Friday Baller Alert - Playmakers Fine-Tuning For Fall

With the off-season already firing on all cylinders the guys striving to be elite are shifting their workouts into overdrive.   The ballers preparing for their senior year know they have one last chance to do their thing and hopefully impress scouts and coaches along the way.   For the young guns coming up through the ranks it is time to take the mantle away from the upper classmen and establish themselves as the next wave of the best of the best.   Either way it means one thing in the off-season, get better or get left left behind.   In this report we will take a look at some of the top players in the state as well as a handful of rising stars who are locked in on getting better so they can shine this fall.   So, without further adieu, let's check out what these guys are doing in the off-season:     [player_tooltip player_id='403631' first='Cordale' last='Johnson']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/cordale-johnson/"></a>  , 6'1, 175, DB/WR, Northwest, '27, first out of the chute is one of the top d-backs in the state, coming off a standout season last fall when he piled up 30 tackles, picked off four passes including a pick-6, had 482 all-purpose yards and ran a punt back 50 yards for another score, despite missing two games to injury. Once the season was over he moved right into off-season training with Coach Rashad Daniels working on skill sets and getting in peak shape. This spring he will run the sprints in track and continue training to get faster and more explosive. With his length, speed and athleticism, he is developing into an elite playmaker who can play as a shutdown CB or as a ballhawk safety causing disruption over the top. Get your popcorn handy this fall - he is going to put on a show.   [player_tooltip player_id='1643737' first='Reign' last='Illian']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/reign-illian/"></a> , 6'4, 205, QB, Maize South, '27, next up is one of the top dual-threat gunslingers in the state who is the returning leader in passing yards by almost 500 yards. With his prototype size and next-level arm, he can make all the throws, from the pocket, off platform, from different launch angles or on the move with great ball placement. Last fall he passed for 2,500+ yards, completing 65% and piled up 30 total TD's, which included an 8-TD game in October. He hasn't wasted any time in the off-season, throwing with QB Trainer Justin Hoover and training with Coach Daniels. He has a busy slate coming up this spring and will be attending the Elite 11, UA All-American and Polynesian Bowl, while also hitting a number of college spring games. He has also devoted time as a QB trainer, in particular with promising young gun QB Sam Neal, '33, who is locked in on getting a head start on the competition. Illian is the real deal, get ready for some serious fireworks this fall.   [player_tooltip player_id='1987964' first='Grady' last='Myers']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/grady-myers/"></a> , 5'10, 170, RB/DB, Mulvane, '27, up next is a versatile, rising star three-way athlete who started last season under the radar but quickly changed all that with a standout junior season. Playing running back he accounted for 1,141 yards on 132 carries, averaging nine yards a carry and scored 20 total touchdowns in helping his team win eight straight games and a couple of games in post-season play. Now that his brother Manny, an all-state QB last fall, is moving on he may switch to QB, while also continuing to play safety and return punts and kicks. In the off-season he is busy with baseball in spring and summer and has already been hard at the weight room grind and working on speedwork and agilities. This guy was just getting warmed up last season - he is going to be en fuego this fall.   [player_tooltip player_id='1593083' first='Gus' last='Ketteler'] , 6'1, 190, RB/DB, Shawnee Mission East, '27, he is another dangerous runner who has developed into a promising all-purpose back with quick feet and the speed to burn defenses on the perimeter. He is also a solid blocker when not carrying the ball and has good hands as a receiver out of the backfield. Last year he started showing glimpses of things to come, picking up 300+ rushing yards and averaging six yards a carry. He has already been busy in the off-season, working out with Top Speed in Lenexa, lifting weights and running hills. This spring he will shift gears to track and is a sprinter who is starting to get notice and has been named as a sprinter to watch for this spring in the 100m. He has also participated in numerous virtual junior days, including Harvard and Princeton. This guy is poised for a big senior year.   [player_tooltip player_id='1658644' first='Max' last='Walters']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/max-walters-2/"></a> <a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/max-walters-2/"></a> , 5'11, 180, RB/LB/ATH, Centralia, '28, up first for the sophomores is a two-way baller who started the season playing junior varsity but by the end of the season cracked the varsity starting line up. He didn't waste any time showing his potential, as he stepped up with a standout game making 10 tackles from his linebacker position as he and his teammates knocked off Riverside 14-7 and claimed the district title. He is already in the off-season grind, training with Revive Performance on speedwork, as well as a balanced program of plyometrics, power lifting, and core work. He is also pounding the weights in the team's off-season program and working to get bigger and more explosive. With a solid year under his belt and a strong off-season underway, expect a breakout season this fall.   [player_tooltip player_id='2035499' first='Chasyn' last='Cosner'], 5'9, 170, RB/LB, Holcomb, '28, he is another young baller running back who didn't waste any time showing his stuff as a sophomore last fall, rushing for almost 1,000 yards, averaging nine yards a carry and scoring 15 total touchdowns on his way to all-conference honors. He kicked his season into overdrive in the third game of the year when he helped his team stay undefeated by picking up 246 yards rushing on a scant 13 carries, averaging 19 yards a pop and piling up three touchdowns. He is also an aggressive linebacker with great closing speed on the other side of the ball. Once the season ended he went right into wrestling and will shift gears to baseball this spring, as an athletic centerfielder who can also pitch. This guy is just getting warmed up and is going to have a big junior year.   Will McMonagle, 5'10, 180, ATH, Blue Valley North, '27, and last but certainly not least, we have a two-way athlete who is a talented wide receiver and return man coming off an excellent junior year when he caught 20 passes, piled up 350 all-purpose yards and averaged 19+ yards on punt returns. A versatile receiver who can split wide or work out of the slot, he creates quick separation before rolling into precise routes. He can be counted on to make the tough contested catch over the middle when his team needs it, or burn teams deep down the sideline on the long ball. He has hit the ground running in the off-season, focusing on improving speed, quickness and explosiveness. This spring he will run track and is still in the process of deciding which camp-combines he wants to hit this summer. He is definitely ready to take it to the next level.<a href="https://x.com/willxmcmonagle"></a>   In conclusion, get these guys on your watchlists as they are going to stand out this fall.   And, most importantly...   Keep Grindin'

With the off-season already firing on all cylinders the guys striving to be elite are shifting their workouts into overdrive.