Post-Season Ballers Bringing Their A-Game

With the second week of the post season upon us I wanted to continue to recognize a number of players who are stepping up so far in the playoffs as well as a few who played well but their teams lost in the opening round.   In this report, we are taking a closer look at some battle-tested linemen in the following categories: O-LINEMEN TEAMS CAN GO TO WAR WITH, followed by LETHAL MULTI-THREAT BALLERS and then close out with THE FRESHMAN 3 - A QUICK REVISIT.   So without further adieu, let's check out what these guys have been up to.   O-LINEMEN TEAMS CAN GO TO WAR WITH   [player_tooltip player_id='944902' first='Nolan' last='Hadley']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/nolan-hadley/"></a> , 6'3, 285, OL, Maize, '27, he and his high-flying teammates have blazed through the '25 schedule to go 9-0, sitting on a #1 ranking and are fresh off a 76-0 blow-out win in the opener. He is a versatile offensive lineman who is adept at playing in the interior at either guard but also excels as a dominating blind-side tackle. With his D1 size and skill sets, he brings explosiveness when piledriving in the run game or stonewalling athletic edge rushers in pass pro. This year he has sealed off particularly well in the pass game as he has not allowed a sack all year. He is a mauling machine in the trenches and once he locks on the result is usually the defender getting buried in the turf. Next Up: Wichita East, with the winner taking on either Manhattan or Wichita Southeast in the next round.   [player_tooltip player_id='557340' first='Warrick' last='VanBlaricon']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/warrick-vanblaricon/"></a> <a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/warrick-vanblaricon/"></a> , 6'3, 285, OL, Salina Central, '27, he is another junior projected D1 offensive lineman who hit the ground running hard earlier this fall and has helped his team to an 8-1 record after knocking off West 68-22. This week they take on Goddard and if they win will play the winner of the Liberal vs Salina South game. He has established himself as a multi-positional baller who can dominate at either guard or tackle and has been one of the key factors in the offense averaging 42 points per game, almost 300 yards rushing, and averaging nine yards a carry. He has the drive, natural instincts and football IQ, coupled with a powerful frame, quickness and overall athleticism and is generating significant attention from some of the top teams in the nation. Next up: Goddard   [player_tooltip player_id='1705267' first='Will' last='Skaggs']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/will-skaggs/"></a> , 6'3, 275, OL, Shawnee Heights, '27, it was a tough season losing close games to some of the best teams in the state but he was a bright spot in the middle of the offensive line for the Thunderbirds. He helped the high-octane offense average 37+ points per game, 322 yards passing and an impressive 485 total yards per game. Along the way he has had a standout season from his center position, blowing up defenders with 45 pancake blocks, which worked out to a half-dozen per game and an impressive upgrade from his 33 pancakes as a sophomore. Using his ideal size, powerful lower body, trench instincts and nimble feet he was a jack hammer blocker in the trenches who crushed it in the run game and only allowed a single sack all year in pass pro.   [player_tooltip player_id='780305' first='Nick' last='Philhour Jr.']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/nick-philhour-jr/"></a> , 6'3, 275. OL, Mill Valley, '26, he is another baller in the trenches who caught my eye last year and I have been following him closely since. He has helped his team to a 7-2 record with the only losses coming to Lee Summit, MO and #3 Olathe West. Tonight they get a shot at a re-match game with top-ranked Aquinas, after losing a heartbreaker to them in last season's playoffs. After a productive off-season working with trainer/coach Chris Gomez, he got in great shape, dropping down to 275 from 288 and taking his body fat down almost 10%. The result has been a standout senior year as he has used his explosiveness and quick feet to dominate the trenches. With his excellent mechanics he gets quick leverage and delivers a beat down whether it in the run game or in pass pro.   [player_tooltip player_id='1708714' first='Wyatt' last='Deneau Bice']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/wyatt-deneau-bice/"></a> , 6'3, 260, OL/DL, Belle Plaine, '26, it was a challenging season for the Dragons but this guy was one of the bright spots as a versatile baller in the trenches on both sides of the ball. Prior to his senior season getting going this fall he had a well-planned and busy summer hitting camps and clinics almost every week. The result was he entered the season in great shape mentally and physically and it enabled him to ball out all year. On offense he is a versatile lineman who can play center or guard but has stood out at tackle. On the other side of the ball he is a bruising defensive end/edge rusher who hits blockers in the mouth at the snap. Once the play gets rolling, he essentially shuts down the perimeter on his side, blowing through double teams and creating havoc in the backfield.     LETHAL MULTI-THREAT BALLERS   [player_tooltip player_id='1113404' first='Kade' last='Mitchell']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/kade-mitchell/"></a> , 5'10, 175, RB/DB, Hayden, '26, he is an explosive multi-threat baller who has helped his team to an unblemished 9-0 record, after mauling Columbus last week 70-7. This week they host a 6-3 Wellsville squad, with the winner taking on the victor from the Jefferson West-Prairie View game. Coming off a state-runnerup spot, All-State selection and a Defensive POY finalist last fall, he picked up where he left off with another stellar season. So far this fall he has carried the ball 79 times for 846 yards, averaging 11+ yards a carry and scored 12 TD's. He also caught 16 passes for 257 yards and four TD's, had four punt-return touchdowns, two kickoff-return TD's, and a pick-6 interception return for a TD to give him 1,500+ all-purpose yards and 24 TD's so far. Imagine his stat-line if he didn't have limited snaps due to winning big every week.   [player_tooltip player_id='1598868' first='Leighton' last='Boldridge']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/leighton-boldridge/"></a> , 6'1, 195, RB/DB, Atchison, '26, it was an up and down season for the Phoenix but this dynamic playmaker stepped up to show off his next-level talents all season. He is a versatile baller who can run and catch on offense, play in the secondary on defense or even return kicks as needed. This fall he focused on the run game more than anything and along the way carried 73 times for 837 yards, averaging almost 12 yards a carry and scored 10 touchdowns. He also added 18 tackles on defense in limited action. With excellent size, speed and athleticism he is a threat to go all the way every time he touches the ball. He blows through arm tackles and picks up big yardage after the initial hit, but is also fluid with great burst and elusiveness running in the open field.   [player_tooltip player_id='1229066' first='Manny' last='Myers']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/manny-myers/"></a> <a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/manny-myers/"></a> <a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/manny-myers/"></a> , 6'0, 185, QB/ATH, Mulvane, '26, he is one of my fave dual-threat QB's in the Wichita area and has delivered the goods this year leading his team to an 8-1 record and a #3 in the state ranking going into the playoffs. Last week they disposed of Circle 47-0 for their eighth straight win and will take on a surging Augusta team later tonight. Last Friday he was his usual electric self, with a five-TD night and 346 total yards. On the year he has been consistently productive, running for 1,121 yards on 134 carries and scoring 14 TD's. Through the air he has completed 47 of 80 passes for 735 yards, a 60% completion percentage and nine more TD's. He even added a pick-6 in limited defensive play to give him 24 Total TD's and just under 1,900 total yards so far.   [player_tooltip player_id='1656510' first='Bryis' last='Alford']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/bryis-alford/"></a> <a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/bryis-alford/"></a> , QB/LB, 5'11,175, Baldwin, '27, coming off a frustrating sophomore year when he missed six weeks of the season due to injury, he bounced back with a standout junior year, helping the team get back on track with a winning season, while completing 79 of 135 passes for 1,320 yards, 18 TD passes to only one pick all year and a sizzling 128 passer rating. On the ground he rolled up 400+ yards on 60 carries, averaging seven yards a carry and scored six more TD's, to give him just under 1,400 yards of total offense and 24 total touchdowns running and passing. He is a baller dual-threat sharpshooter who has a strong arm capable of attacking all three levels of the defense, but is athletic and elusive running the ball or extending plays.   Joey Dooley, 6'3, 195, QB, Lawrence, '28, he is a young gunslinger who started the season as a relatively-unknown sophomore flying under the radar, but quickly changed the narrative once he got on a roll. And, although it was a frustrating season he was one of the bright spots completing 71 out of 127 passes for 850 yards and seven touchdowns to only three picks. He also carried the ball 76 times for 491 yards, averaging seven yards a carry and scoring another six times, to give him right at 1,400 total yards and 13 total TD's. Last week in a tough loss to Shawnee Mission NW he stepped up firing 19 completions in 28 attempts for 238 yards and four touchdown passes. This young gun is a stud on the rise who can rifle the ball deep or throw surgical strikes in the short game. He is also a lethal threat running the RPO with great burst and elusiveness in the open field.     THE FRESHMAN 3 - A QUICK REVISIT   [player_tooltip player_id='1582714' first='Blake' last='Thomas']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/blake-thomas-2/"></a> , 5'11, 185, ATH, Blue Valley SW, '29, this guy has gotten a ton of attention this fall as a freshman phenom who led the state in receiving yards in his class with 663 on 48 receptions, which was a jaw dropping four times higher than the runnerup in freshman receiving yards. He also added 400+ yards in kickoff return yards, including taking two to the house, to give him 1,000+ all purpose yards and nine touchdowns. With his combination of speed, explosiveness, and next-level athleticism he can play anywhere on offense but will probably be a hybrid weapon at RB/WR going forward. He is also a standout on special teams and is the holder for the young kicker we take a look at next. Get your popcorn ready when Thomas hits the field next year as he is guaranteed to put on a show.   [player_tooltip player_id='1743366' first='Rhys' last='Poggio']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/rhys-poggio/"></a> , K/P, Blue Valley SW, '29, next up is the second freshman that stepped up for the Timberwolves on special teams as a rising star kicker/punter with a cannon for a leg. He caught my eye earlier in the summer when I saw him booming 50+ yard field goals wherever he happened to be at the time, traveling to events, kicking at sunrise or even at night fine-tuning his craft. Coming into the season he was a 4-star, 5-tool kicker/punter who was ready to make the jump to varsity ball. On the year he drilled 16 out of 17 PAT's and also booted four field goals in seven attempts. On kickoffs he boomed the ball consistently 60+ yards and had eight touchbacks. He also handled punting duties, averaging right at 30 yards a punt on the season.   [player_tooltip player_id='1577751' first='Abe' last='Harms'], 5'11, 185, LB/LS, Blue Valley SW, '29, and last but certainly not least we have the third freshman that completes the freshman battery for PAT's and FG's, serving as the ace long snapper. Working closely with the two guys above the three freshman have developed into a well-oiled machine with seamless mechanics and execution in the kicking game. Harms is also a headhunter on the kickoff team and as a weak-side linebacker who saw limited action in his first year of varsity ball, but made things happen when he hit the field, piling up 12 tackles on the season. The Timberwolves are in good hands going forward with these three guys taking care of business on PAT's and field goals.     In conclusion, get out and see these guys while you still can.   Note: if your stats referenced above are inaccurate let me know - my stat source is usually MAXPREPS and lately have caught numerous errors in their numbers.   And, most importantly...   Keep Grindin'

With the second week of the post season upon us I wanted to continue to recognize a number of players who are stepping up so far in the playoffs as well as a few who played well but their teams lost in the opening round.