, 6’4”, 270, OL Making his debut inside the Top 5 is the No. 1 ranked offensive lineman in the class. Bass was an absolute beast in the trenches during the ’21 season. After not being named to the 2A All-State team as a freshman, Bass earned 1st Team honors this year for his play at right tackle. The sophomore didn’t stop there though. He also earned a 2A All-State Honorable Mention selection as a defensive lineman. Bass is just a one man wrecking crew on both sides of the ball. For now, he is dependent on his strength on offense. But as he continues to develop, he’ll learn to key in on hand placement and his footwork will get quicker. Defensively, Bass can line up at defensive tackle or defensive end, and does a great job of using his long reach to control the line of scrimmage. No. 4 [player_tooltip player_id="259786" first="Omari" last="Elias"] – Kapaun Mt. Carmel, 5’9”, 185, RB Elias is not only making his debut inside the Top 5, but he is also one of the newest additions in this January update. He enters the rankings as the top running back prospect after dominating the competition in his first year starting for the Crusaders. Elias exploded for over 2,100 yards on the ground on 315 carries with 24 scores. His incredible year earned him a 1st Team 5A All-State selection and a 1st Team All-City League selection. He is the definition of a workhorse back, and his near 30 rushing attempts per game can attest to this. He’s the type of back that can grind down a defense, and he’ll only get stronger with every carry. Elias may not be the most explosive back, but he reads his blocks well and it typically takes multiple defenders to bring him down once he gets going. No. 5 [player_tooltip player_id="81144" first="Kaiden" last="Seamster"] – Chanute, 6’3”, 195, ATH Rounding off the Top 5 is a very talented two-way player that has maintained his status as one of the top prospects in the class. Seamster proved he could be a versatile player during the 2020 season, which led to the Blue Comets expanding his role in 2021. He primarily lined up in the slot this past season, but he also took snaps in the backfield and played well at safety. His standout play at wide receiver led to a 1st Team All-SEK League selection. Seamster has the frame and athleticism to become a special talent. He’s shown he can play multiple skill positions and can be successful at each one. His long reach benefits him on both sides of the ball, as the sophomore can high-point any pass and he can cause many deflections. He can also rack up yards after contact and has long strides that help him accelerate past defenders. Some more prospects at the top of the rankings include No. 6: [player_tooltip player_id="81149" first="Damon" last="Mesa"], Holcomb (WR), No. 7: [player_tooltip player_id="230440" first="Dylan" last="Dunn"], Blue Valley SW (QB), No. 8: [player_tooltip player_id="145572" first="Dillon" last="Marshall"], St. Thomas Aquinas (DB), No. 9: [player_tooltip player_id="145512" first="Derek" last="Hubbard"], Derby (RB), and No. 10: [player_tooltip player_id="146115" first="Cencere" last="Thompson"], Wichita NW (RB).