Recruiting Report: Playoff Season Update

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>First off, good luck to all of the teams in Kansas who are beginning postseason play tonight.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Secondly, thanks for the Prep Redzone Kansas nation for being patient while I was on vacation, and to the other Prep Redzone Scouts who carried the load while I was out.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For today's three reports, I thought I would kill two birds with one stone. I am still working on announcing offers and commitment updates for ranked Kansas prospects.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>So here is a preview of playoff games this week in conjunction with the recruiting status of multiple prospects.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stay tuned for multiple reports today, when I take breaks from covering State Volleyball. Also check out our State Volleyball Coverage at Prep Dig.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='716598' first='Andrew' last='Babalola'],</strong> OL, 6'6”, 270, Blue Valley Northwest, '25 (Michigan)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Babalola was the last of the Top Ten prospects in Kansas to make his verbal commitment. The monster lineman picked Michigan over several Division I offers. Blue Valley Northwest is the No. 4 Seed in Class 6A from the East and faces No. 13 Shawnee Mission North in the “play-in” round.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1228451' first='Joey' last='Millspaugh'],</strong> RB, 6'0”, 180, Halstead, '25 (Friends)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Millspaugh is ranked No. 86 in the Kansas Class of 2025. The Halstead running back has verbally committed to play for Friends University. Halstead is the No. 11 Seed out west in Class 2A. They have a road game in Lakin against the sixth-seeded Broncs. Millspaugh is Halstead's leading rusher gaining 709 yards on 107 carries.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='868976' first='Connor' last='Herman'],</strong> OL, 6'3”, 240, Halstead, '25 (Friends)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Herman blocks for Millspaugh and intends to block for him in college. Herman has also verbally committed to play for the Friends Falcons. Herman is currently ranked No. 176 in the class of 2025.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='372248' first='Caleb' last='Maholmes'],</strong> LB, 6'0”, 195, Wichita West, '25 (Friends)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Just when I thought I had this report finished, West product Maholmes announced on social media that he has committed to Friends. The Falcons' staff is wasting no time locking up prospects from the Wichita area. Wichita West is the No. 13 Seed in Class 6A's west bracket. The Pioneers will be looking to upset city rival Wichita East the No. 5 Seed.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1305269' first='Mack' last='Lee'],</strong> QB, 5'11”, 185, Rock Creek, '25 (Macalester)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lee is a talented quarterback I saw play this fall. He is ranked No. 159 overall and has verbally committed to play for Division III program Macalester in St. Paul, MN. He leads the Mustangs in passing and rushing yards gained. He has thrown for 524 yards and nine touchdowns while rushing for 546 yards and nine touchdowns. Rock Creek is the No. 2 Seed from the west in Class 3A. They will host No. 15 Seed Smoky Valley to begin post-season play.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1343587' first='Jaylen' last='Parks']</strong>, ATH/DB, 6'0”, 185, Lawrence, ‘25</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Parks is currently ranked No. 40 overall by Prep Redzone Kansas. He has an offer from Missouri Western. Lawrence is the No. 9 Seed in Class 6A East Bracket. The Lions will play a road game against No. 8 Seed Shawnee Mission East on November 1.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1311588' first='Andrew' last='Watts']</strong>, WR, 5'8”, 175, Mill Valley, ‘25</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Watts is currently ranked No. 41 overall and has the third-ranked wideout. He has an offer from Fort Hays State University. He is the Jags top threat in the passing game, leading the team in catches (24) yards gained (410), and six receiving touchdowns. Mill Valley is the Class 5A No. 4 Seed from the east. The defending state champions open post-season play against the No. 13 Seed KC-Harmon.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1306168' first='Landon' last='Liepold']</strong>, WR, 6'1”, 180, Free State, ‘25</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Liepold has gotten a recent offer from Division I-FCS school Stetson. He is currently ranked No. 47 overall in the Prep Dig Kansas 2025 Rankings. The Firebirds are the No. 5 Seed in the Class 6A Eastern Field and will host the No. 12-seeded Olathe West Owls.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='285567' first='Caden' last='Estrada']</strong>, OL, 6'1”, 270, Washburn Rural, ‘25</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Washburn Rural's Estrada has an offer from Emporia State. The big lineman is currently ranked No. 53 overall in the class of 2025. The Blues are the No. 10 Seed in the Class 6A Western Bracket and will open the playoffs against No. 7 Seed Maize.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1228505' first='Jack' last='Hartman']</strong>, DL, 6'4”, 225, Troy, ‘25</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hartman has received an offer from Drake University. He is currently ranked No. 71 overall by Prep Redzone. Troy is the No. 9 Seed from the East in Class 1A and will face No. 8 Seed Jayhawk-Linn for a spot in the Regional Round.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='995120' first='Dakari' last='Wake']</strong>, ATH, 6'0”, 180, Leavenworth, ‘25</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wake is currently ranked No. 77 in the Kansas Class of 2025. He recently announced on social media that he has an offer from Missouri Southern. Leavenworth is the No. 10 Seed in the Class 5A East Bracket and will play No. 7 Seed KC Washington in Week Nine.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1301851' first='Logan' last='Lira']</strong>, OL, 6'4”, 270, Andover Central, ‘25</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lira is a lineman with a big reach and is ranked No. 130 overall by Prep Redzone Kansas. He has an offer from Division II's Northwestern Oklahoma State Rangers. Andover Central is the No. 2 Seed in Class 4A's western half of the bracket. The Jaguars will play winless El Dorado with a spot in the regional round on the line.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1366492' first='Aiden' last='Lehr']</strong>, OL, 6'3”, 245, Mill Valley, ‘25</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lehr has offers from William Jewell and Ottawa. He will get a chance to show off his skills on the big stage of the playoff season. He and Mill Valley teammate Watts will look to lead the Jaguars on a deep playoff run starting against KC-Harmon.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->