Underclassmen Ready For The Next Step

The 2025 season ended a short time ago but for the pro-active ballers striving to be elite, it is already in the rear-view mirror.   Once the '25 season came to a close, it was time to immediately shift gears to playing off-season sports while also continuing to train for the upcoming 2026 season.   In this report we will take a look at eight ballers from the loaded class of 2028 and then take a peek at five '27 guys working on delivering an encore senior season next fall.   So without further adieu, let's check these guys out:     2028's   [player_tooltip player_id='1184357' first='Landon' last='Roberts'], 5'9, 160, RB, Blue Valley SW, '28, he is a three-sport athlete who caught my eye last summer and after getting some exposure this past season he will be primed for a big year in 2026. As a fleet-footed RB he has a low center of gravity and burns through arm tackles before making quick, decisive cuts working through traffic. He also returns kicks and uses his track speed to turn on the afterburners once out in space. Last fall, he showed his potential in a loss to Aquinas with eight carries for 60 yards and averaged 7+ yards per carry. In the off season he intends to keep busy, as in addition to training for football, he is playing basketball and getting ready for the 7v7 season. From there it is track in spring before fine-tuning his game over the summer while visiting numerous camps and combines.   [player_tooltip player_id='2078662' first='Michael' last='Dunn'], 6'4, 185, QB/ATH, Blue Valley SW, '28, staying with the same school, we have a young gun quarterback with prototype size, arm and athleticism who is getting some early experience that is going to serve him well in the next couple of seasons. He showed glimpses of greatness this past fall, including his second start in September when he fired 17 completions in 31 attempts for 426 yards, five touchdowns and a lofty passer rating of 126. He is another three-sport athlete who is already off and running playing hoops and is getting ready for 7v7. This summer he will be working closely with his QB Trainer and also hitting some of the major camps and combines in Kansas. He has a high-IQ game with all the tools, including a strong, accurate arm. He is going to surprise some people in '26.   [player_tooltip player_id='1599229' first='Dallas' last='Gray'], 6'2”, 210, DE/Edge, Wichita Northwest, ‘28, he caught my eye last year when I was scouting future D1 baller and teammate [player_tooltip player_id='1125648' first='Maddox' last='McGinnis']. As a versatile, athletic baller, Gray dominated as a sophomore LB/Edge who piled up 75 tackles, 15 TFL and five sacks this past fall. His sophomore season got started with a bang as he had a season-high 14 tackles and a pair of TFL in the opener again Bishop Carroll. With his next-level read and react skills and athleticism he comes off the edge with great body lean and explosiveness, shooting past blockers to get to the QB. At LB he is a pounding open-field tackler who collapses down on the run to make violent hits at the LoS. He has a busy off season mapped out and will be working with Coach Daniels to continue to amp up his high-ceiling game.   [player_tooltip player_id='1638191' first='Chyler' last='Walker']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/chyler-walker/"></a> , 6'5, 235, TE, Derby, '28, he is another Panther prospect who I have had my eye on for awhile as a hybrid tight end/receiver with prototype size and athleticism and all the skill sets a top-flight tight end needs. With his strong but soft hands and an expansive catch radius, he can be counted on to make the contested catch over the middle or in the end zone. With his size and reach he can climb the ladder to catch the ball at it's apex point and is also developing into the complete player who can not only catch the ball but is a devastating blocker in the run game, blowing up down blocks or stalking in space. He has already committed to the off-season grind, and will be playing multiple sports before shifting gears to summer camps and combines. This guy is going to have a breakout year in '26.   [player_tooltip player_id='1638196' first='Larry' last='Jeremiah']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/larry-jeremiah/"></a> , 6'3, 175, WR/RB/DB, Hutchinson, '28, he caught my eye last spring playing 7v7 with the Kansas Colts and then this past season when he put the state on notice that he is a versatile, multi-positional offensive player who can play RB, line up in the slot or split wide. With his excellent size and length he is a dangerous receiver with good hands who creates separation quickly in the short passing game, but where he really shines is burning defensive backs on the long sideline pass where he uses his size and speed to destroy coverages. This past fall he stepped up his offensive game, hauling in 35 passes for 454 yards, averaging 15+ yards per catch, including a 67-yard score and scored six times. This guy is a stud in the making wherever he ends up playing and is just getting warmed up.   [player_tooltip player_id='1657257' first='Cole' last='Ranieri']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/cole-ranieri/"></a> , 6'0, 170, QB/LB, Nemaha Central, '28, he has been flying under the radar so far in his high school career as a promising dual-threat QB who can also play LB or in the secondary as needed. So far he has backed up one of the most prolific offensive players in state history, but has stayed busy playing JV and getting in some varsity play on both sides of the ball, completing three of three passes for a TD and carried 14 times for 75 yards and another score to go along with 16 tackles on defense. As a versatile, athletic QB, he throws the ball well with excellent ball placement and has a nice touch on the deep ball. He is also dangerous running the ball, whether it was designed or when extending plays. With his speed, arm and overall athleticism he will only get more dangerous with experience.   [player_tooltip player_id='1619539' first='Maysen' last='Dodson']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/maysen-dodson/"></a> , 5'10, 175, ATH, Spring Hill, '28, he caught my eye when he was a freshman and this year stepped it up to deliver a breakout season from his running back position. This past fall he lit teams up rushing for 550+ yards on 66 carries, averaging 8+ yards per carry and scored nine TD's. He was also effective catching the ball out of the backfield, with 20 receptions for 343 yards, a 17+ yard average and four more touchdowns. Add in 137 kick return yards and a 23 yard average and he ended up with 1,000+ total yards and 13 touchdowns. With his low center of gravity, nimble feet and ability to stop and start very quickly he is a slippery dangerous runner moving traffic or in space. He has shifted gears to hoops this winter and will be training hard in the off-season for a big junior year in '26.   [player_tooltip player_id='1487563' first='Colton' last='Elmore']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/colton-elmore/"></a> , 5'10, 175, QB, Wellington, '28, this guy is one I have covered a few times since he was a freshman and his game continues to impress me. This past season showed he is a baller, finishing third in the state for sophomores with 2,167 total yards and 21 touchdowns. Through the air he rifled 129 completions in 246 attempts for 1,707 yards and added 460 yards rushing on 76 carries for a 6+ average. With his dual-threat game he is a dangerous playmaker mixing up the pass and the run. He throws the ball well, with a tight throwing motion and release and is strong out of the pocket or extending plays. He can carve up defenses with precision surgical strikes at all three levels of the defense. This off season he is training for football and playing baseball. Get your popcorn handy, he is going to put on a show in '26.     .2027's   [player_tooltip player_id='1447083' first='Mason' last='Samuels'], 6'3, 230, TE, Council Grove, '27, he is another diamond in the rough who hasn't received the attention he probably deserves so far but after this past season that all will change. On offense he is hybrid TE who is a fast, fluid athlete with great size and soft hands, who can line up tight, split, in the slot or on the wing. Last fall he had 38 catches for 507 yards and 10 TDs. He gave everyone a glimpse of things to come earlier against Central Heights when he had 177 yards and scored three times through the air, included a sizzling 86-yard score. On defense he is a hammer of a LB or coming off the edge to rush the passer. For the year he had 45 tackles, 10 TFL, three sacks, a pair of picks and a fumble recovery. He is already off and running preparing for 7v7 and training for a big senior year in '26.   Alvin Riley, 5'8, 180, ATH, KC Washington, '27, he is coming off a strong junior season as a part of the explosive Wildcat offense that racked up 5,500+ yards and 70 TD's enroute to a 6-2 season. Along the way he showed coaches and fans that his game is just getting going as a three-way baller who can do a little bit of everything. Last fall he carried 28 times for 148 yards, averaging 5+ per carry and scored five times. He also had 41 yards in receptions, 49 yards in kick returns and another score to give him 250+ yards and six total TD's. On defense he had five tackles, three tackles for loss and a sack. He is an instinctive runner who uses his burst and excellent spatial awareness working through traffic. On defense he closes very quickly playing as an OLB or in the secondary. This guy is primed and ready for a big-time senior year.   [player_tooltip player_id='2063119' first='Marcus' last='Boganowski'] , 6'1, 215, LB/DB, Junction City, '27, he is tackling machine that Coach Woods brought to my attention and is a baller who isn't getting the kind of exposure he should. In the Blue Jay's 3-4 defense he plays the "Dawg" spot which is a hybrid linebacker-defensive back who dominated teams last fall with 101 tackles, a dozen TFL, three sacks and six pass break up's. He is an athletic playmaker with excellent instincts and a nose for the ball who hits like a freight train upon arrival. He can drop back and smother the pass game as a free safety or hit the gaps like a heat-seeking missile getting into the backfield. With all the tools to be a next-level stud and after this past season's play, he is going to be getting a lot more attention. This guy looks and plays the part and is going to have a big senior year.   [player_tooltip player_id='944913' first='Trevon' last='Briley'], 6'3, 250, DL/DE, Junction City, '27, next up we have another Blue Jay baller who has anchored the trenches as a defensive lineman or can dominate off the edge. He is coming off a junior season in which he had 55 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, eight sacks, a forced fumble and blocked a kick. With his ideal size, explosiveness and athleticism, he shuts down the run game between the tackles and destroys double teams making plays in the backfield. He plays with a lot of physicality, using his powerful base, closing speed and weaponized hands to play at a high-octane level that essentially overwhelms blockers for four quarters. And, even though he displayed signs of elite play this past year he is just scratching the surface so far. He will be delivering a killer senior season in '26.   Khaliel Walker, 6'0, 195, LB, Junction City, '27, and last but certainly not least we are showcasing a third standout Bluejay defender and this guy is one of those dual threat studs who can dominate on both sides of the ball. On offense he is fast and athletic enough to take the snap in the wildcat formation and use his running ability to score in the red zone. And, as dangerous as he is on offense, he is even more of a baller on the defensive side where he can line up as a linebacker or in the secondary as needed. This past fall he had 85 tackles, 12 TFL, a half dozen forced fumbles and picked off a pass. He is a high-IQ athlete with elite athleticism that makes him a nightmare to match up against. With his quick feet, burst and lateral closing speed he can make plays sideline to sideline and is a strong open-field tackler. This guy is going to shift into beast mode in 2026.     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'

The 2025 season ended a short time ago but for the pro-active ballers striving to be elite, it is already in the rear-view mirror.