2026 Skill Players Getting Ready For Encore Seasons

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With the camp season upon us it is always interesting to see how players approach it. Some guys stack up as many as a dozen camps and travel widely looking for off-season fine-tuning and/or big-time exposure.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Others are more comfortable and usually just as focused working through their school's off-season training program, working with some of the standout trainers/developers in the area or others have their own gameplan and are already grindin' away.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There is no right way to approach the camp season. If there is a right way, it is doing what is best for you and using all the assets and available avenues for improvement that you can to get better.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>You only get one senior season...</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In this report we are taking a closer look at a mix of battle-tested, proven playmakers at the running back position, a couple of gunslinger quarterbacks flying under the radar somewhat and then an Andover guy getting ready to make some noise this fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>So, without further adieu, let's take a closer look at the&nbsp;<em>Tuesday Five</em>:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='267076' first='Calin' last='Arndt']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/calin-arndt/"></a> </strong><em><a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/calin-arndt/"></a> </em></strong>, 5'11, 200, RB, <em>Aquinas</em>, '26. There are only a handful of players in the state that I refer to as an <em>"apex predator"</em> and this guy is one of those. Last year he muscled his team to the state championship on the strength of his 2,000+ rushing yards and 28 TD's, which drove numerous post-season honors, including <em>Max Prep Player of the Year</em>. Coming into his senior year he is one of the most dangerous backs in the state. When he breaks into the open he is not only fast, but slippery and elusive in space. Currently he is busy running track and has been training hard at <em>TopSpeed</em> <em>Strength &amp; Conditioning</em> in the KC-area, where they use digital measurements and biofeedback among other tools to optimize performance. Next up is a busy spring as he is headed to camps at <em>KU, K-State, Pitt State, Lindenwood, William Jewell and Nebraska</em>. Get your popcorn handy for this guy, he is going to put on another show in 2025.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='595719' first='Jamaal' last='Jackson III']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/jamaal-jackson-iii/"></a>&nbsp;<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/jamaal-jackson-iii/"></a>&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/jamaal-jackson-iii/"></a>&nbsp;<em>,&nbsp;</em></strong>5'10, 190, RB,&nbsp;<em>Labette County</em>&nbsp;'26. Speaking of putting on a show, this guy is going to push <em>Arndt</em> and a few others to crack the 2,000-yard barrier this fall. He is coming off an exceptional season as a fast and fluid baller who destroyed defenses all year, gaining 1,822 yards and scoring 20 touchdowns; which included his 416 yards and seven touchdown effort against <em>KC Sumner</em> toward the end of the season. As a powerful back with breakaway speed, he lines up as a single set back and with the ball in hand he has defenses scrambling to contain him. His off-season training has been solid as he has put on muscle, with plans to play at 205 pounds without losing speed. So far the plan is working, as evidenced by his recent performance at WSU when he broke the school record in the 100m. He also has a busy spring ahead, as he is headed to <em>Iowa State </em>in June. This guy is going to be <em>en fuego</em> this fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1229077' first='Wade' last='Keller']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/wade-keller/"></a>&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/wade-keller/"></a>&nbsp;</strong>, 5'11, 175, QB,&nbsp;<em>Sunrise Christian Academy</em>, '26. He is one of the Wichita area's top under-the-radar prospects, coming off a commanding performance last season when he completed 142 passes out of 240 attempts for 2,171 yards, a 59% completion percentage and 45 touchdowns. He added 335 yards rushing and another 14 TD's to give him a jaw-dropping&nbsp;<em>59 touchdowns</em>&nbsp;on the year. The dual-threat southpaw can make all the throws from pocket missiles and off-platform dimes to threading the needle under duress. He is a versatile dual-threat who can run the RPO or deconstruct defenses with his arm. He has been nursing a lingering shoulder injury that is healing just in time for a busy spring ahead as he is headed to the <em>K-State Camp</em> and then the <em>Sunrise Team Camp</em> in June. His training has been consistent as he has been hitting his morning workouts and fine-tuning passing mechanics. He is going to blow it up in 2025.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1569113' first='Wyatt' last='Griffin']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/wyatt-griffin/"></a>&nbsp;,</strong>&nbsp;QB, 6'3”, 190, <em>Chase County</em>, ‘26. He is another gunslinger flying under the radar who is getting ready to surprise some people this year. As a dual-threat QB, he has prototype size, strong arm and is athletic making plays in the pocket or out. Last fall he was just getting warmed up, as he completed 34 out of 59 passes for 738 yards, a 58% completion percentage, 13 TD's to only five picks, for an elite-level passer rating of 107. He also averaged 7+ yards a carry picking up 583 yards rushing and another 12 TD's to give him 1,300+ yards of total offense and 25 total touchdowns. His off-season has been busy as he is currently playing baseball and running track during the week and then drives to Salina to workout with <em>Sharp Performance</em> on the weekends. He is also going to be busy this spring, as he is headed to the <em>Sharp Top Prospect</em> camp in May, and then <em>Fort Hays</em> and <em>Emporia State</em> camps this summer. This guy is going to go off this fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Benjamin Reynolds</strong>, 6'4, 225, TE/DE,<em> Andover</em>, '26. He hasn't got much attention yet but he is getting ready to climb out of the shadows this fall. He has been hitting it hard preparing for a breakout season and is another local baller training with <em>Coach Rashad Daniels</em>. His growth and training has been outstanding so far, as he has put on significant muscle and improved his speed and agility. With his next-level size and athleticism, he can play as a wide receiver, in the slot or as a hybrid tight end. He has sticky hands, a great catch radius and is a pile-driving blocker in the run game. He is also a play-stuffing edge on defense who can shut down the perimeter on his side. Currently, he is out for track and getting ready for a super busy camp season. So far his plan is to hit camps at<em> Indiana State, Eastern Kentucky, Ball State, Idaho, Samford, Valparaiso, Vanderbilt, and Lindenwood</em>, and just got back from a junior day visit at <em>Indiana State</em> last week. This guy is going to dominate in 2025.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Note</em></strong>: as a friendly reminder, your profiles have been created on <em>Prep Redzone</em>. We encouraged you to claim your profiles by using the following link&nbsp;<a href="https://prepredzone.com/prospect-index/"><strong>https://prepredzone.com/prospect-index/</strong></a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In conclusion, get these guys on your watchlist as they are getting ready to decimate defenses this fall. Give me a shout via DM on X if you run across any guys flying under the radar.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>And, as always:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>K</em></strong><em><strong>eep grindin</strong></em>'...</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->