Wichita/Surrounding Area Off-Season Watchlist Updates

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The off-season is zooming along at warp speed as basketball and wrestling wind down and make way for baseball and track. And, although both require major-sport focus, there is more going on to compete for attention. 7v7 is heating up, camps and clinics are building momentum, school and spring ball visits are around the corner, finals are coming up...you get the idea.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's a busy time of year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>And, we haven't started talking about off-season training for football. To compete at an elite level in today's game, players have to train year around. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>And, if you're just getting back in the groove on your off-season training, you're already three months behind.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In this report, we will take a look at five guys who have been busy so far in 2025 and are already shifting their off-season workouts into overdrive. These are guys who have not been getting significant attention just yet, but their off-season work is going to pay off in 2025.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>So, without further adieu, let's check out these up-and-coming ballers getting ready for this fall:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1639621' first='Logan' last='Isaac']</strong>, 6'0, 185, QB/LB, <em>Sterling</em>, '26, he is coming off a good junior season as a dual-threat quarterback on offense and an honorable mention all-state linebacker. On offense he is an athletic flexbone QB who runs the different options and RPO's well and racked up 600+ yards running and passing and had 10 TD's. As a runner he makes decisive cuts getting vertical and once in the secondary is a slippery, elusive runner. As a passer he has a compact throwing motion and delivery and is accurate hitting routes in the short-to-medium game. He can also hit the touch pass down the sideline and throws well on sprint outs or once the play breaks down. On defense he is a swarming, aggressive linebacker who piled up 60 tackles, four tackles for loss and picked off two passes. This fall he is getting ready to make some noise on both sides of the ball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1639623' first='Brody' last='Alonzo']</strong>, 6'5, 260, OL/DL, <em>Chanute</em>, '26, he is coming off a solid junior season as a two-way trench warrior, lining up at tackle on offense and defensive end on the other side of the ball. He has good size and reach that he uses effectively to hit blockers in the teeth while going over and through them to the quarterback. He has the strength to fight off double teams and still work through traffic to make plays behind the line. On offense he is a pillar on the right side, walling off the perimeter in pass pro or caving in the edge on the run. He has good feet and quickness for his size and can be used to pull and lead the backs hitting the corner or chip off and help with linebackers. He has a passion for the game and has been training hard while getting ready to play catcher for the baseball team this spring. This guy has all the tools to be a good one.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1639625' first='Giovanni' last='Hernandez']</strong>, 5'10, 160, DB, <em>Goddard</em>, '26, he is coming off a good year getting established in the secondary as a versatile defensive back with a nose for the ball. He can play anywhere in the secondary but is particularly effective as a lock-down corner who has good speed and quickness defending the pass. He is fast and fluid enough to get in the receivers face mask, flip hips at the snap and smother the route. He can also sink in zone and with good read and react skills quickly figures out the route scheme and where the quarterback is trying to get the ball. When the opposing team tries to run his way he quickly manuevers through blockers and is a good open-field tackler. On special teams he is a headhunter who gets down the field in a hurry to make the big hit or track down return men going the other way. He is going to shine this fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1639627' first='Braeden' last='Heitsman']</strong>, 6'4, 280, DL/OL, <em>Valley Center</em>, '26, he is another mauling, brawling trench dominator who gave coaches and fans a glimpse of good things to come. A two-way standout with the size and mobility to play anywhere along the line but last fall lined up at right tackle and either a five technique, or coming off the edge on defense. As a tackle he has great feet, with a quick first step and maintains good pad level locking in and getting leverage on his target. He moves well when shielding off the rush and denying edge rushers in pass pro, but is also a punishing blocker delivering pancakes on down blocks in the run game. On defense he is a run-stopper who can shut down the ground game between the tackles or quickly flow laterally to make plays on the perimeter. He is just getting warmed up and will deliver a big senior year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1311567' first='Cole' last='Zeka']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/cole-zeka/"></a>&nbsp;</strong>, 6'3, 230, DE/TE,&nbsp;<em>Wellington</em>, '27, he is the only sophomore in this group but he is used to running and playing with an older crowd and has already done well enough at the varsity level to start getting looks from college coaches and recruiters. He is coming off a good season as a two-way baller who is athletic enough to play a hybrid tight end who can split out in the passing game as needed or jump to the other side of the ball as a ball-buster coming off the edge. Last fall he was in on ten tackles and had a pair of tackles for loss as he got acclimated to the varisty game. He already has a next-level frame and appears to still be in growth-mode. On offense he has all the tools, with size, speed and a standout catch radius. Get your popcorn ready for this guy, he is going to put on a show this fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In conclusion, get these guys on your watchlists and follow their progress this fall. And, as always, if you run across any teams or players flying under the radar give me a shout via DM on X. Keep grindin'...</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->