Freshmen Week: 15 2027s from Kansas Making Noise this Fall
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PrepRedzone’s new featured series “Freshmen Week” is in full swing! After highlighting standout 2027s from Wisconsin and Indiana, we’re moving southwest to the Great State of Kansas to find, identify, and evaluate freshmen standouts from the Sunflower State making noise…
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Continue ReadingPrepRedzone’s new featured series “Freshmen Week” is in full swing! After highlighting standout 2027s from Wisconsin and Indiana, we’re moving southwest to the Great State of Kansas to find, identify, and evaluate freshmen standouts from the Sunflower State making noise this fall. With the way college football recruiting is trending, it is becoming more and more critical and consequential to pinpoint freshmen and underclassmen standouts to get a leg in early in their budding recruitments, as an early offer and the loyalty, belief, and trust it symbolizes can sometimes make the difference in where a talented high school football recruit commits to. Luckily for our readers, which includes college football coaches and recruits at all levels of college football, PrepRedzone is the most comprehensive, detailed, and ahead-of-the-time stop for high school football prospects, which includes these 15 2027s from Kansas Making Noise this Fall, as well as 18 more names to follow on our initial talent-ridden watchlist. Let’s meet the future of Kansas high school football & recruiting below. Dig in!
If you haven’t already checked out the Wisconsin and Indiana features, make sure you give them a read! You’ll know the 2027 class better than anyone when it’s all said done. Also, if you want to get to know arguably the top freshman in Kansas, who we highlighted last month, check out another PrepRedzone heavyweight Midwest feature as well.
Wisconsin –> https://prepredzone.com/2023/10/freshmen-week-11-2027s-from-wisconsin-making-noise-this-fall/
Indiana –> https://prepredzone.com/2023/10/freshmen-week-15-2027s-from-indiana-making-noise-this-fall/
Midwest 2027s to Know –> https://prepredzone.com/2023/09/2027s-making-noise-early-in-the-midwest/
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Starting on varsity as a freshman is no easy task, especially in the trenches, and 6’1, 260 lb. lineman Nolan Hadley is making it look easy as the starting left guard for the Maize High School Eagles. After a dominant middle school career, he’s come into the high school ranks and asserted himself among much bigger and experienced linemen on both sides of the ball, mainly thanks to his skillset that includes a ton of mobility and versatility for his size and age. I really like how Hadley operates, changes direction, and is overall effective in space, as he’s more than able to pull, work to the second level, and shut down defenders in pass protection. Hadley changes direction and can start/stop well when working to the second level and corralling quicker LBs and DBs, and he’s already comfortable in pass pro, where he does a good job of mirroring and patiently waiting to strike before he runs his feet and washes DL out of the play and also sets a good anchor to handle power rushes. He’s quick off the ball, which helps the 260 lber. pull around the LOS with force and control, and he’s strong enough to finish opponents once he gets hands-on and is engaged, which aids him in both the aforementioned situations as well as in pure run blocking, 1-on-1, who-wants-it-more reps. Hadley can already do a lot around the LOS and do it all well, which spells out good things for his future, especially if he can keep growing and hitting the weight room hard. Kansas has some big-time 2027 prospects already making noise in their OL class.
Highlights
The younger brother of Nebraska Cornhusker 2024 commit Callen Barta Callen Barta 6’2″ | 180 lbs | ATH Seaman | 2024 State KS , also of Seaman High School, freshman wideout Coy Barta Coy Barta 6’0″ | 140 lbs | ATH Seaman | 2027 State KS is having a solid first-year high school campaign and has been receiving varsity reps as a wide receiver for Vikings. He’s posted three catches for 69 yards and a TD, and showed in his TD catch that he can win contested catches, burn 1-on-1 coverage, and high-point the football out of the air. Also a standout hooper, Barta is already flashing the athleticism possessed by his older brother, who is a bonafide P5 athlete and prospect who just received an offer from Kansas State today. Also important to follow bloodlines in the recruiting world, and Coy Barta Coy Barta 6’0″ | 140 lbs | ATH Seaman | 2027 State KS is a testament to why. Keep your eye out for this cat going forward!
As previously mentioned, the Great State of Kansas has some tremendously exciting offensive line prospects in their budding 2027 class, and yet another must-know name out of its ranks is Salina Central’s Warrick VanBlaricon. Measuring in at an eye-catching 6’5, 285 lb., VanBlaricon got his first varsity start at the end of September and helped the Mustangs get a tight 34-31 victory behind his pads. A PrepRedzoneNEXT Showcase MVP, VanBlaricon seems to be transferring his middle school prowess over to the high school level, and displays a ton of strength and power as a freshman right tackle. His initial pop and punch is noticeably heavy and commanding, and he does a good job of keeping his hands active and working hard to maintain inside leverage. Additionally, his base helps him in both run and pass blocking situations, and he’s mobile enough to show the skill drop his hips and breakdown in space to handle LBs and smaller defenders, as well as get out in front of ball carriers and lead block in space. The RT still has some work to do in terms of growing into his frame, adding some control and movement skills, and generally developing his body, but there’s strength, confidence, aggression, and effectiveness against experienced varsity DL. VanBlaricon, as well as the other early standouts in the Kansas 2027 OL crop of talent, is a name very much worth following when talking big-time potential recruits.
Highlights
Although he isn’t a varsity contributor just yet, Blue Valley North’s 5’10, 160 lb. RB/DB Kayden Augustus is putting together a productive and explosive first-year high school campaign on the Mustangs‘ freshman and JV teams, where he’s finding the endzone early and often. Top end speed, quick feet and suddenness in his cuts, vision, and physicality at the contact point helped him pop off some dominant reps against non-varsity competition. Also a standout sprinter as a middle school track & field athlete, Augustus has a great chance of continuing to play up competition and transferring his non-varsity superiority to the varsity level. Keep your eyes and ears out for this dude the next couple of years!
Highlights
6’6″ and 175 pounds as a freshman, plus a prolific and explosive middle school hoops background, generally is a promising mix when talking high school football prospects, and Will Davis III gives you a lot more to be excited about when you flip on the tape in either spot. The 6’6, 175 lb. athlete can dunk a basketball as easily as I can walk to the kitchen and back, and sports a long, lean, but very athletic frame that has the chance to fill in and develop into beastly proportions. In his first-year high school tape against fellow freshmen, Davis III displays a fluid playstyle, movement skills, and a ton of athleticism. He tracks and plays the ball very well in the air, can climb the ladder and win contested catches over tight coverage in dominant fashion, and shows awareness and body control out on the gridiron when reeling in receptions all over the field and in various situations. He shows off good speed, soft hands that reel the rock in outside of his body and can finish receptions through contact, and the flexibility to drop his hips and create separation at the top of the route. Davis III is also quick and shifty after the catch, a willing and physical blocker out on the perimeter, and will fill in as a QB and can hurt defenses with his arm or his legs. Watching him play the ball in the air is particularly impressive, and he’s been dominant against non-varsity competition in 2023. He’s got the highest ceiling (no pun intended) in the budding 2027 class of Kansas right now.
I’ve mentioned it in the previous PrepRedzone Midwest features comprising our inaugural “Freshmen Week” series, but there’s always a precedent to identify young quarterbacks as early as possible given the importance the position plays in the role of the game of football and sports as a whole. Wellsville’s 5’11, 145 lber. Pete Dorsey doesn’t have a ton to give us in terms of film right now, but he did earn some varsity snaps as a first year high school signal-caller, so it is significant that the Eagles trusted him enough to throw him in the mix in any kind of situation and believe in his skillset enough to try to throw him in the fire in preparation for the future. Keep his name in stored in your Fort Knox, we may be hearing more about him soon.
Highlights
Playing up in competition as a freshman on junior varsity, Maize High School’s 6′, 145 lb. WR/DB Cordale Johnson also has totaled two varsity tackles and has been making plays no matter what level he’s competing at. There’s a good crop of freshmen contributors for the Eagles and Johnson is at the forefront regarding talent, as he’s a smooth, confident athlete with a dynamic skillset and a ton of big-play ability. He’s a deep threat as a WR who can take the top off the defense, powers out of his breaks, cuts off his routes well, and shows off a big catch radius. Johnson also demonstrates ball skills on both sides of the ball, loose hips and a technically sound playstyle in man coverage, and strength as a tackler that shows up all over the field, not to mention his cool, calm demeanor that never panics and helps in situations where the ball is in the air, he’s on an island in 1-on-1 coverage, or is acting as a punt or kick returner. Speaking of his returning ability, Johnson creates splash plays as a returner, utilizes space well, and uses his speed to advantage, and frankly looks like he’s on another level of athleticism and talent when returning a kickoff or punt. Johnson is an obviously athletic and dynamic three-phase contributor with a bright future ahead of him. I can’t wait to watch him once he gets up to varsity full time.
Highlights
Maddox Mcginnis
Maddox Mcginnis
Remember all that talk about the talent-ridden OL class coming out of Kansas in their 2027s? Well, add another name to the mix! 6’4, 270 lb. Wichita Northwest iOL Maddox McGinnis has made such significant waves on the gridiron and recruiting trail this fall that he’s already earned a gameday invite from the Kansas State Wildcats and visited Manhattan at the end of September. After some injuries to Northwest’s OL in a mid-September varsity contest, McGinnis was thrown into the fire and played his butt off against high-quality Kansas competition, where he impressed coaches and media alike and kickstart what will more than likely be an accomplished and hopefully dominant high school football career. As a LG, McGinnis displays a powerful hand/leg drive combination in run-blocking scenarios, the strength to topple and drive over large and experienced varsity defensive linemen, and can work to the second level and square up second-level defenders effectively, at least in JV ball that is. He’s overall powerful at the point of attack and excels in run blocking as a young buck with a lot of room to grow, get bigger, faster, stronger, and add to an already physically impressive skillset. I’m telling ya, this 2027 Kansas OL class is going to be a great one.
Malachi Brunk Malachi Brunk 5'11" | 150 lbs | QB Inman | 2027 State KS
Malachi Brunk Malachi Brunk 5'11" | 150 lbs | QB Inman | 2027 State KS
With a population of a little over 1.3K, we’re transitioning to small towns after highlighting some 2027s coming out of bigger programs and cities in the Great State of Kansas. We’re heading to Central Kansas for our next standout freshman in Inman High School’s 5’11, 150 lber. Malachi Brunk Malachi Brunk 5’11” | 150 lbs | QB Inman | 2027 State KS is finding statistical success on the gridiron as a first-year high schooler with a lot more production ahead of him. Brunk is the Teuton’s leading passer and has completed 25 passes on 61 attempts for 375 yards and 3 TDs and has added 30 rushes for 145 yards, not to mention his 30 tackles, an INT, and a fumble recovery defensively. He’s mobile, dynamic, and plays above what his age, experience, and size would suggest. Still need some more comprehensive film from I’m liking what I’m seeing so far from the young buck. Inman has a good one on their hands!
Eisenhower’s 5’9, 145 lb. WR/DB Timi Moronfolu Timi Moronfolu 5’9″ | 165 lbs | ATH Eisenhower | 2027 State KS is an explosive kick returner and a thumper of a DB who is just beginning to scratch the surface of his ability. Still needs to add some size, but knows how to use his speed to his advantage and could play a variety of positions at the varsity level.
Another Blue Valley Tiger freshman standout, 6’2, 180 lb. freshman WR Grant Westphal has a lot of good things going for him, starting with that size. Possessing a long, lean frame that is going to be able to hold a lot more good weight, Westphal is also a standout baseball player who has already been identified as one of the top bats in Kansas’ 2027 class, and he’s showing a lot of good things on the gridiron as a varsity contributor in their WR room. He breaks off his routes well and shows a large catch radius where he can fully extend to snag the rock out of the air and pick up low balls heading towards the turf. Westphal is fearless when going over the middle, can reel in catches through contact, is slippery and balanced after the catch, and does a good job of finding pockets in zone coverage and taking advantage of off-man when the CB is giving him too large of a cushion. Lot of natural ability and IQ in his game already. He’s going to be quite the prospect in both football & baseball as he gets older. Get on the hype train now!
Trying to replace Colorado Buffs superstar true freshman and Derby High School grad RB Dylan Edwards is far from an easy task, but I think the Panthers have about as close as they can get in the electric 2027 RB Arieus Finley. Averaging over 10 yards a carry and nearly 50 yards a game, Finley has already notched 29 carries for 309 yards and 6 TDs in his freshman campaign and done so in thrilling fashion. A big play waiting to happen, Finley’s impressive speed is visible at the top end when he’s pulling away from pursuers, when he’s taking the edge on a defense, or cutting back across the grain, and if you give him any kind of space or miss that first tackle on him he’ll make you pay. His eye-popping skillset includes burst, vision, balance, and a mean stiff arm, and he sets defenders up nicely before cutting on a dime and making would-be tacklers look foolish with his suddenness. Finley’s also a physical and willing blocker and can create big, momentum-shifting, fans-on-their-feet type plays that not a lot of RBs can make, much less as a freshman. I think it’s safe to say this dude is special. Make sure you enjoy his high school career because it’s going to be sensational.
We’re heading to Overland Park and the Blue Valley Northwest program for our next standout 2027 in 6’2, 280 lb. DT/OG Angelo Engler. Not on varsity yet, but Engler will be sooner rather than later, as his ability to work off double teams, impact both the run and pass game, and work in space as a blocker is quite impressive given the size/age combination. I really like watching him pull and lead block far downfield, as he’s balanced, controlled, and packs quite a punch at the contact point when he gets his pads on an opponent. He’ll bounce defenders off him and stay upright like a toddler just ran into him, and also shows off an understanding of leverage, using opponents’ momentum or body positioning mistakes against them, and even has some pass pro reps. Defensively, he’s got a good motor, can easily defeat double-team attempts, and uses his hands well to disengage from blockers. I’d be surprised if he’s not on varsity next season. The Kansas 2027 OL class has yet another name to know!
Highlights
Braden Gresham
Braden Gresham
Yet another Blue Valley standout, 5’8, 165 lb. ILB Braden Gresham has seen his play bump him up to JV competition, and although he’s still got some size to add in terms of his development going forward, he’s got a solid foundation of skills in mid-October of his freshman season. Sideline-to-sideline range, closing speed, technically sound tackler, reads, processes, and triggers on the ball quickly, and packs a punch for his size. He’s been a TFL machine in 2023 and is going to be a very productive high school LB when it’s all said and done. Work hard this offseason, Braden!
The current top dog in the Sunflower State’s 2027 QB class goes to Olathe West’s 6’2, 175 lber. Cameron Kruse. The state’s leading passer for the freshman class, Kruse has posted 62 completions on 129 attempts for 600 yards and 5 TDs as a freshman signal-caller leading the Owl’s offensive attack, and has added 49 rushes for 96 yards and 3 more TDs for good measure. With a strong arm that can stretch the field vertically and drop the ball into the breadbasket when going long, Kruse can put the ball on a rope in-between the hashes or down the seam and can put zip on the ball to fit it into tight windows that not many freshmen are able to pull off. Kruse also can scramble and looks like a maestro pulling the strings when things break down and he needs to improvise. His athleticism helps when he’s navigating the pocket, rolls out into space, or takes off and breaks tackles with his legs, and I really like how his internal clock will go off and he’ll work to step up into the pocket or avoid the rush like it’s his sixth sense. He’s able to do a lot more on the gridiron than your typical freshmen, and owns a strong arm and good mechanics that are really going to be able to stretch the field as he gets older. Just needs to work on sharpening that accuracy up a bit, but he’s a freshman and in the midst of some necessary growing pains that are going to pay dividends as he gets older and more experienced. Definitely excited about Kruse’s future at the QB position.
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More Freshmen to Know:
Terrence Bryant Terrence Bryant 5'11" | 165 lbs | ATH St. Thomas Aquinas | 2027 State KS (St. Thomas Aquinas) WR/DB. 5’11, 165 lbs. @Terr_Brya97
Kenton Taylor Kenton Taylor 6'0" | 160 lbs | LB Blue Valley Northwest | 2027 State KS (Blue Valley North) LB. 6′, 180 lbs. @Kenton_Taylor92
Wardaye Woods (Blue Valley) OL. 6′, 230 lbs. @wardaye_2027
Ayden Koehn Ayden Koehn 6'2" | 185 lbs | DL Cheney | 2027 State KS (Cheney) DE/OT. 6’2, 185 lbs. @ayden_koehn
Finn Moore Finn Moore 6'0" | 180 lbs | QB Free State | 2027 State KS (Lawrence Free State) QB. @FinnMoore2027
Jysir Chatmon Jysir Chatmon 5'9" | 180 lbs | ATH St. Thomas Aquinas | 2027 State KS (St. Thomas Aquinas) RB/DB. 5’9, 180 lbs. @JysirChatmon
Drake Blasi Drake Blasi 5'9" | 165 lbs | LB Maize | 2027 State KS (Maize) LB. 5’9, 165 lbs. @drakeblasi
Vincent Rosas Vincent Rosas 5'6" | 140 lbs | ATH Maize | 2027 State KS (Maize) DB. 5’6, 135 lbs. @Vincent_Rosas – very accomplished middle school wrestler
Tyree Kelley (Blue Valley) ATH. 5’5, 130 lbs. @Tyreekelley10
Trevon Briley Trevon Briley 6'2" | 195 lbs | DL Junction City | 2027 State KS (Junction City) DL. 6’2, 195 lbs. @Briley_Trevon
Jared Anschutz (TMP-Marian) WR. 6′, 160 lbs. @jared_anschuntz
Tanner Geist Tanner Geist 6'1" | 230 lbs | DL Hays | 2027 State KS (Hays) DL. 6’2, 235 lbs. @TannerGeist76 – 315 lb. bench press
Pearce George Pearce George 6'0" | 170 lbs | QB Maize | 2027 State KS (Maize) QB. 6′, 155 lbs. @pearce__george – varsity starter as a freshman
Stone Zambo Stone Zambo 6'1" | 185 lbs | WR Mill Valley | 2027 State KS (Mill Valley) TE/LB. 6′, 170 lbs. @stoneZambo2x
Luke Stewart (Council Grove) QB/DB. – 32 completions on 68 attempts for 414 yards and 2 TDs
Carter Green Carter Green 5'11" | 185 lbs | RB Douglass | 2027 State KS (Douglass) ATH. – 331 rushing yards and 3 TDs, 43 tackles, 2 TFLs, 2 sacks
Brody Pfannenstiel Brody Pfannenstiel 6'4" | 215 lbs | TE Russell | 2027 State KS (Russell) TE/DE. 6’3, 210 lbs. @Brodypfanny1 – 3 sacks
Nick Carter (Washington) DB. – 4 INTs