2026 Season Superlatives

<p><strong><em>*See the superlatives and all the other coverage of the upcoming season at a 30% discount with code Johnson30*</em></strong></p>   <p>The season is here! Two Fridays from now we are going to be under the lights and watching some of the best athletes that WI has to offer the next level of football. As we approach those game days I have been thinking about who is going to stand out this year and make a name for themself? Who is going to take over the spotlight and leave a lasting impression on the season? Who is going to be the hardest hitting defender? Who will be slinging it all over the field? Today I want to answer those thoughts with my own prediction of Who is Most Likely to...</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Most likely to... Throw for 4,000 Yards:</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">This is a bold proclamation since the 4,000 yard threshold has only been broken one time in the history of WI football. I believe that we could be seeing a perfect storm for a great opportunity to make a run at the number. Lake Mills averaged 245 passing yards/game in 2025. They return all their significant receiving threats from a year ago, and most importantly they have the best QB in the state at the helm.</p>   <p>The talent is definitely there to make every throw, make smart decisions, and dominate with ball placement. The team's talent and experience is also there to potentially give Tyler a 14 game season to accomplish this. If they do make it to a state appearance, Tyler would need to average 285 passing yards per game. That is about 45 yards/game more than he had in 11 games in 2025. This is definitely a bold task, but you need the combo of individual talent, team talent, and team success. I believe [player_tooltip player_id='1226894' first='Tyler' last='Wollin'] and Lake Mills have the best of that combo.</p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Most likely to... Change a game with a single touch:</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='2249577' first='Tysen' last='Teal'] out of Northwestern is among the best when it comes to the most electric playmakers on the football field. His combination of running and receiving abilities make him a nightmare matchup. His speed stands out from the crowd, and in the passing game he has the ability to just get lost in the secondary and end up wide open. Tysen is the type of ball carrier who can turn an inch of space into an 80 yard TD. The 2027 RB turned 190 touches into an unbelievable 43 TDs. So he was scoring a TD on nearly every 4th touch. This kid is a video game cheat code and should put up a freak stat line this fall.</p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Most likely to... Make you miss in a phone booth:</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">I love the way this kid runs the ball. As a 5'8" 175 lbs back we don't want to see Jebari having to win with power. He can rip through arm tackles at times, but we want to see the elusiveness. The '27 RB is able to deliver in that way. The speed he can be running at while hitting a juke leads to highlights that bring to life the idea of making someone miss in a phone booth. Craig can leave defenders grabbing at air as they try to corral him in for a tackle. Jebari is such a nimble, sudden, and explosive athlete. It is hard to tackle what you can't hit, and Craig prove that.</p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Most likely to... Change the game as a defender:</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">I might be the most confident in this selection, and that is because I was able to see it live in Monona Grove's playoff game vs Germantown in 2025. We have preached about the elite production and the dominant traits for two years now. Powerfully athletic, violent, and always creating ways to get to the football and usually while it is still in the backfield. Clay definitely has the ability to change a game from the DL. He throws off timing, forces OLs to change how they are protecting, and even if he doesn't get home can have QBs seeing or feeling ghosts. This is a game changing DL and one of the best available athletes in WI.</p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Most Likely to... Make something out of nothing:</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">When I watch Trent on tape I get the feeling that the play is never over if he still has the ball. His combination of athleticism and arm talent gives the 2027 QB the ability to keep the play alive while things are breaking down around him. The incoming senior can get the ball out off platform and from untraditional arm angles. He keeps his eyes downfield while buying time, and when it is designed or time to tuck it and go he has the ability to flip a switch and turn into an RB instead of a QB. Trent has speed, is very agile, and can accelerate quickly. If Trent has the ball and the whistle hasn't blown, defenses are at risk of letting up something big.</p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Most Likely to... Lead the state in pancake blocks:</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">Orville might just have the most exciting OL highlights from the 2025 season. It is just 9 minutes of flattening defenders. 9 minutes of running guys off the line until they get off balance and then driving them into the ground. Orville is so explosive and quick and he uses that to get guys off balance and the second he has an inch of leverage he is going to take them on a ride that won't end in their favor. Orville has all the tools to accomplish this. Quick and powerful feet, heavy hands, and the nasty mentality to want to bury the opposition. If you love dominant OL play you need to check out the Winnebago Lutheran lineman.</p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Most likely to... leave a trail of broken tackles on any play:</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">Incoming senior RB [player_tooltip player_id='1284286' first='Jax' last='Pesch'] has built his career on the back of his physical dominance. Standing at 6'2" 205 lbs, the 2027 RB usually matches up well with LBs that he meets in the hole. That size is just part of the equation though. Jax has developed that instinct to never let his feet quit through contact and despite that longer frame he doesn't get knocked off balance easily. His physical running style perfectly matches the rest of the Waterford team that relies a lot on their ability to impose their will on the opposition. I can't wait for one more season of watching Jax churn and burn his way to a lot of big Friday nights.</p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Most likely to.. Have the catch of the year:</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">I've seen it happen on tape and I have seen it happen live. Verona WR [player_tooltip player_id='1653433' first='Dejon' last='Knutson'] has some of the best hands in the state, and it has me very confident that he will deliver the catch of the year this fall. Honestly the kid might already have 2 or three of the best catches I have seen while doing this job. He has the combination of soft, yet strong hands. Plus the ability to adjust his body at the last second to get in position to have a shot at a catch stands out from the crowd. His natural ability to catch the ball is special. This is a kid that gives you confidence to just throw it up to because he is going to find a way to reel it in.</p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Most likely to... Strand WRs on their island:</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">This isn't just a Who is the top CB selection. Smith has proven that he can take a guy completely out of a game and he can do it in zone or in man coverage. The speed, reactive athleticism, and quick feet and hips allows Zy'aire to be glued to his man. On a lot of reps the QB might not even look to that side of the field. The kid can absolutely put the clamps on WR1s. The tools are there to stick to his man, and he has the hands to create turnovers when given the chance. Good luck to all who have to face off with Smith this fall.</p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Most Likely to... Lead the state in tackles:</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">Ryan is coming off a sophomore season where he did exactly this already. That might make it even more far fetched for him to accomplish this because we don't see many repeat guys. But Ryan has the blend of instincts, athleticism, and ability to move through traffic cleanly. He also will face a schedule of teams that are going to be run dependent on a weekly basis, which will increase his opportunities. It is the perfect storm for a rare repeat leader in the tackles column.</p>

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