'28/'29 Ballers Ready For The Next Varsity Challenge

With the holidays upon us I wanted to shoe horn in a couple articlesto highlight some of the top young talent coming out of the class of 2029, while also providing exposure to some rising star underclassmen who have stepped and are ready to take it to the next level in 2026.   In this report we will take a look at five outstanding playmakers from 2029 and then take a follow-up look at some of the 2028 ballers who impressed me last fall.   So without further adieu, let's check these guys out:     2029's   Brixton Schwinn, 6'0, 200, QB, Jefferson West, '29, first up is a freshman gunslinger who wasted little time getting acclimated to varsity play. He brought a mature game to the table last fall and when the dust settled he was far and away the top quarterback in the '29 class with numbers and execution to back that up. For the year he was 175 of 293 for 2,388 yards, 65% completion and 32 TD's - all very mature numbers for a freshman. He finished strong as well, rifling 64 completions in 99 attempts for 1,092 yards and 16 total TD's in his last three games. His dual-threat game keeps defenses off balance as he is fast and athletic running the ball or extending plays. He has a strong arm with tight mechanics and accurate ball placement on the long touch pass as well as the short surgical strikes. This guy is already en fuego and has three more to go.   Peyton Mason, 6'0, 175, QB/ATH, Wichita NW, '29, next up is another dual-threat gunslinger quarterback who has all the tools to be a dangerous weapon at the varsity level. This past season he was off to a great start before sustaining a knee injury in game five. When he was healthy he was an athletic playmaker cut from the same cloth as his older bro Jaylen, an all-state QB who he backed up this past year and is on his way to playing with KU next fall. He is also versatile enough to play linebacker or defensive back on defense, but where he really stands out is with the ball in hand making the big play on offense. His game has a solid balance to it as he can carve teams up on designated runs and RPO action, but when they try and load the box he can dissect defenses with his arm. He is already grinding, getting ready for 7on7 and will be active on the camp circuit.   [player_tooltip player_id='1663254' first='Adonis' last='Dunnigan']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/adonis-dunnigan/"></a> , 5'11, 175, DB/WR, Manhattan, '29, the last time I reported on this multi-positional playmaker he and his teammates were regrouping after a wake-up call loss to Junction City which knocked them from the #1 spot. It was part of a crash course to the varsity game as he learned how to be part of a team turnaround to eventually win the 6A state championship while at the same time developing into one of the rising young talents in not only the state but on a national level as well with offers already from Miami and Sac State. He has an athletic, explosive game whether he is playing as a suffocating lock-down corner or a ballhawk safety. This past fall he picked off four passes using his instincts and read and react skills, but he wasn't just a cover guy as evidenced with some of the torpedo hits he put on players when he collapsed down on the run. The Indian NFZ is in good hands with this future D1 baller.   [player_tooltip player_id='1582714' first='Blake' last='Thomas']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/blake-thomas-2/"></a> , ATH, 5'11, 185, Blue Valley SW, '29, he is one of those generational talents who I have covered numerous times already and he is just getting started as one of the most explosive athletes in the state and one who is starting to get national attention with his impressive skill sets. His varsity career got started like he was shot out of the proverbial cannon. He launched his legend in game one with two kickoff returns for a TD, including a scorching 95-yarder. In game two he added 170 yards in receptions and three scores to give him an electrifying six touchdowns in his first two games. For the season he would lead all freshman with 42 receptions for 580 yards, which was three times more than the next highest receiver. He also added another 400+ yards in returns to give him 1,048 total yards and eight TD's for the year. He is already hard at the off-season grind getting ready to really blow it up in '26   [player_tooltip player_id='1937906' first='Clayton' last='Johnson'], 6'1, 155, QB, Salina South, '29, and last but certainly not least for the freshmen I wanted to give a shout out to this young gun quarterback who was a part of the impressive turnaround for the Cougars who had a hot hand late in the season winning two games in the post season. This guy has caught my eye as a versatile two-way baller who is willing to play other positions to get on the field, but has his eye on taking the starting QB position in the near future. Last fall he played on both sides of the ball as a safety and receiver but when he got his opportunity to play QB he showed everyone glimpses of things to come, passing for 1,000+ yards and piling up 20 total TD's. He is already off and running in the off-season grind getting ready for '26 and will run track in the spring.     2028's   [player_tooltip player_id='1742790' first='Grant' last='Watkins'], 6'3, 230, OL/TE/DE, Manhattan, '28, first out of the chute for the 2028 ballers is a guy who caught my eye when I was scouting standout teammate and versatile multi-positional stud Joe Mortensen. Watkins started at right tackle for the state champion Indians and also played defensive end/edge on the other side of the ball. With his prototype size, speed and athleticism he will be moving to tight end in the 2026 season and will continue to come off the edge on defense. As a tight end he is going to be a difficult match up as he has the power and blocking experience to hammer opponents in the run game, but has the speed, quickness and an expansive catch radius in the pass game. He is already working closely with QB McLain Aslin, learning the playbook and running routes. This guy is a rising star.   [player_tooltip player_id='1991315' first='Brandon' last='Marshall'], 6'4, 275, OL/DT, KC Turner, '28, he is another mauling, brawling force in the trenches who caught my eye early in the season when I was scouting a few of his teammates. He is a two-way dominator who can play either guard position on offense and then flip sides and play DT on defense. On offense he has already started separating himself from the pack as an athletic masher on offense who makes crushing down blocks, can pull and lead running backs on the perimeter or use his quick feet and hands to wall off in pass pro. He stays busy in the off-season, continuing to improve his craft in the trenches as well as playing basketball and throwing the disc and the shot put in track and field. This guy is a baller who may be flying under the radar now but not for long.   Max Roberts, 6'3, 270, OL/G/T, Olathe North, '28, he is another trench warrior who I have been following as a diamond in the rough young offensive lineman who has the size, power and versatility to play anywhere along the offensive front but this past season started at right tackle. He stepped up immediately using his strong base, balance and lateral quickness to take out athletic edge rushers and wall off in pass pro. He has a quick first step getting leverage and then is a punishing, violent finisher. When the season came to close he had not given up a single sack all year. He is also a grinder and has already shifted gears to start the post-season focus on quick feet and hands as well as getting bigger, stronger and faster. Additionally, he will be training with ace trench coach, Chris Gomez, so you know he will be ready to bring the hammer in the '26 season.   Trillion Hill, 6'4, 235, LB/DE, Junction City, '28, he caught my eye when I was looking into some of his teammates for a recent article. He is a young athletic defender who is versatile enough to play as a sledgehammer hitter at linebacker or has the speed and quickness to play defensive back. He is also a force on special teams as he plays with a high motor and is a headhunter when tracking the ball. With his already impressive size, length and raw power he can play anywhere on the defense and will probably line up in a variety of positions before it is all said and done. He catches your eye right off the bat as a smooth, fluid athlete who moves well in space, using his highly-tuned instincts, read and react skills and an active nose for the ball to collapse on the play in a flash before unloading on the ball carrier. This guy is a baller to keep an eye on in the coming years.   Bodhi Shay, 5'9, 185, RB/ATH, Paola, '28, and last but certainly not least we have another standout two-way baller who caught my attention as a versatile playmaker who can star on offense as a all-purpose running back or play linebacker on defense. This past fall he was electrifying with the ball in hand, pounding the rock 164 times for 1,048 yards, averaging six yards per carry and piled up 16 total touchdowns on the year. As a RB he makes decisive cuts and then using his burst and lateral quickness, burns teams on the perimeter. When he runs between the tackles he has power and a low center of gravity that enables him to pick up big yardage after the initial hit. He is already into a dedicated off season doing alot of explosive workouts and speed training as well as wrestling in the winter and track in the spring. This guy is just getting warmed up.   In conclusion, keep an eye on these guys as they come into their own.   Note: if your stats referenced above are inaccurate let me know - my stat source is primarily MAXPREPS and lately have been catching errors in their numbers.   And, most importantly...   Keep Grindin'

With the holidays upon us I wanted to shoe horn in a couple articlesto highlight some of the top young talent coming out of the class of 2029, while also providing exposure to some rising star underclassmen who have stepped and are ready to take it to the next level in 2026.