Top Five Returning Receivers in 8-Man

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Taking a look at each of the top five receiving leaders in yards that return in 8-man this fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/08/top-returning-passers-in-8-man/">Top Five Returning Passers in 8-Man</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/08/top-five-returning-rusher-leaders-in-8-man/">Top Five Returning Rushing Leaders in 8-Man</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/08/top-five-returning-receivers-in-class-5a/">Top Five Returning Receivers in 5A</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/08/top-five-returning-receivers-in-4a/">Top Five Returning Receivers in 4A</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/08/top-five-returning-receivers-in-3a/">Top Five Returning Receivers in 3A</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/08/top-five-returning-receivers-in-2a/">Top Five Returning Receivers in 2A</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/08/top-five-returning-receivers-in-1a/">Top Five Returning Receivers in 1A</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/08/top-five-returning-receivers-in-class-a/">Top Five Returning Receivers in Class A</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Callan Messerich","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"160","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2410","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Easton Valley","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68b0d6720f5cf"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The top pass-catcher in all of 8-Man last season, Callan Messerich of Easton Valley grabbed 62 passes for 1,237 yards and 19 scores last season to lead the state in all three categories. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Easton Valley often ran under routes for Messerich, where other receivers would go deep down field, giving the 5'10", 160-pound wide out space underneath all the hullabaloo to grab a short pass and turn it into a big gain. Whether he caught it and had room to work, was in man-to-man coverage and proceeded to break a tackle, or used his route to escape from his defender, Messerich was used as a playmaker for his team in 2024. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1656847"],"_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-68b0d6720f63b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">In 8-man, receivers are often used like Messerich -- give them the ball in space and let the work. While [player_tooltip player_id='1656847' first='Jaxson' last='Schnell'] is also certainly that type of receiver -- small, scatty and can make plays in the open field -- he's also got tremendous ball skills. As one can see on the first play <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/16708503/6736340f26093c3372f0a154">of his film on Hudl</a>, Schnell leaps up in the air (maybe miss-timing the ball) and ultimately brings it down with one hand, despite the DB being all over him. Schnell, who caught 47 passes for 1,040 yards and 18 touchdowns last season, is a receiver that provides both skillsets for GTRA. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1034037"],"_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-68b0d6720f683"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The last receiver of the group to eclipse the 1K mark, [player_tooltip player_id='1034037' first='Hudson' last='Clark'] finished the year with 55 catches for 1,005 yards and 14 scores. With a similar skillset to Schnell, Clark makes opposing defensive backs look silly with his ball skills at times. Not only can he go up and get it in double-coverage to steal the ball away from defenders, he can also track a tipped ball and bring it in for a reception after DBs think the play is dead. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On double-moves, he can beat his defender deep, and his slight frame allows for breakaway speed. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1197458"],"_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-68b0d6720f6c6"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The rare Power 4 prospect in 8-Man football, [player_tooltip player_id='1197458' first='Landon' last='Blum'] of Woodbine currently holds offers from Iowa, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin and others.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A major reason for quarterback, [player_tooltip player_id='1242266' first='Brody' last='Pryor']'s production that puts him among the top passers in 8-Man -- and as discussed in the article on top passers in the class -- Blum caught 40 passes for 802 yards and 18 touchdown last fall, accounting for 35% of his completions, nearly half his passing yards and over half of his passing touchdowns.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Blum will visit a barrage of the schools that have offered him for game days this fall. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1359054"],"_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-68b0d6720f709"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A western Iowa talent, [player_tooltip player_id='1359054' first='Jacksyn' last='Hogrefe'] caught 33 passes for 580 yards and six touchdowns last season. A playmaker in all three phases of the game, Hogrefe also registered 29.5 tackles and two interceptions on defense, as well as returning 11 punts for 217 yards and a score. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the Mustang's opening game of the season, Hogrefe grabbed five passes for 73 yards and two touchdowns in a loss to Boyer Valley. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->