Ten Kansas Senior Sack Masters

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Defense will be my Prep Redzone focus in December, as well as featuring athletes from Northeast Kansas.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of my favorite all-time NFL lines from the glory days was “The opposing team's quarterback must go down, and he must go down hard.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here is a quick look at 10 Kansas seniors who finished among the state leaders in quarterback sacks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It is not an all-inclusive list, as several teams don't release public stats. I also only included athletes with complete player information, and the cutoff for inclusion in this report was six total sacks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1599037' first='Marcus' last='Johnson']</strong>, LB, 6'0”, 170, Wichita Northwest, ‘26</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Northwest linebacker gobbled up quarterbacks eight times for sacks during his senior campaign. He is ranked No. 155 overall by Prep Redzone Kansas. He finished with a two-year total of 17 sacks and 149 total tackles. Over the past two seasons, he recorded 29 tackles for lost yardage.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Frank Hall</strong>, DL, 6'2”, 190, Blue Valley North, ‘26</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gall registered eight quarterback sacks for the Mustangs this past fall. His quickness wreaked havoc on the opposition. He was credited with 54 tackles, 15 TFLs, and an eye-popping total of 63 quarterback hurries. He is currently an unranked prospect.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1942928' first='Evan' last='Middleton']</strong>, EDGE/LB, 6'2”, 225, Manhattan, '26</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Manhattan's Middleton finished with eight quarterback sacks during the Indians' Class 6A State Championship season. He also set career highs in tackles (48) and TFLs (18.5). Over the past two seasons, he registered 96 total tackles, 13 quarterback sacks, and three fumble recoveries. He is ranked No. 114 overall by Prep Redzone Kansas.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a><strong>Kyzer Lehmann</strong>, DL, 6'4”, 175, Burlington, ‘26</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lehmann used his size and huge wingspan to engulf opposing quarterbacks. He registered seven sacks for the Wildcats. The unranked prospect finished his last two prep seasons with combined totals of 90 tackles, 29 TFLs, and 12 quarterback sacks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Trey Wright</strong>, DL, 6'0”, 205, Goddard, ‘26</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Goddard's Wright recorded seven chewed up opposing quarterbacks seven times for the Lions. In 10 games, he collected 70 tackles, 17 TFLs, and 21 hurries. He is currently an unranked prospect by Prep Redzone.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Koko Nyimbo</strong>, ATH, 6'2”, 170, Valley Center, ‘26</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Valley Center's Nyimbo might want to submit an application at nearby Leeker's Fine Foods to be their sack master. He finished his senior season with six sacks of opposing quarterbacks for the Hornets. His football card included 31 tackles, 10.5 TFLs, five hurries, and one fumble recovery.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Gabe Martinez</strong>, DL, 5'11”, 175, Ellinwood, ‘26</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Martinez registered six sacks for the Ellinwood Eagles during his senior campaign. He also tallied 46 tackles and 10 TFLs in nine games played.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1363887' first='Roch' last='Emanuel']</strong>, DL, 6'5”, 260, Piper, ‘26</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Piper's Emanuel brought down quarterbacks six times for sacks for the Pirates. He is ranked No. 61 overall in the Kansas Class of 2026 and has verbally committed to Northwest Missouri.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jayden Waterer</strong>, LB, 5'8”, 150, Silver Lake, ‘26</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Waterer posted solid numbers in his final prep season. He registered six quarterback sacks, 64 tackles, 13 TFLs, 10 quarterback hurries, two fumble recoveries, and one interception in 10 games played for the Eagles.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1577007' first='Austin' last='Zeller']</strong>, Edge/TE, 6'4”, 215, Jackson Heights. ‘26</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Zeller had an impact season on both sides of the ball for the Cobras. He recorded six quarterback sacks, 52 tackles, and 14 TFLs for the Jackson Heights defensive unit. On the other side of the ball, he caught 32 balls for 539 yards and nine touchdown receptions. He is ranked No. 201 overall by Prep Redzone Kansas. Over his past two seasons, he scored 25 total touchdowns and 10 quarterback sacks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->