Wichita/Western KS Weekend Film Review All Classes

During the dog days of July-August tape review I usually start the day with a list of players that I have noted from various sources to take a look at and see if they are interesting enough to proceed. If they pass the initial eye test, I dive in to see if they are a fit for any of the articles I have targeted for the coming week.   And, although I try to maintain a balanced coverage of all classes, positions and ranking level, I am drawn to the guys who are "flying under the radar". Particularly at some of the smaller schools and in western Kansas.   Another area of emphasis that I like to see is how hard they are working on their craft in the off-season, and how hard they work at promoting themselves. And it doesn't even have to be promotion per se, just make sure your name and any tape is available in social media. Even if you are not a fan of social media, it is a big part of football networking.   In this report I selected a couple of kids from each of the classes from the Wichita and Surrounding area as well as western Kansas who have been hitting it hard in the off-season and are on the right trajectory for dominating performances this fall.   So, without further adieu, I bring you “The Sizzling Six” – ballers from each class who are all at different stages in their respective careers, but unified in the singular objective of playing elite-level high school football:   [player_tooltip player_id='716119' first='Christian' last='Zizumbo'], 5'9, 160, K, Hugoton, '25 is ranked #185. Coming off an injury-shortened season a year ago, he has been focused on getting back to being the all-state kicker he was as a sophomore. A multi-sport athlete who also runs track, he recently ripped off a 4.5 forty at the the Hills Bros 5-Star Showcase. I don't think I have ever covered a high school kicker who runs 4.5. Rare indeed. As a kicker he has demonstrated range as far out as 55 yards and was accurate on 30 of his last 33 PAT's, with two of the misses being blocked kicks. He has been hitting a number of top-flight kicking and specialist camps and training in adverse conditions to be ready for anything the fall season brings. Get out and see a speed burner of a kicker who is a master at his craft this fall   [player_tooltip player_id='1352546' first='Michael' last='Villalobos'], 5'9, 170, ATH, Garden City, '25, is not ranked. He has been making some noise in the off-season getting ready for his last hurrah this fall, posting excellent numbers and hitting the camp-clinic circuit hard. At the recent Hills Bros 5-Star Showcase he blistered a 4.5 forty and tested well overall. As an athletic playmaker he is moved all over the formation, lining up on the wing, in the slot and split. He is fed a steady diet of jet sweeps and quick screens to get him the ball in space and use his elite-level burst and acceleration to burn up the perimeter. He runs precise routes and can make the tough contested catch in traffic. He is also a dangerous return man, with great field vision and the ability to cut on a dime to go along with his straight-line speed. He is getting ready to take off like a rocket this fall.   [player_tooltip player_id='1352546' first='Leven' last='Jones'], 5'10, 185, LB/WR, Rose Hill, '26, is not ranked. Getting a good start your sophomore year is key to getting attention and that's what he did last fall piling up 65 tackles, nine tackles for loss and three sacks as a headhunter of an outside linebacker. He can play any of the linebacker positions but where he is particularly effective is coming off the edge to destroy plays on the perimeter. With a low center of gravity, strong base and weaponized hands he works the edge with good body lean and pad level and shuts down plays in the backfield. He moves well laterally and in tracking the ball and is a violent open-field tackler. Reading and reacting at the snap of the ball, he has good linebacker instincts, and with his excellent closing speed is all over the play. His game is just getting warmed up, get out and see a kid ready to dominate in 2024.   [player_tooltip player_id='1325116' first='Norian' last='Cantu'], 6'2, 240, OL/DL, Lakin, '26, is ranked #225. As one of the highest-ranked players in this report, he has been hard at it but not getting much attention in western Kansas. He is coming off a good season a year ago as an all-conference offensive lineman and has been fine-tuning his game via camps and clinics in the off-season. With a powerful frame and heavy hands he is a mauler in the trenches on both sides of the ball. On offense he has a strong base with quick feet that he uses effectively getting positioning and leverage. He moves well pulling, on trap blocks or chipping off to pick up linebackers. He is also a dominating force along the defensive line as well, shooting out hard and low with good pad level and helping shut down the run game between the tackles. This kid is getting ready to go off this fall.   [player_tooltip player_id='1352560' first='Braesyn' last='Williams'], 6'0, 165, DB, Derby, '27 is not ranked. He is coming off a solid start to his young career as a part of the Derby team who finished state runner-up in 6A a year ago. He has been fine-tuning his game in the off-season and has impressed numerous coaches and scouts with what he brings to the table. As a long, athletic defensive back, he can play safety over the top or drop down in the box as a hybrid SS to shut down the run but where he really shines is as a shutdown corner. With ideal size and reach, fluid hips and standout quickness he can shut down the opponent's top wideouts. He is also a physical tackler in space and is projected to be one of the top corners on a loaded team. Get him on your watchlist.   [player_tooltip player_id='944905' first='Drake' last='Blasi'], 5'11, 190, LB, Maize, '27, is ranked #68. A multi-sport standout he is also one of the top baseball players in the 2027 class. On the football field he is a punishing linebacker who has been focused in the off-season on getting bigger and working on his craft. He can play any of the linebacker positions but will probably gravitate toward outside or come off the edge. With a strong base and athletic feet he moves well and flies to the football with good closing speed. His coaches are high on his potential and the work he has been putting in training and getting in the best shape possible. Get this kid on your watchlist in both baseball and football.   In conclusion, get these guys on your watchlist and if they play in your vicinity get out and see them in action. You will not be disappointed. And, as always, if anyone runs across any players “flying under the radar”, feel free to reach out to CoolDaddyO via DM on X.

During the dog days of July-August tape review I usually start the day with a list of players that I have noted from various sources to take a look at and see if they are interesting enough to proceed. If they pass the initial eye test, I dive in to see if they are a fit for any of the articles I have targeted for the coming week.