5 Rising Senior ATHs Lighting Up the Scene

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As we cruise through the film over various positions, it's time to shine the spotlight on five <a href="https://prepredzone.com/iowa/rankings/2025-rankings/?position=ATH">Iowa High School Football ATHs</a> who made key contributions on both sides of the ball last season. Each player popped last season, and with their senior year coming up, all eyes will be on them to rise in the Iowa High School Football rankings. Let's get into the five ATHs we need to know for <a href="https://www.gobound.com/ia">next season</a>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["245821"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Sternberg plays in all phases of the game, from a boundary and slot receiver on offense, an outside cornerback on defense, to a kick and punt returner on special teams. As a receiver, Sternberg uses his agility and athleticism to create separation effortlessly. He has great footwork throughout his routes and tops it off with impressive speed to get behind the defense. His hands are phenomenal, bringing in any pass thrown his way. On special teams, Sternberg's speed translates to the return game, quickly getting the edge, turning up the field and blazing past defenders. When he gets the ball in his hands, he's a tough runner that isn't easy to bring down. He fights through arm tackles and can make defenders miss in the open field with quick cuts and agility. Regarding playing corner, Sternberg's football IQ and ability to make adjustments are tremendous. Dropping into zone coverage, he'll pass routes off, read the quarterback's eyes, and quickly put himself in position to make a play on the ball. He has great ball skills, whether going for the pick or swatting the ball away. His loose hips and great footwork are noteworthy, bringing out his well-rounded game and overall athleticism. Sternberg will be one to keep an eye on next season, making game-changing plays in all phases of the game.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65a6ed096d2e1"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["827113"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Huyser is a dangerous threat on both sides of the ball. He'll be deployed as a running back on offense and is used in many different situations. As a runner, Huyser hits the hole hard and isn't afraid of contact, running over defenders with his strength and using his speed and athleticism to keep his feet moving and gain more yards. Once he gets loose, he's extremely hard to run down. Huyser can easily change directions, making him elusive in the open field and a tough runner to bring down. When he's asked to block, he'll deliver strong pancake blocks, and once he gets his hands on defenders, he has vice grips for hands, creating open running lanes for his teammates and providing protection for his quarterback. On defense, Huyser will line up on the defensive line or as a linebacker. He's blazing fast when coming downhill, possessing tremendous burst and acceleration to pair with his speed. He'll stunt from the inside to the edge, showing off his lower body flexibility and balance to get around the outside. Overall, Huyser is very athletically gifted with an immense amount of talent on both sides of the ball, making him a player to keep a close eye on this season.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65a6ed096d34a"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["847948"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Woods is an extremely gifted athlete. As a receiver, he creates separation and space with his phenomenal speed. He'll take a screen pass to the house or take the top off a defense. Woods has subtle nuances to his route running, selling verticals until he has to break his routes off. He uses a head fake in his routes to get defenders leaning, allowing him to separate and be an easy target for his quarterback to hit. Woods has natural hands and good technique when addressing the ball in the air, catching the ball away from his body and has soft hands at the point of the catch. Woods isn't afraid of contact and shows a ton of toughness throughout his game. He'll lower his shoulder with the ball in his hands, has great contact balance when he has to go up to get the ball, and as a defender, he'll deliver explosive hits. Woods' speed and burst are tremendous. He'll quickly get to top speed and easily win the track race. As a defensive back, Woods is very instinctive, reading the quarterback's eyes and firing on the receiver to create contested opportunities. He's a well-rounded player who has a massive amount of potential to take his game to another level next season.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65a6ed096d3a6"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["245592"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Playing multiple roles on offense and defense, Reisz is a dangerous weapon that can be delployed differently in multiple situations. He'll line up at tight end to seal the edge or leak out for a route. Reisz is a tremendous red zone threat at his size. He'll box out defenders and reach the high point of the pass, reeling it in with his strong hands and large frame. He's extremely quick for a player of his size. He uses his acceleration as a receiver to get behind the third level of the defense and run away from pursuing defenders. Reisz will line up on the boundary as a receiver, creating mismatches against smaller defensive backs. He has no problem creating separations, using his athleticism and strong technique in his route running. On the defensive side of the ball, Reisz will be a blitzing linebacker or can drop back in coverage. He quickly gets downhill, fills run lanes, and delivers powerful hits to ball carriers. When he drops in coverage, he's very smart at reading the quarterback, getting to his landmark and making a break on the ball. Reisz is loaded with talent and athleticism in his game and will likely be a player that we see rise up the rankings as we await the start of the next season.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65a6ed096d401"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["848057"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"The first trait that pops up in Heitman's film is his blazing speed and athleticism. As a linebacker, he's extremely fast at hitting the running lanes and breaking on passes. Once he sees it, he's flying to the ball. Using his instincts, Heitman will read the quarterback's eyes, breaking quickly on the ball to the intermediate area of the field or recognizing screen passes and flying to the intended receiver. Heitman is very quick in his pursuit and will fly from sideline to sideline. He's a strong tackler with a wide tackle radius, making him tough to run away from, and he is constantly making plays in gaps and the backfield. Heitman is an electric, game-changing linebacker who is exciting to watch and will guarantee to have all eyes on him for the 2024 season.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65a6ed096d452"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->