Top Young Prospects Already Targeting the '26 Season

With the last week of January upon us, the off-season rolls on and the guys striving to be elite are locked and loaded on taking full advantage of off-season training time.   Whether it is focused work to get bigger, faster and fine-tune skill sets, or cross-training in other sports to holistically improve their overall game, it is a critical part of player growth.   It's the grow and grind time of the year for young ballers...   In this report, the third in a series recognizing ballers rocking the off-season grind, we will take a look at a handful of rising-stars who have caught my eye as they shifted to off-season work.   So, without further adieu, let's take a closer look at what these guys have been doing in the off-season getting ready for this fall.     [player_tooltip player_id='2047467' first='Cade' last='Liggett']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/cade-liggett/"></a> , 6'0, 195, ATH, Pratt, '28, up first is a rising star athlete who is already getting D1 attention and coming off a standout sophomore season. But that will end up being considered just a warmup, as this fall he will solidify himself as one of the best in the state. On defense he used great read and react skills to fly to the ball and had 54 tackles and four TFL, but it was on offense that he showed what a lethal threat he is whether it is running/passing out of the wildcat, taking the handoff as a running back or split wide as a receiver. For the season he piled up 1,300+ all-purpose yards and a dozen TD's. Once football was over he went right into basketball and then will run track in the spring where he is one of the fastest sprinters in the state in the 200m. He is also continuing to train for this fall and is finalizing his camp/combine schedule for this summer. Get your popcorn handy, he is going to put on a show in '26.   [player_tooltip player_id='1327831' first='Maxson' last='Smiley']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/maxson-smiley/"></a> <a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/maxson-smiley/"></a>  , 6'0, 185, QB, Holcomb, '28, he is a western Kansas gunslinger I have been watching closely for awhile now and he has gotten better every year. This past season he missed a couple games to injury and still passed for 1,322 yards, with 13 TD passes and was only picked off three times. This off season he is in the process of transferring from Colby to Holcomb, where his baller talents will be welcomed on a Longhorn team that went 9-1 last year. He has already been training for this fall and will start fine-tuning his all-state QB skills for the Kansas Colts 18u team that kicks off the season later today at the Winter Kickoff 7v7 Tourney in Council Bluff, Iowa. Once 7v7 is over he will shift gears to baseball, continue QB training and throwing to his receivers, while spending time getting acclimmated to the new offense. This guy is a dangerous dual-threat weapon and will help super-charge an already powerful Holcomb offense this fall.   [player_tooltip player_id='2116575' first='Riley' last='Windholz'], 6'2, 175, QB, Hays, '29, next up is a young gun QB and the only representative from the loaded class of '29 in this article. This past fall he gave fans and coaches a glimpse of things to come as a talented dual-threat QB who can carve up defenses with his legs extending plays or off the RPO and also has a strong, accurate arm. He throws well from the pocket but is really dangerous on the move and can throw pin-point passes going either way. He also has the arm strength and touch to effectively launch the long ball. Once the season was over he shifted sports to playing hoops while also continuing to lift and work on passing mechanics on the side. His plans are to keep sharpening his game with continued 7v7 play while also hitting a number of camps and combines in the spring and summer to ensure he is ready for a big sophomore year.   Chayden Bodney, 5'11, 190, ATH, Wichita Heights, '28, up next is a guy who started the season flying under the radar, but by season end had more than captured attention with a breakout sophomore season. In the Falcon offense he lined up all over, split wide, in the slot, as a running back or taking the direct snap in the wildcat. When the dust settled he had carried the ball 38 times for 267 rushing yards, caught 29 passes for 500+ receiving yds and added 275 return yards to give him just under 1,100 all purpose yards and 14 total touchdowns. The highlight came in October in a win against North when he caught five passes for 115 yards, ran three times 97 yards, averaged 27 yards everytime he touched the ball and scored three times. As an explosive threat with the ball, he uses his quickness and acceleration to blow through gaps or burn defenses on the perimeter. Once the season came to a close he went right into powerlifting and will run track in the spring. This guy is the real deal.   Jaydence Martinez, 5'10, 175, RB, Shawnee Mission NW, '28, and last but not least, we have a baller that Coach Cook at SMNW pointed out last year and he was right on the money with the head's up. This guy is a rising star who put the state on notice this past fall as an explosive all-purpose back. He uses his combination of tough inside running and instant acceleration to blow through arm tackles and once loose in the open field turned on the jets. For the year he piled up 1,200+ total yards and scored 10 touchdowns. One game in particular showed some of that promise when he scored three touchdowns and rushed for 100+ yards against Lawrence. Once football ended he went right into wrestling and has been grinding in the weight room. This spring he will fine-tune his speed running track and then will hit a number of camps and combines throughout the state this summer. This guy may not be getting much attention to date but this fall he is going to take his game to the next level of prime-time performance.   In conclusion, get these guys on your watchlist as they are going to be lighting up Friday nights this fall.   And, most importantly...   Keep Grindin'

With the last week of January upon us, the off-season rolls on and the guys striving to be elite are locked and loaded on taking full advantage of off-season training time.