Preseason All-Deck Team: 2025 Class 6A And 5A Prospects

Kickers are kicking, quarterbacks are slinging the pigskin, and linebackers are chomping at the bit to knock the snot out of ball carriers. Coaches everywhere stay up as late as they can thinking about the season's first game, and football scouts are trying to figure out which games to watch and which players to feature.   I am headed to scout a practice this afternoon, so stay tuned for a report on prospects from Topeka West later this evening.   Between scouting football and volleyball practices and scrimmages the next two weeks, I put on my “All-Deck” hat and put together multiple preseason squads.   The first team features athletes from the class of 2025 who attend Class 6A and 5A schools.   I made myself a couple of rules while putting this squad together. The first rule was I selected athletes outside of my regular coverage area or players I don't think I will catch in person this fall. I also did not allow myself to pick multiple players from the same program. I chose not to include offensive and defensive linemen since those are two of the primary positions I will scout statewide during the regular season. These are 11 guys I would like to see this season but will have to do so via film.   Continue to check back on Prep Redzone for program previews and scouting reports from the rest of the Kansas scout team heading up to the first kick-off of the season.   I will create multiple All-Deck teams after the season is completed and those squads only include players I saw in person like John Madden used to do when creating the original All-Madden teams.   [player_tooltip player_id='1112369' first='Tate' last='Nagy'], QB, 5'10”, 140, Blue Valley West   Nagy is verbally committed to play for the Kansas Jayhawks after graduation. He is currently ranked No. 12 overall in the Kansas Class of 2025. As I mentioned in an earlier report Blue Valley West is a program in Santino Bernal's coverage area this season. Nagy threw for over 1,800 yards last season and completed 16 touchdown passes.   [player_tooltip player_id='282258' first='Tate' last='McNew'], QB, 6'1”, 185, Maize South   McNew is the top uncommitted quarterback in the class of 2025. Maize South will be in Wade Cargile's scouting area. Cargile also plans to feature in-season scouting reports on quarterbacks across the state. The Maverick signal-caller is ranked No. 24 overall in the Prep Redzone Kansas rankings and is the No. 2-ranked quarterback, behind Nagy.   [player_tooltip player_id='352340' first='Nate' last='Phillips'], RB, 6'0”, 180, Shawnee Mission East   Phillips is the seventh-ranked running back in the class of 2025. He rushed for over 400 yards as a junior and his number of carries is expected to increase this fall. He makes quick cuts and has reliable hands. He is a threat to catch the ball out of the backfield and could be used as a slot receiver.   [player_tooltip player_id='442624' first='Bryson' last='Hayes'], WR, 6'0”, 180, Maize   Hayes is currently ranked No. 5 overall by Prep Redzone. He is verbally committed to the University of Nebraska and is the top-ranked wideout in the class of 2025. After catching 60 balls for 962 yards as a junior, I am sure the Maize prospect has a 1,000-yard season as a personal goal and winning a state championship as a team goal written on a slip of paper somewhere close.   [player_tooltip player_id='442660' first='Carter' last='Pabst'], WR, 6'1”, 180, Eisenhower   Eisenhower is a program I won't catch this season, but they have a top-ranked wideout who has verbally committed to North Dakota University. Pabst is currently ranked No. 15 overall in the Kansas Class of 2025. Pabst finished with 19 touchdown receptions as a junior. He gained 893 yards on 51 receptions.   [player_tooltip player_id='570288' first='DaSaahn' last='Brame'], TE, 6'6”, 230, Derby   Derby's Brame is the top-ranked athlete in Kansas by Prep Redzone. He has verbally committed to play for the Tennessee Volunteers after changing his mind about joining the Oregon Ducks program. The Panthers will have multiple weapons on offense and Brame will be a primary target when Derby is in the red zone. Brame finished with 942 yards receiving last season and scored 13 touchdowns.   [player_tooltip player_id='1115502' first='Wyatt' last='Kirkpatrick'], LB, 6'2”, 215, Hays   Kirkpatrick is currently ranked No. 37 in the Kansas Class of 2025. The Hays Indians are a team I will keep an eye, but won't make it to one of their games. I might catch a Hays practice later this fall depending on a possible engagement in that area. The senior linebacker enters the season off a 104-total tackle season as a junior. He also finished with one quarterback sack and two interceptions.   [player_tooltip player_id='1115477' first='Dawson' last='Merritt'], LB, 6'3”, 205, Blue Valley   Blue Valley has two Division I verbally committed linebackers. Merritt has chosen Alabama University to serve as his future hunting ground. He is currently ranked No. 6 overall in the class of 2025, but could easily be ranked higher. He racked up 83 total tackles as a junior and finished with an eye-popping total of 17 tackles for lost yardage.   [player_tooltip player_id='466348' first='Brandon' last='Wilson'], DB, 6'3”, 170, Shawnee Mission West   The defensive back position is one that Santino Bernal will feature regularly during the season. Wilson is ranked No. 17 by Prep Redzone Kansas and I am sure he will be on Bernal's radar. After a season with 26 total tackles and playing a solid shutdown corner, Wilson has multiple Division I offers.   [player_tooltip player_id='866489' first='Joseph' last='(JoJo) Arnold'], DB, 6'1”, 170, Blue Valley Northwest   Arnold is another metro area defensive back with multiple college offers. He is currently ranked No. 22 overall and coming off an injury-shortened junior season. I do have the Huskies' road game against Washburn Rural as a possible game to scout, although I am leaning toward heading west that week.   [player_tooltip player_id='866507' first='Joshua' last='Mackiewicz'], DB, 6'1”, 200, Shawnee Mission Northwest   The Shawnee Mission Northwest product has verbally committed to play for Division II School, Minnesota-Duluth. Mackiewicz is a hard-hitting free safety who collected 106 total tackles last fall. He is currently ranked No. 29 overall by Prep Redzone. I chose three defensive backs for this squad as I will feature linebackers once the season gets underway.

Kickers are kicking, quarterbacks are slinging the pigskin, and linebackers are chomping at the bit to knock the snot out of ball carriers. Coaches everywhere stay up as late as they can thinking about the season's first game, and football scouts are trying to figure out which games to watch and which players to feature.