Champion Check In – Southeast Polk
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The 2023 football season feels like it’s right around the corner even though it’s still a few months away. As teams prepare for the 2023 season, I wanted to take a look back at the end of the 2022 season with all the teams that captured state championships. This new series is our “Champion Check In” and it begins with Southeast Polk, who captured the Class 5A state championship last fall, their second consecutive state championship. Who did they lose? Who do they have coming back? We dive into it below! Keep it locked in to Prep Redzone Iowa for more breakdowns on the reigning state champs!
SOUTHEAST POLK
Fresh off back to back state championships, Southeast Polk is reloading for another run at the state’s top prize in the largest class. As we look ahead to the 2023 season, it’s hard to imagine many other teams ahead of Southeast Polk when you consider the true contenders for the state championship. Yes, they will lose some massive names and production but they also bring back plenty of players on both sides of the ball that leave us with a sense of optimism about this fall.
In regards to who they lose, it all starts with the big man up front. One of the top offensive linemen in the country graduates and will leave some massive shoes to fill behind him. Kadyn Proctor Kadyn Proctor 6'8" | 325 lbs | OL Southeast Polk | 2023 State IA was an absolute monster up front and it’s not surprising that Southeast Polk had not one, but two rushers finish with over 1,000 yards last season. Simply put, Southeast Polk won’t be able to replace Proctor along the line of scrimmage but this offense should still be explosive with what they return in the passing game.
We think that the passing game will also be improved because of what they lose at the running back position. Both Abu Sama Abu Sama 5'11" | 180 lbs | RB Southeast Polk | 2023 State IA and Harrison Gibson Harrison Gibson 5'10" | 200 lbs | ATH South East Polk | 2023 IA eclipsed 1,000 yards on the ground last season. And the last time Sama was on the field, he was running up and down the field at Northern Iowa, running for over 350 yards and six touchdowns in the state championship game. So yes, the running game will take a hit with the graduations of Sama and Gibson. But as you’ll see below, we have faith in the Southeast Polk offense.
WHO THEY BRING BACK
It’s hard not to start every conversation about Southeast Polk with quarterback Connor Moberly Connor Moberly 6’4″ | 200 lbs | QB Southeast Polk | 2024 State IA returning. We mentioned above how the running game might not be as productive but having the Iowa State commit returning at quarterback will certainly give this offense a major boost. Moberly has firmly established himself as one of the top quarterbacks in his class and he has the potential to have a very productive fall. Whether it’s attacking defenses with his arms or his legs, Moberly can beat you in a few different ways.
Highlights
Carson Robbins
Carson Robbins
Moberly’s top target at wide receiver returns with 2024 wideout Carson Robbins coming back this fall. Robbins was Southeast Polk’s leading receiver and as they look towards the 2023 season, the potential is certainly there for them to become one of the top passing teams in the state with Moberly pulling the trigger and Robbins returning at receiver. Robbins could end up being one of the prospects who sees their recruiting stock sky rocket this fall with another strong season and perhaps more production.
The passing game is going to be good but the strength of this team could be on the defensive side of the ball. We love what Southeast Polk brings back on defense and specifically in their front seven. 2024 standout Draven Woods Draven Woods 6’3″ | 230 lbs | DL Southeast Polk | 2024 State IA is one of the more versatile defenders in the state’s 2024 class and he leads a group of defensive linemen and linebackers that is incredibly experienced and talented. We think that the Southeast Polk front even might be one of the better units from top to bottom in the state’s largest class heading into this fall.