Baller Freshman/Sophomore Playmakers Busting Out

In the final wave of 2024 reports I wanted to continue focusing on some of the exciting young players coming full throttle down the varsity freeway.   In this report we will take a look at guys who have established themselves early, in addition to some big-time ballers flying under the radar.   But not for long...   The first two below are from the talented class of 2028. The next three are already representing 2027 like we expected they would. These guys are stepping up to the challenge and with another year of growth and experience under their belts they are on the fast-track to being the next-gen ballers in the making.   So without further adieu, let take a look at these guys:   [player_tooltip player_id='1590414' first='Derek' last='Leggett'], 6'2, 240, OL/DL, Sedgwick, '28, is coming off a solid start to varsity ball on a Cardinal team that was ranked in the top five for most of the past season. He picked up significant playing time as a freshman and was a weapon up front by the end of the year. Although he can play anywhere along the offensive front, he is particularly effective at guard. With solid mechanics, good size and reach he walls off in pass pro and shows his athleticism and quick feet when pulling to trap or chip off and pick up linebackers. He is dedicated to the grind and hits it hard in the off-season, working out locally with Coach Daniels (@rashaddaniels12). All of his work is paying off as he is starting to get notice from scouts and coaches. Get him on your watchlist, he is going to be a mauler in the trenches for years to come.   [player_tooltip player_id='991686' first='Blue' last='Zambo']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/blue-zambo/"></a> ,  5'9”, 150, ATH/DB, Mill Valley, ‘28, is coming off an excellent freshman season and played well enough to debut as the #4 overall athlete in the class of 2028. A multi-positional player who can go both ways as a receiver and defensive back, he really shines as a suffocating shut-down corner. He can get in the receivers face mask and proceed to give them the glove treatment. When defending the pass, he can already expertly flip his hips and mirror the receivers every move, but can also collapse down and nail the ball carrier at the line of scrimmage. On the year he had 25 tackles, three tackles for loss, a pair of interceptions, and had 10 pass break-ups and allowed zero catches when opposing teams tried to challenge him. Get your popcorn out for this kid in 2025.   [player_tooltip player_id='1115927' first='Gunner' last='Goalden']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/gunner-goalden/"></a> <a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/gunner-goalden/"></a> , 6'0, 265, OL/DL, Hesston, '27, is already a seasoned veteran after coming off a very productive freshman season and followed that up this past fall with another standout year, piling up just under 60 tackles, eight tackles for loss and three sacks. He is a versatile brawler in the trenches who can play guard or tackle on offense and on the other side of the ball shut the run game down between the tackles or storm the gates off the edge. He has a powerful frame and gets off the ball with good pad level and quickness. He can pull and trap or wall off in pass pro with seasoned proficiency. He has also been working hard with Coach Daniels on speed, agilities and perfecting footwork in the off-season. This guy is a baller along the line of scrimmage, get out and see him while you still can.   [player_tooltip player_id='933824' first='Coy' last='Barta']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/coy-barta/"></a> , 6'1, 160, WR/DB, Topeka Seaman, '27, is ranked #17 and recently leapfrogged into the #1-ranked athlete spot. He is continuing in the tradition his brother Callen established before taking his talents to KSU. A versatile athlete who can play multiple positions on offense and defense, he is particularly effective as a fluid wideout with great hands and an extended catch radius. He runs precise routes and effectively finds the soft spots in zone coverage. He has been working through frustrating injuries recently but is hoping to be ready to take his talents to the Kansas Colts in 7v7 this spring. He is getting ready to have a blow-out season next fall, so get him in your line of sight.   [player_tooltip player_id='944902' first='Nolan' last='Hadley']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/nolan-hadley/"></a> , 6'3, 275, OL, Maize, '27, is ranked #5 and is one of the highest-ranked players in this report. Even so, he continued to put in the work all year and seemed to get better every week. This past fall he put his full array of tools on display whenever the team needed it, and even though he can play multiple positions across the offensive front, he lined up primarily as the left guard in the Maize attack. He has D1-size and capability, with a powerful anchor of a base, weaponized hands and surprisingly nimble feet for his size. He moves well laterally, is agile pulling and trapping and once he arrives hits like a freight train. He is equally adept at crushing opponents in the run game as well as hammering the speed rush guys in pass pro. He elevates the pancake block to an art form and plays with the kind of edge you want to see in the trenches. This kid is going to dominate in 2025.     In conclusion, get these young guns on your watchlist and follow their progress for the next few years. These guys are going to be en fuego after another off season of pounding the iron and getting in the best shape of their young lives. And, as always, let me know via DM on X if you run across any ballers flying under the radar.

In the final wave of 2024 reports I wanted to continue focusing on some of the exciting young players coming full throttle down the varsity freeway.