Class 1A Freshman Standouts of 2024

As the Class of 2025 wraps up their final season on the gridiron in the high school football scene, another group of players entered the first season playing high school football and immediately made a strong impact on the field from the get-go. In Class 1A, we had an impressive group of freshmen that took the field and made a significant impact to their teams, with several of these players having their efforts shine brightest in the postseason. Here are 7 players from Class 1A that are part of the class of 2028 that made a big splash in the Iowa high school football scene in 2024!    One of the few bright spots on a struggling Colfax-Mingo team was Camden Cunningham, the LB and QB who made a big impact in his first season on the defensive side of the ball. Cunningham impressively finished his freshman year as the team's leader in tackles (48), while also recording 11 TFLs and 2 fumble recoveries. Cunningham grew with a steady presence at Outside Linebacker, playing low, showing great tackling form, and improved on his reads across the season, while also providing value playing on kickoff coverage. It's interesting to note too that the two QBs on the Tigerhawks' roster both are graduating, meaning that Cunningham has a chance to compete for the starting QB job next season. Cunningham could become an athlete whose stock could rise swiftly very soon.     Ogden's offense is gleaming with potential in 2025, and [player_tooltip player_id='1601503' first='Tyler' last='Lass'] stepped up immediately in his first year to become a playmaking target for the Bulldog's developing pass game. Lass finished with a team-high 562 yards on 30 catches and 6 touchdowns. He also saw playing time at Free Safety, as well as handling kick and punt returns. Lass has very good size and length for his age, and he developed into a dangerous threat on the air, using his length to win 1-on-1 matchups and reeling in 50-50 balls, while also showing sneaky breakaway speed in the open. Lass is a bright young athlete who should become a prominent face for the Bulldogs moving forward.     [player_tooltip player_id='1601589' first='Weston' last='Sundell'] also emerged in Ogden's offense as an established target that could become a big threat for the Bulldogs. Sundell finished the season with 30 catches for 477 yards and 4 touchdowns. Playing for the Bulldog's aerial circus, Sundell is a sneaky target, able to get behind the secondary without being noticed. Sundell can stretch the field both horizontally as a short option on checkdowns and quick outs, while also stretching the field attacking the outside seams. With Sundell in the lineup, Ogden is forming a dangerous receiving tandem that could rock Class 1A next season.     MVAOCOU finished last season with a 5-4 record, their best record since 2015, and one of the biggest contributors to that turnaround was Jake Scott. The Free Safety finished the year with 39.5 tackles, 3 interceptions, and 2 fumble recoveries. Scott impressed me during the season with his ability to make game-changing plays, and he did exceptionally well in pass coverage, reading and baiting the QB to make a forced throw his way, and showing great ball skills to snatch the ball. Scott could be a ball-hawk in the making that could become an enforcer for the Rams' defense going forward.     Beckman Catholic enjoyed a strong turnaround, going from 1-7 in 2023, to 6-3 this year, and emerging in the defense was [player_tooltip player_id='1601659' first='Jude' last='Kramer'], who proved to be quite a solid presence as an Edge rusher. Kramer recorded 23.5 tackles, 7 TFLs, and 5 sacks on defense. Kramer did a great job forcing consistent pressure on the QB across the season, showing keen instincts on his timing to disrupt the play, and playing with a relentless motor to chase the QB out of the pocket. Kramer should hints of explosiveness and a tough impact off the snap toward his blockers, and as Kramer develops in size, he should become a game-wrecker in the box.     Aplington-Parkersburg held a solid trio in the backfield this season, and leading the way on the ground was [player_tooltip player_id='1601499' first='Mason' last='Pruisner']. Pruisner finished with 571 yards and 5 touchdowns on the ground, averaging 4.9 yards per carry, while catching 5 passes for 49 yards and a touchdown. Pruisner was most prevalent as the team's natural tailback, and he played extremely well, showing great vision and a hint of explosiveness through the line, and he was difficult to stop when he got into the open field. As the Falcons' running trio returns once again in 2025, Pruisner could see a significant increase in reps with how effectively he's played.     [player_tooltip player_id='980028' first='Cannon' last='Davis'] emerged as a starter quickly in his first year in Durant, and while he certainly had bouts of inconsistency, there is some great potential that showed itself from his first year. Davis finished with 862 passing yards, 7 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions, while adding a rushing touchdown. Davis has a fearless mentality, having to roll out often during the season when the pressure collapsed. As Davis improved on his reads, I started noticing improvement on his range and accuracy down the field, particularly his accuracy on the run. Davis will be an intriguing project player to watch for Durant going forward, and I am interested to see how he develops his mechanics heading into his sophomore season.

As the Class of 2025 wraps up their final season on the gridiron in the high school football scene, another group of players entered the first season playing high school football and immediately made a strong impact on the field from the get-go. In Class 1A, we had an impressive group of freshmen that took the field and made a significant impact to their teams, with several of these players having their efforts shine brightest in the postseason. Here are 7 players from Class 1A that are part of the class of 2028 that made a big splash in the Iowa high school football scene in 2024!