Must-See Standouts During Semifinals at UNI-Dome

Get 30% off your first billing cycle with code: howe30 in the coupon code area   <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/11/howe-all-class-predictions-players-to-watch/">Howe: All-Class Predictions, Players to Watch</a>   One of the downsides of football is the infrequency of game competition compared to other sports. That won't and shouldn't change. It's physicality demands it be this way.   It leaves us in the scouting and media world watching a lot of video. We do look forward to seeing live action, however. That opportunity arises from Wednesday through Saturday during the state semifinals at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls.   Here's a group of guys I'll be watching, knowing full well there are many more super student-athletes, some we know and others that will emerge:   [player_tooltip player_id='1204436' first='Mack' last='Heitland'], JR, QB, Waukee Northwest - The only non-senior starting quarterback in the 5A field is the one I've yet to scout in person. The numbers are great. He's completing 80 percent of his throws, totaling 2,812 yards and 27 touchdowns without an interception. Colleges, including Iowa and Iowa State, are bringing him in on recruiting visits this fall, and a state title would be another resume builder.   [player_tooltip player_id='1583613' first='Carter' last='Barrett'], SO, OL, Dowling Catholic - Barrett was still flying under the recruiting radar when I noticed him lining up at left tackle for Dowling as a freshman during last year's state semifinals. He's since piled up Power 4 scholarship offers, including opportunities from Alabama, Iowa, Iowa State, Texas A&M, Tennessee, Ole Miss, Nebraska and Wisconsin. I watched him in-person earlier this season, and look forward to monitoring the progress of one of the state's prospects.   [player_tooltip player_id='283946' first='Jayden' last='McGregory'], SR, ATH, WDM Valley - Looking forward to a final look at Prep Redzone Iowa's top-ranked player in the 2026 class. The Louisville commitment has 50 receptions for 705 yards and 13 touchdowns, and 10.5 tackles (6 solo) and an interception. He is averaging 49.5 yards on two kick returns. It's always entertaining viewing a guy capable of delivering a big play whenever the ball is snapped.   [player_tooltip player_id='1552779' first='Reece' last='Rettig'], SR, QB, Liberty - I've watched Rettig in person more than anybody else on this list and still look forward to another viewing. He's completing 70 percent of his passes for 2,116 yards and 19 touchdowns, and is leading the Lightning on the ground, too, with 869 yards and 13 scores. He is a magician with the football in his hands, whether passing or running.   [player_tooltip player_id='1827747' first='Cash' last='Parks'], JR, QB, Xavier - Parks is one of the few standouts in the 4A field that I haven't watched in person. I'm interested to see how he compares to Heitland, as they're two of the better 2027 signal callers in the state. Parks comes into the semifinals completing 76.7 percent of his attempts for 1,921 yards and 26 touchdowns against one pick. He has 354 yards (5.5 YPC) and eight scores on the ground.   [player_tooltip player_id='1644914' first='Kyler' last='VanMaanen'], JR, LB, Pella - I've heard good things about the Dutch junior and am looking forward to my first in-person scouting opportunity. His statistics are bonkers with him entering the UNI-Dome having recorded 79.0 tackles (77 solo, 22.5 TFL) and a pair of sacks.   [player_tooltip player_id='1370736' first='Joey' last='Hardy'], TE/LB, Sergeant Bluff-Luton - The South Dakota commitment impacts the action on both sides of the ball. He embarks on the semifinals with 505 rushing yards (7.9 PC) and nine touchdowns, and 112 yards on 12 receptions. Defensively, he has 23.5 tackles (15 solo, 7.0 TFL) and 1.5 sacks. I've watched a lot of Hardy's video and look forward to pairing that with an in-person look.   [player_tooltip player_id='1366537' first='Isaiah' last='Hansen'], JR, RB/DB, Newton - I scouted the Newton-Clear Creek Amana game earlier this season, and it was a bit of a slog. I'm looking forward to seeing Hansen go up against a tough defense on a fast surface. He comes into the action with 1,271 yards (8.5 YPC) and 18 touchdowns rushing, and as 13 receptions for 176 yards and a score. Hansen has an Iowa State offer and a world of ability.   [player_tooltip player_id='1238514' first='Kasen' last='Thomas'], SR, RB/LB, Bishop Heelan - I first noticed Thomas when he was playing at The Dome as a freshman. The Iowa commitment has kept everybody's attention since then, and it will be wonderful getting to see his prep career come full circle before he heads off to college. He's rushed for 1,379 yards (6.6 YPC) and 23 touchdowns, and piled up 39.5 tackles (24 solo, 12.0 TFL), 5.5 sacks, three fumble recoveries and a Pick-6.   [player_tooltip player_id='850243' first='Brayton' last='Alford'], SR, RB/LB, Kuemper Catholic - Iowa State finally offered a kid that had been flying under the recruiting radar for far too long. He stood out to me when I watched him compete at the Back2Ballin 7-on-7 tournament in Cedar Falls last spring, so it will be great to see him wrap up his prep career in the same facility. He's a Swiss Army Knife with five touchdowns receiving and two more rushing. He has 60.0 tackles (37 solo, 6.0 TFL), 3.0 sacks, four forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and five interceptions, including a Pick-6.   [player_tooltip player_id='1900142' first='Christian' last='Williams'], SO, RB/LB, Van Meter - Like Alford, Williams contributes at a high level in a variety of ways. Only a sophomore, he has rushed for 936 yards and 14 touchdowns, and caught 15 balls for 153 yards and two more scores. He's piled up 73.0 tackles (38 solo, 5.5 TFL), 2.0 sacks, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and an interception.

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