Scouting 2025 Kennedy Cougars

<!-- 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><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/10/weigh-in-wednesday-vote-for-iowas-top-lb/">Weigh-In Wednesday: Vote for Iowa's Top LB?</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/09/prep-redzone-iowa-week-5-team-rankings/">Prep Redzone Iowa Week 5 Team Rankings</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa –</strong> A Class 5A Group 2 game had Dowling Catholic traveling here Friday night to Kingston Stadium for a matchup with Cedar Rapids Kennedy. The visitors recorded a 34-0 victory.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Cougars went toe-to-toe with favored Dowling through a scoreless first quarter. A early, second-quarter turnover turned the tide.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kennedy fell to 3-3 on the season but has winnable games ahead of it to close the regular season. Postseason opportunity remained. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's a look at six student-athletes who played well Friday and will be keys for the Cougars the rest of the way:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1692325"],"_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-68e18e997f253"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Kucera is one of the most under-recruited kids in the state's 2026 Class. That point was driven home again when I scouted the Cougar senior during a game against Dowling Catholic in early October. Kucera is a student-athlete with wide receiver skills lining up at tight end. He brings speed to the table and runs crisps routes. It makes it difficult for linebackers in coverage. His size and long arms create mismatches with defensive backs. Kucera's frame is such that he can add good weight and strength without losing the traits that make him productive already. Kucera could help plenty of programs on the next level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1394059"],"_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-68e1906b02116"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Orr impressed me when scouting him during the Cougars' matchup with Dowling Catholic in early October. He's a decisive runner with the necessary skills for success at the position. Orr gets downhill quickly with the vision and sharp cuts to access holes in the defense. While he's a taller back, he keeps the pads at a workable level. Orr brings a burst and long strides that can chew up real estate once in the open field. With a frame capable of adding mass and strength without losing his best attributes, Orr has plenty of predictability remaining before reaching his ceiling.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1238542"],"_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-68e191d980c77"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">I first saw Woodring operate during the Back2Ballin 7-on-7 tournament last spring. He impressed with his arm strength and quick release. I saw that again when scouting him against Dowling Catholic in early October. Woodring commands the offense and is a leader on the field. He can get the job done lining up under center and from the gun. Woodring gets through his progressions quickly and ball placement is a strength. A first-year varsity starter as a senior, Woodring lacks experience. That should be viewed as a positive as plenty of development remains before reaching his ceiling. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1619405"],"_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-68e19b138167d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Wilkes looks like an old-school middle linebacker lining up for the Cougars, complete with the neck roll. He lives up to that image when the play is underway. Wilkes adjusts his position through pre-snap reads. Once the ball is snapped, Wilkes picks the right gaps, getting through them with a burst and physicality. He flows well to the football and keeps the action in front of him. A good athlete, Wilkes could fit as a linebacker at the next level, but he's also agile enough to work as a hybrid or safety in some systems. He had accumulated 32.0 tackles (20 solo, 1.0 TFL) Kennedy's first five games in 2025. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1935013"],"_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-68e19b13816d5"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Klien is an undersized edge rusher, one that maximizes his skill set for success. He's quick off of the snap and gets underneath the pads of the offensive linemen, who struggle to pin him down. Klien operates with optimal leverage and speed puts him at an advantage against a lot of quarterbacks in pursuit. He had delivered 9.0 solo tackles through his team's first five games, 6.5 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks serving as evidence of his disruption.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1935020"],"_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-68e19e8e32244"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Robinson stands out for the physicality and quickness with which he plays the game. The senior keenly diagnoses what the offensive is doing with pre-snap examination. He then bursts through the gaps and arrives at the ball with impact. Robinson moves well laterally and gets downhill in a hurry. He holds up well in coverage but definitely shines most against the rush. Through Kennedy's first five games of 2025, Robinson had racked up 25.0 tackles, 17 of which were of the solo variety. He contributed 7.0 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->