Wichita/Surrounding Area 2026 Watchlist Warriors

With ranking updates on the cusp of being released, we will continue to emphasize some of the best and brightest from the class of 2026 as they come down the homestretch to the all-important senior season.   This is a critical juncture for junior athletes, as many are focused on off-season sports or just chilling after a grueling season, but the training deposits put in the bank this time of year are among the most valuable. Start training like a warrior early and often and you won't have to worry about being overdrawn this fall.   And, as one more astute than most once said, it's never too late to be what you might have been, but it sure helps to get an early start...   In this report we will focus on five guys representing all of the skill positions from the Wichita and surrounding area who are already hard at it making deposits in preparation for this fall.   So, without further adieu, let's check these guys out:   [player_tooltip player_id='1593671' first='Jesiah' last='Gooch'], 6'2, 215, RB/LB, Hillsboro, '26, is coming off a standout year as a two-way playmaker who brings the hammer on both sides of the ball. He is a big, physical tailback with good wheels, as evidenced when he went 98 yards on a touchdown run last fall. As an all-purpose back, he barrels over defenders in the box but also shows good burst when hitting the perimeter. This past year he ran for 900 yards, with 400+ coming after the initial hit. On the other side of the ball he is a headhunter of a linebacker who piled up 100 tackles and 10 tackles for loss. He can shut down the opposing team's run game between the tackles and also shows good closing speed flying to the football. He is dedicated to playing at the next level and is hard at it getting ready for an encore season. This kid is going to take off in 2025 .   [player_tooltip player_id='1113456' first='Kris' last='Harding II'], 6'0, 185, QB, Chanute, '26, with another standout season under his belt, he further reinforced this past fall that he is one of the top gunslingers in the state going into the 2025 season. Last fall he led his team to SEK and Regional championships while piling up 2,000 yards running and passing and 25 touchdowns along the way. He has a rifle of an arm capable of making all the throws, from the quick surgical strikes to the long touch passes as well as the deep velocity throws. When the play breaks down he is a dangerous dual threat who extends plays seamlessly and is an elusive runner with good burst when he takes off. He is also well versed in throwing accurately off platform and from different launch angles. His game has gotten better every year and he is poised and ready to light it up this fall.   [player_tooltip player_id='1553158' first='Jaeden' last='Frierson-Rosko'], 6'2, 175, WR/DB, Wichita South, '26, is coming off a good year when he put the rest of the city league on notice that he is the real deal. Playing both ways, he is a dynamic wideout on offense and also a suffocating defensive back on the other side of the ball. As a receiver he has excellent length and an outstanding catch radius. He is gamebreaker on the deep ball, and also excels at going up to the apex point to bring down the ball. He has soft hands and is fearless going over the middle to make the contested catch. For the year he caught 14 passes for 284 yards and four TD's. On defense he is headbanger collapsing on the run out of the secondary, picking up 60 tackles and picking off a pass. He was also a torpedo off the edge, recording four sacks and five TFL. Get your popcorn out for this kid next fall.   [player_tooltip player_id='1351463' first='Jalik' last='Armstrong'], 5'10, 170, RB/DB, Wellington, '26, is another Crusader stud in the making who is coming off a solid season as a two-way baller who can do a little bit of everything. On offense he is a dangerous running back with elite speed and quickness and on the other side of the ball is a relentless ballhawk out of the secondary. As a runner he has great spatial awareness sizing up the possible running lanes before he makes a decisive cut and accelerates to paydirt. Last fall he ripped through arm tackles and burned up the perimeter for just under 500 yards, a 6.2 average and 11 TD's. He also caught 9 passes for 161 yards and a pair of scores to give him 600+ total yards and 13 TD's. On defense last fall he picked up 40 tackles and snagged two interceptions. This kid is going to burn it up in 2025.   [player_tooltip player_id='1578932' first='Kellen' last='Gibson'], 6'1, 180, QB, Winfield, '26, is another athletic playmaker who started last season flying under the radar but changed all that with an excellent junior year. As a dual-threat quarterback, he is versatile and athletic and runs legendary Coach Monty Lewis' offense to perfection. He has elite-potential throwing the ball and can make all the passes from standing strong in the pocket with good mechanics or stretching plays on the perimeter. Last fall he completed 84 of 169 passes for a 51% completion percentage and 10 TD passes to six picks. He also added another 300+ yards rushing and scored eight times to give him just under 1,400 total yards and 18 touchdowns for the year. With a rapidly maturing game and a season of experience under his belt he is going to produce some fireworks for the Vikings in 2025.     In conclusion, get these guys on your watchlists, you will not be disappointed. And, as always, if you know of any players flying under the radar, give me a shout via DM on X.

With ranking updates on the cusp of being released, we will continue to emphasize some of the best and brightest from the class of 2026 as they come down the homestretch to the all-important senior season.