Centerville emerged in 2025 as one of the most explosive passing units in the 2A conference, and a large reason for that growth was the continued development of the connection between 2028 standouts Mack Murdock Mack Murdock 6'3" | 200 lbs | QB/DB Centerville | 2028 State IA and Abram Decena Abram Decena 5'10" | 180 lbs | WR Centerville | 2028 State IA . Decena would ultimately finish 2nd in receiving yards on the team, but still amassed 771 yards on 44 catches (17.5 YPC) and 11 TDs. Decena is an intriguing receiver, one who’s consistently reliable enough to where the QB can just chuck the ball down the field and Decena does an outstanding job adjusting to the ball and maintain his focus to come down with the catch. Decena can play both inside and outside receiver, showing great straight-line speed and shows very strong hands through contact. The dynamic between Decena and Murdock should continue to play a vantage point for Centerville’s offense as they continue to grow as a force going forward.

One of several receivers that greatly benefited from playing alongside a fellow sophomore standout, Mack Murdock Mack Murdock 6'3" | 200 lbs | QB/DB Centerville | 2028 State IA , Abram Decena Abram Decena 5'10" | 180 lbs | WR Centerville | 2028 State IA will be in line for a major breakout season this fall, returning alongside his classmate.

That’s if you wouldn’t call his sophomore campaign breakout year. He grabbed 44 receptions for 771 yards and 11 touchdowns on behalf of the Big Reds, with the latter number leading all second-year receivers in Iowa.

A big, thick pass-catcher that moves much more fluidly than one would expect by just looking at him, Decena is deceptively smooth. Also possessing excellent ball skills, Decena grabs catches late, ensuring a DB can’t stick his hands in and disrupt a pass, he high-points catches and his timing is excellent. He’d benefit from making plays in the open field on a more regular basis, but Decena’s ability to track the ball is his calling card at the moment.

Centerville holds several exciting returning starters to their explosive offense next season, including Abram Decena Abram Decena 5'10" | 180 lbs | WR Centerville | 2028 State IA , who should cement his place as the top target for Mack Murdock Mack Murdock 6'3" | 200 lbs | QB/DB Centerville | 2028 State IA in the passing game going into next season. Decena recorded 44 receptions for 771 yards (17.5 YPC) and 11 TDs in 2025, building off an exceptional debut in his freshman year. Decena’s athleticism is quite impressive already for his age, boasting a 4.7 40 yard time, a 260 lb max bench, and a 380 lb max squat, making him a top-notch athlete for his position. Playing mostly in the slot while also showcasing the physicality and high-point ability to play on the outside, Decena is an excellent vertical threat who can stretch the field, shows strong hands making contested catches in tight coverage, and shows great precision keeping his eyes on the target and adjusting his route if needed. The chemistry between Murdock and Decena should remain as the focal point for the Big Reds’ offense to build around going forward.

(@abram_decena)

Coming off an impressive sophomore season, Centerville’s Abram Decena Abram Decena 5'10" | 180 lbs | WR Centerville | 2028 State IA looks primed to have an even bigger year in 2026. As a sophomore, Abram tied for the team lead in receptions with 44 and turned those into 771 yards and 11 touchdowns. Abram is another receiver who can be moved around depending on matchups and route concepts, but ultimately, I think he would be a great slot receiver at the next level. He is very shifty with his route running and has a sixth sense for finding the soft spots in coverage. Even with safety help over top, Decena has shown the speed to still get past secondary help and spring free for a deep ball. Great ball tracking and hands at the catch point. With a quarter of his receptions resulting in touchdowns, Abram is not a player you can take your eyes off, as he will make you pay.

I wrote about Decena after he flashed upside as a freshman during the 2024 campaign. Checking in on him again, the talented Centerville student-athlete took a nice step forward as a 10th-grader this fall. Decena hauled in 44 receptions for 771 yards and 11 touchdowns. Centerville would have been happy with that production during its playoff run, but Decena didn’t stop with his contributions on offense. He registered 34.0 tackles (21 solo, 3.0 TFL), logged a Pick-6, forced a fumble and recovered one. Decena averaged 28.6 yards on five kick returns and 11.0 on the lone punt he brought back. His sophomore highlight video brings into focus is athleticism and broad base of skills. A versatile receiver that can operate effectively out wide or from the slot, Decena thrives on winning contested balls. He does so with leaping ability, timing and physicality, which also make him a successful blocker. There’s also upside as a member of the secondary and special teams.

Decena does it all for Centerville, as you can see during his freshman highlight video. He operates out of the offensive backfield, where he can deliver big plays in the running game. Decena stresses defenses in the receiving game, too. He can get downfield and also make would-be tacklers miss in space. Defensively, he runs well sideline to sideline, covering a lot of ground at safety. He plays with physicality and is a technically sound tackler. With his skillset, Decena will be an asset on special teams.