’26 Players Primed for Breakout Performances

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Student-athletes can see a big jump in production from their sophomore to junior seasons. They add strength and speed along with an improved understanding of the game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's a look at seven players in that position who could be primed for breakouts in 2024: </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1169738"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='1169738' first='Mason' last='Goering']'s older brother, Grahm Goering, starred at Iowa City West as a member of the '21 recruiting class before being a part of two national championships at South Dakota State. At 6-5, 180, [player_tooltip player_id='1169738' first='Mason' last='Goering'] presents matchup problems for the opposition, as you can see during his u003ca href=u0022https://www.hudl.com/video/3/17874052/65405d975b3cca0de862989du0022u003esophomore highlightsu003c/au003e. He offers good speed and shows advanced route running for his age. I'm interested to see what type of jump he can make on offense as a junior. Mason also has a chance to play defense on the next level. He looks very comfortable working at safety, changing directions and diagnosing plays quickly.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1221959' first='Hayden' last='Bishop'] ","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"6'3u0022","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_1_player_details_weight":"248","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"2405","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"Cedar Falls ","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_1_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Watching Bishop during his u003ca href=u0022https://www.hudl.com/video/3/20566371/65b919f1bed6e40658083aacu0022u003esophomore highlightsu003c/au003e, you see a performer playing beyond his years, physically and mentally. He's quick off of the snap, gets into the chest of defensive linemen and drives them back with good hand placement and pad level. He holds up well in the run game and in pass protection with athleticism to block in space and downfield. This kid looks poised to take a big step forward in '24.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1240433' first='Mason' last='Koehler']","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"6'1u0022","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_2_player_details_weight":"225","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"2405","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"Glenwood ","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_2_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Koehler is an interesting prospect. He's a really good wrestler, which benefits him when playing in the middle of the offensive line. As you can see during his u003ca href=u0022https://www.hudl.com/video/3/17966081/6524ec6e96762815c4179bedu0022u003esophomore highlightsu003c/au003e, he wins the low-man battle more often than not using quick reactions and good footwork. He finishes blocks and works comfortably in space or tight quarters. His athleticism also plays on defense, where he lines up inside, displaying an impressive combination of quickness and power. There's plenty of room left before Koehler hits his ceiling, which should be attractive to college programs.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1241376' first='Colton' last='McClish'] ","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"6'3u0022","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_3_player_details_weight":"300","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"2405","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"Johnston ","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_3_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"McClish is a big body. No doubt about that. But he's more than that. As you can see during his u003ca href=u0022https://www.hudl.com/video/3/16545697/653f39ecda5c260cc400eb24u0022u003esophomore highlightsu003c/au003e, McClish is an athletic giant. He can overwhelm opponents in a phone booth at the line or take them out in space. That said, his power stands out the most. He maximizes his strength by getting into the opposition's chest quickly, setting his hands inside and driving through with his legs. McClish thrives on delivering extra blocks once he takes out his initial assignment and plays well off of his fellow line mates. He's primed for a big jump in '24.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1240558' first='Andrew' last='Hine'] ","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"6'4u0022","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_4_player_details_weight":"245","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"2405","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"Waukee","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_4_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Hine is only scratching the surface of what he can be in this sport. There's plenty of room for growth physically and fundamentally. And that's exciting because he already performs at a high level for being so young. As he reveals during his u003ca href=u0022https://www.hudl.com/video/3/17793196/655196d132dc840db40c776bu0022u003esophomore highlightsu003c/au003e, Hine is solid in the run game and in pass protection. He finds success due to impressive bend and athleticism. He shows quick feet and strong hands. Waukee does a nice job game-planning around his strengths and he carries out assignments, playing through the whistle and opponents.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_5_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1631206' first='Kael' last='Williams'] ","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_5_player_details_graduating_class":"2026 ","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_5_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_5_player_details_weight":"175","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_5_player_details_position":"2411","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_5_player_details_school":"Washington ","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_5_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_5_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"Williams shines while playing running back during his u003ca href=u0022https://www.hudl.com/video/3/17707188/65387410d21b0804b0cf27dfu0022u003esophomore highlightsu003c/au003e. He blends keen vision with patience and a quick burst through the hole. He runs with physicality, showing an ability to break tackles and a commitment to churning his legs until the carry is complete. He moves well laterally and cuts well. The athleticism, speed and toughness play well carrying the ball at the next level. The traits also could work at defensive back. It plays well on special teams, too.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_6_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1238497' first='Ethan' last='Sloan']","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_6_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_6_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_6_player_details_weight":"260","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_6_player_details_position":"2405","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_6_player_details_school":"Cedar Rapids Kennedy ","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_6_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_6_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_6_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"No knock any student-athlete playing in smaller classes. They all produce excellent athletes. That said, there's something to be said for sophomores performing on the varsity offensive line in a program as the one at Cedar Rapids Kennedy. His u003ca href=u0022https://www.hudl.com/video/3/17989076/655146305ca92e0b846821d9u0022u003e10th-grade highlightsu003c/au003e provide us with evidence why he's playing at a high level at a young age. He gets his butt down and keeps his head up while coming off of the snap with impressive reaction time. He operates with good pad level and drives his hands into the opponent's chest. He brings solid footwork and power in his legs to the party as well.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":7,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65e65b156cb36"} /-->