Unsigned Prospects: Athletes Being Slept On

Next up in the Unsigned Prospects series is a look at some athletes deep in the rankings that are being slept on. Every program at the next level could use a versatile player that can fill in and contribute with no problem. Each of these prospects finished their high school careers with many accomplishments, but it seems that they’re still being overlooked. With National Signing Day a little over week away, recruiters still have time to offer these players. [player_tooltip player_id="206715" first="Divante" last="Herrig-Brittain"] – Piper, 5’10”, 170 Herrig-Britain stepped up in a tremendous way for the Pirates during the ’21 season. Whenever Piper needed a big play, Divante would come through. At receiver he hauled in 32 catches for 619 yards with six scores and he rushed for 161 yards on 17 carriers with one touchdown. He also stood out in the secondary, racking up 60 total tackles, three interceptions with seven pass breakups, and four forced fumbles. The dynamic athlete would earn a 4A All-State Honorable Mention nod for his play at receiver, and he was also selected to play in the Kansas Shrine Bowl. He’s the total package when it comes to his play at wideout. Divante runs sharp routes, gets separation off the line, makes difficult catches, and can make multiple defenders miss in the open field. Defensively, he’s capable of playing corner or safety, and he’s a threat to take an interception to the house. [player_tooltip player_id="155078" first="Sam" last="Kleidosty"] – Tonganoxie, 5’10”, 185 Kleidosty is another talented prospect from Class 4A. The senior went from being a solid role player earlier in his career, to being the focal point of the Chieftains’ offense during his final season. He wrapped up the ’21 campaign with 967 yards on the ground with 16 touchdowns, and caught 16 passes for 342 yards and one score. The Tonganoxie product took home a 4A All-State Honorable Mention nod and a 1st Team All-Frontier League selection for his all-around play on offense. He excels at reading his blocks and just when it seems like he’s bottled up, Kleidosty manages to find cut back lanes. Kleidosty can also line up out wide or in the slot, and is a reliable target with sure hands. It’ll be interesting to see how collegiate programs utilize his skill set. [player_tooltip player_id="155079" first="Zach" last="Knowlton"] – Spring Hill, 5’8”, 160 The Broncos surprised a lot of folks during the ’21 season, as they’d finish with an 8-2 record after going 4-4 the previous year. Knowlton’s standout play during his senior year was a big reason for their success. Through nine games, Knowlton rushed for 452 yards on 45 carriers with six scores and he racked up 32 receptions for 445 yards and five touchdowns. Knowlton’s strong senior campaign earned him a 2nd Team All-Frontier League selection and he is the second athlete in this piece that was selected to play in the Kansas Shrine Bowl. He’s an explosive player with legit sprinter speed. Knowlton can turn a screen pass into a big gain, and when he takes handoffs out of the backfield, he bursts through the line as if he was shot out of a cannon. His ability to make contested catches is also impressive. [player_tooltip player_id="159163" first="Reed" last="Adelhardt"] – Garden Plain, 6’0”, 195 We’ve highlighted Adelhardt a few times as a prospect that’s continued to climb the rankings. But for some reason he’s still unsigned heading into National Signing Day. He’s a prospect that could contribute at running back or linebacker at the next level. He was only held under 100 yards rushing once this past season, and he’s been arguably the Owls’ top defender over the past two years. He once again took home a 2A All-State Honorable Mention selection for his play at running back, and he went from being an Honorable Mention selection at linebacker his junior year, to now being a 1st Team All-State backer as a senior. In addition to this, Adelhardt will be joining Herrig-Britain and Knowlton in the Kansas Shrine Bowl. Any collegiate program would be lucky to have a player like him. [player_tooltip player_id="35631" first="Noah" last="Palmer"] – Olathe North, 5’11”, 170 Palmer rounds off this group of talented athletes. Despite playing for one of the top programs in Class 6A, Palmer’s play has gone a bit unnoticed. That’s partially due to the abundance of talent on the Eagles’ roaster. Still yet, he deserves some recognition. Palmer ended his career accounting for over 4,000 yards of total offense with 24 total touchdowns, and he piled up 177 total tackles with eight interceptions. He picked up his second straight 6A All-State Honorable Mention nod for his play under center and he also earned an All-Sunflower League Honorable Mention selection. Palmer may not project as a quarterback at the next level, but there are programs that could find a role for him on offense. He also displays sound fundamentals at safety.