Summer Grinders Kicking Off Camp Season

The off-season continues to roll by at a maddening pace as players wrap up school and sport obligations while somehow keeping ahead of the curve on their football training.   Many are choosing a combo approach of working closely in school training programs, with private trainers and then supplementing with as many camp and clinic roadtrips as possible.   And some are incredibly busy in that regard, hitting multiple camps weekly so far and plans to hit even more in June.   In this report we are going to take a look at five guys gearing up for transformative seasons who haven't been getting as much attention as they deserve so far in their high school careers for one reason or another.   So without further adieu, let's take a closer look at five ballers getting ready to make a leap from the "under the radar" designation in the 2025 season and put their skills on full display.   The Friday Five:   [player_tooltip player_id='1641844' first='Tayden' last='Neloms'] , 5'10”, 165, WR/DB, Wichita East, '28, quickly got acclimated to the varsity game last fall, and once the season was over didn't waste any time setting his sights on pushing for a starting spot this fall. This past spring he played 7v7 with the Wichita Wheat, fine-tuning his versatility on both sides of the ball. Last fall in the East scheme he was used primarily as a wide receiver or in the slot, but this fall he has been training to go both ways, with the plan to help fill any holes in the defensive backfield. As a receiver he runs precise routes, creates separation in a hurry and has sticky hands making the contested catch over the middle. He has been heavy into a daily training plan this spring on speedwork and hand-eye coordination and is getting ready to compete at the Kansas and Kansas State camps coming up in June. He has all the tools and the early drive to push himself to become an under-graduate starter on a high-octane 6A school.   [player_tooltip player_id='1612742' first='Joseph' last='Mortensen'], 5'11, 185, DB/ATH, Manhattan, '27, is coming off a solid sophomore season and has been making a name for himself in the off-season in 7v7 and other sports. This fall he will be a part of one of the top secondaries in the state and he fits the bill, as he can stuff the receiver at the line, flip hips at the snap and then use his burst and closing speed to stick with the top wideouts. He is also a dangerous kick returner and with his straight-line acceleration can burn teams in a hurry. He has been busy in track running the anchor leg on the 4x100 relay, as well as the 100m and 200m dashes. He has also put on 15 pounds of muscle in the off-season and gotten faster and more explosive, clocking a 4.45 40 and a 38" vertical. Next month he heads to the KU and KSU camps and then later will be at Washburn, before heading east to the Pitt State camp. Get your popcorn handy, he is going to put on a show this fall.   Goran Djurovic, 5'10, 230, OL/DL, Wellington, '27, he is another baller from the class of '27 who got a taste of the varsity game last year and is going to take it to a whole different level this fall. After wrestling at 215 in the winter he is back to the football training grind and putting on weight to dominate in the trenches. He can play center or guard on offense, but really stands out as a head hunter of a defensive tackle. With his powerful base, he plays with good pad level and a low center of gravity as he hammers blockers while fighting through traffic to get to the ball. He has heavy hands and a knack for shucking blockers and getting into the backfield to cause major disruption quickly. He has exceeded all of his PR's in the key lifts and has been working hard on speed work and hip flexibility. His June will be busy as he will be at the Crusader morning camp and then the following week he and his teammates head to Hays for a team camp. He may be under the radar for now but that will change in a hurry this fall.   Cooper Mason, 6'0, 170, WR/DB, Andover Central, '27, is coming off a sophomore season helping Andover Central win their first state championship by knocking off Bishop Miege 49-42 for the 4A crown, and has hit the ground running in the off-season to get ready to take his game to the next level this fall. Last year's team was loaded with senior talent, so this fall he will be positioned to fill the void on both sides of the ball as a wide out and corner. Wrapping up basketball in the winter he quickly shifted gears toward training for football. And, to prepare to play two demanding positions this fall he has mapped out an aggressive summer of lifting, speedwork and is already deep into hitting the camp circuit. Returning from recent camps at Central Oklahoma and with GCCC, he is getting ready for a busy June, heading to Oklahoma State, KU, Pitt State, Missouri Western and Tulsa. With his athleticism and versatility on both sides of the ball he should be primed for a stepping-stone season this fall.   [player_tooltip player_id='1732733' first='Legend' last='Spence'], 5'10, 155, DB/WR, Wichita Southeast, '26, is already gearing up for a big senior season as a wide receiver/slot on offense and a defensive back on the other side of the ball, and plans to shift into overdrive this summer to make a final senior-season push. He has been working closely with his Southeast coaches fine-tuning his skill sets so they can move him up and down the line of scrimmage on offense or on defense help the team as a smothering corner or dropped back as a safety as needed. On defense he has already demonstrated good instincts and breaking on the ball after reading the quarterback eyes out of the secondary. He also steps up to shut down the run game and is a fearless open-field tackler. This spring he showed his explosiveness as a triple jumper on the track team. He is still in the process of finalizing his camp schedule for the summer but has his sights on three or four to start with. This guy is getting ready to take his game to the next level this fall.     In conclusion, get out and see these guys hit it hard this fall – you will not be disappointed. Also, DM me via X if you run across any other players flying under the radar.   And, as usual…   Keep grindin'

The off-season continues to roll by at a maddening pace as players wrap up school and sport obligations while somehow keeping ahead of the curve on their football training.