Five Leading Rushers, Defensive Standouts In The State

Along with being the leading rushers in terms of carries in the state, these five players also shine on the defensive side of the ball. The power of youth allows them to pretty much stay on the field throughout each game, and you can bet none of them would have it any other way. By playing both offense and defense, these players have given college coaches an incredible amount of film to study and dissect as they prepare to offer them a spot on their respective teams. <strong>Gage Voshell, Oelwein (2021)</strong> A true workhorse out of the backfield, Oelwein's Gage Voshell has carried the ball a state-leading 89 times through three games. Quick math shows that coming out to almost 30 attempts a week. Even for a young pup like Voshell, that is a tremendous amount of wear and tear. Voshell has delivered for the Huskies, racking up 527 yards and three touchdowns. He also leads the team with three converted two-point attempts. In Week 1, Voshell had 34 carries for 258 yards and a score. On defense, Voshell has 7.5 tackles with five solo stops and a tackle for loss. He also handles the punting duties at Oelwein, averaging almost 27 yards on seven punts. <em>With good size at 6-foot and 200 pounds, Voshell likely has a career at the next level on the defensive side of the ball. His abilities on offense, though, will only help make him an even better defender to be able to read offenses and follow the ball. </em> <strong>Preston Pope - West Marshall (2022)</strong> Just a junior, West Marshall's Preston Pope will be able to put his skills on display for another season to potential college coaches. Pope has come into his own already this year, racking up 85 carries for 633 yards with six touchdowns for the Trojans. On defense, he is third on the team with 20 tackles including 14 solo stops, a sack and 1.5 tackles for loss. The 5-foot-9, 200-pound Pope also is strong in the return game, averaging almost 30 yards on four kickoff returns. <em>Just how athletic is Pope? As a sophomore, he played quarterback, throwing for 795 yards and running for 1,143 with 16 combined touchdowns. Even without ideal size, Pope will help a team out with his ability to do a number of different things in all areas of the game. </em> <strong>Karson Sharar - Iowa Falls-Alden (2021)</strong> A number of colleges are interested in adding Karson Sharar to their basketball program. However, the Iowa Falls-Alden senior also has schools wanting him to play football. While it remains unknown what Sharar will do, for now, he is focused on dominating on the gridiron on both offense and defense. Sharar has rushed for 431 yards and six touchdowns on 83 carries, adding a pair of receptions. As a linebacker, he has 25 tackles with 24 solo stops and two tackles for loss, while also averaging almost 31 yards per punt. <em>Sharar has excellent size, standing 6-foot-3 and weighing in at almost 200 pounds. He isn't easy to bring down, breaking the first would-be tackler consistently. As a defender, Sharar's recognition of where the ball is going is very, very high. </em> <strong>Jayden Harder - Sioux Central (2021)</strong> Sioux Central's Jayden Harder is your typical throwback player from years ago. He is completely content with pushing into the pile and picking up three or four yards, but he also has some deceptive speed. Harder, who was the leading returning rusher in terms of attempts coming into the season, already has 82 carries and 334 yards this year. On defense, he has made 33.5 tackles with five coming for loss. Add in a couple of forced turnovers with being in charge of kickoffs, and Harder is a do-it-all Rebel. <em>If he finds a school that uses a fullback, Harder will shine on offense. If not, he has a future as a defender thanks to his tough-as-nails attitude on the football field. Harder is always around the ball and doesn't let someone get past him.</em> <strong>Cole Kelly - West Hancock (2021)</strong> Many wondered what would happen to the West Hancock ground attack after losing its top rushers from a year ago. Well, Cole Kelly is making sure they remain one of the leading rushing teams in the state. Kelly has 81 carries through three games, recording 564 yards and seven touchdowns. He also has a pair of receptions for the Eagles. At 5-foot-11 and 210 pounds, you might not think he has the speed to break one, but Kelly showed excellent burst with a 72-yard TD run this year. He's also been in on a handful of tackles including a sack and 2.5 stops for loss. In helping West Hancock win a state title last year, Kelly ran for 1,184 yards and scored 18 touchdowns. <em>As a runner, once Kelly sees a hole, he hits it hard and fast. There is no dancing around in the backfield from him; just look, plant and go. Kelly's speed, though, on defense is something that could really make him an attractive option at the college level.</em>