Wichita Area Upper-Classmen Ready For Big Seasons

The off-season is officially off and running as these battle-tested ballers who are ready for breakout seasons this fall know all too well, it is now or never.   For these upperclassmen the clock is ticking, and seemingly begins to tick faster the closer they get to the all-important senior season. For seniors, all sweat equity built up over the last few years has been appropriated for this crucial final season. For juniors, it is time to ratchet-up their game so they roll into the last year of high school football as well-positioned as possible.   In this report we will take a look at a couple of guys who will be playing D1 somewhere soon, one sooner than the other. We will also take a look at a handful of other juniors and seniors on a collective trajectory for a great season in 2025.   So, without further adieu, let's take a look at the Weekend 5:     [player_tooltip player_id='1226637' first='Maxwell' last='Robinson']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/maxwell-robinson/"></a> , 6'4, 285, OL, Derby, '27, is the highest-ranked player in this report and on almost every D1 hit-list in the country after putting his game on display as the cornerstone of the Panther's high-powered offense last fall. He is a blindside-tackle extraordinaire, with an impressive combination of size and athleticism that is evident the first time you see him in action. He has a strong frame with impressive feet and plays with good pad level and a nasty disposition. The result is caving in down blocks, and pancakes leading on the perimeter. He is a force in pass pro as he uses his standout reach to hit edge rushers in the mouth and has the ability to move laterally and change direction, which enables him to wall off and hammer the rush as it comes. He is a baller in the trenches getting ready for a dominating junior season.   [player_tooltip player_id='1114752' first='Cal' last='Purvis']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/cal-purvis/"></a> , 6'3, 225, LB/RB, Kapaun, '26, is one of the senior studs referred above who is starting to reel in the D1 offers after a springboard junior season. He is a multi-positional two-way playmaker who makes his presence known immediately on both sides of the ball. On offense he is a big back who is suprisingly fast and elusive for his size, but hits like a battering ram betweeen the tackles. He is versatile enough to play fullback or tailback and either way, overwhelms with his speed-to-power ratio. And, if possible, he is even better on defense as a swarming linebacker who will blitz the gap like a heat-seeking missile to disrupt plays in the backfield. On the year he finished with 70 tackles and an impressive 18 tackles for loss. Get your popcorn ready, this guy is going to put on a show this fall.   [player_tooltip player_id='283953' first='Rylan' last='Bailey'], 6'0, 205, RB, Valley Center, '26, is coming off a tough season running the ball for a 3-7 team. The Hornets played a brutal schedule, but he showed the capability of playing at an elite level all year in spite of not having much running room. On the year he piled up 500 total yards and had his best game when he carried 26 times for 138 yards and a TD in a win over Wichita South. He is a tough, slashing, pounding runner who makes decisive cuts and uses his acceleration to get to the second level quickly. He had a lot of practice picking up yards after first hit and he did it with a churning, spinning, get-whatever-you-can running style. With a season under his belt and a solid off-season of training he is getting ready to make some noise this fall.   [player_tooltip player_id='1586376' first='Izaac' last='Popp']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/izaac-popp/"></a> , 5'9, 175, RB/LB, Eisenhower, '27, is a rising baller of a sophomore back who will give Eisenhower a powerful one-two punch along side top-ranked RB [player_tooltip player_id='426515' first='Brayden' last='Pappas']. As a sophomore Popp showed his obvious skill sets as a speed-burner who has good burst and acceleration in the open field. He gave fans and coaches a crystal-ball look into the future last fall against Newton when he carried 10 times for 152 yards, averaging 15+ yards per carry, including a 66-yard score and had two touchdowns on the night. For the year he carried 24 times for 232 yards, averaged just under 10 yards per carry and scored three touchdowns. This guy has been impressive in a limited role but is getting ready for some fireworks this fall.   [player_tooltip player_id='1594487' first='Curtis' last='Campa']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/curtis-campa/"></a> , 5'10”, 180, LB, Clearwater, ‘27, is coming off a good sophomore season when he started making a name for himself as a scrappy linebacker with a nose for the football. Lining up along side the top-returning tackler in the state in senior MLB [player_tooltip player_id='1515812' first='Dalton' last='Wulf'] who piled up 128 tackles last year, Campa stepped up his game as well with 68 tackles, a sack and a fumble recovery. He is a versatile OLB who is adept at floating in zone and taking out the pass game on his side or storming the gate off the edge to shut down the outside running game. He has a low center of gravity, fast hands, good transition speed and moves well laterally fighting through heavy-traffic. He has next-level instincts and when he hits the ball carrier, brings his style of violence. He is ready for a huge junior season.     In conclusion, follow these guys as they get ready for a big fall. And, as always, keep me posted on ballers flying under the proverbial radar. Keep grindin'...

The off-season is officially off and running as these battle-tested ballers who are ready for breakout seasons this fall know all too well, it is now or never.