Class 5A: All-State Quarterbacks Featuring JJ Kohl, Jaxon Smolik

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The state's largest classification of football, Class 5A, featured some of the best prospects at the quarterback position in some years. Top-to-bottom, the group is one that left their name on the state and school history books.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Listed below are the first, second and third team selections for the position, along with honorable mention players. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>First Team - [player_tooltip player_id='104081' first='JJ' last='Kohl'] - Ankeny - Senior</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The future Iowa State Cyclone showed off his skills during the summer, excelling at some of the biggest camps and events in the country. From there, he committed to the Cyclones before leading Ankeny on a memorable journey.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Poised with all the attributes needed to be a Power 5 quarterback, Kohl presents a unique athlete for Matt Campbell and company in the fall. He has big-time arm strength, is strong in the pocket, has excellent vision and can make all the throws. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kohl finished the year completing 65 percent of his passes for 2,023 yards with 17 touchdowns and just four interceptions. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Second Team - [player_tooltip player_id='104098' first='Jaxon' last='Smolik'] - West Des Moines Dowling - Senior</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Like the aforementioned [player_tooltip player_id='104081' first='JJ' last='Kohl'], [player_tooltip player_id='104098' first='Jaxon' last='Smolik'] made his college choice over the summer, accepting an offer from Penn State and James Franklin. From there, he guided West Des Moines Dowling to a deep playoff run. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>More of the new-age quarterback, Smolik still has a great arm and is quick to read and react to the defense. He can take off and make plays with his legs, but is best when going through his progressions and spotting the weakness.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Smolik threw for 1,967 yards with 19 touchdowns and just four interceptions on 243 attempts, completing 64 percent of his throws. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Third Team - [player_tooltip player_id='300098' first='Cole' last='Ritchie'] - Sioux City East - Senior</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There are times when if you removed a quarterback from a roster, the team could still find ways to win. If you took [player_tooltip player_id='300098' first='Cole' last='Ritchie'] off Sioux City East, they would have struggled. Instead, Ritchie led them to seven wins and the playoffs. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ritchie, who has a great frame, led all of Class 5A with 31 passing touchdowns, throwing just six interceptions on 312 attempts. He racked up 2,651 yards, completing over 65 percent of his passes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Honorable Mention</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='104089' first='Dallas' last='Sauser'] from Ames had himself quite the senior season, helping the Little Cyclones by throwing for 3,316 yards with 28 touchdowns. He set a state single-game record and completed 66 percent of his throws overall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Southeast Polk junior [player_tooltip player_id='376911' first='Connor' last='Moberly'] will have the chance to move right up into one of the top spots next year after he helped the Rams win the state title with 14 touchdowns and almost 2,000 yards, completing 71 percent of his throws. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sophomores Will Nuss of Johnston, Vincenzo Gianforte from Cedar Rapids Kennedy and [player_tooltip player_id='245608' first='Jack' last='Wallace'] of Iowa City West are all incredible gifts who will be big-time prospects over the next two years. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->