2025 Eight-Man Prospects Set To Make Rankings Debut

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's been a busy March for this old scout. Club Volleyball season is wrapping up and with that work on updating the Prep Dig Rankings. The State Basketball Tournaments ate up a bunch of my time this month and now I am a little behind on updating the Prep Redzone football rankings.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The publishing of the updated Class of 2026 rankings has been pushed back into April, but work on the rankings is almost completed. To preview that update here is a report on athletes from the Eight-Man ranks who will be debuting in those April rankings.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This is not an all-inclusive list, and you will have to comeback to Prep Redzone in April to see where each “Eight-Man Gem” ends up in the rankings.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1214948' first='Gavin' last='Carson']</strong>, LB, 6'2”, 190, Rural Vista</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Carson is a physical linebacker who loves to make tackles. He finished his junior season with 98 total tackles in 10 games played. The Rural Vista prospect also carried the ball for Heat. He rushed for 556 yards and seven touchdowns. His collegiate future is most likely at quarterback and he would add solid depth to a NAIA or JUCO program.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1214953' first='Dorian' last='Culwell']</strong>, LB, 5'9”, 150, Rawlins County</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another lunchpail linebacker from the eight-man ranks in Rawlins County prospect Culwell. The Buffalo linebacker racked up 95 total tackles during his junior campaign. His speed his what makes him a difference maker on defense. He recorded seven quarterback sacks last season which provides evidence that he can be disruptive in the backfield. Culwell also has a nose for the football making five fumble recoveries last fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1215322' first='Rieken' last='Stallbaumer']</strong>, QB,6'2”, 160, Hanover</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stallbaumer has guided the Wildcat offense for two seasons. He has back-to-back seasons with 1,200 passing yards. During his junior campaign he threw for 1,200 yards, completed 56 percent of his pass attempts and threw for 14 touchdowns. He has accounted for 37 touchdown passes and 18 rushing touchdowns as the starting quarterback in Hanover.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1215327' first='JT' last='Prusa']</strong>, ATH, 5'9”, 165, South Central</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Some athletes from small schools are difficult to judge when it comes to playing college ball. Prusa is one of those athletes. He could play quarterback, running back, slot back, linebacker, corner back, or safety at the next level. The bottom line is the South Central Timberwolf can play football. In three seasons he has accounted for 955 passing yards, 2,691 rushing yards, 137 total tackles, and seven interceptions. Western Kansas JUCO programs for sure need to give this young man a look.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1214923' first='Gabe' last='Smith']</strong>, LB, 5'9”, 200, Lakeside</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Downs, Kansas, is the home of another eight-man tackling machine. Smith recorded 101 total tackles in nine games for the Lakeside Knights. Eleven of those tackles resulted in lost yardage and he also registered four quarterback sacks. His game has improved every season both terms of statistical production, but also in his physicality on the field.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->