15U Rundown from Back to Ballin 2025

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>CEDAR FALLS - </strong>The 15U Division at this past weekend's Back 2 Ballin 7-on-7 tournament in the UNI-Dome brought together some of the state's top underclassmen. They provided evidence that we could be in for some breakout performances during the 2025 season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's a team-by-team breakdown of what we saw here on Sunday:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>RIP CITY</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A handful for its opponents this weekend, Rip City featured playmakers all over the field. It starts with a primo combo at quarterback. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1656914' first='Devin' last='Mericle'] and [player_tooltip player_id='980028' first='Cannon' last='Davis'] are built differently but equally effective. Merical is 6-3 with long limbs, including an accurate right arm. Davis' first name is a great description of his arm strength.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1657932' first='Pierre' last='Shield'] is one of their favorite targets. He's a pest in the slot, adept at getting free across the middle and making people miss in space. [player_tooltip player_id='1657034' first='Landon' last='Gronewold'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1656944' first='Jevan' last='Mills'] deliver especially well down the sideline as big-bodied pass catchers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1657934' first='Caleb' last='Carlton'] produced a highlight-reel, one-handed grab on Sunday. [player_tooltip player_id='1617638' first='Abe' last='Bidanis'] scored running down the seem and via a contested catch in the end zone on the final day. [player_tooltip player_id='1656935' first='Braden' last='Bickford'] made plays, including a Sunday house-call.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1331146' first='Jonah' last='Drake'] is a fun prospect on both sides of the ball with toughness stuffed into a compact frame. [player_tooltip player_id='1361347' first='Adrian' last='Clerry'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1657937' first='Shepherd' last='Stanton'] can lock down defensively as can Bickford. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>AVALANCHE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This outfit is packed with potential. [player_tooltip player_id='1656948' first='Zach' last='Poe'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1657941' first='Aiden' last='Gaffey'] share most of the quarterback duties with [player_tooltip player_id='1657050' first='Bradyn' last='Starbuck'] also taking some reps there. All three guys are good athletes that contribute on defense. It's a trios whose development will be interesting to monitor during the next few years. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This team is loaded with more two-way prospects with considerable ceilings. [player_tooltip player_id='1657944' first='Holton' last='Hinkel'], [player_tooltip player_id='1657948' first='Evan' last='Greve'], [player_tooltip player_id='1657023' first='Tate' last='Rettig'], [player_tooltip player_id='1657950' first='Urban' last='Dowden'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1656954' first='Asher' last='Eisenbach'] were among that group standing out. Hinkel and Rettig flash potential at receiver with the other three guys doing their best work on defense. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>INSANITY</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A lot of promise described the student-athletes on this roster. [player_tooltip player_id='1657952' first='Ben' last='Perschek'] is an active defender that has a good feel for safety. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Perschek came up with an impressive interception on Sunday. He had a lot of help in coverage from [player_tooltip player_id='1657955' first='Gabe' last='Senk'], [player_tooltip player_id='1657958' first='Nils' last='Mullarkey'], [player_tooltip player_id='1657961' first='Logan' last='Carson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1657967' first='Tallan' last='Chandler'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1656906' first='Ryder' last='Meeks'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1657970' first='Boyd' last='James'] give Insanity to capable quarterbacks with big arms. [player_tooltip player_id='1324987' first='Roman' last='Nielsen'] is a long-limbed receiver they like to target. He's also sticky on defense. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>FLEX</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1162291' first='Jack' last='Corson'] was one of the better 15U signal callers I watched during the weekend. He combines a strong arm with touch and accuracy. [player_tooltip player_id='1656826' first='Max' last='Schmitz'] is one of his most reliable and versatile receivers, delivering across the middle or by leaping over defenders on the sideline. Schmitz is sound defensively, too. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1656822' first='Maddon' last='McIntire'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1584562' first='Luke' last='Iverson'] are dynamic receivers. They're versatile, combining good size with speed. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>SAVAGES</strong> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1657032' first='Maddox' last='Krizek'] is a playmaker on both sides of the ball for the Savages. He's a crafty receiver that does damage in space and a lock-down defender as evidenced by a key interception he delivered on Sunday. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1657030' first='Anthony' last='Hawkins'] is a promising quarterback. He already spins it well and should continue to improve with added strength and development. Hawkins sees the field and calmly works through his progressions. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1359208' first='Drew' last='Urbanek'] plays quarterback at Tripoli but shined as a receiver and defensive back for the Savages. He showed versatility and position flexibility, producing a pretty touchdown catch on Sunday. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1657982' first='Jacobii' last='Winters'] is interesting prospect on both sides of the ball. He makes people miss in space and stick with receivers in coverage. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>HAWKS WSR</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1657988' first='Simeon' last='Kroymann'] is an intriguing two-way performer for this team from the Waverly and Shell Rock areas. He picked off a pass and hauled in a nice catch in a short period of time when I was watching. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1657989' first='Hudson' last='Sunberg'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1657990' first='Eagan' last='Hunt'] can lock up receivers. [player_tooltip player_id='1657063' first='Quinn' last='Lockard'] chips in on both sides of the ball with his athleticism, which was on display when he ripped off a back flip following a touchdown catch. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1657058' first='Trevor' last='Beck'] stands out for his accuracy at quarterback. He puts the ball on his receivers, allowing them to make plays. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->