Standout Playmakers Focused on Off Season Grind

It is the last week of 2025 and there is just enough time to recognize some of the 2025 ballers who stepped up last fall and take a look at what all they are doing in the off-season to get ready for an even better '26 season.   These guys didn't waste any time getting focused on the grind. Once the season came to an end they took a quick break in the action and immediately started in on the all-important off-season workload.   A dedicated off-season grind enables good players to become great. But it requires full commitment.   No rest if you want to be elite.   In this report we will take a look at a mix of playmakers who have done enough on the varsity level so far to recognize how critical the off-season grind is if they want to take their game to the next level the following season.   And, the sooner players can optimize size, strength and speed the better, as the recruiting attention starts earlier and gets more competitive every year.   So without further adieu, let's check these guys out:   2028   [player_tooltip player_id='1351253' first='Carter' last='Raney']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/carter-raney/"></a> <a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/carter-raney/"></a> , 5'10, 175, LB/SS, Spring Hill, '28, [PICTURED ABOVE] first up is a rising star who had a springboard season playing strong safety or LB as needed and piled up 44 tackles, four TFL, had a pick-6, three FF and one recovery on his way to All-Conference honors. Playing in the aggressive, fly-to-the-ball Spring Hill defense, he is a natural fit with his versatile and violent game. With his instincts and nose for the ball he collapses down on the ball carrier quickly and is a sledgehammer of an open field tackler. Once the season ended he wasted little time getting in the grind working on DB mechanics with Coach Harper of @HarperIsland24 and speed and agility with Gridiron Fit three days a week. He was at the recent PRZ camp in St. Joe/Missouri Western and is gearing up for the Navy National Combine next month. This guy is just getting warmed up - next fall he is going to command the spotlight.   [player_tooltip player_id='1075837' first='Tevin' last='Cotter']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/tevin-cotter/"></a> , 6'0, 180, QB, Liberal, '28, next up is a '28 gunslinger QB who has been wingin' it since he was a rare 5A freshman starter. This past fall he took it to another level, leading his team to a 7-3 record and into the playoffs, while completing 150 of 249 passes for 1,906 yards, at 61% and 24 touchdowns. He is also a dangerous dual-threat who picked up 552 yards rushing and scored nine times. He has smooth passing mechanics and a howitzer of an arm capable of throwing the long sideline pass as well as the opposite-hash deep velocity throws. He has excellent ball placement and can layer the ball into tight windows. He is already in the off-season grind working with @visionQB and plans to hit a number of camps and combines later in the year. This guy is going to be en fuego in '26.   [player_tooltip player_id='1591856' first='Elijah' last='Bergeson']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/elijah-bergeson/"></a> , 6'2, 175, RB/ATH, Winfield, '28, this guy is a talented two-way player with a high ceiling game. Even though the Viking season didn't turn out like most hoped, he still stepped up with an excellent sophomore year as a running back on offense and a hybrid linebacker/strong safety on defense. He has prototype size and reach for multiple positions as well as standout burst and closing speed tracking the ball. On offense he is moved around in different positions to pound the rock out of the backfield or get the ball in his hands on quick perimeter passes. He has a focused off-season primed as he is already playing hoops and then will shift gears to track where he is looking to set school records in both the long jump and triple jump. Get this guy on your watchlist as he is ready to take off next fall.   [player_tooltip player_id='1590403' first='Braylen' last='Dold']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/braylen-dold/"></a> , 5'11, 175, RB/DB, Garden Plain, '28, this guy caught my eye early in the season as a lethal three-way weapon. This past fall he racked up all-state honors on both sides of the ball as a flex back on offense and a suffocating d-back. For the year he carried the ball 74 times for 661 yards, averaging 9-yards a carry and scored five TD's. He also added 500+ yards and four more TD's on receptions and returns. On defense he can play CB or safety and is a ballhawk with next level read and react skills that he uses to make punishing tackles on the perimeter or shut down the pass game from the secondary. For the year he had 52 tackles, four picks and a fumble recovery. His off-season is packed playing basketball and running track. Get your popcorn ready as he is going to put on a show in '26.   Jones Erby, 6'0, 170, DB, Topeka, '28, next up is a versatile sophomore defensive back who has been flying under the radar somewhat due to suffering a season-ending injury in game five. Through those five games he had stepped up as one of the leaders of the defense playing safety and made enough of an impression to get awarded all-conference honors for his stellar play. Once the season was cut short he shifted gears to rehab and getting in shape to play 7v7 with Top City Most Wanted. He is locked in on continuing to ramp up the off-season grind, focusing on skill development, pounding the iron and getting his speedwork in. After 7v7 he will shift gears to run track and then this summer decide on which camps and combines would be a good fit for his game and exposure needs. With his skills and high-IQ game he is going to dominate next fall.   Joey Dooley, 6'3, 195, QB, Lawrence, '28, last but not least we have a rising-star dual threat QB who is coming off a breakout season last fall. It didn't take long for him to get going, and by year end he had rifled 71 completions in 127 attempts, passed for seven TD's and only threw three picks. He is also an elusive runner, picking up 491 yards rushing, averaging seven yards a carry and bumping up his total yards to 1,400+ to go along with 13 total TD's. He finished the season impressively in a tough loss to SMNW when he completed 19 of 28 passes for 238 yards and five total TD's. This young gunslinger has a strong arm with solid mechanics in the pocket or on the move. He has already started the off-season playing basketball and will do track in the spring. This guy has a dangerous game and is going to go scorched earth on the competition in '26.     2027   [player_tooltip player_id='1248293' first='Dahzael' last='Castillo']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/dahzael-castillo/"></a> <a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/dahzael-castillo/"></a> <a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/dahzael-castillo/"></a> , 5'10, 230, DL/OL, Oxford, '27, this guy caught my eye as a sophomore when I was checking out some of his teammates. He immediately stood out as a force in the trenches who delivers an aggressively violent game on both sides of the ball. On offense he lined up at both guard and center and was a bulldozing blocker in the run game and when protecting the passer. On defense he used his powerful base, low center of gravity and quick feet to dominate at d-tackle, piling up 40 tackles, four tackles for loss and four sacks. He and his teammates got better with every game and eventually carried the team to a 7-3 record and post-season play. He has already started the off-season grind pounding the iron and doing speed work. This guy is ready for a big season next fall.   [player_tooltip player_id='1652617' first='Maddox' last='Girard']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/maddox-girard/"></a> <a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/maddox-girard/"></a> <a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/maddox-girard/"></a> , 5'11, 195, MLB/LS, Salina South, '27, this versatile baller stepped up last fall as a dominating linebacker and a next-level long snapper. He and his teammates got off to a slow start but rallied toward the end to win three of four games, including two upset victories in the playoffs, before falling to eventual state champion Central. For the year he hammered the opposition with 71 tackles, six TFL, five sacks and a fumble recovery. Once their playoff run ended he shifted gears to wrestling and then will bulk up in the spring and summer to get ready for next fall. He will also continue to fine-tune his long-snapping prowess by hitting the major camps and combines in the area. This guy hasn't been getting the attention he deserves but is already changing that narrative as we roll into '26.   [player_tooltip player_id='1604520' first='Josiah' last='Pattangall']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/josiah-pattangall/"></a> , 5'9, 185, RB/LB, Decatur County (Oberlin), '27, this playmaker caught my eye earlier in the season as a dangerous running back who would go on to have another standout season, carrying the ball 215 times for 1,400+ rushing yards, to bring his career total up to 3,183 yards, averaged seven yards a carry and piled up 19 TD's along the way. He also added 70 tackles and a pick from his LB position on the other side of the ball. For the year he racked up numerous honors, including first-team all-state designation from numerous publications. Carrying the ball he has great vision locating gaps before he uses his burst to explode through the crack and into daylight. He is starting to get some college looks and is definitely a baller with next-level skill sets ready for an encore senior season.     2029   [player_tooltip player_id='1745453' first='Nick' last='McCarty'], 5'10, 160, WR/DB, Olathe South, '29, first up for the freshmen is a two-way, multi-positional playmaker who can split wide or line up in the slot on offense and then flip to the other side of the ball as a versatile DB. He was quick to get acclimmated to the varsity game and is using that experience to get geared up for a strong off-season committing to the grind. As a receiver he has soft hands and can catch the contested ball over the middle. He is also adept at creating separation off the snap with his speed and quickness, before rolling into precise routes. On defense he is a versatile d-back with a nose for the ball, playing corner or safety as needed. He is already practicing for the upcoming 7v7 season and then will hit camps this summer to fine-tune his game for a springboard season next fall.   Andrew Driscoll, 6'0, 210, OL/DL, Russell,'29, last and certainly not least is one of the few trench warriors in this article, but is definitely one who deserves some mention as he stepped up as a rare freshman starter going both ways, playing center on offense and defensive tackle on the other side of the ball. He made the impressive bump to varsity, leapfrogging JV action to stay locked in with the rest of the starters for the Friday night games. He is versatile enough to play either guard position, but really stands out as a tough-as-nails center anchoring the middle of the offense. With his powerful base, quick feet and high-IQ game he hits defenders in the mouth along the line of scrimmage or when pulling to deliver pancakes on the perimeter. This guy is off and running to commit to the off-season grind and continue to build on his already positive start.     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'

It is the last week of 2025 and there is just enough time to recognize some of the 2025 ballers who stepped up last fall and take a look at what all they are doing in the off-season to get ready for an even better '26 season.