Freshman/Sophomore Playmakers From This Past Fall

The ongoing search for top talent out of the classes of 2027 and 2028 is in full swing as we plow through the holiday tape and hit the off-season.   The plan from my knothole is to continue focusing on these two classes to establish a solid base of ballers to follow their progress over the next few years. After that I will shift gears to the class of 2026 and report on the guys headed into the all-important senior season.   I will also be following and reporting on 7v7 action this spring.   In this report we will take a look at a mix of kids from the class of 2027 and 2028, with the focus on baller backs and athletes getting ready to take their respective games to the next level.   So, without further adieu, let jump right in and check these guys out:     [player_tooltip player_id='1247087' first='Victor' last='Mutisya']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/victor-mutisya/"></a> , 5'9, 200, RB/LB, Olathe South, 2027, is coming off a solid sophomore season continuing to get acclimated to the varsity game and fine-tuning his skills. On offense he lines up as a single setback or tailback and is built to pound the rock for four quarters. He has really shined as a running back who can take the handoff, quickly assess the blocking up front, make the decisive cut and hit daylight in a hurry. With a low center of gravity and powerful base he shreds arm tackles and runs over and through defenders in his path. In the off-season he is power training for more running-back explosiveness and also runs track. This kid is getting ready to take it to the next level and is in for a big season next fall.   [player_tooltip player_id='1622499' first='Tommy' last='Knighton'], 6'0, 195, RB/LB, Blue Valley North, 2028, is coming off a good freshman season where he was flying under the radar a little bit but has shown enough for coaches and scouts to be excited about his game rolling into the 2025 season. On offense he is a hard-charging running back who can get the tough yards and pick up the first down when needed. For the year he picked up just under 200 yards rushing on 11 carries and scored a touchdown. On the other side of the ball he excels as a hammer of a linebacker who has a nose for the football. He is an athletic, versatile defender who can play any of the linebacker positions. He is also an aggressive open-field tackler with great read and react skills. In the off-season he plays lacrosse and swims. Get him on your watchlist for 2025, he is going to go off.   [player_tooltip player_id='1549033' first='G'Honi' last='Montgomery'], 5'10, 205, RB, Highland Park, 2027, is coming off an excellent sophomore season as a running back and linebacker who didn't flinch when he took on the varsity challenge. On the season he carried 91 times for 737 yards, for an 8+ yards per carry and scored 10 total touchdowns. He is also a threat catching the football out of the backfield. As a runner he has patience letting his blockers set the stage and then makes a quick cut and knifes his way through the hole. He is a bruising, aggressive runner who is strong moving through traffic, but has the big burst when he turns on the jets and breaks into the secondary. He also plays basketball and baseball, runs track, and even fits in some soccer on occasion. Get your popcorn out for this guy in 2025.   [player_tooltip player_id='1673801' first='Jackson' last='Riley'], 6'3, 185, ATH, Maize South, 2027, is coming off a solid sophomore season where he showed a ton of promise as a multi-positional player who can excel on both side of the ball. On offense he can play several positions and may end up being the next Maize South quarterback. Where he is really a standout, however, is as a centerfielder free safety who can float in zone and take the opposing team's passing attack out. He is also an aggressive ball buster who will collapse down and hit the runner in the mouth at the line of scrimmage. This past season he ended up starting a couple of games and was the team leader in tackles both games. He has prototype size and athleticism as a defensive back and is getting ready for a breakout season in 2025. Definitely get him on your watchlist.   Zion Tanner, 6'3, 165, ATH, Shawnee Mission North, 2028, is another baller on the rise who is coming off a good freshman season as a multi-positional playmaker who excels on both sides of the ball. This past season he played at Grandview, MO, but has since transferred to Shawnee Mission North. He turned heads early with his size, speed and athleticism and his ability to make the contested catch in traffic. Last fall he grabbed 21 passes for 600+ yards and six receiving TD's. He also threw a touchdown pass and scored one on the ground to give him eight total touchdowns. He has good reach and an outstanding catch radius which enables him to climb the ladder and get the ball at it's highest point. On the other side of the ball he is a versatile safety and in the off-season plays basketball and runs track. This kid is getting ready to burn it up in 2025.   In conclusion, get these guys on your watchlist and follow the last few years of their high school careers. And, as always, give me a shout via DM on X if you run across players or teams flying under the proverbial radar.

The ongoing search for top talent out of the classes of 2027 and 2028 is in full swing as we plow through the holiday tape and hit the off-season.