’23 Preseason Super 7 – Class 4A Receivers
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5A Receivers ’23 Preseason Super 7 QBs (scroll down) ’23 Preseason Super 7 RBs (scroll down) IOWA CITY, Iowa – July arrives this weekend, drawing closer the start of the high school football season. And we all know times flies.…
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IOWA CITY, Iowa – July arrives this weekend, drawing closer the start of the high school football season. And we all know times flies.
I’ve been highlighting top performers from last season returning in 2023. You can see the links for quarterbacks and running backs in all seven of the state’s classifications listed above.
Wide receivers are next up. Let’s check in on 4A:
Curtis Witte Curtis Witte 6'1" | 175 lbs | DB Lewis Central | 2024 State IA , ’24, Lewis Central – Witte (6-1, 180) impressed me at the Dome this past fall while performing for a Titan team that fell by a touchdown to Xavier in the state championship game. During his junior highlights, you see a receiver that plays bigger than his actual size thanks to athleticism and length. He runs quick, crisp routes and makes opponents miss in the open field or in tight quarters. He hauled in 51 passes for 998 yards (19.6 YPC) and 13 touchdowns. He also could end up at safety or hybrid at the next level with his fluid movement and toughness. He intercepted eight passes in ’22.
Reed Pfaltzgraff Reed Pfaltzgraff 6'3" | 165 lbs | WR Bondurant-Farrar | 2024 IA , ’24, Bondurant-Farrar – The 6-foot-4, 190-pound Pfaltzgraff caught 48 balls for 692 yards (14.4 YPC) and nine touchdowns last season. He added 16 solo tackles and picked off four passes on defense. He also converted 37 of 42 point-after touchdown chances as the team’s kicker. His junior highlights reveal a fluid athlete with good skills as a bigger receiver with long arms. It makes him effective against multiple coverages. He’s a good route runner that enjoys success lining up around the offense.
Payton Longmeyer, ’24, Glenwood – Longmeyer (5-10, 150) ranked second on the Rams in receptions (36), receiving yards (515) and touchdown catches (7) last year. He returned 15 kicks with a 28.7-yard average and averaged 13.8 yards on eight punt returns. His junior highlights open with a kick return that he houses from distance. He gets in and out his breaks quickly as a receiver, and completes some tough catches in traffic.
Henry Wiseman, ’24, Fort Madison – Wiseman (5-10, 150) appears to possess a high football IQ when viewing his junior highlights. He works his way back to the quarterback when plays go off schedule. He beats opponents with speed and can also make them miss in space with his shiftiness. He does a fine job selling his routes. As an 11-grader in ’22, Wiseman caught 43 passes for 507 yards and four touchdowns. He added 2.0 tackles for loss and a pair of interceptions on defense, and averaged 15.6 yards on nine kick returns.
Zach Smid Zach Smid 5'10" | 180 lbs | WR Dallas Center Grimes | 2024 IA , ’24, Dallas Center-Grimes – The 6-foot, 185-pound Smid beat opponents lining up all around the Mustangs’ offense. His junior highlights show off a weapon with the ball in his hands. The burst and ability to reach top speed quickly make him a problem in space. He changes directions well without slowing down much. He can adjust well going for contested passes. He posted 53 receptions for 487 yards and six touchdowns last fall. He added two rushing scores, averaged 20.3 yards on 13 kick returns and returned six punts with a 18.3 average.
Lual Maker, ’24, Lewis Central – Maker (6-6, 180) exudes high-ceiling potential when viewing his junior highlights. The size and length stand out, of course, but the first clip shows a guy with long strides and soft hands. He does a lot of his work across the middle of the field and regularly breaks tackles. He also benefits from good lateral quickness. On a loaded Titan squad in ’22, which included Witte, he caught 18 passes for 376 yards (20.9 YPC) and three touchdowns. I would expect those numbers to spike this fall.
Jake Fink, ’24, Denison-Schleswig – At 5-foot-11, 150 pounds, Fink contributes as a receiver and return man for the Monarchs. He brought in 28 passes for 371 yards and a touchdown on a team that leaned heavily on the run. He averaged 21.2 yards on 10 punts returns, one of which he housed. He returned 13 kicks with an 18.2-yard average. You witness big-lay ability while watching his junior highlights. He boasts the innate ability to see the field, speed up and make decisions quickly in bringing back punts. He runs tight routes and adjusts well while the ball is in the air.