Report No. 1,500: Pred Redzone Alumni 2021-2025

Prep Redzone Kansas was launched in 2020, and I created the first rankings for the website.

Today, with this report and an earlier report today on Prep Dig Kansas I will have written 1,500 scouting reports for those two sites and Prep Girls Hoops Kansas combined.

To celebrate the achievement, I wanted to reflect on the literally thousands of Kansas student athletes I have seen over the past five years.

I could have selected dozens of athletes to feature, but I decided to feature two athletes from each Kansas Class that I had some part in ranking over the years.

Here are 10 athletes who have earned my admiration and respect over that time.

As a lifelong Kansan, I feel honored to have covered such a large number of young student-athletes in this role.

I hope you enjoy report No. 1,500 and will also check out report No. 1,499 on Prep Dig. I have made both reports, “Free Reports” so that they may be read without a subscription.

Please feel free to share this on social media platforms, and thanks for all of the continued support from athletes, coaches, and parents across the Sunflower State.

For those interested in subscribing for the first time, please use the Coupon Code Deckard30 to save 30 percent on a new subscription on any of the four Kansas Prep Network sites.

Devin Neal, Lawrence, '21

Neal was a top-ranked running back at Lawrence in the first class I ranked for Prep Redzone. He would go on to have a stellar career for the Kansas Jayhawks and was recently taken by the New Orleans Saints in the NFL Draft. Neal rushed for 4,343 yards over four seasons for KU and found the end zone 49 times on the ground. He was drafted in the sixth round by New Orleans.

DJ Giddens, Junction City, ‘21

Another recent member of the Kansas Class of 2021 was recently drafted by an NFL Franchise. Giddens was a senior at Junction City when Prep Redzone Kansas was launched. He had a breakout season as a senior, rushing for more than 1,200 yards and 30 touchdowns for the Bluejays. He signed with Kansas State University out of high school and rushed for 3,087 yards and 23 touchdowns over three seasons with the Wildcats. He was drafted in the fifth round by the Indianapolis Colts.

Haven Lysell-Stewart, Smoky Valley, ‘22

On each of the lists for Prep Redzone and Prep Dig, you will find one athlete from Smoky Valley. It's the school I graduated from in 1995, so there will always be a connection to that program and community. What made Lysell extra special was that I saw him play twice in person during his high school career, and his mother was a classmate of mine at Smoky Valley. In three seasons at Oklahoma Baptist, he has played in 32 games and caught four touchdowns as a tight end. He will be heading into his senior season this fall.

Landon Dean, Frontenac, '22

Frontenac is another community near and dear to me. I graduated from Pittsburg State, and one of my first coaching jobs was in Frontenac. Dean was a stud two-way player who moved up the rankings while with the Raiders. He picked Oklahoma State over Iowa State and Kansas State. He redshirted his first season in Stillwater and enters his junior season this fall. He played in three games last season and will be competing for a larger role on the defensive unit this season.

Avery Johnson, Maize, ‘23

The Kansas Class of 2023 was a talented class. The next two athletes on this list I saw play against each other as I traveled to Derby to see the Panthers and Eagles compete. Johnson finished as the No. 1-ranked player in his class and committed to Kansas State. He threw for 2,768 yards and 29 touchdowns in his senior season and was named the Kansas Gatorade Player Of The Year.  During his freshman season, he was named the Pop-Tarts Bowl MVP. Last season, he threw for 2,712 yards and a school-record 25 touchdowns, starting every game under center for the Wildcats.

Dylan Edwards, Derby, ‘23

Edwards was the starting running back for the Panthers in the game against Maize I scouted. He finished ranked No. 2 overall in the Kansas Class of 2023 behind his future teammates. He accounted for 6,426 yards and 95 touchdowns on the ground over four seasons for Derby. Edwards signed with the Colorado Buffaloes, but transferred to Kansas State before the 2024 season. While at Colorado, he played in 12 games, rushing for 321 yards and gaining 299 yards receiving. Last season for the Wildcats, he rushed for 546 yards and was named Offensive MVP of Rate Bowl.

Kaedin Massey, Lyndon, ‘24

Massey has been one of the top prospects to come out of Eight-Man football in my time with Prep Redzone. He helped lead Lyndon to a state title in 2024 and signed with Kansas State.  He redshirted last season for the Wildcats. It is a rewarding feeling when athletes from the 8-Man ranks get opportunities to play college football. Massey finished ranked No. 2 overall by Prep Redzone Kansas in the Class of 2024.

Callen Barta, Seaman, ‘24

Barta was a dangerous two-way prospect at Seaman. I followed his career and recruiting process closely. He originally verbally committed to Nebraska, but later changed his commitment to Kansas State. His career numbers with Seaman included 104 tackles and 13 interceptions, 28 catches for 1,847 yards, and 20 touchdowns. He redshirted during his first year in Manhattan. Barta finished ranked No. 19 overall by Prep Redzone Kansas.

Dakari Wake Dakari Wake 6'0" | 180 lbs | ATH Leavenworth | 2025 State KS , Leavenworth, ‘25

I first started watching Wake during his junior season at Leavenworth. I scouted the Pioneers' game against Lansing in 2023 and against Shawnee Heights in 2024. Wake was one of the most explosive athletes I saw those two seasons, and I am excited that his future, for now, will be in the MIAA. Wake committed to the Missouri Southern Lions. He finished ranked No. 48 overall in the Kansas Class of 2025 rankings.

Koby Le Koby Le 6'1" | 240 lbs | DL Emporia | 2025 State KS , Emporia, ‘25

Like Wake, I discovered Le during his junior season and paid close attention to his recruiting process. He will also be playing in one of the toughest Division II Football Conferences, as he has signed with Emporia State. Le has a great work ethic and worked hard on and off the field to get recruited. The Spartan product will graduate this month and has a bright future ahead of him.

Whether it's on Fridays, Saturdays, or Sundays, football players just want to perform to the top of their ability and represent the organization they are playing for.

As a scout, I just enjoy getting to see them play, whether it's in person or on my big screen. However, it is still cool to know that athletes from Kansas are playing football on all days of the week