Program Preview: Basehor-Linwood Bobcats

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>All over Kansas this afternoon prep football players will be taking the field for the first practices of the school year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Nerves and energy will be high, and there will be puking somewhere in the state as some players will come in ill-prepared for the first workout.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There is no off-season in high school sports anymore. Athletes play club spots, attend scouting combines, college camps, and summer weight programs, but the first official practice is always special, as is the first day of practice with pads.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prep Redzone Kansas scouts will be hard at it the rest of the season, writing team previews, scouting practices, previewing weekly match-ups, highlighting statistical leaders, watching film, attending games, and featuring as many Kansas athletes as possible.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here is my first program preview featuring the Basehor-Linwood Bobcats. The Bobcats are coming off a 7-4 record in 2023 and will have a new starting quarterback. Basehor-Linwood is coached by Rod Stallbaumer and plays in the United Kansas Conference.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Bobcats open their season on September 6, with a home game against Leavenworth. Two key match-ups on their schedule are a  September 27, home game against De Soto, and tough road contest on October 18 against the Seaman Vikings.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here is a quick look at multiple players ranked and unranked who will be key contributors to the Bobcats' expected success.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1115450' first='Erick' last='Jons'],</strong> OL, 6'6”, 285, ‘25</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jons is the highest-ranked Bobcat in the class of 2025. He is currently ranked No. 71 overall by Prep Redzone. His enormous size makes him easy to spot. He should play tackle for Basehor which will need an impact season from its offensive line.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='733447' first='Garrett' last='Pierce'],</strong> LB, 5'10”, 185, ‘25</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pierce “The Fierce” is a play-making linebacker for the Bobcats. He is currently ranked No. 74 overall in the Kansas Class of 2025 and is the ninth-ranked linebacker. He finished with 115 tackles last season and was a first-team all-league athlete.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1115470' first='Kyle' last='Burnett']</strong>, DB, 5'8”, 135, ‘25</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Burnett is one of six returning starters on defense for the Bobcats. That unit might need to step up big early in the season while the offense begins to gel. Burnett is currently ranked No. 94 overall by Prep Redzone. He finished his junior season with 27 total tackles and eight pass break-ups.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1310363' first='Will' last='Howard']</strong>, P, 6'1”, 190, ‘25</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Howard is listed as a punter in the Prep Redzone rankings, but he is also an outstanding linebacker. He is currently ranked No. 252 in the class of 2025. He finished his junior season with 60 total tackles and with double-digit tackles for loss.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='716601' first='Austin' last='Adair'],</strong> WR, 6'0”, 175, ‘25</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Adair is an explosive wideout who could be the primary target and ball-handler in this offense. He missed his entire junior season with a back injury. The Bobcat returns just two offensive starters, and they are on the line. I predict the Bobcat often will try to get Adair as many touches per game as possible. The Bobcat speedster is currently ranked No. 260 overall in the Kansas Class of 2025.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1114815' first='Luke' last='Swanson']</strong>, DL, 6'3”, 200, ‘25</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Swanson is currently ranked No. 317 overall by Prep Redzone. The pass-rushing defensive end will be battling for a starting position and an increased role on the Bobcat defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Bobcats have three returning unranked starting seniors on their roster, two offensive linemen, and one defensive lineman. Look for these three to be added to the last updated preseason rankings for the class scheduled to be published on August 27; [player_tooltip player_id='1394714' first='Caden' last='Gedney'] (DL), [player_tooltip player_id='1394715' first='Joe' last='Tollet'] (OL), and offensive lineman [player_tooltip player_id='1394716' first='Gabe' last='Ruis'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1113445' first='Nate' last='Martin'],</strong> ATH, 5'11”, 175, ‘26</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Martin is the highest-ranked Bobcat prospect in the class of 2026. He is currently ranked No. 113 by Prep Redzone Kansas. He is listed as an athlete, but he is a returning starter as a defensive back and did spend time at the wide receiver position last year. The Bobcat's wide receiver corps is inexperienced and young, therefore, he could see time on both sides of the ball again during his senior campaign. Martin was an honorable mention all-league athlete his sophomore season. He made two interceptions and caught 12 balls on offense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1113370' first='Carson' last='Dixon'],</strong> QB, 6'2”, 175, ‘26</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dixon is the big question mark for Basehor-Linwood. He is expected to take over the starting quarterback position that will be missing their top passer, rusher, and receiver from last season. Dixon is currently ranked No. 117 and has two years to show scouts and college coaches how he stacks up with and against other playcallers in Kansas.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1114730' first='Nash' last='Morrison'],</strong> WR, 6'4”, 155, ‘26</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Morrison is a long wideout ranked at No. 134 in the Kansas Class of 2026. He and Adair could form a dangerous pass-catching duo for the Bobcats. Adair is quicker than Morrison, but Morrison has the edge in size. He will be a red-zone target for Basehor-Linwood.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1114743' first='Roman' last='Miller'],</strong> TE, 6'2”, 185, ‘26</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Miller plays tight end which has been a trendy position being recruited out of Kansas. He is currently ranked No. 137 overall and is the tenth-ranked tight end in his class. Miller is a versatile athlete who can block well enough to play end or can line up in out wide or in the slot. He is another athlete the Bobcat coaching staff will want to keep involved in the offense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1113477' first='Cole' last='Hofer'],</strong> DB, 5'11”, 165, ‘26</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hofer is one of two juniors returning as starters for Basehor. He is currently ranked No. 151 overall and plays defensive back for the Bobcats. He will be an anchor on a talented defensive unit. He finished his sophomore season with 19 tackles, two interceptions, and four pass break-ups.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1310401' first='Eli' last='Stanton'],</strong> OL, 6'0”, 235, ‘26</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stanton is currently ranked No. 228 overall in the class of 2026. &nbsp;He is one of several junior linemen competing for a starting spot on the Bobcat Offensive Line.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Three unranked juniors who will be on scouts radars are linebackers [player_tooltip player_id='1394777' first='Tucker' last='Hutchinson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1394779' first='Jacob' last='Sharp'], as well as offensive lineman [player_tooltip player_id='1394781' first='Issac' last='Renfro'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->