Class of ‘25 Rankings Update: Cracking the Top 50

This first group of newcomers for the Class of ’25 Player Rankings is a very promising bunch to say the least. Twenty-five prospects made their debuts in this update, with over 10 of them cracking the Top 50. Some of these prospects might be familiar from previous coverage over the last few months, but there are also some that have yet to be highlighted, and are ready to be introduced to the recruiting world. Here’s a look at seven of the new additions that made it in. [player_tooltip player_id="353227" first="Kye" last="Jegen"] – Mill Valley, 5’10”, 165, RB Starting us off first is the 2nd ranked running back in the class and the 9th ranked prospect overall. The Jegen family has produced some impact players for the Jaguar program over the years, and now [player_tooltip player_id="353227" first="Kye" last="Jegen"] is looking to make his mark at Mill Valley. Kye is a speedy back that has good vision for his age, and is very elusive in the open field. He proved to be an absolute playmaker for the Jaguars’ freshman team, and could potentially fight for some varsity snaps as a sophomore. A tiro of Jegen, Sidney Lockhart, and [player_tooltip player_id="259742" first="Tristan" last="Baker"] creates an exciting backfield. [player_tooltip player_id="351574" first="Tyler" last="West"] – Shawnee Mission NW, 5’6”, 140, WR West was one of many Shawnee Mission Northwest Cougars to crack the rankings in this update. But he came away with the highest rank out of the group. He checks in at No. 10 in the rankings, and is the 2nd ranked wideout in the class. This comes after his <i>MVP</i> performance from the <i>KC Varsity Combines</i>, and a very impressive freshman <a href="https://twitter.com/tylerwest06/status/1530965661383467008?s=21&amp;t=O9eheCSsnOWAByTkIGk7tA">track season</a>. This young man can flat out fly. He is capable of making a home run play anytime the ball is in his hands. West’s first varsity snaps might come as a return man, but his explosiveness is sure to lead to an expanded role. [player_tooltip player_id="351575" first="Amare" last="Williams"] – Shawnee Mission NW, 5’9”, 160, ATH, Williams is the second SMNW Cougar featured, and he enters the rankings just a bit behind West at No. 13 and is the 4th ranked athlete in the class. West wasn’t the only speedster from the Cougars’ freshman squad, as Williams can turn on the jets as well. In addition to Williams’ speed, he’s also a physical runner that can line up at multiple positions. He’s been putting in work this offseason, and it will show during the ’22 campaign. Williams and West have bright futures and could be key players for the Cougars in a few years. [player_tooltip player_id="352357" first="Ashton" last="Morgan"] – Blue Valley North, 5’8”, 155, DB Similar to Jegen, Morgan is another younger sibling looking to make a name for himself. So far, Ashton is off to a good start. Just like his older brother [player_tooltip player_id="126735" first="Alonzo" last="Morgan"], Ashton is also the top ranked defensive back in his class. He enters the rankings at No. 18 after a strong 2021 season. Morgan possesses great closing speed at an early age, which was also shown in his <a href="https://twitter.com/ashtonmorgan0/status/1519101818080575490?s=21&amp;t=O9eheCSsnOWAByTkIGk7tA">track highlights</a>. He already displays solid coverage skills and can play at either corner or safety. Morgan is a prospect that could compete for a starting job in the Mustangs’ secondary this season. [player_tooltip player_id="352340" first="Nate" last="Phillips"] – St. Thomas Aquinas, 5’10”, 170, WR Phillips is an intriguing young prospect for the Saints. He saw quite a bit of time in the backfield at the freshman level in Aquinas’ flexbone style offense. But this past spring he took a lot of reps at receiver, and made some impressive plays during <a href="https://twitter.com/natephillips31/status/1518018676154421248?s=21&amp;t=SJo6q83nOxI5OxWHoM-PPA">7-on-7 competition</a>. The 26th ranked prospect looked natural out wide, displaying strong hands, good body control, and an ability to get separation. Phillips may not see a ton of varsity action as a sophomore, but he has the potential of being a playmaker on offense for the Saints. He’ll definitely be a player to monitor as he develops. [player_tooltip player_id="354613" first="Drew" last="Kemp"] – Maize, 5’11”, 165, QB Everyone throughout the state knows who will be taking snaps under center for the Maize Eagles this season. But once [player_tooltip player_id="87642" first="Avery" last="Johnson"] graduates, who will step up to become the starter in 2023? Be sure to remember the name [player_tooltip player_id="354613" first="Drew" last="Kemp"] when that time comes. He’s a young signal caller with a tight spiral and clean mechanics that showed some promise at the freshman level. During his <a href="https://twitter.com/drewkemp_7/status/1525549907431546881?s=21&amp;t=O2jaUTxF4sHLBTUopQmmSQ">freshman year</a> he displayed quick decision making, accurate throws, and good awareness in the pocket. This brings him into the rankings at No. 41 and he is the 7th ranked quarterback in the class. [player_tooltip player_id="352451" first="Aiden" last="Heckathorn"] – Mulvane, 6’1”, 185, QB Heckathorn rounds off the Top 50 in this second update for the Class of ’25 rankings. The Mulvane product is another young signal caller to keep an eye on moving forward. With the starting quarterback spot up for grabs this season, Heckathorn looks like a strong candidate for the job. He showed flashes of being a legit dual-threat quarterback throughout his freshman year, and has had some success at a few<a href="https://twitter.com/aidenheckathorn/status/1531405164460089344?s=21&amp;t=O2jaUTxF4sHLBTUopQmmSQ"> combines</a> this past spring. Heckathorn boasts an athletic frame and has a strong base, which makes him tough to bring down. Look for him to be a Stock Riser in the next update.