Wichita/Western KS Ballers Under the Radar

The clock continues to tick as sophomores and juniors prepare for the next stage in their high school football careers. The camps and clinics have been attended. The coaching and training has been reinforced. The seemingly endless running and weight room visits have become deposits in the bank.   Game time is fast approaching but before you get to the Friday Night Lights you have to practice. And practice with purpose. Whether you get a chance to shine come fall is predicated on what you bring to the weeks of practice getting ready to start.   All the off-season work has prepared you for these August practices, so before you start visualizing the games, get locked and loaded on disciplined, meaningful practice . Laser-focused on the process of getting good and not just enduring practice to get to the games. Relentlessly making the commitment to do whatever it takes to play elite-level football.   In this report we will cover some old-school players from both the 2025 and 2026 classes in the Wichita and Surrounding area as well as Western Kansas, from a variety of positions, who are already off and running on impressive high school careers. Even so, they have continued to work hard at their craft in the off-season in order to take their game to the next level this fall.   So, without further adieu, I bring you the "Mid-Week Five" getting ready to shift into overdrive in 2024.   [player_tooltip player_id='904440' first='Dalton' last='Hornback']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/dalton-hornback/"></a> , 6'1, 225, DE/DL, Derby, '26, is ranked #34. He is coming off an excellent sophomore season a year ago, starting all 13 games and piling up 70 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and five sacks. He has been hitting it hard in the off-season clinic/camp circuit. He excels as a five technique or coming off the edge in the Derby 3-4 defense. He has a powerful, athletic frame with 4.6 forty speed, quick feet and heavy hands that he uses effectively to manipulate blockers. He has a good initial positioning step and keeps good pad level splitting gaps and double teams and flying into the backfield. He plays an active, aggressive game in the trenches, working through traffic with top-end closing speed and hits like a hammer on open field tackles. Derby Defensive Line Coach @CoachDerekGoble says he is one of the best DE's in the state and I would have to agree. Get out and see another Derby young gun making a name for himself early.   [player_tooltip player_id='1115462' first='Guy' last='Tubbs']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/guy-tubbs/"></a> <a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/guy-tubbs/"></a> , 6'3, 215, ATH, Colby, '25, is ranked #59. He is coming off an excellent start a year ago as a two-way, multi-positional player with a ton of potential that is eventually going to take off like a rocket. He is proving to be one of the top athletes in the state, as he is a state champion in the javelin and all-state in hoops. He gave the Sunflower State a glimpse last year, catching 22 passes for 389 yards for a 17.7 average, and four touchdowns. The Colby offense features him all over, as a wideout, in the slot, in tight, as an H-back and even runs the ball out of the backfield. He has a strong frame, an almost 80" wing span and a catch radius that makes him difficult to stop in the endzone. He is an elusive, dangerous runner after catching the ball and difficult to bring down in the open field. This kid is going to produce some fireworks this fall.   [player_tooltip player_id='904444' first='Matt' last='Rosen'], 6'5, 320, OL/DL, Holcomb, '26, is ranked #149. He is coming off a solid start to his high school career as a massive mauler in the trenches who just keeps getting better. He is a large-and-in-charge interior lineman who can play either guard position on offense or as a nose guard or defensive tackle on defense. With his size and strength he overwhelms opponents, caving in defenders between the tackles in the run game. In pass pro he is difficult to get around with his size, but he has surprisingly good feet when walling off the rush. On defense he is an anchor in the middle of the line of scrimmage, with a powerful base and strong hands that he uses to fight off defenders and get into the backfield. He has been fine-tuning his game in the off-season and is primed and ready to show scouts and coaches he is ready for the next step.   [player_tooltip player_id='1306212' first='Gaige' last='Hurley'], 6'3, 245, DL/OL, Andover Central, '25, is ranked #154. Coming off a state runner-up finish a year ago, he established himself as a standout defensive end with a ton of talent. He was slowed somewhat by knee issues but has been hard at it in the off-season getting ready to shine this fall. He has a powerful frame with excellent reach and heavy, weaponized hands that he uses effectively to hit opponents in the mouth and keep them off his pads. He can play anywhere along the defensive front, with the size and strength to go toe-to-toe with interior linemen but is also athletic enough and has the closing speed to make plays on the perimeter. He plays an aggressive game and flies to the ball from snap to whistle. Get out and see a kid ready to blow things up this fall.   [player_tooltip player_id='1236247' first='Sam' last='Harp'], 5'10, 180, QB/DB, Andale, '26, is ranked #226. He is coming off an excellent season a year ago when he piled up 1,200+ yards and 25 touchdowns. He has been working relentlessly in the off-season and has been putting up impressive numbers, recently reporting a 300+ pound bench press and a 4.5 forty. He doesn't get the opportunity to throw much in the run-heavy Andale scheme, but he throws well enough to keep teams off balance and from loading the box. Where he really shines, however is as a gifted playmaker of a runner with the speed, acceleration and elusiveness to take it the distance on any play. With a low center of gravity, powerful frame and twisting, churning running style he is difficult to bring down in the open field. He is also a top-notch return man. Get your popcorn out for this kid in 2024.   In conclusion, get these guys on your watchlists and check them out in action this fall. You will not be disappointed. And, as always, if you have feedback, suggestions or know of someone "flying under the radar" feel free to reach out to CoolDaddyO via DM on X.

The clock continues to tick as sophomores and juniors prepare for the next stage in their high school football careers. The camps and clinics have been attended. The coaching and training has been reinforced. The seemingly endless running and weight room visits have become deposits in the bank.