Five Surprise Iowa Standouts: Class 5A

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Taking a look at some of the new faces on the block in 5A that have surprised on the gridiron this fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1938509"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68e43c0867b46"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Without taking a single carry during his junior campaign, [player_tooltip player_id='1938509' first='Felix' last='Annan'] registered just 3.5 tackles on defense to go with one punt for 30 yards. Annan has basically come out of nowhere for Waterloo West this fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Leading his team with 107 carries for 739 yards and six touchdowns on the ground through six games, Annan has gone from middle-to-bottom of the depth chart to now being the third-leading rusher in all of 5A. That, and he's been consistently productive with the ball in his hands, averaging 6.9 yards per carry or the WaHawks. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1938506"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68e43c0867bcf"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Not on the roster for Waukee each of the last three seasons, [player_tooltip player_id='1938506' first='Kayden' last='Crispin'] has solely been known as a wrestler for the Warriors till this year. This season, Crispin is one of the most productive tacklers in the state. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Of course, programs like Iowa love to recruit wrestlers -- and Crispin's production and fundamentals as a tackler are exactly why. So far this season, Crispin has already totaled 50 tackles (30 solo), ranking sixth in tackles in 5A. Additionally he's posted eight tackles-for-loss (TFLs), placing him tied with a barrage of other state leaders and ranking in the top 20 state-wide. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1938514"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":1938552,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68e43c0867c49"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Another dual-sport athlete turned football star, [player_tooltip player_id='1938514' first='Lincoln' last='Dalton'] mostly road the pine for Pleasant Valley on the gridiron until this season. A baseball standout for the Spartans, Dalton is committed to New Mexico State to pitch for his collegiate career.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He's making things happen on the gridiron in the meantime, though. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In his first year starting under center for PV, Dalton has completed 31-of-61 passes for 574 yards, seven touchdowns and just two picks, while taking 64 carries for 219 yards and six scores. With 13 touchdowns so far, he's put himself in the top ten for most touchdowns scored in 5A so far this season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1938521"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68e43c0867caa"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The second defensive player on this list, [player_tooltip player_id='1938521' first='Ramy' last='Samir'] of Des Moines Roosevelt has burst onto the scene (and into opposing backfields) after posting just three total tackles during his sophomore campaign with the Roughriders.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Through six games this season, Samir is now among the top 20 most productive pass-rushers in 5A, posting not only 29.5 tackles and nearly 10Xing tackling numbers from last year, but also registering 8.5 TFLs and two sacks. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["600173"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68e43c0867d01"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Transferring in to Iowa City West this offseason after two years at Liberty, [player_tooltip player_id='600173' first='Reece' last='Wheeler'] has stepped into the starting quarterback position for the Trojans after the departure of Jack Wallace, who is now at St. Thomas. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He's not just starting now -- Wheeler is thriving. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ranked in the top five in yards through the air so far this season, Wheeler has gone from completing just 1-of-4 passes for seven yards in 2024, to completing 59-of-101 passes for 1,299 yards, 12 touchdowns and just one interception for West. Through six games, he and senior receiver [player_tooltip player_id='1238635' first='Ethan' last='Headings'] have built quite the connection, as Headings is now up to 31 catches for 913 yards and ten scores. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->