Midseason Junior Breakout Performances

It is hard to believe we have experienced 5 weeks of HS football across WI. So much has happened from upsets to records being broken to breakout individual athletes. It is those individual athletes that we are here to focus on. Yesterday we looked at the seniors who have really take a big step forward. Today we look at the Class of 2026 with this group of 9 who have made a name for themselves over the past 5 weeks. Let's dive into the tape from them!    I'm becoming a big fan of the Indian Trail right tackle as we hit the midway point of the regular season. He has an excellent frame to continue to build on and strengthen in the weight room. On tape it is very apparent that he has the range to be an impact at the second level of the defense along with his impact in the trenches. Brendan has solid quickness off the line to close the gap on LBs and lock his hands onto them before they can try to avoid him. I love that the junior tries to drive his man as far as he can until the whistle blows too. He is always looking to finish his blocks too. It was great to see him in some pass protection also. His lateral agility allows him to easily mirror pass rushers and he has the awareness to pick up twists or other stunts from DL. Grabot is off to a great start this season and is definitely one to keep your eyes on.      Kobe is an athlete who we really liked coming into the season, and he has definitely taken that next step this fall. Through five games, Kobe has shined at S and WR. The athletic profile of the 6'1" 185 lbs junior matches that of a future college football player. He has the long speed in the open field, the quick burst and change of direction in short areas, and he is explosive so he can high point the ball or quickly close on the catch point. What also sets Kobe apart is that he plays with power too. He isn't just a speed guy. While covering ground like he does, Russell has the power to run through arm tackles at any moment and keep his balance through contact or fight for the ball through a sea of hands. I also love how nuanced he is becoming as a route runner. You see him set up DBs or alter the speed he uses throughout routes to create space. Kobe is an impressive athlete and getting better. Get him on your boards early.      Johnny caught our eyes at one of our Prep Redzone WI Showcases this past offseason. So I've been hoping to see him win the starting job at Stevens Point. He has done that and he his midseason highlights show flashes of the exciting potential we saw in person this offseason. Johnny is a back that fits best as a change of pace back at the next level. One that can come in, provide a spark with his athleticism, and create big plays with the ball in his hands. Between the tackles his acceleration is clutch. When he finds the hole he is able to hit it very quickly, get through it untouched, and then show the elusive agility at the second level to make LBs miss. The junior RB also does a great job reading the defense while behind the line of scrimmage with the ball. If he sees them over pursuing he will instantly cut back, if he sees a lane open up play side he attacks it, and he has the speed to turn to when he reads that he will be able to beat pursuit to the corner. Keep an eye on the playmaker out of Stevens Point.      It's always fun watching student athletes develop, learn positions, switch positions, and find their best fit. Semaji is an athlete who plays TE and DE, but the tape at DE is really grabbing my attention. Petzold has the size and strength needed to win on the edge against a high level of competition. He does a great job of using leverage and his hands to stand up OTs and create separation. The junior has a naturally ability to turn his quickness into power right at the point of contact and that allows him to provide a strong initial bull rush. His heavy hands and lateral agility help defeat blocks quickly and then he has the range and motor to get after the ball. That high motor is something I love from his tape too. It seems like the 2026 DE is always going at 100% and it leads to him making a lot of plays and being in the right place at the right time. Semaji is an athlete well worth knowing in the Class of 2026.      One of the biggest early and midseason breakout performances has been from Sauk Prairie's [player_tooltip player_id='1220695' first='Jake' last='Buckles']. The '26 plays all over the front seven of the defense from DT/NT to DE to OLB to MLB. The 6'4" 205 lbs athlete is versatile and most importantly is willing to use that versatility to help his team the best that he can. The most impressive part of the tape is how well he plays at all those positions. Along the line he has a major mismatch with his first step quickness and lateral agility to defeat blocks. Trying to stay in front of him 1 on 1 is a nightmare for IOL. The junior athlete has the range to be able to drop back to LB and roam sideline to sideline while reading the QB or mirroring the ball carrier. Jake plays to his strengths. He seems to understand them and uses the ones that give him the advantage at the position he is playing that game, or drive, or play. This is a kid to know over the next year.      Junior ATH [player_tooltip player_id='1361669' first='Austin' last='Rideout'] has waited his turn behind some impressive athletes at Regis HS, and this season he has finally gotten his chance to have a big role on varsity. It has paid big time dividends as he is second on the team in carries, yards, and rushing TDs. The electric athlete also leads the team with an outrageous 11.6 yds/carry average. Every time Austin touches the ball the odds are that fireworks are about to happen. The 6'3" 180 lbs junior has game breaking speed to stretch the defense horizontally and beat pursuit angles deep down the field. He plays with vision that perfectly fits the way they use him on sweeps to the outside, giving him the chance to read blocks, find a seam of daylight, and explode through for the big play. The big play threat can also gain the tough yards by breaking tackles out in space and at the second level vs LBs. Austin is a legitimate playmaker that can change a game on any carry.      This fall Kobe has been able to win the starting job for Slinger HS in a season that the team has dominated. They are 5-0 while scoring almost 40 points a game. Helping with that scoring is the 5'9" 175 lbs junior RB. Kobe is blessed with balance and a low center of gravity. That has allowed him to be a very slippery runner with plenty of yards after contact. He seems to slip away from arm tackle attempts un-phased and stay running downhill. The compact back also has explosive lateral agility to make LBs miss last second when he meets them 1 on 1. It is impressive how hard Kobe runs and how well he can play through the trenches and find his way to green grass where he can flex his speed. The junior has created a lot of big plays through the air, on the ground, and in the return game through 5 weeks. Big things ahead for him.      Watching Quinn develop since he was a freshman has been awesome to see. As a sophomore he was able to make a solid impact on the DL, but now as a junior it is clear he has taken another step in his growth. Through 5 games, Quinn is 1 tackle and 1 TFL away from already tying his 2023 production. That output improvement matches the tape improvements. The junior is so disruptive. He has the quick get off to get right behind his man if he pulls away before the cut off blocker can reach him. Quinn also has some lateral wiggle to his game to be able to get around linemen that way. When he isn't flying into the backfield to blow up plays, Koepnick does a great job of using his power to control the line of scrimmage. He is a legitimate mismatch and able to make an impact vs the run and pass games.      Vincent was only able to play in two games last season before his season came to an end. The junior is back and definitely better than ever through the first 5 games of this season. Vincent is a 6' 215 lbs dual threat QB who is Germantown's leading passer and rusher while leading them to a 4-1 record. Inga honestly looks like a running back when he decides to take off or the play design calls for it. He doesn't shy away from contact, has the contact balance and power to break tackles, and he has shown that he has enough speed to kill a defense if they let him get out in space. The junior passer also has a strong arm. His highlights show a passer who can get the ball to all three levels easily and with velocity when needed. The dual threat's touch on his passes is impressive too, dropping it in a bucket when needed or placing it perfectly on the top shelf for his receiver to go get it. Big things are ahead for Vincent and the Germantown team.

It is hard to believe we have experienced 5 weeks of HS football across WI. So much has happened from upsets to records being broken to breakout individual athletes. It is those individual athletes that we are here to focus on. Yesterday we looked at the seniors who have really take a big step forward. Today we look at the Class of 2026 with this group of 9 who have made a name for themselves over the past 5 weeks. Let's dive into the tape from them!