Juniors Positioned for Very Productive Seasons

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Get 30% off your first billing cycle with code:&nbsp;howe30&nbsp;in the coupon code area</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Every season is important for prep football players with aspirations of playing on the next level. It would be hard to argue any of them are more critical in the recruiting process than junior year, however.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's a look at a half dozen Iowa 2027s that can raise their stock in 2025:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1840100"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68a5e8acc8de3"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Jones enjoyed an excellent junior season for a Warrior outfit that reached the Class 3A state semifinals. He came up with 31.0 total tackles, 23 of which were of the solo variety. Jones also was credited with 3.0 tackles for loss and a pair of sacks. There's limited footage on his <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/20716066/xavier-jones/highlights">Hudl page</a>. What is housed there reveals a pretty athletic defender on the second level. He runs very well, sideline to sideline, and has a straight-ahead burst. Jones is an angular athlete with long arms and a frame that has plenty of room to fill out without him losing his best assets. Jones has a lot of potential and is one to watch the next two seasons.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1840119"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68a5ecf77526a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Chaiyawong proved he was a playmaker as a sophomore in 2024. He piled up 28.5 tackles with 16 of them being solo. He contributed 5.0 tackles for loss and returned a kick 27 yards. There's a limited amount of footage on Chaiyawong's <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/18593189/Vilah-Chaiyawong/highlights">Hudl page</a>. What is there reveals an instinctively good safety that gets downhill in a hurry and packs a punch upon arrival at the ball. Chaiyawong plays fast by getting a quick start derived from pre-snap reads. His understanding of the scheme allows him to operate effectively lining up in different locations. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1840838"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68a633335550e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Kirchhoff rushed for 354 yards (5.4 YPC) and three touchdowns as a sophomore in balanced rushing attack last season, when the Wildcats reached the state championship game. He should see an increased workload in 2025 after graduation losses, and also could find time on defense. Kirchhoff's <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/19760454/Jaxson-Kirchhoff/highlights">Hudl page</a> only includes a couple of his touchdown runs from last season. One is a short-yardage score against Charles City. The other carry goes for 45 yards to the house. On it, he shows vision, burst and breakaway speed. Kirchhoff, who also competes in baseball and wrestling, is one to watch in the gridiron.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1843754"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68a77058d99ae"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Kirkby played an important role for the Raiders last season, when they reached the postseason again. The sophomore registered 35.0 tackles. He had 25 solo stops and 7.5 tackles for loss. Unfortunately, his <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/16512136/sawyer-kirby/highlights">Hudl page</a> only includes a couple of clips from a year ago. <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/16512136/672140a2f21f8821dd8380cf">Against Fort Madison</a>, he looks like a high-motor linebacker with excellent straight-line speed. Kirby shows off his special teams' value with a <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/16512136/672142fc3d3bfeedd7063fa7">play against Solon</a>. A good athlete that stands out on the wrestling mat, too, Kirby often operates with a leverage advantage and appears to be a technically-sound tackler.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1826064"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68a87ec2c10e2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Mckern attended Davenport West last season but will suit up for the Wildcats in 2025. For the Falcons in 2024, he caught five passes for 79 yards and nine of his 13.5 tackles were of the solo variety. The highlights are limited on Mckern's <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/23385691/Maleiki-Mckern/highlights">Hudl page</a>. What's there lends insight into his skills. On <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/23385691/678ebe81a61d12bf6f8de06e">the first clip</a>, he uses his size to high-point a ball and then picks up yards after the catch. There's more evidence in these <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/23385691/678d8839b4466a3bcfe150c4">clips versus Bettendorf</a>. They include him operating out of the slot. Mckern looks like a guy that would work at tight end, depending on how his frame fills out.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1844927"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68a8b800d57c7"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">McNeal rushed 62 times for 584 yards (9.4 YPC) and four touchdowns in earning all-district honors. The sophomore also averaged 25.1 yards on 12 kick returns with a score and his lone punt return went 52 yards to the house. McNeal's <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/18529821/6733c9fd001106a963bd8074">10th-grade highlight video</a> contains evidence as to how he gets the job done. A blur on kick returns, he doesn't need much of a crease to inflict damage. McNeal looks most comfortable taking a pitch on stretch plays, where he can use his vision and burst to get to the second level and beyond. He's patient and sets up his blocks well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->