18U Rundown from Back to Ballin 2025

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>CEDAR FALLS - </strong>Teams from around the state converged on the UNI-Dome this past weekend for the Back to Ballin 7-on-7 tournament. They matched up with high-level competition from around the region. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's a look back at what we saw in the 18U Division: </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>AVALANCHE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Members of this team are well-connected. It starts with quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1657101' first='Kyle' last='Tracy'], who steadily improves each time I see him. He can make all the throws, and the ball placement is getting better. He has a complete picture of the field. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1370666' first='Aaron' last='Honore'] is a breakout candidate for the 2025 prep season. He's a long, athletic prospect that could end up at multiple positions on the next level. It could be receiver, tight end, safety, linebacker or somewhere else. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1657093' first='Drew' last='Greve'] is an interesting two-way prospect. He might fit best at slot receiver or slot corner. Safety also is a possibility. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Edwin Gangba is similar to Greve in that he could project on either side of the line of scrimmage. He's likely best suited for cornerback, however. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>IOWA GATORS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/04/day-1-of-back-2-ballin-18u-recap-observations/">wrote about this squad</a> after watching it on Saturday. Seeing it again reaffirmed the first impression that it has a lot of talent.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sunday brought receiver [player_tooltip player_id='1241492' first='Jeffrey' last='Roberts'] into the mix. He was as good as I remembered when I saw he and Ames at Iowa City High last season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Iowa State verbal commitment is filling out his frame without losing speed or athleticism. He could help the Cyclones early in his college career. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1234336' first='Deztin' last='McMurrin'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1360345' first='Jack' last='Bowlin'] shined on Saturday as a two-way performers and repeated it a day later. [player_tooltip player_id='1241491' first='Torian' last='Cotton'] flashed on Day 1 and took it up a notch on Sunday. He boasts an intriguing mix of six and speed that could work at several different positions on the next level. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1241504' first='Johari' last='Muigai'] impressed me with his skills on both sides of the ball. Ben Fleming delivered important catches throughout the weekend, including a pretty touchdown on a short crossing route Sunday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>RIP CITY</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Few Iowa teams can match the talent level of this outfit. It's flush with D-I recruits. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='847795' first='Xzavion' last='Robinson'] is the headliner. He's always impressed me as a receiver but he showed some chops as a defensive back on Sunday. He's capable of playing it on the next level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I've written about most the student-athletes on the this team. [player_tooltip player_id='1216911' first='Max' last='Schwieger'] and KingSton Swayzer were guys I'd not seen much. Both are promising defenders, Schweiger more as a safety and Swayzer packing potential at corner.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1548918' first='Logan' last='Laubenthal'] shined on defense last season. His play here proved he can be counted on to give more on offense in 2025. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The upside for quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='458050' first='Cael' last='Kongshaug'] is high, as we saw this weekend. He's good now and has the starter kit to be a lot more with development.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>INSANITY</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1361686' first='Jacob' last='Solberg'] was one of the more impressive players I saw this weekend. The Kennedy tight end showed a lot of speed and athleticism with an ability to get open. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another Cougar, quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1238542' first='William' last='Woodring'], definitely displayed arm talent. He sees the field well and gets through his progressions in a timely manner. Kennedy teammates Atley Gloede and [player_tooltip player_id='1238502' first='Thierry' last='Boyd'] are two of his favorite targets on this team, and that duo also can defend.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1645137' first='Christopher' last='Lange'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1581291' first='Lucas' last='Ranard'] are versatile prospects capable of contributing on both sides of the ball. [player_tooltip player_id='1361684' first='Blake' last='Bunting'] stands out at linebacker, and Jackson Goslin is a slot corner/safety type with upside. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->